Euro Issues to look out for?

[sbmackie]

Greetings,

I am looking at a Euro Carrera, currently registerd here in the US, bought by current owner from a Porsche dealer.

Are they registerable/insurable anywhere?

Why are they lighter then US cars?

Are there parts issues?

It has a cat but no 02. Does putting an 02 sensor in require a complete re-map of the induction/fuel metering system?

Anytyhing else to look out for?

Thanks

I have the Vin, so will check with the home stat DMV and my insurer anyway.

[aigel]

It would be good to know what year this car is.

When was it imported? If it was not imported when new, I would be very leery of rust. Tons of salt on German and European roads, even a couple years will leave severe damage, compared to a car from your neck of the woods or CA etc.

In the end you have to ask what the added value is, of buying a grey market car. Is it really that much cheaper? And is it really that much faster / lighter?

Why are euro cars lighter? Mostly because they are low optioned cars, i.e. no sunroof and sometimes no a/c.

George

[racer]

George hit it on the head.

i have a Euro car and all epa/dot paperwork. I have had no problem registering/insuring the car. Typically if it has been registered sucessfully once, subsequent registrations are not a problem.

In addition to being, typically, lower optioned, some of the weight savings come from safety regulations. Euro 911's have smaller rear bumper pads, and there are door beam additions made to us cars.

Depending where you live, emmissions controls could be the larger concern. Some states not only have the tailpipe testers but also "visual inspections". My car would fail the visual part, but passes tailpipe all the time. Weird huh? Depending on age of car, and the state you live in, perhaps emmissions are not a concern.

[sbmackie]

I've spoken to our emissions folks, who do a visual inspection, and all the car needs is a Cat, which it has. Doesn't need the 02 sensor anymore.

[AFC AJAX]

I had no problem getting State Farm to insure my 83 SC Euro. I have three other cars on my policy (2 Hondas and a Toyota) and the P-car has by far the lowest premium. Registration in Louisiana was another matter. Their computer did not recognize the VIN, and it took several hours to get a registration certificate. Inspections are not a problem because cars this old are exempt from emissions tests here. They check my gas cap for leaks while I'm running with no cat and no O2 sensor. Brilliant.