sell it or store it?

Here's the story - I bought my 2002 C2 one year ago, got a decent deal, but by the time I imported it to Vancouver, paid the exchange (16% at the time) and the taxes, and some tires, I paid just under retail at the time. So here I am one year later, and I'm being transferred to the UK for three years. I initially though I'd be bringing the car with me, but because the company is providing a (generic) car with insurance, fuel, and maintenance all paid for, this will not be practical. It will cost me a fair few $ to ship it and I'll probably not really drive the car much because I'll be working all the time and I will have a daily driver paid for. I don't really need the hassle of importing a car to a country where I am not a resident either. I'm not ruling it out, but I think there are better options. So I've been trying to sell the car without taking a HUGE HUGE haircut, and this is proving difficult. I am setting my max loss at $10K, which will put a MkII 96 in some canadian's garage for a smoking deal. Probably the cheapest in town. Problem is, absolutely no one is buying Porsche's here, at any price from what I have seen. This is problem #1. Problem #2 is that I really really like the car. Every time I drive it (which is every day) I can't imagine driving something other than a Porsche. So the three years I will try to choke back..it won't be easy, but I think I can do it. Three years later though....I'd like to be in a GT3, but you know how it is - a Porsche in the hand os worth a GT3 in the showroom (or something like that). So here's the bit where I ask for your opinions and ideas. Would anyone here consider storing the car for three years? My fear is that this would f&ck the car up. Thoughts guys? .

If you're not strapped for cash, I'd say store it IF you know you're coming back home in a short period of time. But you never know, 3 years could become 5 then 10 then... ?

i smell a barn find here in 20 years or so.....good luck with whatever decision you make...not an easy one.

I was in a similar position 3 years ago. My company sent me from Zurich, Switzerland to DC and I had a very nice BMW Z3 2.8i with low miles that I only owned for about 1 year. I considered storing it but my deciding factor was that a Z3 is like a 996 not a very special car. There are so many around that they don't hold their value and it's easy to get another nice example 3 or whatever years later. I got a 996 here in the US that I'll most probably bring to Europe this summer. So my advice: sell it. It's not only economically nonsense to keep the 996; your life changes, your taste will change so you might just want to get a 997 GT3 when you come back.

If you are planning on keeping it forever, store it. If not, sell it.

Sell it, just think how much you can pick one up for when you get back. it will still depreciate over the next 3 years sitting.If your going to keep it forever keep it, if not sell it.

OK - you guys are telling what I have been thinking already. What adrag having to sell, but I think it was hwk who said it best. 997GT3 here I come.

Hey man, congrats on the job move. I remember talking to you about getting that car over here I'm sure you can sell it in Vancouver, throw it on Craiglist ... don't put it too low or my porsche won't be worth much hehe I agree with the gang, sell it and get your GT3. I'm thinking of supercharging mine haha

I'd say store it if it's paid off and you don't have to pay for the storage costs, why not? But if you have to pay storage something like ~$200/mo * 36 mos, that's $7200 right there. GL with your move...

If you try to buy a car in canada and bring it back to the US, how much does something like this cost? And what exactly is involved? Or can I just drive it through canada/us border without issues or delays? Thanks a bunch guys, Jim

Bring it to the UK and sell it for Euro. The exchange rate is so poor for the US and Canadian dollar that you can make your money back. Use www.mobile.de or www.autoscout.de - Russian and other non conforming countries are buying cars from NA in droves ATT. Worth a second thought...

they drive on the wrong side of the road in GB>

True but the UK is the biggest broker for obtaining euro approval for getting the vehicle on the road. Change the side markers and ensure the headlights are realligned and you can sell to the rest of Europe.

Any decent relo package provides for loss on the sale of your car(s). Check with your HR department. There's always room for negotiation. The UK ? Poor you.

This might sound ridiculous, but is there any chance your employer's relo package might pick up some of the loss? With senior people in particular, I've heard more outrageous things. Anyway, FWIW, I think the 'sell' advice is right, unless there's sentimental value to consider. If I was storing this car for three years, I'd plan for a lot of work before I even started it up. Add that to depreciation, and it really does get to be a bad deal.

sell, sell, sell, sell.... gt3, gt3 gt3, gt3...

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Exactly. Forget the rest of your sentence. Sell your car and you will be back in the GT. Easy.

I personally would sell it and save my $$$ for a GT3. If the car sits for 3 years you are going to have go through it a lot to sort it out.

How much do you want for it? I am looking, being an 02 it might be a bit out of my reach, but if you are selling it for a price thats competitive or better then what I can get it out of the states for then let me know for sure. Should have brought it back through Alberta. 5% GST and 4%? duty makes it a good bit cheaper leaving out the PST.

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Hey jeff.... Even if I would have brought it in through AB I wwould have had to make up the tax when I registered in BC. I'll PM you with my pricing...it should be very attractive compared to importing your own.

Storing a car just sucks for the vehicle. Seals dry out, rubber rots, fluids & lubes settle and don't protect parts as well. If your going to store the vehicle for a long time, ideally you should get somebody to take it for a drive once a month or so to make sure things still work and don't start rotting too bad.

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Agreed! Just ask Phil about this!

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Well that's the thing eh? I knew this all along, just needed someone to say it. Basically I need to be talked out of keeping this car. I just got back from running an errand and I gotta say (once again) that this car is damned near perfect for me at this point in my life. Man..oh well. Thanks for telling me why I shouldn't store it.

Humidity, mold, insects, rodents... They were designed as cars to run, not pieces of art to sit around in one place and merely be admired (although it is a dam beautiful car). Personally I wouldn't really plan to store a vehicle over a year. Sell it, then come back when the time is right and replace it with something more current. Unless it's got a lot of sentimental value, or is particularly collectible or something. That can change the equation a bit.

I have a friend looking for an inexpensive 02 C2. Please pm pricing. Thanks.

Don't you have family or friends who could keep it for you? Or does owning a 996 come at the expense of both? Just kidding.

Sell. These cars don't like sitting and they still loose value.