Good Accessories Supplier

[Navraj Singh]

Hey Guys,

Just a quick question.
Have you got any web addresses for some good accessory suppliers in the UK, both for the cruiser and camping. Am sorta making up a budget for a cruiser before I arrive in the UK in July.

 

[Paul]

BOAB
West Coast 4X4
Milners

 

[Gary Stockton]

I'd recommend you decide on what vehicle you want, if you haven't already, Navraj, and then get the stuff you want for the truck shipped to you in Nairobbery from South Africa and bring it with you if you possibly can. Even with sea freight costs etc. it's going to be way cheaper than here And if you're here on a student visa and will be re-exporting it again I 'think' you may be clear of import duty and UK VAT ...

The smaller stuff you can get here easily enough (ground tents etc.) although I think the Oz Tent may be cheaper in SA than here as well.

Another good place for stuff is APB Trading.

Just a thought.

 

[Rob]

I would just like to add that there are very few accesories avialable for cruisers that are manufactured in the UK or Europe. Most of them come from South africe or Australia. this is why gary has reccomended you to bring them with you.

Paddockspares sometimes have good prices.

 

[Navraj Singh]

Cheers guys,

To give you an idea, I have a 2000 100VX TD in Nairobi and have 2 options.

First, to keep the VX as is and buy a 90 series in UK and bring it back to Nairobi once I have completed my studies or

To sell the 100 sereis here and use the money to buy an Amazon in UK. The advantage is that for the money that I will get from the sale of the VX here will make it possible for me to get either a 2004 model in the UK with money left to spare or a 2006 model even.

If I go for the 2004, I will only fit parts that work out cheaper in UK like ARB locks or are not available in Nairobi.
I am currently trying to work out a budget so I can decide if it is better to spend the money on the 2006 and do it up slowly once I am back in Nairobi or to get the 2004 and do it up in UK or forget the whole thing and get the 90 series

Cheers

 

[Gary Stockton]

Looking at your signature, I think you should just leave 6 weeks earlier and drive to the UK!

 

[Gav Peter]

Voila!!! I'm with Gaz!!!

 

[Navraj Singh]

Hmmmm......my idea was to drive the cruiser back from UK to Nairobi once i have completed my studies.

Either the 2004 Amazon or
the 2006 Amazon or
the 90 Colorado or
Ship my VX to UK and Drive it back?????

To many options...to comfusing

 

[Andrew Prince]

At the risk of going OT, my 2c would be that cruisers are generally much cheaper in the UK than in Africa and most have not done the amount of "work" that an African cruiser would have done for the same miles. So if you're thinking of buying a cruiser here and taking it back to Kenya, I would suggest getting the best one you can here. Obviously you know what the Kenyan prices are like and you can get a good feel for UK prices from autotrader etc. With the weak Pound at the moment, I would imagine that UK cruisers are looking pretty damn appealing to lots of people outside of the UK

In terms of your options, I would rule out shipping your LC to the UK to drive back - the shipping costs & taxes alone would probably get you a reasonable 90 series!

Cheers,

 

[Rob]

Im with Andrew on this, get the best one you can afford, and then drive it back to Kenya. You do not need expensive mods like difflocks for an overland trip (you can get factory centre and rear here). You just need some decent tyres, possibly a fridge and somewhere to sleep. If you keep it light then you will not need heavy duty suspension as its such a new truck IMO (you may want to consider getting the suspension off your current 100 and ship it here). Then when you get there you can sell it for a healthy profit or keep it and drive round in a European spec 100 series, you win both ways.

 

[Navraj Singh]

Rite,

Thanks for that

Now the question is do I get a 2004 with about 90,000 miles on the clock for about GBP20,000 max or
a 2006 with 65,000 miles for about GBP27,000??

The thing is that I would be able to collect about GBP29,000

 

[Andrew Prince]

I would shop around when you get here and see what kind of deal you can strike! I suspect that many of the sellers (especially private ones rather than traders) are quite flexible on price!

One other maybe minor thing to consider is the dreaded UK insurance. As a first time insurer (I resume?), expect to be stung big time on insurance premiums here. A 90 might be much cheaper to insure than a 100 because of the bigger engine, more power, more expensive vehicle etc.

I wouldn't rush into buying a vehicle here until I'd got the "lay of the land" with insurance and what LC prices are really like when you test a few sellers!

Cheers,

 

[Rob]

If i were you i would call up an insurance company and get a provisional quote. Most of my quotes were £1300 as a 24 year old who has had a licence for over 6 years on an 80! Fair enough, one small accident 4 years ago and no no claims bonus on this vehicle (its all on the volvo and uneconomical to change as the insurance is 6 months out of phase ). Adrian Flux were willing to give me an effective 2 years no claims discount which brought the price down to £700 so i would give them a call.

You also got road tax which could be over £400 a year for the 2006 and is £235 a year on the 2004 as emission laws were changed sometime in 2006. Then you got the MOT (yearly safety inspection) which costs £50 to get but you may need some work done so cost could increase.

Not trying to scare you just letting you know you need to factor in these costs as well.

 

[Navraj Singh]

Cheers guys,

I have checked on some online quotes for the 100 series, what I was going to do was insure my dad as the 1st driver, he has had a british license for about 20 years now without any claims so that should help and insure myself as the 2nd driver although the car will be bought in my name.

Admiral and Elephant gave a quote for both of us at around GBP900.00 which I thought was quite reasonable, Also I have an International License.

Just a question, would it be advisable to get a british license when I get to the UK and then get the insurance on that or should I stick with the International?

I will be heading to the UK around 29th June and I will actually need to get a car within a couple of days as my sister is finishing uni and will need some help to move her stuff and by the 5th of July I will be going for a 3 week trip to Europe so I don't know how much time I will have to get the cruiser.

If you guys feel that the saving will be quite considerable buying from a private individual, I will try and come a week earlier.
If you do come across and deals please let me know.

 

[Navraj Singh]

Just for curiosity sake what would you consider a good price and milage for a cruiser between 2004 and 2007?

 

[Andrew Prince]

Just a question, would it be advisable to get a british license when I get to the UK and then get the insurance on that or should I stick with the International?.

Yes, swap to a UK licence - it should be a straight-forward swap for yours (Hint: maybe bring a copy of your original because the DVLA will stamp on your licence that it's been swapped for a UK one = PITA to switch back when you're back home )

I will be heading to the UK around 29th June and I will actually need to get a car within a couple of days as my sister is finishing uni and will need some help to move her stuff and by the 5th of July I will be going for a 3 week trip to Europe so I don't know how much time I will have to get the cruiser.

Getting insurance etc will be complicated unless you have an address already so I wouldn't rely on being able to get a cruiser bought, licence & insurance sorted in such a short time frame. Maybe come earlier if those things (buying a car, playing removals man etc) are all critical.

Cheers,

 

[Crispin]

Not sure you can insure a car which is yours under someone else's name. I used to do it in SA but ASAIK, they have to be the same person here (to beat exactly what you trying to do )
Putting you on as a named driver will also not afford any [real] savings. We tried this with my sister-in-law and her car. She was 18 though.

I doubt you will get insurance without a valid UK licence. I had to convert mine (South African) to a UK one before anyone would insure me. SA and UK have a swap agreement so no test was needed (phew). The problem with that is then the insurance companies do not give a hoot about anything prior to the Valid From date on your UK licence. I've been driving (legally) since I was 18. According to the UK insurance chaps, I've been driving since two years ago. They could not care less.
Elephant said they did consider the prior licence but when I got a quote without stating it, the value was a few pounds different so it did not afford a huge saving.

Also, don't rely on your dad's no claim bonus / been driving for 20 years as they want proof of a no claims bonus.

The quotes you got, where they for you or for your dad and you as a driver?

I've also heard of (maybe wives tales?) of insurance refusing a claim when it's clear that you were the main driver and the insured driver is only doing you a favour.

 

[Rob]

Admiral and Elephant are budget insurers and will not take kindly to modifications to the vehicle which the insurance need to be informed of as it may invalidate your insurance. This is way we would recommend that you go with a specialist insurer if you are planning to modify it (and tell them that you plan to modify it so they put you on the correct policy). putting yourself down as a named driver when infact you are the main one is illegal and insurance companies will use it against you in case of a claim. Also having a licence for more a certain amount of time and having a no claims bonus are 2 completely different things.

 

[Crispin]

Admiral and Elephant are budget insurers and will not take kindly to modifications to the vehicle which the insurance need to be informed of as it may invalidate your insurance.

My LR was through Elephant. When I got a quote for them about the LC I asked if it would be covered for off-road. Once they heard the dreaded word, they refused to cover me. Not even if I promised not to go off-road.
Be very clear when you are asking for a quote - "forgetfulness" and "miss-truths" will only sting you later .

 

[Navraj Singh]

Yes, swap to a UK licence - it should be a straight-forward swap for yours (Hint: maybe bring a copy of your original because the DVLA will stamp on your licence that it's been swapped for a UK one = PITA to switch back when you're back home )

Getting insurance etc will be complicated unless you have an address already so I wouldn't rely on being able to get a cruiser bought, licence & insurance sorted in such a short time frame. Maybe come earlier if those things (buying a car, playing removals man etc) are all critical.

Cheers,

I don't think the DVLA swaps Kenyan Licences any longer but will try to find out. If they do then it will be straight forward otherwise I will have to take the test and all of that.

I have an address in the UK and bank statements that have been coming to it for over 7 years now so I dont think that it should be much of a problem.

Although as per your advise it probably would be better to come a week earlier but I will have to see if I can leave work