Post: #51

Hey Mech / Anti Trace --

Did you guys make any moves in the bus sales hustle?

Post: #52

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Post: #53

Why not look north of the border!

I picked up my Merc in Texas and had it shipped up too me, probably broke even but my car has never seen snow and is in great shape.

I priced a 911 this week for a buddy who saw one for $29k cdn, it had been in a accident and was still sold the next day.

I am not saying I have the contacts, I know a lot of Canadians who have bought down south when the dollar was more favourable. Better deals can be had on high end cars, just not sure how many customers there are. Things are tight at the moment up here.

Post: #54

I started flipping cars last year to Belize. Some notes.
+ Belize govt is outdated and easily bribed. My first vehicle was suppose have almost 3k in taxes by the book. I paid less than 200
+ There are companies who deal exclusively with customs. The have deals (grease) the agents and get the taxes dropped
+Buses are in huge demand to BZE, HON, and Guatemala.
+ If you drive them down like I did, be prepared to included paying off the Mexican feds in your expenses. I met a guy who crossed the border at the same time as me, 1500 miles later we get stuck in traffic South of Veracruz. He got popped for 1k in payoffs. Each fed made him pay up to 100 and some called their friend to pop him 5 miles later. He had all the correct paper work for his trailer but what can you do?

I have taken one vehicle so far. First run was a huge learning experience. Learned I have family big in customs. Learned every price can be changed, learned ex soldiers get huge tax breaks. I flipped my car, bought two and now am renting them both out. Passive income.

Next trip is August. Three vehicle trip. After that hopefully Ill get into buses. Almost bought a 22 passenger last month. Money is to be made and I will get it.

Post: #55

(03-04-2014 06:40 PM)calihunter Wrote:  In so cal. Got a 30 ft empty rv / basically a bus. all aluminum. chevy 454. former police command. looks like a fire truck. serviced by pd just before the sale. I gutted the insides. Where are you Chipolo

Post: #56

@ Cali --> I'm out of Chicago...But I'm sittin' here scratching my head about your gutted out RV...?

@ Rude --> I had a few phone calls for antique Volvos (P1800s) out of Winnipeg, but there are different classification/customs rules for antique collector cars. Don't know why I haven't thought about Canada -- no contacts I guess...you in the car business?

@ Belize --> I've actually done a lot of research about belize imports. There's a few HUGE duty differences between engine sizes, apparently 4 cylinder pick ups move like eggs for breakfast and few import barriers. Again, I don't have any contacts down there and it sounds like you've already got your operation goin....

AS far as transport -- maybe tossing these buses onto a roll on - roll off cargo vessel might be the way?



But what kind of buses are you talkin about, charters? school? Short? I've actually dipped my foot in the charter bus business...get back to me on this--am interested. But don't know a damn thing about moving school buses.

Post: #57

^ no not in the car business, I like cars,

Volvo's, isn't that The Saint model that they want in Winnipeg? I heard there is a Scandinavian population there.

I know the taxes can be a pain, you have to pay an additional 6% if the car is not made in the USA. So German cars that are manufactured in the USA would be good deals (X5 etc)

Post: #58

Chi hit me up if you are interested in making a run. I am headed down in August with three cars. I can hook you up with some contacts and teach you the Mexican route. I need to look into shipping also this trip. Might be worth it.

I got an extra driver or two also. can set up a sale if you buy the right vehicle. I can get three orders off top. I am not filling them because I am going the rental route. Let me know if you want to do business.

Post: #59

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Post: #60

(03-07-2014 01:12 PM)calihunter Wrote:  

(03-06-2014 05:31 PM)ChiPolo Wrote:  @ Cali --> I'm out of Chicago...But I'm sittin' here scratching my head about your gutted out RV...?

Similar to this but 5 ft longer. its all aluminum (like airstream) so it's worth 5-6 in the states. completely California dry and rust free.

gutted it to make it into a mobile kitchen, but got distracted.
gutted means its an empty bus inside. just the box with walls

No I know what gutted means -- but I have no idea what you'd do with it. I'm not sure if RV's are popular down there (Central America), if there are RV dealers, wholesalers, distributors, etc...

But it looks clean!

Post: #61

Reviving this one -- It's been a trip since that last post -- let me tell ya.

Ended up shipping a car down to Paraguay last year.
Sold it, not that great of a margin, but that's because of a few mistakes I made along the way:

-Diesel Diesel Diesel -- not gas. Gas bad, Diesel good. People will buy Diesel set ups and will run from Petrol.

-"NAFTEROS" are appealing to customers -- (cars from North America)

-Volvos are not looked upon favorably -- they are considered very high society. While I knew this going into this project, I didn't understand why -- the reason is because the dealership representation and service operate on a low standard. Pricey repairs and questionable if Volvos have actually been repaired -- low competence (at least from public opinion)

-Cheap, cheap cars in high demand. Small engine, hatchback 4 doors, diesels. Thats the ticket. Crazy thing is, the Chinese knock offs you hear about in those documentaries? -- Yea, their down there. I saw a Mini Cooper knock off down there, brand new the thing cost $7000 U.S i think? But the quality was lower than anythng I've ever seen before...I was told that after two years the rear axles have a tendency to bend outward and just snap.

-Suburu imprezas are quite trendy, Volvos are not.

-Car culture is growing...big time. I think every week they shut down the costanera (river front highway) and set up cones and have car contests. Go figure.

-Consumer Credit is relatively new. People trade land for cars down there (serious) as cars are viewed as having more utility in daily life than a piece of land somewhere...

Sidenotes:

-If you're white, wearing typical American clothes, or just generally seem even slightly out of place -- people WILL STARE at you...it was definitely a first for me. You go to a bar, everyone will want to know you're story and what you're all about. Some people will be very intimidated. Weird man... There's like two degrees of separation down there, SO EVERYONE KNOWS EVERYONE in some way shape or form-- I wasn't expecting this

-Like anywhere in the Latin World -- the girls are gorgeous, feminine, dress to impress, are generally very laid back and like to have good time.

-There seems to be a hipster revival goin on in the old downtown area: food trucks, great little shops, creative small businesses, creative storefront remodeling -- its definitely an interesting time in Asuncion right now.

Post: #62

^^ Diesel fuel is easier to store long term than gas which makes sense when you're in the sticks down in Central America.

This thread should be about importing cars into the US, not out!

Pick high value cars that have a passionate community where car manufacturers adamantly refuse to import. Cars like the Nissan Skyline, Holden Ute, and diesel Mercedes G Wagons.

The 25-year rolling import ban is coming up on the 90s which means there's a lot of really nice cars that can be imported soon.

Post: #63

Just got through reading the whole thread Chi. I pm'ed you. Hit me up.