Importing a car: Looking for others experiences

[IE7BETA]

Just out of curiousity, how does Finland impose import tax on those models of car, which are not officially sold in Finland?

[dave071061]

Just out of curiousity, how does Finland impose import tax on those models of car, which are not officially sold in Finland?

They pull a number out of a hat which only has very high numbers in it, and then they double it!
But on the bright side, you can look at this as good experience prior to going for your first service, the money they will charge you for this on a none standard car will make the tax look like a bargin

[Pursuivant]

With American cars, its the "Stetson-method" with Italian cars, "Borsalino-method"... an aussie brought a Holden and got extra for the dangling corks...

[DMC]

Just out of curiousity, how does Finland impose import tax on those models of car, which are not officially sold in Finland?

They pull a number out of a hat which only has very high numbers in it, and then they double it!
But on the bright side, you can look at this as good experience prior to going for your first service, the money they will charge you for this on a none standard car will make the tax look like a bargin

Some people are determined to paint a black picture, regardless of the subject.
When I imported a car not sold here they used the value of what they regarded as a similar car that is sold here. Their selection of what car to use was a reasonable one. Sure, they wanted a lot of tax but that was down to the tax rates/system, not their valuation of the car.
Servicing was not particularly expensive (cheaper than my wife's car at the time, which she bought in Finland). Obtaining spare parts could be awkward, but that can be true with cars that are sold here.

[Upphew]

Servicing was not particularly expensive (cheaper than my wife's car at the time, which she bought in Finland). Obtaining spare parts could be awkward, but that can be true with cars that are sold here.

[OT]
Dad has Chrysler Sebring... when changing spark plugs the whole motor has to be dropped. Daddy-o did some creative driving near trailer -> scratched side -> some plastic list/panel whatever wasn't available anywhere in Europe (or at least not in channels that dealer used) so it had to be ordered from the States -> $$$
So yes, servicing and getting parts is more dependent of car than country.
[/OT]

[simon]

Servicing was not particularly expensive (cheaper than my wife's car at the time, which she bought in Finland). Obtaining spare parts could be awkward, but that can be true with cars that are sold here.

[OT]
Dad has Chrysler Sebring... when changing spark plugs the whole motor has to be dropped.

[/OT]

That cant be right... Just checked Someone is ripping off your dad

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Disconnect the negative battery cable. On a Sebring, disconnect the remote negative battery cable at the left strut tower. Allow the engine to cool completely.
#
Step 2

Locate the spark plug wires that run across the top of the engine. On a Sebring engine, the spark plug wire boots connect directly to the engine block. Grab the wires by the boot and turn them 180 degrees in either direction to unlock the spark plug. Pull up on the wires to remove them.
#
Step 3

Slide the spark plug socket, extension and wrench into the cylinder well. Turn the wrench to the left to unscrew and remove the spark plug. If the spark plug is hard to turn, spray penetrating spray into the well to loosen the spark plug.
#
Step 4

Apply a thin coat of silicon dielectric compound onto the threads of the new spark plug and on the wire boot.
#
Step 5

Screw the new spark plug into place manually with the socket and extension.
#
Step 6

Use the tension tester tool to make sure the spark plug has a tension of 20 foot pounds. Loosen or tighten the spark plug until this tension is reached.
#
Step 7

Reattach the spark plug wires. Turn them to the left to lock the wires into place. Replace the battery cable to the battery.

[Mook]

so it had to be ordered from the States -> $$$

My colleague keeps on ordering parts from the states for his Jeep. Apparently it's fairly cheap, especially cos the $$$ is really crap at the moment...

[Upphew]

That cant be right... Just checked Someone is ripping off your dad

Dealer, check; rip off, check; so everything is as usual? But really there are lot of stuff there that might get in the way, like windscreen? Also: I'm nerd, not grease monkey, so I'm just telling what I heard and googled.

[Pursuivant]

I've got a Chrusler voyager in the yard and the engine is such you can't get to the "other side" spark plugs... totally imbecile design.

[simon]

So your both saying thati ts true that you have to drop the engine to change the spark plugs?

I did hear that to change the battery you have to take the front wheel off?

Strange american motors

[pres589]

A lot of transverse v-6 installations in American cars require the removal of the "dog bones" aka "torque straps", they're basically bars that span from the radiator core support to the close side of the engine block. Basically they control rocking motion of the engine as it is throttled or loaded. To change the back bank of plugs, remove the dog bones (called this because they somewhat resemble a doggie bone treat) and pull the engine forward by hand. Use of a strap or rope to hold the engine forward in that position would be smart. At this point the engine is forward enough to deal with.

Hank's minivan, meanwhile, is just a mess. I remember hearing about how much of the cowling needs to be removed, the plastic around the wiper arm bases and such, to change the air filter. I never understood the underhood engineering that went into that thing. Lots of quirks depending on the vintage.

[raamv]

I've got a Chrusler voyager in the yard and the engine is such you can't get to the "other side" spark plugs... totally imbecile design.

yep!! Spark plug change is around €150!! Just to change a suspension/Spring on the Driver's side is around €150 ( 2 sides comes to €300 )..
5 yr service is around €450
and yes, if you break a lug nut ( that goes on the wheels when you change wheels for winter/summer), Each Lug nut is around €10.80 ( when it costs only $0.50 in the US )....
Its not the part that I am complaining about..but the labor is ridiculous..and yes I checked .not many Chrysler repairers..as it requires special skills ( tests and courses)
and special equipment ( equipment is cheap to do diagnostics..But tests and courses are the killer )..

[raamv]

I've got a Chrusler voyager in the yard and the engine is such you can't get to the "other side" spark plugs... totally imbecile design.

now, you can pay me for taking those parts !!!

[raamv]

I have serviced an Oldsmobile Delta 88 and Cutlass, Subaru, Nissan 200SX, Nissa 300Z, Honda Civic...
But these minivans are a bi a t ch of their own...and Engine design came from a 3rd grader who failed mechanical design!!
Changing headlights is like a nightmare with 3 bolts to take, and then take the casing out with a "hinged" ( cheap plastic) latch to hold the back of the light and then the bulbs are "Locked" with a U mechanism that forces you at some degree to hold the bulb which you are not supposed to touch the glass..
BTW, If you are looking for Good headlight bulbs ( H1, H4 and H7) The best ones I ev bought are at Biltema..

[Pursuivant]

Its actually an Eswtonian export deal. Now hints on what needs to be done after you change the battery and the car won't say anything. I guess some dealership has to reboot its computer or something?