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NEW MEMBER and moving to the UK.
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 6:15 am
by DrunkenMonster
Name's Ryan and have been lurking here for awhile now decided to join with hopefully some answers. I have an 05 Vibe with the Moon N Tunes (I think from what I have gathered here) Have 18" Equus 05 with General High Performance tires. And yesterday had a Avital Remote start / car alarm. In three months I will be moving 80 miles north of London on military orders. So I have to have this car ready to go and in Euro spec so it can be shipped off. I was wanting to know if anyone is currently over there with one and what I can and can't do to the car. I also need feedback on euro sidemarkers ( I guess its a law to have them) Thanks guys and gals hope to hear from you all soon.
Re: NEW MEMBER and moving to the UK. (DrunkenDixie)
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:25 am
by Blanco_Diablo
I don't have any info for you but welcome to the forums! I know there are some vibe owners from Singapore and Russia that are on the forums from time to time, not sure about the U.K. though. I'm sure someone will answer your questions soon. BTW, Whiteman AFB isn't that the home of the stealth bomber? I'm guessing you have quite an interesting career.
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 10:52 am
by DrunkenMonster
Yes it is home of the stealth bomber, I have to listen to them all night, lol.
Re: (DrunkenDixie)
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:47 am
by lovemyraffe
I too, don't have any info for you but I do appreciate your service and welcome to genvibe!
Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 6:20 pm
by IMakeVibes
Some good info at
http://www.import-car.info/ some of it won't apply to you since you're military (all the shipping and cost stuff). Too bad you couldn't have gotten your hands on a Voltz, it has most of the needed mods already.Good luck!
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:38 am
by Sublimewind
WHY...?Why in gods name would you want to take your American car over there?? It's plain silly... The cars there are SOOOO much more than the Vibe could ever hope to be... And I LOVE my Vibe.... It's the truth though... Sell the Vibe and get something that can get out of it's own way on the autobahn... seriously... Thank you for your service to BTW, I was not able to serve because of my asthma..
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 6:26 am
by DrunkenMonster
Yeah the asthma thing and military is a stupid thing I think. They should let anyone, I had a buddy get kicked out cuz they found out he had it. The reason I am keeping it is because it is actually the wife's car and we will be coming back in four years so we would like to keep it plus the wife is allowing me to get another vehicle while I am over there.
Re: (DrunkenDixie)
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:01 am
by Sublimewind
Store it somewhere, man... the expense you will go through to take it there and take it back is going to be outrageous.. I assume, I don't honestly know..
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:58 am
by bull77
doesn't the army pay moving expenses when you get a new posting?
Re: (Sublimewind)
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 2:07 am
by ou.grizzly
Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind »Store it somewhere, man... the expense you will go through to take it there and take it back is going to be outrageous.. I assume, I don't honestly know.. Family member recently sent a Jeep over to the Balkan region - they never shipped it even though they said they did. Think it cost somewhere around $2500-$3500Yet Bull77 makes a good point - the government may pick up the tab for this one...
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 5:31 am
by ramenboy...
http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=19314read through this thread. it might give you a little insight...welcome to the familyand as everyone has already said, thanx for your service.
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 6:25 am
by DrunkenMonster
Yes it is totally free for me to have it sent over there I just need to make it legal before the England people want to charge an American an arm and a leg.
Re: (DrunkenDixie)
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 7:34 am
by DrunkenMonster
Pictures...
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 7:49 am
by drunkenmaxx
nice screen name
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 9:43 am
by DrunkenMonster
LOL, YOU TOO SIR!
Re: (DrunkenDixie)
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 11:01 am
by vibolista
Good advice from Sublime... don't take your car to England. I was in the A.F. in Germany, and spent a great month in England on assignment. While there I had to drive a left hand drive Dodge pick-up from our work base in Sculthorp to Mildenhall a few times for supplies. Scary. So this I can tell you. You won't like driving a left hand drive car in a right hand drive world. Very difficult and quite dangerous in many situations. I had the good fortune to become friends with a Brit that had a well used and well maintained original Mini. It was orange with a white top, manual and a hoot to drive. Normal English roads, not their Motorways like the M1 (kinda like our Interstates), are narrow and twisty and picturesque, with the enphasis on narrow. Did I mention that most of their secondary roads are really narrow???Perfect roads for a small car. I only got on their Motorway once. no big thing. But the side roads are exceptional. Buy a manual used Mini or a new one if you want (whatever you buy, small is better), but either way you'll love their country side, coastal routes and of course Scotland. Don't miss Ireland! Another point about small cars in Europe... fuel is very expensive on their side of the Big Pond. If you can score a diesel, you'll be golden. I was able to stay over there just shy of 5 years (would have stayed there even longer if they had allowed it), stationed in southern Germany. We travelled as much as time permitted, which ended up to be a lot. Anoher plus... most of Europe is also very bicycle friendly. When you decide to get off the Island and travel into the rest of Europe, rent a left hand drive car... or even better, go by train. You can go anywhere in Europe by train.Enjoy!... and start figuring out how to extend your stay as soon as you get there. My tour was originally only going to last 18 months!
Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 10:09 pm
by vintagegz
We provide technical paperwork on GM vehicles going any where in the world, if military you usually do not need modifications. If a regular person moving to Europe you normally qualify for a single vehicle importation without major changes, a good contact for England is
chris@bauer-millett.comthey may be able to answer some of your questions. Technical documents for overseas normally cost $160.50 with a seal for the authorities, but again not required normally for military just private importations.