Lotus Elise S and VRT

ArphaRima

I'm currently researching purchasing a new Lotus Elise S 2007 model (obviously in 2007, not now...). The UK list price is 24K STG including UK VAT. There only seems to be one Irish dealer (linders), and the price starts at 50,000 Euro. It just doesnt seem right. The revenue.ie website doesnt have Lotus listed in their VRT calculator, but its my understanding that the car will only be 44,000 due to a 25% tax for cars below 1900cc.
I was also researching to see if buying the car in a country with less than the UK VAT rate would do.
Anybody have any experience with VRT and VAT issues for importing cars within the EU/UK?

It is a damn nice car though...

the_batman

fluffer wrote:

I'm currently researching purchasing a new Lotus Elise S 2007 model (obviously in 2007, not now...). The UK list price is 24K STG including UK VAT. There only seems to be one Irish dealer (linders), and the price starts at 50,000 Euro. It just doesnt seem right. The revenue.ie website doesnt have Lotus listed in their VRT calculator, but its my understanding that the car will only be 44,000 due to a 25% tax for cars below 1900cc.
I was also researching to see if buying the car in a country with less than the UK VAT rate would do.
Anybody have any experience with VRT and VAT issues for importing cars within the EU/UK?

It is a damn nice car though...

If you buy the car in the UK for export, you are not liable for VAT in the UK. Therefore the price would be a little less than 20k STG. You would however be liable for VRT and VAT (at 21%).

the_batman

There will be a new lotus elise launched soon in Ireland, with a price tag of less than €40,000. From what I remember it will be a light version of the elise S.

I have dealt with Linders before and found them to be excellent. They regularly have track days and invite lotus owners to the track days to enjoy their cars. They also have a few of their own cars available for propective customers to give it a go.

bazz26

the_batman wrote:

There will be a new lotus elise launched soon in Ireland, with a price tag of less than €40,000. From what I remember it will be a light version of the elise S.

I have dealt with Linders before and found them to be excellent. They regularly have track days and invite lotus owners to the track days to enjoy their cars. They also have a few of their own cars available for propective customers to give it a go.

Rumor has it they are going to bring back the Europa name:




It is supposed to have a detuned version of the 2.0 Turbo engine from the Opel Astra OPC. Talking about 197bhp afaik.

Henry Ford III

bazz26 wrote:

Rumor has it they are going to bring back the Europa name:

It is supposed to have a detuned version of the 2.0 Turbo engine from the Opel Astra OPC. Talking about 197bhp afaik.

Channell 4's website rates it very badly.

RobAMerc

If it is less than 6 months old then VAT is also payable when it gets here.
You might be as well off if buying new to buy as an export in Denmark or somewhere thats super expensive for cars. Then pay our only slightly less rediculous taxes here. Otherwise try pick up a demo model in UK > 6 months old, but given the type of car it is the demo might have lived a hard life by the time you got it!

On another note (only for those who have driven one please), are these really that good ?
Generally consensus from the motoring mags is never too far wrong so they probably are brilliant, but are they liveable with as an everyday car ?

Gatster

Channell 4's website rates it very badly

Jesus it gets slated! Was always slightly cynical, I'd have a 350z and haggle hard for a discount, and a very nice holiday if I was in the UK...:D

smash

ye the europa is coming back now. I love the Elisa and really want to bring one in but I don't know about the VRT and I'm scared to ask cos they'll screw me.

Gatster

I'll say this much - Lotus (and more importantly to me personally, Porsche), are not on the VRT website for a very definite reason, which is IMO to enable them to pull your pants down and give you a damn good thrashing over the price (or having the audacity to consider importing one). This has been discussed elsewhere on these pages before, I've nearly given up on the Porsche idea because of VRT and insurance...

But good luck, always warms my cockles to see a nice Elise/Exige on the roads.

smash

well even any semi exotic car isn't listed on the VRT site. It's a joke...

JHMEG

For ones not on the website you can just phone them up they'll quote you over the phone.

ArphaRima

I'm fully expecting a farce of a procedure involving taxation issues and VRT in particular. However I have plenty of time to organise the whole thing as I live abroad. And I dont shy from a fight. (in fact I live in Vietnam and have done for 2 years -not that it helps me VRT-wise, cars cost Waaaaay more here...)

On another note -wow the europa got trashed. But then again it never did look pretty. If it was pretty they would've gone easier I reckon.

I guess I'll wait for the elise s to be released in ireland, then get talking either to linders or lotus direct depending on their pricing...

the_batman

The Elise 111S is available in Ireland. It is €49,950. The Elise 111R is €59,950.

There is going to be a light version released soon which will probably cost €39,950.

All of the cars are brilliant on the track, and provided you are flexible (and neither you or your passenger ever wear a skirt or a dress) then you should be able to live with it day to day.

What about an exige? They are extreme!

smash

ye but that doesn't make much difference because it's what they say on the day you vring it down that counts.

Bumble-B

I own a Lotus Elise and can confirm that they are a brilliant car to drive.

However, if you are going to buy one of these cars (or any other performance car) you need to make sure you buy it from a dealer who specialises in performance cars and have a history of doing so.

I bought my Elise from Linders in Dublin. I would buy another Elise at the drop of a hat - but I will never again deal with Linders. Never! I don't know what Lotus were on when they appointed these guys as their main dealers in Ireland - but I'm sure it hasn't helped their Irish sales targets.

JHMEG

As a private individual (not a company) you will pay UK VAT @ 17.5%. When you land the car here you are liable for VRT, and VAT (again) at 21% if the car is less than 6 months old.

I believe SIMI lobbied for this, and got it.

Double VAT, illegal by EU rules, but apparently no-one has challenged it.

http://www.revenue.ie/faqs/faq_cat8.htm#13

"In the case of a new means of transport i.e. land vehicles (excluding agricultural tractors) that were supplied six months or less after the date of first entry into service or have travelled 6,000 Kilometres or less, VAT is chargeable and normally payable at the time of registration in the State, even where there is evidence, e.g. an invoice, that VAT was paid in the country of purchase."

testicle

Can you claim back the UK VAT as you bought it for export?

JHMEG

testicle wrote:

Can you claim back the UK VAT as you bought it for export?

Private citizens of the EU cannot claim back VAT.

If you are exporting outside the EU then, then yes I believe you can. Or if you're a VAT-registered company.

jozi

So fluffer, you got a new lotus sitting at your door step then?

I'd love to hear what its like to have such an amazing car

ArphaRima

I hope to once I move back to Ireland. In August 2007! I've yet to decide on how to proceed (with my purchase method/route). Its likely I'll purchase from the UK. Till then.

Funxy

Best of luck with it. They are a really excellent car and i know you'll love your choice. I would advise however if you could stretch it go for a 111r. The toyota engine is a hell of alot better then the rover one. Either ones excellent though, let us know how it goes!