Amazing Audis from US

[Nnikolas]

So does anyone know the process, and more interestingly the cost, of importing one Audi 4000 from US? Cars there had amazing specs. See for instance http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4212912 which is one fast example of what few dollars can buy you.

Still if there is a lhd Audi typ 85 (80 or 90) for sale around, I would also be interested.


Thanks for all your replies!

[Coxy]

Are you based in the UK?

You are looking at between £1200 and £1500 in shipping costs alone.
and given the week £ against the dollar, it would be around £2500-£3000 all in, which is strong money.

[Nnikolas]

Originally Posted by BasilNZ

The specification is pretty much the same as UK ones, except the UK ones have nicer looking bumpers and one piece headlights.

Hmmm not quite...Have you seen a/c in any car here? digital tacho (not the Ur's we talk about sedan here)? the bucket seats (with trim other than the coupe style black/navy-grey)?leather trim?
My car (audi 80 cc typ 85 -Greek analogue of the GL overhere) has a/c and the only way to fix it was ask americans for parts.

[MikeNZ]

Originally Posted by Nnikolas

Hmmm not quite...Have you seen a/c in any car here? digital tacho (not the Ur's we talk about sedan here)? the bucket seats (with trim other than the coupe style black/navy-grey)?leather trim?
My car (audi 80 cc typ 85 -Greek analogue of the GL overhere) has a/c and the only way to fix it was ask americans for parts.

Yes, AC was an option in UK I have owned a UK Audi Coupe quattro with AC.

Digital dash on non-turbo cars was an option though I've personally not seen it on a UK car.

'Bucket' sports seats are standard on 90 quattro, Coupe GT, Coupe quattro and others.

Yes, I have owned 2 cars with leather trim and seen others incl 2WD.

Have you considered that US-spec cars are designed to run on 87 - 91 octane, have more emissions equipment and are substantially less powerful than UK/Europe spec cars? Added to the lack of foglights, weaker headlamps and uglier trim, I think on balance you are better off with the ones we have here (which Americans would love to have if they had the chance). Of course it is only my personal opinion and yours is clearly different.

[ZermattGT]

Your killing me Mike.

The States definately got the short end of the shifter tho'.
By the mid 70's our DOT (Dept. of Transportation) started nerfing cars.
One of my older cars, my Grandpa brought back from Sweden, on a special deal, was a 1975 Saab 99LE. 2dr. To send it over it was retrofitted with double headlights, and larger black rubber bumpers (the dreaded 5mph style). I like the look of quads, round or square, but the single Euro lense halogen was considerably brighter. Luckily the car retained the European cam/specs. Very sporty. within 2 years emition controls forced so many changes they started pushing there 1st Turbo.

I blame Ralph Nader. His book "Unsafe at any Speed" set the auto industry back 20 years. Heavier cars burn more gas and are less nimble. Nerfing them just made gas guzzling bumper cars.

[Martc]

Originally Posted by BasilNZ

Ralph Nader is the enemy. He based his junk findings on American cars and ignored the good things the Europeans (German and Swedish) were doing for safety.

As well as safety it was also smaller, more econimical and powerful engines, you take anything from Saab which was turbo charged and it was quite ecomonical in its day or the I5 turbo and the US emissions rules took 40bhp off them. Thing is now you could import a EU spec UR without an issue into certain states as there are no emissions tests now ?!?!?!