MCP MOTORSPORT TESTIMONIALS
GT PURELY PORSCHE - JANUARY 2005
With ever changing exchange rates, left-hooker aren't the bargains they once were. But there are still plenty of reasons why you should buy one.
Sieving the Continent for left-hand drive exotica and flogging it here in the UK at bargain basement prices was all the rage a few years back. But the diminishing strength of the Pound against the Euro and a flood of bad press about imports in general, have all but forced the once burgeoning trade into extinction. All apart from Martin Pearse, whose Norfolk-based business, MCP Motorsport is still flourishing.
Why? According to Martin, LHD cars are still viable, still better value, still cheaper, still better quality and are easier to resell. "LHD Porsches are nearly always better condition than UK cars, and because, historically, Continental main dealer labour charges have been cheaper, cars come with a better history and are usually better maintained."
The recent UK trend of track day eventing has also served to substantiate Pearse's sales pitch to would-be LHD Porsche buyers. "Owners here track day their cars more than any other country, so some models end up being shredded and needing a lot of work. Okay that's what they've been designed for, but given the choice between buying a car that's been around the track and one that hasn't, I know which one I would choose."
But Martin admits there are certain caveats to buying a LHD Porsche. "It's most important that you buy from a specialist who can accurately determine that it hasn't been crashed. In Germany, there isn't the same stigma about crashed cars - there's no register, and even main dealers are happy rebuilding cars that would be immediately written-off over here. So you need to be careful, and check all the panel gaps. Likewise, you need to check the car's not got any finance on it and that it hasn't been 'clocked'. Never buy a car without the Fahrzeug Brief which will allow you to verify the mileage and provide contact details of previous owners. Because the majority will speak perfect English, checking their story out won't be a problem."
And as for the old spectre of buying a LHD - resale, Martin remains equally bullish. "There's a bigger market for left-hand drive cars than there is for RHD, and accessibility to the web makes selling a car back to the Continent entirely feasible."
With this in mind, we took a trip up to Martin's North Norfolk premises to view some of his stock.
2004 - GT3 RS
Price: £89.000
Year: 2004
Mileage: Delivery miles
Transmission: Six speed manual
Colour: White / red decals
Interior: Black, Recaros, Full roll cage
Spec: Full UK-spec
Location: MCP Motorsport
01263 822481
mcpmotorsport.co.uk
WHAT'S IT LIKE?
As new. Martin's business partner in Germany sourced this April 2004 car direct from the Porsche Centre in Helsinki, so there's only delivery miles on the clock.
The white bodywork is perfect, and there's the added bonus of Smartguard anti-stone chip protection at the front (which costs £600) as well as a Tracker device. The red decals are perfect, as are the beautifully sculptured red enamelled wheels, and there's Xenon headlamps fitted. Inside there's a full roll cage, plus Recaros, a fire extinguisher and all the usual RS touches.
WHAT NEEDS DOING?
At £89,000 it's a similar price toUK car, and comes with the same warranties (two year unlimited mileage mechanical, three year paint, and ten year anti-perforation) and it's UK-registered. You choose it over a UK car, says Martin, because being left-hand drive it's better balanced, also, unlike the majority of RHD GT3's, it hasn't been track-dayed into oblivion. Also, the market for LHD GT3 RS's is far greater than for a RHD car, so selling it on will be easier and possibly more lucrative in the long run. In any case, unmolested RS GT3s don't sit around for very long.
2003 0 GT3 COUPÉ
Price: £447.995
Year: 2000
Mileage: 23.000 miles
Transmission: Six speed manual
Colour: Silver
Interior: Black Leather
Spec: Air conditioning, central locking
Location:MCP Motorsport
01263 822481
mcpmotorsport.co.uk
WHAT'S IT LIKE?
Registered in January 2000 at Bremen, this car has had just two former keepers, one of which was a main dealer. The silver bodywork is totally spotless, and the 18in Sport Design alloys are unmarked. The impression that this car's been cared for continues inside as the black leather comfort trim is also in perfect condition, reflecting the fact that it's only travelled 23,000 miles since new. Because it's only been in the UK a matter of months, it's yet to be registered, but Martin will arrange all this before delivery. As always, silver suits the attractively subtle GT3 perfectly.
WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS CAR ?
As entirely unmolested GT3s go, you won't better this low-mileage example. As Martin says, it's in identical condition to one that you'd find in a Porsche showroom but some £7,000 cheaper. And the fact that it's never so much as seen a UK racetrack counts for a lot these days. Perfect, we'd say, for the occasional express jaunt across Europe or as regular transport to and from your holiday cottage in France.
1991 - 964 3.6 RS
Price: £39.995
Year: 1991
Mileage: 19.000 miles
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Colour: Amethyst metallic
Interior: Triple leather (pink, purple, grey)
Spec: RS door cards, red seat belts
Location: MCP Motorsport
01263 822481
mcpmotorsport.co.uk
WHAT'S IT LIKE?
The beauty of buying cars from a massive pool on the Continent is that often exciting gems like this turn up. It's a monster 964 RS, featured in a German publication (unimaginatively) called Tuning Magazine. It was toyed with by leading tuner Rolf HeidI who fitted an impressive Cetoni KKK supercharger and it is said to be the fastest 964 in the world! The German magazine clocked the car at just 3.8 seconds from 0-60, 12.4 seconds from 0-125mph and accredited it with a top speed of in excess of 200mph.
WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS CAR?
It's a rarity, and comes complete with a fully documented history - including all the original magazine features in which it appeared, thus providing a perfect provenance. It's only had two owners from new, the interior's immaculate and even if you didn't like some of the engine mods, they could easily be reverted to make it into a very original RS. Then all you would need to do is sort those wheels or replace them.
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