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Importing US spec Prius to UK

Discussion in 'International Owners' started by wahoo, Aug 2, 2015.

  1. wahoo

    wahoo New Member

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    My employer has assigned me to London for the next two years. They will pay all vehicle shipping expenses but I am responsible for any vehicle conversion costs required by the UK. From my research the most common conversions required seem to be vehicle lighting.

    Does anyone have any experience with the costs/difficulty of converting a US spec 2008 Prius to meet UK MOT standards? How about availability of parts to fix a US spec Prius?

    Thank you!
     
    #1 wahoo, Aug 2, 2015
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    #2 JimboPalmer, Aug 2, 2015
    bisco likes this.
  3. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    I don't have experience with the conversion costs.

    If any parts unique to the North American Prius fail (for example, coolant heat recovery system pump, canister, engine coolant valve) then you'll probably have a long wait for the parts to be shipped from Japan.

    I would be more concerned about trying to drive a LHD vehicle on roads where you drive on the left.
     
    #3 Patrick Wong, Aug 2, 2015
  4. wahoo

    wahoo New Member

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    Thanks for the links. The lights are halogen which I believe are cheaper to modify. It looks like it will need a red rear fog light and perhaps changes to the aim of the headlights.

    I'll have access to APO/DPO so I'm hopeful that I could order parts from a US dealership if the US parts of indeed different--but that is certainly an issue to consider.

    If anyone has any more ideas, I'm all ears. Thanks!
     
    #4 wahoo, Aug 2, 2015
  5. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

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    I would look into selling my current car and leasing (2 year lease) a car over there.
     
    #5 Munpot42, Aug 2, 2015
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  6. ftl

    ftl Explicator

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    I agree. I'm from England but learned to drive in the USA after I moved here many years ago. Since then I've visited the UK at least once a year for two or three weeks, renting a stick-shift car each time and driving a thousand miles or more each time. While I have no problem switching sides of the road and using the gear shift with my other hand, I would be very nervous about doing it in a LHD car.
    Traffic is *very* different now in the UK from what it used to be, with far more cars on the road and far less attention to lane discipline and common courtesy.
     
    #6 ftl, Aug 2, 2015
  7. wahoo

    wahoo New Member

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    Thanks. I had the impression that with it's proximity to many EU countries with LHD cars that this was somewhat common in the UK. I'll have to reconsider.
     
    #7 wahoo, Aug 2, 2015
  8. Beachbummm

    Beachbummm Senior Member

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    it an 08, sell t now, buy some thing cheap there. by the time you come back it will be 10 years old and not worth the trouble, bring back a nice jag e type
     
    #8 Beachbummm, Aug 2, 2015
  9. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I believe you will need new headlights.
     
    #9 JimboPalmer, Aug 2, 2015
  10. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    That is quite possible since the headlight pattern is optimized for the side of the road that it is assumed the car will be driven on.
    Need to make sure that the car to be imported into the US has stickers which shows it complies with US Federal safety and emissions standards, or else forget that idea.
     
    #10 Patrick Wong, Aug 2, 2015
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    how much does it cost to ship a car from here to there, and back again? seems like a waste of fuel.
     
    #11 bisco, Aug 2, 2015
  12. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

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    OP is apparently a US military or other US government employee and the vehicle transportation is likely part of his relocation allowance.
     
    #12 Patrick Wong, Aug 2, 2015
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