Don't Know What To Do

[usafimj]

I'm getting stationed in Germany in Feb '11 for the next 3-4yrs. Not sure whats after that. Now the Air Force will ship a car for free which will be my wifes/family car. To ship over my Mustang I've been told it'll cost around $2000 to ship to/from Germany each way. What would you guys do?

Option #1- Take ride
Option #2- Leave ride with someone or put in storage but 3-4yrs is a long time
Option #3- Sell ride, pay bills, get 2014/15 GT, Boss, Cobra or whatever is out at the time.

 

[06whipple]

sell it and save for what will be coming

 

[Riptide]

Some of it depends on how attached you are to the car. If you love it and really want to keep it then forget option 3. If it feels like a dime a dozen car to you then go with option 3.

If it comes down to storing it how much would that cost vs. the 2 g's to take it with you? There is that to consider. I wouldn't even think about storing it unless I could get it done cheaply and ideally by someone I trust who could keep the car driven and change the oil for you occasionally.

PS: I bet you'd get a lot of looks in Germany with that car.

 

[Bullitt3478]

either take it or sell it.I wouldnt leave it behind though.

 

[bullitt boy]

Take it with you drive it for the time you are there and sell it before you come home.

 

[06gtmustang]

option 3 then get something better when you come back

 

[Riptide]

Take it with you drive it for the time you are there and sell it before you come home.

Option 4? That went through my mind as well.. Good idea. I bet he could fetch a nice price for it over there where it's probably a rarer car.

 

[HellsBells]

A car is one of the few things that you buy as a depreciating asset on what is (usually) an interest-bearing loan.

Even if you paid it off, it's just sitting there losing value whether you drive it or not.

That being said, $2000 one way is pricey to ship over a car unless you really really like it. I think you'd probably be better off selling it and tossing that money into a CD or some other investment. Come 3-4 years, your balance would have grown by a fair amount and you'd be set to at least throw the down payment on a new car.

If I were in your position and it were my Mustang, I'd be torn too but financially speaking, the smart thing to do is to sell it.

 

[usafimj]

Don't really want to let it go cuz I've done all the work on it myself except for the gears and I'm just in love with Grabber Orange. I know it sounds gay.

 

[LuckyH]

A car is one of the few things that you buy as a depreciating asset on what is (usually) an interest-bearing loan.

Even if you paid it off, it's just sitting there losing value whether you drive it or not.

That being said, $2000 one way is pricey to ship over a car unless you really really like it. I think you'd probably be better off selling it and tossing that money into a CD or some other investment. Come 3-4 years, your balance would have grown by a fair amount and you'd be set to at least throw the down payment on a new car.

If I were in your position and it were my Mustang, I'd be torn too but financially speaking, the smart thing to do is to sell it.

You havent seen CD rately lately have you

If he were to sell it he could very well take a hit all the same.

 

[KungFuHamster]

keep it.

 

[Riptide]

Agree keep it then it sounds like it's important to you.

Plus the resale value on the car isn't exactly a king's ransom anyway. Just pay to take it with you. I bet you'll be happy you did.

 

[Rasmus]

$2000 is ridiculous. It can be done for half, and less than that depending on your location.

 

[MADGT]

Shop around for a better ship price. I sent a vehicle over back in 2002 for about $600 one way and $800 back. Could it have jumped to $2K one way? Probably, but shop around. Your stang will do great in the Autobahns.....

 

[Herknav]

I'm getting stationed in Germany in Feb '11 for the next 3-4yrs. Not sure whats after that. Now the Air Force will ship a car for free which will be my wifes/family car. To ship over my Mustang I've been told it'll cost around $2000 to ship to/from Germany each way. What would you guys do?

Option #1- Take ride
Option #2- Leave ride with someone or put in storage but 3-4yrs is a long time
Option #3- Sell ride, pay bills, get 2014/15 GT, Boss, Cobra or whatever is out at the time.

You really should check, I believe you get two vehicles shipped because you're married... I may be wrong though...

I shipped the stang when I moved to Germany and ended up buying a second car for winter use... You get very good deals on German cars so don't count the idea out, ($10k under MSRP for my BMW)...

 

[Herknav]

Option 4? That went through my mind as well.. Good idea. I bet he could fetch a nice price for it over there where it's probably a rarer car.

There are some complications. Unless he sells it to someone covered by the SOFA, he will have to export the vehicle to sell it, not to mention the car will need to be inspected to ensure it passes German safety standards. There will be some taxes involved as well.

If he sells it to someone covered by the SOFA, he won't get anything special for it, as they can all purchase from AAFES New Car purchasing, (which is a pretty good deal for select US autos).

Also keep in mind the car will have to pass a safety inspection which includes sound testing (no higher than 95 db at WOT), minimum height, no tint on the front windows, etc.

 

[Herknav]

Your stang will do great in the Autobahns.....

Actually, it will get passed by station wagons... 5 speeds run out of gear over there...

 

[bullitt boy]

Good info Herk^

 

[BruceH]

You really should check, I believe you get two vehicles shipped because you're married... I may be wrong though...

I shipped the stang when I moved to Germany and ended up buying a second car for winter use... You get very good deals on German cars so don't count the idea out, ($10k under MSRP for my BMW)...

Sell your wife's car. Ship the Mustang over. Buy a German car from a GI who is leaving. Speedo will be in klicks and you will have a car for autobahn driving. Don't make the mistake of taking your American sedan over to Deutchland.

 

[BLKBULLITT]

The autobhan will honestly be no good for the car. An occasional driver will be fine but not everyday commute.

I say take it with you tho. Dont make the mistake of selling the car you love. Youll never get over it