Importing your own car to New Zealand

[Jack4688]

Has anyone on here done this? Or similar transport of their car half-way around the world...

I'm seriously putting all my effort into emigrating to New Zealand and obviously want to take the S2 with me. I haven't got far into it yet but I know if I don't 100% commit to it now while I'm still in my 20s, single and don't have any kids I'll regret it later in life. I'm assuming that even with the help of an employer who is actively recruiting from the UK there will be considerable cost involved and adding the import of your car may be too prohibitive.

I don't know how abundant they are but at least S2s were sold over there so finding one in NZ is the other option. The ONLY other option - one way or another I want to be living in New Zealand and owning an Audi S2

Anybody got any rough ideas of what it could end up costing?

This is also an excuse to post this pic of the SMS Group N S2 from 1993 Rally New Zealand

[Monkeymagic]

I'd imagine the cost to be a lot. However nz what a country. I toured the south island phenomenal place... I want to.live in a town called wanaka. Go for it, great mountain biking too!

[jsol]

All my fathers family live in NZ. It's pretty open slather importing into NZ.

[Error404]

Do it!

[Jack4688]

I'd imagine the cost to be a lot. However nz what a country. I toured the south island phenomenal place... I want to.live in a town called wanaka. Go for it, great mountain biking too!

Another one of my hobbies, South Island sounds like the place for me too. I'm assuming it'll be in the thousands and that the move itself will be in the thousands too

All my fathers family live in NZ. It's pretty open slather importing into NZ.

I've heard the slang takes some getting used to in NZ

Do it!

No need to convince me Alex!

[Eastcoastrs2]

I imported an rs2 from Wales to Australia which wasn't that difficult was expensive though. Had to pay 15% the value of the car as tax. Shipping was about $2500 AUD then compliance another $2000 AUD on top of that if I remember correctly. Australia has a different system and apparently much stricter import laws than NZ which makes it more expensive. I believe there was only around 20 s2's and 10-15 rs2's sold in NZ. They very rarely come up for sale often sold by word of mouth to friends so it would be best to take yours if possible.

[Jack4688]

Good point, it'd be like selling my S2 and looking for a nice coupe or RS2 just for the hell of it then finding nothing in the classifieds for months and months and months.

The equivalent of nearly £2,200 doesn't sound too bad and if NZ is cheaper than Australia then

[anthonys2]

Jack if it goes by value of the car tell the authorities that Webuyanycar.com offered £100 for your car that might save you some money!!!

Seriously though go for it! Something to commit to and you have to save bloody hard whilst your still in the UK. My brother emigrated to Australia and has never looked back pleased hes over in a months time but both of them have cracking jobs built their new house etc. A different world to the UK but I personally like my roots so I don't think I could do it

[Jack4688]

Webuyanycar wouldn't even be interested in it, therefore the import tax be a percentage of nothing!

I spent the first 19 years of my life in miserable north London and have been in Huddersfield/Halifax for the past 8, I went up here for uni so I didn't move with family. Although I have made some very good friends up here, some of the best people I know, it would be worth creating a new life for myself in the best country in the world!

If I bring the S2 with me then that'll be, as a Canadian in the Lake District described my brother-in-law's Chevy Cheyenne, "a little slice of home right there"

[Eastcoastrs2]

You've got me researching emigrating to NZ with cars now.
What year is the car?
What condition is the car in in terms of rust accident damage etc?

[Eastcoastrs2]

Maybe some useful info here

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/factsheets/44a/docs/44a-immigrants-vehicles.pdf

If you have family or friends in NZ you trust who can import it for you or import after you are a citizen you could also check out the special interest vehicle method. This is similar to the specialist or enthusiasts vehicle scheme that I got my rs2 into Australia under.

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/factsheets/44b/docs/44b-special-interest-vehicles.pdf

[Jack4688]

It's a 1993 with no accident damage AFAIK and only small patches of rust on the bodywork. The closest relation I have in NZ is a friend of a friend (whom I've never met)

[Cottis]

My mate has lived in Queenstown on South Island for the last 8yrs. He loves it, the pace of life, the weather, the scenery and the backdrop of the Remarkables Mountain range. If you like the outdoors and a less dense way of life, it would be a no brainer. I seriously considered going myself a few years back but I love rural life in the Shire here. Not the same level of shooting and fresh water fishing in New Zealand but boy does it have plenty more to offer.

If you need any pointers, i could ask him if he knows anyone over there who has done similar, whether is be car import advice or just general emigration advice.

[Jack4688]

Yeah thanks all the help I can get would be super Queenstown looks amazing even by New Zealand's very high standards

[ColonialNomad]

I grew up in nz. You need to have owned the car for a minimum period to import as part of personal effects. Also while the shipping might be around £2200, the cost of insurance is the killer. Also give the supply of spare parts some consideration, custom machining can actually be cheaper if you have obliging mates.

If you move to Christchurch, there are a bunch of petrolheads who have some extremely valuable machinery stashed away in barns and industrial lockups all over the place. Don't rely on the local main dealer to help without charging you through the nose.

If you end up in Dunedin, the main dealers are Audi enthusiasts and already service a Noggy RS2.

Incidentally, per head of population, Audi sells the most RS models of anywhere in the world in NZ.