Hey,
My g'f has her sights set on importing a calibra. (not the holden version, the opel version).
Ever since we saw one shes wanted it. spoke to the owner and he said it cost 6000 to fully import, price of the car and compliance. and it comes in a turbo version.
These look much better than they australian version, was wondering what the process is?
who imports form germany.
where these opels made any where else?
92 version http://www.rsportscars.com/foto/07/calibra94_01.jpg
96 version http://memimage.cardomain.com/membe...99/283122_7.jpg (http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/7/web/283000-283999/283122_7.jpg)
again http://memimage.cardomain.com/membe...99/283122_2.jpg (http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/7/web/283000-283999/283122_2.jpg)
another http://memimage.cardomain.com/membe...99/283122_3.jpg (http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/7/web/283000-283999/283122_3.jpg)
http://memimage.cardomain.com/membe...9/293753_90.jpg (http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/293000-293999/293753_90.jpg)
turbo model 92 - http://memimage.cardomain.com/membe...99/251728_6.jpg (http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/11/web/251000-251999/251728_6.jpg)
Holden and Vauxhall in the UK are the only other Calibra's out there that I'm aware of. All are made by Opel however.
I'd look at the price of a local turbo Calibra first plus the cost of buying just the good looking bits she likes from an Opel dealer in Germany. Might save you a packet and you'd hold on to your resale value (if you keep the Holden bits and convert it back when selling). You'd expect bumpers and other trim bits and pieces would bolt straight on, even if they are different, though I wasn't aware there was all that much cosmetic difference, except for the badges on the Euro versions.
Importing from Europe for a car it's age you'd be looking at a lot of corrosion unless it's been garaged from new (pretty rare) and a RH drive conversion.
Same problem from the UK, except you save the steering conversion.
More hassle than it's worth I'd think.
After your second post, I'd just go looking at German/Euro aftermarket body kit suppliers if thats the kind of look she wants. Get the same look bolting it all onto a local one.
Almost none of that bolt on rubbish is genuine Opel.
the other version (overseas) has a wider body etc, therefore unable to bolt on pieces etc.
the car we saw, was RHD ( i should have asked him)
alot of differences, hence why she doesn't want a aus version.
Quote:
the other version (overseas) has a wider body etc, therefore unable to bolt on pieces etc.
Whhhhhat..?
Who told you that..?, the Opel, Vauxhaul, Holden Calibra are one and the same bar a few cosmetic differences such as badging, grilles etc
When I was living in the UK 10years ago I was seriously considering importing cars to AUS as they were so cheap to purchase over there, Sierra Cosworths were 4500- 5000 pounds...$10'000 AUS at the time.
But, unless you had owned the vehicle for 12 months, you had to pay a 50% import tax on the purchase price of the vehicle, plus shipping $1600, then all the other customs fees licensing in AUS etc etc.
Honestly, as already has been said, buy an Aussie Calibra, they are pretty much unloved and cheap anyway, then add the kit, all those car domain pics are definately not factory!
Also, Wide body kits were big in the early 90's in the UK and are only fibreglass add ons if thats what you want.
Hope this helps
Hey Greg,
One of my good mates has a Calibra and its a nice car but FARK ME DEAD is it difficult to get parts for it, and when you can get them they are REDICULOUSLY expensive.
He has had big problems getting even the simplest of parts. For example one of the top coolant hoses burst. The only place you can get them is from GMH, he had to wait 2 weeks, and it cost a lovely $139 dollars.
All of that for piss ant piece of hose.
And don't get me started on how hard it was trying to find parts when 3rd gear died. He had to end up getting a new gearbox!!
Just warning ya mate.
Cheers.
cheers mate,
she after a calibra, silvia or skyline,
the later two are pretty easy to get parts for etc, one of them. sounds like more hassle than its worth.
thanks.
Having owned a calibra, they are not worth the trouble and the turbo 4wd models are prone to expensive driveline breakages.
The V6 is a very expensive engine to maintain and requires a lot of maintenence. The Inline4 isnt too bad - i had this model in a manual form and it was ok - however the engine electrics are totally stuffed. I bought it at action for a seemingly cheap price to make a quick buck - ended up breaking JUST even and i sold it for 9500, Red with 120,000kms on the clock when i sold it. I had it for 4 months and it served its purpose well - but i was chasing my tail with this constant missfire problem. It would magically dissapear for 1000kms then it would come back for 500kms then be really bad for another 500kms then be ok again. Tried everything that was cheap enough and tested a lot of equipment, but with such an intemient thing it was hard to trace.
In short - not a bad handling car - looks good from most angles but theres just too many problems and resell value is very limited and the buyers are scarce.
Parts for a silvia and skyline are so cheap and so plentyful - you could afford to swap an engine instead of rebuilding it if it was to blow up! I know what it feels like to be passionate about a car - especially one with its fair share of problems ( VL Anyone?? ) but i went with my gut and bought my VL at 17, now almost 4 years later i still love the ****ing thing even though it has costed me a packet - but its brought me to a community and society that ill never forget - not to mention taught me almost everything i know about cars and custom fabrication.
Up to your GF really - but ide be going for a nissan flavor having once owned a caliba (never again!)
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by darkstar
and the turbo 4wd models are prone to expensive driveline breakages.
Cannot stress this enough. I was looking at one before I bought the VLT and by god the costs!!!
Perhaps a nice little engine swap to an RB20DET? Heheh, if you've got deep pockets it'd be fun.
I currently own a 4x4 turbo calibra and they are definately no different to the 1s in germany etc.. even then with the new laws for importing you couldnt do it for at least another 2 years at the earliest, unless you wanna go live there for a while..
now as for them costing a lot.... YES they CAN do. but every car CAN cost you a lot
the main problem that most people have and y I think a lot of ppl dont like them is coz they dont know much about them.
I have had my turbo for just over 12 months now and had a non turbo version before that (show car too) and I havent had hardly any problems. those that I have havent been because of the way it is driven but more to the fact that ppl didnt know how to work on the car. unfortuately this killed the 4x4 box.
now also with this great thing that we all use every day called the internet parts a easily gotten out of germany/england at a fraction of the cost from holden and some times even quicker!
at the end of the day I honestly feel they arent that bad..
need any help.. just ask any of us over on http://www.holden-calibra.org and on the forum there.
sorry for the long post but thought I might be able to shed some light on it for you all..
if you want to have a look at my calibra go to http://calibra.bassdistribution.com.au and all its details are there.
cheers
