shipping car versus buying

There are always plenty of used cars for sale here in all price ranges and there's no way it would be worth bringing your car here in my opinion. I've always bought used cars here and they've always lasted me well (scout around for a good mechanic to check anything out you're thinking of buying). The last vehicle I bought 5-6 years ago was the most expensive at $2700 and she's still getting me around just fine - I've put maybe $1500 in parts and labor into her over the years and she has plenty of life left in her. No taxes when you buy a used vehicle here (we don't have sales tax) - just the usual annual registration fees, insurance, etc. Good luck with the move!

Nonsense. Your car is probably in way better condition than any $2700.00 car here. It's worth the money to have your shipped. Assuming it's a newer car and has been maintained. At least you know what you have. That $2700.00 car in the US wouldn't fetch $500.00
There are plenty of car lots in the states that have what OT is talking about. They're called junk yards.

Nonsense. Your car is probably in way better condition than any $2700.00 car here. It's worth the money to have your shipped. Assuming it's a newer car and has been maintained. At least you know what you have. That $2700.00 car in the US wouldn't fetch $500.00
There are plenty of car lots in the states that have what OT is talking about. They're called junk yards.

And back at you with the "nonsense" comment. 😀

The OP's car is, " ... an old wagon ... worth about $1k ... 255k miles on it ... a Volvo, and parts - even an oil filter - might be special order (yes) ... It will cost at least $2 k to ship, from what I see online, and then taxes (include foreign car/parts tax with that) and fees are another $550."

It's not complicated maths.

I would ship a good used car down, and I did, but the car you are describing does not sound like the one to ship. Before you ship one, have new rotors put on the front ( they rust out really bad on island. Have the front end rebuilt, the roads a terrible.
I have bought three cars on island for $5K BUT I knew the cars and their history. Something you won't know until you have been here a while.
IMHO it would take around a $7K car to get a decent UNKNOWN car on island.
Now before all of you islanders jump on that figure, would you buy a $2700 to $5K car that you had no knowledge of the car or history?

Either buy one here or buy one, stateside, that's in good condition and ship that here. Don't buy something low to the ground or you'll be bottoming out on our pothole ridden roads.

With 255K miles, yours won't last long here to be worth shipping, especially if you'll have to special order parts.

Nonsense. Your car is probably in way better condition than any $2700.00 car here. It's worth the money to have your shipped. Assuming it's a newer car and has been maintained. At least you know what you have. That $2700.00 car in the US wouldn't fetch $500.00
There are plenty of car lots in the states that have what OT is talking about. They're called junk yards.

And back at you with the "nonsense" comment. 😀

The OP's car is, " ... an old wagon ... worth about $1k ... 255k miles on it ... a Volvo, and parts - even an oil filter - might be special order (yes) ... It will cost at least $2 k to ship, from what I see online, and then taxes (include foreign car/parts tax with that) and fees are another $550."

It's not complicated maths.

And it's probably still in better condition than that $2700.00 POS you're referring to. It's also a Volvo which are million mile cars.
But of course you know better than I would. You were in the auto business for 30 years like me. Correct? Or was that the bar business? Do the math.

i have always been of the opinion that if you trust your car-bring it if it is in good shape. parts can be bought at rockauto.com

And it's probably still in better condition than that $2700.00 POS you're referring to. It's also a Volvo which are million mile cars.
But of course you know better than I would. You were in the auto business for 30 years like me. Correct? Or was that the bar business? Do the math.

No, chicklet, wrong on both counts. Just lived here for 30 years, know my way around and bought and sold many vehicles. For someone who's lived here for barely 6 months you've certainly come to a lot of conclusions about life here and how things work. Well done! The OP is entitled to differing opinions and can base his decision based on them.

And it's probably still in better condition than that $2700.00 POS you're referring to. It's also a Volvo which are million mile cars.
But of course you know better than I would. You were in the auto business for 30 years like me. Correct? Or was that the bar business? Do the math.

No, chicklet, wrong on both counts. Just lived here for 30 years, know my way around and bought and sold many vehicles. For someone who's lived here for barely 6 months you've certainly come to a lot of conclusions about life here and how things work. Well done! The OP is entitled to differing opinions and can base his decision based on them.

6 months? Really? You arrived at that figure how? Doesn't matter if I were here for 6 days. I still know more about cars than you ever will. So keep buying your $2700.00 junks because that makes you an expert and leave car advise to the pros. DO THE MATH.

6 months? Really? You arrived at that figure how?

Pretty easy when you just do the math.:D

SausageInTheCan [ PM ]
August 16, 2014 10:26AM

Hi all. I'm on STT 2 weeks and looking for a car. I've tried craigs list and have not had much luck. Any make and model will do. It just has to be reliable and a/c would be nice too. I'm in the 3 to 4k range but may be able to go a little higher.
Is there another on line publication I can look into? Thanks.

I was back 2 weeks. You still don't no jack about cars.

Everyone has their differing opinions on this subject and there is no reason for anyone to get their knickers in a bunch about it.
The OP can and will base his/her decision on what will suit best for their particular situation.

I, personally, would buy a used car in the states and pay to ship.
Buy a 100% manufactured in USA vehicle and you don't pay Customs duty on it. Resale value on Toyotas do very well here but entails duty because foreign made. Some USA cars have parts manufactured in Mexico and those too will incur duty as the VI has no trade agreement with Mexico. The VIN # will indicate whether you pay duty or not.

Good luck.

Just to clarify most Toyotas are in fact American made and will incur no duty. Just doublecheck the VIN. 🙂

Thanks for the clarification.

Thank you all for your thoughts! Quite an interesting debate.
I am taking all the suggestions to heart.

Earlier, I posted this on the wrong thread!!!

I drive a 2005 Honda I purchased as a 2 year old used car - it has 45K mi. -- that is a little over 11 mi per day - I keep it dealer maintained , fresh oil and totally checked out every 4K mi. - at least 2x a week I get asked if I want to sell it - it has a few scrapes or scratches and the paint hasn't held up too well with the sun and no garage - I do wax it a few times a year to little avail I think but at the risk of Jinxing/dooming myself it has been 100% reliable. I paid $12K and was offered a serious $6500 this week at a gas station -I can't take it to Stumpy or Neltjeberg but there are certainly good used cars for sale here all the time - I bought and sold a lot of VW's and BMW's here for my own use when there was a dealer who had parts and service for them -[Island Cars] in years past, and can wrench on the simple stuff myself.
I feel the more complicated the vehicle the more likelihood of bigger problems and would gladly revert to VW Bugs if I could find one at a reasonable price and even ship one down but they have become 'collector cars'.
I miss my 1937 Packard 120cd, 1967 396 SS and the 1967 Volvo 1800s I drove in the States but would never have brought them here and leave my 1996 BMW 328 convertible in semi storage for my summer trips stateside but would not bring it here either, there are certainly rainy stormy days here that I wish I had a Hummer though!!!

There are days I wish I had a tank with a turret gun!

OMG Alana! LOL!

Agree with terry. Sell that one - buy a Honda CRV or similar - even older with less than 50k miles and ship it. It'll be the best descision you make while relocating. Trust me.

Not doing this was my only regret in moving here.

So if you have a foreign vehicle but was assembled in the USA will it have that extra foreign made tax or No?? Japan made vehicles begin with the letter "J" built & assembled in Japan. If you have a foreign vehicle that was assembled in US it will begin with a number. I have a foreign car but was assembled in the US

my understanding is any foreign part

The VIN number will define whether or not you'll pay customs duty.
You can call Customs to check.

What is the first number of your VIN?

If the first character of the VIN number is 1, 4 or 5 then it is Made in the USA and no customs will be charged.

Here's a link to explain VIN numbers.

http://www.carfax.com/vin_decoding.cfx