Going to Germany...

[moocow345]

Hey all, I've been a long time lurker on these forums (mainly jealously looking at various readers rides.) But you guys have become a trustworthy source of information about all things retro to me! However I have a question that I can't find on the forums.

I am moving to Germany (Mainz) and I'll be taking my UK 2CV with me and registering over there. I also own a Ford Ka which I intend to sell and replace with a car in Germany (I understand the insurance would be higher for the KA and it is boring anyway.) so I are my questions:
Is there a retro rides equivalent over there for me to find a half decent car as my daily over there?
Are cars relatively more expensive there?
Should I buy a retro here in the UK and take it or buy there?
Or should I just take the UK Ka and get it registered over there too?

To be fair the 2CV will be my daily while I sort myself out (and learn German) but I was wondering what way would be best?

Cheers

Moocow345

[dodgerover]

I personally wouldn't bother taking the Ka with you permenantly, why not just take it and run it there for a while on british plates, (obviously you'll need to keep some sort of british postal address), RHD cars tend to be worth much less in Europe as England is the only real market for them, you could always bring it back and sell it
There are quite a few German RR people on here so I'm sure someone else will be able to offer some advice.

[Oldbus]

If i were you mate i´d sell the Ka and get a cheap runaround once you´re over here - it´ll then have German docs and TÜV and will only need reregistering in your name. Don´t forget a lot have german towns have banned old cars without cats...

Regarding your 2cv, i´m not sure what condition it is in but if it´s been modified in any way it´ll be difficult to get it TÜVed over here.

If it´s in decent original condition you´ll need to put it through the MOT(TÜV)sort out some insurance and go to the local car registry office to get the paperwork sorted. You´ll will have to be a german resident to do that though but if you´re living and working over here then it´ll be no problem.

By the way if the car is in good nick and in original condition you can get cheap classic car insurance and reduced road tax (191€/year)if you register it on an Historical numberplate.

[moocow345]

Hi Thanks for the answers guys,

Regarding the Ka my wife has decided to sell it so that matter has been resolved!

My 2CV is an '86 Charleston. It has a galvanised chassis and electric ignition which I'm not sure whether that will count as modified? This car is my baby and will be coming no matter the issues it raises. My hope is to use it as the daily car until we settle and then find a runabout over there. Do you guys know where I can find retros (youngtimers??) over in Germany to be this car. I wont lie the dream of listening to Kraftwerks 'Autobahn' on the Autobahn in an E28/W123 is very appealing to me at the moment!

[Oldbus]

Unfortunately you´ll have to wait a couple of years mate to get the cheap road tax - they need to be 30 years old.

I´ve just checked to webside from Mainz for you and they have a so called "Umweltzone" for Mainz & Wiesbaden which, assuming the Citroen doesn´t have a catalist converter, means you won´t be able to drive it on german plates legally in the town, you should be alright on UK plates for a while though until you get yourself sorted.

oh and if you´re looking for a car try...

www.mobile.de

or

www.autoscout24.de

or
www.ebay.de