So the search was on to replace my 106 GTI Recce car for something a bit more
modern and comfortable. My navigator/girlfriend would be driving the car to
events while I towed the rally car and the full GrpN spec 106 was a bit raw.
I always loved the 197 and would look at them as a modern day 106 plus they had become very affordable so I began my search. It had to be white with Recaros, I wasn't bothered about
much else.
About 3 minutes on Pistonheads and the search was over. This one was available in Doncaster
but I was working in Dallas so after a few Whatsapp pictures I send a deposit via Paypal and took my chances.
2 weeks later I got a €58 flight from Dublin to Doncaster, handed over the cash and pointed the 197 for Holyhead.
A picture from the ferry, I got a 9am flight out of Dublin, had the deal done and was on the
road at 11.30, got a 17.15 sailing out of Holyhead and was back in Dublin at 19.15.
I was now 2 hours from home with a new car and my VW Transporter in the car park
at the airport so as luck would have it, the earth wire for the fuel pump under the
rear seat "Broke" and a certain yellow recovery company I am a member of had to
transport the 197 home for me
Now, the problem with Importing a car into Eire is this, we need to pay Vehicle Registration Tax
(VRT) and this is charged at 34% of the OMSP of the same car in Ireland. The book value of
the car is €6500 which means I would need to pay €2250 just to put an Irish reg on the car.
But for a commercial vehicle its only 13.5% so that would work out at €877.
Unfortunately a Renault sport Clio 197 van does not exist on any database
so I had to convert it, get an engineers report and bring it for a manual inspection.
They came back with a quote of €649 total saving of €1601.
I left in the Isofix bar and hinged my MDF off it so now I have a secret cubby hole
Some vinyl panels just for the inspection, they are not a must have but looks a bit
more convincing.
modern and comfortable. My navigator/girlfriend would be driving the car to
events while I towed the rally car and the full GrpN spec 106 was a bit raw.
I always loved the 197 and would look at them as a modern day 106 plus they had become very affordable so I began my search. It had to be white with Recaros, I wasn't bothered about
much else.
About 3 minutes on Pistonheads and the search was over. This one was available in Doncaster
but I was working in Dallas so after a few Whatsapp pictures I send a deposit via Paypal and took my chances.
2 weeks later I got a €58 flight from Dublin to Doncaster, handed over the cash and pointed the 197 for Holyhead.
A picture from the ferry, I got a 9am flight out of Dublin, had the deal done and was on the
road at 11.30, got a 17.15 sailing out of Holyhead and was back in Dublin at 19.15.
I was now 2 hours from home with a new car and my VW Transporter in the car park
at the airport so as luck would have it, the earth wire for the fuel pump under the
rear seat "Broke" and a certain yellow recovery company I am a member of had to
transport the 197 home for me
Now, the problem with Importing a car into Eire is this, we need to pay Vehicle Registration Tax
(VRT) and this is charged at 34% of the OMSP of the same car in Ireland. The book value of
the car is €6500 which means I would need to pay €2250 just to put an Irish reg on the car.
But for a commercial vehicle its only 13.5% so that would work out at €877.
Unfortunately a Renault sport Clio 197 van does not exist on any database
so I had to convert it, get an engineers report and bring it for a manual inspection.
They came back with a quote of €649
total saving of €1601.I left in the Isofix bar and hinged my MDF off it so now I have a secret cubby hole
Some vinyl panels just for the inspection, they are not a must have but looks a bit
more convincing.
