Do I bring my car or buy a new one?

donnaclews · 26-03-2010, 06:21 PM

Hi, we will be moving Kowloon side of HK in the next 6 - 8 weeks and don't know whether to sell our cars and buy another one in HK or whether to bring one with us.

We have a Land Rover Discovery. It is 6 years old and a diesel.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

D.

carang · 26-03-2010, 06:26 PM

don't think that private vehicles are allowed to be diesel....

how much will it cost to bring them?
what side drive are they?

second hand vehicles are not that expensive here, personally, i'd just buy one here.

Skyhook · 26-03-2010, 06:37 PM

I forgot to answer Donna's previous question about bringing in her Disco into Hong Kong. Oops, soz....

Personally I wouldn't, unless the plan was to ship the car back, to the UK, upon repatriating, as it will get punished for being a private import if put on the used car market here, over a HK version.

The Discovery is a Euro 4 or 5 diesel, and are sold in Hong Kong as a 4 wheel drive, so they are legally allowed to be sold/imported into the HKSAR. Only diesel passenger cars ( sedans ) were previously banned.

Also from this year ( 2010 ) it is now legal to buy brand NEW EURO 5 diesel passenger cars, ( FINALLY ! ) which is a major bonus.

Also as a rule of thumb. Only cars that are rare, are in huge demand ( like Nissans GTR was for a little while ) which are hard hard to get locally, that have some classic car status, like a 1988 Bentley Continental convertible, or some odd ball classic Italian exotic, then it' s worth importing it into HK with the intention of making a profit.

If your car in the UK, is as common as muck here, you will lose money, on the used car market against the locally authorised versions.

bdw · 26-03-2010, 06:51 PM

Is it Left hand drive or RHD?

Why do you even need a car in HK in the first place?

Skyhook · 26-03-2010, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by bdw:

Is it Left hand drive or RHD?

Why do you even need a car in HK in the first place?

Maybe Donna is planning on living in the New Territories, and has kids.
Also its possible that she doesn't plan on spending $3000 a week on eating out, drinking, in which case, the money saved by not doing that, will easily pay for her $1900- $2400 monthly fuel bill, and the freedom to explore the outer limits, like Brides Pool, with a gas BBQ in the back, a fully loaded esky, 6 deck chairs and the ability to enjoy the outdoors in comfort, in 1/3rd of the time it would take somebody on the bus.

But yeah, if she plans to live in the Mid Levels, then sure, no need for a car, and the kids can just veg in front of the TV, playing Wii or Playstation games...

Depends what lifestyle you live, at the end of the day...

carang · 26-03-2010, 07:01 PM

bdw, depending on where you live, a car can be a necessity... 99% of hk a car is a total luxury and completely unnecessary... however, for 1 % of us, it IS necessary.

if the OP is still considering DB, then she's totally crazy to consider importing a car which will only be used on occasional weekends.

Skyhook · 26-03-2010, 07:07 PM

In that case, if Donna plans to live in DB, where cars are not permitted, it would be a bit of a waste of time, especially considering that she would have to park the thing in City Gate ( Tung Chung ) and pay another 2K a month in parking fee's.

And I agree with Carang 100%

Some people pay $30K a month for a little 3 bedroom flat in the mid levels in the heart of the city, some spend $18,000 a month and get a 2100ft2 4 bedroom home out in the NT, and choose to drive ie own a car, while still being financially in front.

Nothing wrong with that, in my opinion, especially if you have kids.

carang · 26-03-2010, 07:09 PM

HA HA HA.... we only pay $16.8k for the 2100' but ours has 5 bedrooms(if you include helper's room)....

you would have to pay me to live in the mid-levels...

bdw · 26-03-2010, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by Skyhook:

Maybe Donna is planning on living in the New Territories, and has kids.
Also its possible that she doesn't plan on spending $3000 a week on eating out, drinking, in which case, the money saved by not doing that, will easily pay for her $1900- $2400 monthly fuel bill, and the freedom to explore the outer limits, like Brides Pool, with a gas BBQ in the back, a fully loaded esky, 6 deck chairs and the ability to enjoy the outdoors in comfort, in 1/3rd of the time it would take somebody on the bus.

But yeah, if she plans to live in the Mid Levels, then sure, no need for a car, and the kids can just veg in front of the TV, playing Wii or Playstation games...

Depends what lifestyle you live, at the end of the day...

Yes thats basically my question. Just trying to get a bit of background on why the OP wants a car in HK. Most people can get by without one, so unless there is a particular reason it may not really be necessary.

jgl · 26-03-2010, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by bdw:

Yes thats basically my question. Just trying to get a bit of background on why the OP wants a car in HK. Most people can get by without one, so unless there is a particular reason it may not really be necessary.

You do realise that in HK we drive on the same side as the road as the Brits, right? Hong Kong being an ex-British colony and all.