Re: Grey market cars?

[WARATAP@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-01-29 15:15:39 EST, GY3WSX@VM.SC.EDU (Daniel Hussey)
writes:

<< all this talk about all these great Audi models available in Europe, why
no one has bothered to import them into the US as "grey market" cars.  I
remember back in the 80's that was the big thing to do.  I had several
neighbors import high-performance euro model cars into the US from Germany.
 And, if I remember correctly, it was even cheaper than buying one here. >>

Dan-

Yes and no.  You're right, many people were importing cars (mostly used) in
the early- mid eighties from Europe, as these were substantially less than
comparable cars in the U.S.  The official TÜV (Technische Überwachungs
Verein) regulatory agency in Germany is/was very strict in what kind of shape
a car was in to be able to drive it on the roads.  Hence, you could get very
good condition cars at reasonable prices.  It's important that your OPEL stay
on the highway as you get passed by a turbo Por$che doing 240kph (that was
alot then --and they didn't have the highway congestion that they do now).  

Americans had little problem bringing the cars over, making sure the
applicable modificatons were made at certified conversion centers(U.S. spec
bumpers, speedo, emissions compliance, etc.), to meet D.O.T. and EPA
requirements.  Typical conversion/certificaton price was US$2,000-4,000.  

Problem was twofold:

1.  U.S. dealers complained this was eating into their sales

and they responded by

2.  "We do not service Grey Market Cars"

Their explanation, not altogether incorrect, was that European-spec cars had
slightly different parts for anything from control arms to distributors,
injectors, gas tanks, etc.  Plus European cars had options not available in
U.S. spec cars.

The Government made the Guidelines stricter (had to be U.S. spec before
import, and at least 5 years old.  Not sure how strict they are now.  Anyone
with recent (past 5 years) grey market import experience?

Just my $.02

-Ingo