Replying on the subject of tax free plod cars etc.

AFAIK all UK government service vehicles are not subject to road tax or as it is now called VED.

However, I can't somehow see you getting away with not paying it if you buy an ex-plod car and register it privately in your name.

Thanks chaps for the input.

Wackyracer proves it can be done, but daresay i'll have to enquire at a specialist grey importer/dealer to get the rundown on what the current regs are, both for import duties and VAT and the dreaded VED, i'm simply not paying £500 for Gideon to throw against the wall or award to some expense fiddler.

The Scoobs i'm looking at are more or less the same as 3.0 Outbacks sold here, but many come with (preferred in Japan) velour seats, which i too would prefer and are almost impossible to find here in a UK spec 3.0.

Edited by gordonbennet on 20/03/2016 at 20:02

Do they still need undersealant etc doing or was that a '90s thing?

Many thanks again, those companies noted, good points about duty/VAT, its not something to rush into and we're not in a rush, probably a low mileage 10 year old example might be a better bet not only to keep the duties payable down with lower purchase price (and might be a simpler vehicle approval test @ 10 years i believe) but if first regd before March 06 won't come with a £500 VED stinger anyway.

As for rustproofing, well that's part of the reason for going direct import used from Japan, it won't have seen salt so won't have the otherwise severely corroded rear subframe that Legacy's here get, plus the rest of the underbody should be corrosion free too incl brake calipers pipes etc.

I rustproof my own anyway so part of the reasoning for this is to get a cleaner canvas in the first place, plus its difficult to find genuine low mileage examples here of the model at all, not a cheap car to keep well serviced as the miles rise unless you DIY, which is both remarkably simple and very cheap, but few new or newish car buyers do that on any car.

Take your point about not necessarily needing anti rust work though, my sons RA Imprezza was never treated but was in remarkable condition underneath, it now lives in Czech Republic complete with its frankly ridiculous power output....i suspect the same would not have been the case had it been subject to the UK barrage of salt every winter for its first 8 years.

Much to think about.

Edited by gordonbennet on 21/03/2016 at 06:45

^ very interesting, I can see the attraction of a car that has never seen salt. Yes the rear subframe on mine is currently converting itself to iron oxide :(

Bilt Hamber...have a poke nose on t'internet, they make very good waxes and paints for dealing with such things.