Mike D'Silva Posted 4August, 2013 Report Share Posted 4August, 2013 Does anyone here have experience driving a left hand drive manual? Is it hard to get used to? I'm contemplating buying a usa 911 and importing but it might be a VERY expensive way to do it. What companies have you used to import a car? Should I use one of those services that do everything for you for a premium? This is a car I kind of like... what do you think? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/181185542616?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1431.l2649 There have been some pretty amazing restoredn1970 911T cars on usa ebay, but they usually end up well over $40K... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzieman Posted 4August, 2013 Report Share Posted 4August, 2013 Hi Mike! - driving a LHD manual takes ~2 weeks to adapt to ; don't start in rush hour multilane traffic though. Some import comments here I'm sure there are other threads on PFA , plus you'll get plenty of anecdotes in due course! If it all goes well you can save some cash , and even if you sell LHD should not greatly impact resale value on an early car. The choice is much greater as you no doubt have noted Get 'em before they all go to Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matara Posted 4August, 2013 Report Share Posted 4August, 2013 Mike, I have just got back from California where I bought a VW camper and drove it with the family from Sacremento to Los Angeles via the PCH1, and had a ball of a holiday. I am shipping it back and plan to sell it eventually in Oz. I am using Wiliams Globalfrieght, which is costing about $3800 in a shared container to Port Botany. They all tend to use Mainfrieght as the mainline shipper from LA to Sydney. When I dropped my kombi off to them they had a warehouse full of cars including several porsches and other classics. They indicated that was about 3 months of supply sat in the warehouse. Let me know if you want any more info. Cheers Steve Our kombi:- Lovely original speedster on its way! Not quite sure how he's getting this 964 in, not on the pre-89 rule anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted 4August, 2013 Report Share Posted 4August, 2013 looks good, although the first thing I'd be doing is changing the chrome headlight surrounds to body colour and putting real mirrors or 935 aero style ones I haven't forgotten to ring you back either! just launched our replacement ERP software into production today so I've been a bit busy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Posted 5August, 2013 Report Share Posted 5August, 2013 I have a LHD manual car and love it. I felt at home after about 20 meters of driving it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgy Posted 5August, 2013 Report Share Posted 5August, 2013 LHD manul is awesome! Like uncle said, it feels good the minute you jump in... My first LHD manual experience was in a 454 Chevelle. Loved it! Mind you I'd driven (and still drive) LHD fairly frequently... I think people make a mountain out of a molehill too often on the subject & its usually those that have no experience with it. I have also imported a number of cars from the USA, last time I used a mob called USA to AUS. I'd recommend you get in touch with them also they can handle the whole box n dice including a PPI, but I'd be inclined to find your own PPI from a local P car specialist in the are you are buying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike D'Silva Posted 5August, 2013 Author Report Share Posted 5August, 2013 ah... i got outbid on the auction... it ended up selling for $21100... Prob would have owed me nearly $30 k by the time it got here and registered.... Still, would have been good fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murf Posted 5August, 2013 Report Share Posted 5August, 2013 Both my cars are LHD and I prefer it! 1 manual 1 auto - the porsche is manual and it feels more natural to shift with your right hand! My 2 cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastr Posted 5August, 2013 Report Share Posted 5August, 2013 LHD manul is awesome! Like uncle said, it feels good the minute you jump in... My first LHD manual experience was in a 454 Chevelle. Loved it! Mind you I'd driven (and still drive) LHD fairly frequently... I think people make a mountain out of a molehill too often on the subject & its usually those that have no experience with it. I have also imported a number of cars from the USA, last time I used a mob called USA to AUS. I'd recommend you get in touch with them also they can handle the whole box n dice including a PPI, but I'd be inclined to find your own PPI from a local P car specialist in the are you are buying. Do you think the extra cost with the USA to Aus service is worth it? As fr the original OP, if you're right handed, you'll start to think driving a RHD manual is plain wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stardust Posted 6August, 2013 Report Share Posted 6August, 2013 I drove an 88 Carrera in the US. I found the pedal setup to be atrocious. The clutch was right up against the dead man's pedal and each time I went to depress the clutch I'd hit the dead man. The owner warned me about the pedal setup saying it sucked, but I didn't believe him until i got in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Posted 6August, 2013 Report Share Posted 6August, 2013 Either you have size 57 feet or it had a very bent clutch pedal... Not my car but it is the same set up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike D'Silva Posted 6August, 2013 Author Report Share Posted 6August, 2013 this might be a newbie question, but is there a discernible difference between the LHD and RHD cars regarding how "straight" you sit in the car? even in my Cayman S, it feels like my feet are pivoted toward the left... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russ Posted 6August, 2013 Report Share Posted 6August, 2013 lol @ uncle.. I thought something was missing from that picture (to make it yours) after sitting in uncles car, and mine (both 77 911's one LHD one RHD) I've found that the RHD pedals are actually more difficult than the LHD ones, they're angled more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stardust Posted 6August, 2013 Report Share Posted 6August, 2013 Either you have size 57 feet or it had a very bent clutch pedal... Not my car but it is the same set up. That's really interesting. it looked nothing like this - you've even got space between the clutch and the dead man's pedal. The car I drove was a G50 - maybe the hydraulic clutch causes the difference As to the "how straight do you sit" question, I thought the offset in RHD Porsches was because of the conversion at the factory from LHD, but LHD cars also have the same offset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Posted 6August, 2013 Report Share Posted 6August, 2013 G50 set up without carpet. Still heaps of room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stardust Posted 6August, 2013 Report Share Posted 6August, 2013 Well I'm stumped. The wheel well did seem to be a lot more bulbous, though. I'll see if I can get a photo (the car is in Virginia) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgy Posted 6August, 2013 Report Share Posted 6August, 2013 Do you think the extra cost with the USA to Aus service is worth it? Last one I bought in had some special needs, they were able to handle it! So they got the job.. It was very easy I must say, I have them the go ahead mailed over the title and got a call about 8 weeks later asking me to pay my bill and go get it from the shipping yard.. It was too easy! Given I have handled the whole import process myself in the past it was worth paying a little extra for someone to take care of it.. I haven't used any other importers I cannot compare but it doesn't hurt to shop around! The horror stories are real too, so don't ignore them and don't go for the cheapest quote! Go on first hand recommendations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coastr Posted 6August, 2013 Report Share Posted 6August, 2013 Last one I bought in had some special needs, they were able to handle it! So they got the job.. It was very easy I must say, I have them the go ahead mailed over the title and got a call about 8 weeks later asking me to pay my bill and go get it from the shipping yard.. It was too easy! Given I have handled the whole import process myself in the past it was worth paying a little extra for someone to take care of it.. I haven't used any other importers I cannot compare but it doesn't hurt to shop around! The horror stories are real too, so don't ignore them and don't go for the cheapest quote! Go on first hand recommendations! Thanks for that. I assume the extra cost is in the $2k range working backwards from their web pricing? If you handed them the title, though, I'd say you didn't use their escrow service? Mike, I have just got back from California where I bought a VW camper and drove it with the family from Sacremento to Los Angeles via the PCH1, and had a ball of a holiday. I am shipping it back and plan to sell it eventually in Oz. I am using Wiliams Globalfrieght, which is costing about $3800 in a shared container to Port Botany. They all tend to use Mainfrieght as the mainline shipper from LA to Sydney. When I dropped my kombi off to them they had a warehouse full of cars including several porsches and other classics. They indicated that was about 3 months of supply sat in the warehouse. Let me know if you want any more info. Cheers Steve Can I ask how you insured the Kombi for the trip down the coast? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgy Posted 6August, 2013 Report Share Posted 6August, 2013 Thanks for that. I assume the extra cost is in the $2k range working backwards from their web pricing? If you handed them the title, though, I'd say you didn't use their escrow service? No worries! If I work it out off importing yourself between $1-2K give or take, it depends on the location of the car you buy With them (isa to aus) they quote from DTD! moving a car from its location to the port... that gets a bit pricey and in the wrong hands a little scary (no care, no responsibility) I can assure you if they tell you its a dollar, you pay a dollar.... the only cost extra is your GST and other taxes if applicable. I liked the fact there were no hidden surprises. What are you thinking of importing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike D'Silva Posted 7August, 2013 Author Report Share Posted 7August, 2013 http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ebaymotors/Extremely-well-Sorted-Early-S-hotrod-Carrera-RS-RSR-ST-Midyear-75-76-77-SC-3-0L-/181185542616?_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&forcev4exp=true This is what I was looking at... it's since been sold to a local but I am still keen to find something for fun. What do you all think of this car? The link to all the photos looks pretty tidy...http://s761.photobucket.com/user/car-reras/library/74S I'm happy with the left hand drive too.. I think it would add to the "fun" factor. It of course would NOT be a daily driver... Does something like that seem good value? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgy Posted 7August, 2013 Report Share Posted 7August, 2013 Get off eBay, seriously man! Goods cars are a needle in a hay stack there! Get onto Hemming's, Cars-on-line.com, Pelican and Rennlist if you are going to buy from USA Links: Hemmings: http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/?adtypeFacet=Vehicles+for+Sale&makeFacet=Porsche&modelFacet=&q= Cars-on-line: http://www.cars-on-line.com/porsche.html Pelican: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-cars-sale/ Rennlist: http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/marketplace/cars/search/ These guys get some decent early stuff here and there too http://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/index.htm I'm thinking of buying something old and air-cooled whilst over in the US next year, driving it around then shipping it back... that'd be fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike D'Silva Posted 7August, 2013 Author Report Share Posted 7August, 2013 but it's ONLY $20K!!! surely cant be that bad can it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgy Posted 7August, 2013 Report Share Posted 7August, 2013 but it's ONLY $20K!!! surely cant be that bad can it? Buying sight unseen is always a crap shoot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stardust Posted 7August, 2013 Report Share Posted 7August, 2013 Sorry to keep drifting OT, but here is the nasty LHD pedal setup I was referring to: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBayChris Posted 7August, 2013 Report Share Posted 7August, 2013 Hemmings: http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/?adtypeFacet=Vehicles+for+Sale&makeFacet=Porsche&modelFacet=&q= Must. Not. Click. Must. Not. Click. Amazing stuff listed here - I am due to the US early next year for a few months - my wife may be in for a little "duty free shopping" with me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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