I will speak to the company that gets the container out of the harbor (it not possible to do this myself, so there go another $220) on Monday morning. Then I will know if I can pick it up the same day or not.
I already reserved my specialty license plate "GT 87"...
Customs is receiving the container for inspection right now and will (fingers crossed) be done by 3 pm. That's to late to pick it up today.
What I'm scared about is the fact that the officer said they would have to take the car out of the container to get to the other stuff that's behind it. Good I took the side mirrors off...
[This message has been edited by yellowstone (edited 11-04-2009).]
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09:42 AM
Boogaloo Member
Posts: 422 From: South Miami,Fl Registered: Sep 2009
That is the general procedure involved , aside from customs FDA, CDC, DEA also check the for any thing like food and plants or any thing hazzardous especially since it is coming from europe.
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10:04 AM
yellowstone Member
Posts: 9299 From: Düsseldorf/Germany Registered: Jun 2003
Originally posted by Boogaloo: ...especially since it is coming from europe.
What's up with Europe? Last time I checked that was one part of the world that was pretty civilized. I would be more worried if a shipment came from Asia, Africa or South America...
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11:04 AM
Fie Ro Member
Posts: 3735 From: Soest, The Netherlands Registered: Sep 2001
I call customs this afternoon and they say the container has been released. Great, I think, and call the trucker to schedule the pick-up for tomorrow. That guy tells me that his system shows that while the container has cleared customs, there's now a shipping line hold on it. So I call the shipping line and (after being on hold for a looooong time) find out that that's because I now owe $200 for the "service" of having my container checked by U.S. customs (as if I asked for that!).
OK, I ask, where do I go and pay that? I'm in a hurry because tomorrow is the last day I can have the container at the harbor without incurring storage fees! Well, that's not that easy. First customs needs to invoice the shipping company and then I need to send them a certified check or money order to an office in Tennessee by mail (no credit card or wire transfers accepted). How long does that take, I ask, and am told that it may be up to a week. I explain my situation and in the end the shipping line is customer-oriented enough to "let" me pay upfront. It's 4.30 pm now and I run out of the house, get a money order and go to UPS where I pay another $60 to have it sent overnight to Tennessee. Then I e-mail a copy of the money order and the shipping confirmation to the shipping line. By that time, there's no-one in the office anymore who could authorize the release of my shipment...
Now it continues tomorrow at 9 am. If I can get the shipment released I will call the trucker to get the container (another $220). Then I will get a U-Haul truck (about $40) and, together with a friend, will go and get the Fiero and the other items back to our place. I will drive the Fiero with the German plates and hope for the best (at least I already have FL insurance for it).
Then I will go to a notary to have the VIN verified ($10) and afterwards to the DMV to apply for a FL title and vanity plates (GT 87).
I sincerely don't understand how world trade works as smoothly as it seems to do with all the bureaucracy involved...
Let's hope for the best.
[This message has been edited by yellowstone (edited 11-04-2009).]
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06:39 PM
Boogaloo Member
Posts: 422 From: South Miami,Fl Registered: Sep 2009
i don't know what the fees are down in Dade County, but in Orlando to just register a vehicle from out of state for the first time, and get tags costs about $500 !
In Sept it was only about $225, it has since doubled !
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07:41 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
In Sept it was only about $225, it has since doubled !
That's cheap. Texas has it's own version of the "new wheels on the road" law and we have to pay 6% of the appraised value or blue book which ever is greater; even if it's a $200 beater car, you pay 6% on thousands.
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08:50 PM
josef644 Member
Posts: 6939 From: Dickinson, Texas USA Registered: Nov 2006
They bit me hard a while back. We put a S10 Blazer in the grandsons name while he was using it at SHSU. When he left school and gave us back my Blazer we had to pay taxes on $2500.00 FOR MY OWN CAR.
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 11-04-2009).]
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09:20 PM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
When he left schoo and gave us back my Blazer we had to pay taxes on $2500.00 FOR MY OWN CAR.
You could have invoked the "gift" loophole and only paid $10, at least you used to be able to do that, maybe they closed that hole.
Twenty years ago when I moved to FL it was cheap, I think I only paid the normal fees, but shortly afterwards they invoked these rules to extract as much cash as they can from the newcomers.
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09:40 PM
josef644 Member
Posts: 6939 From: Dickinson, Texas USA Registered: Nov 2006
You could have invoked the "gift" loophole and only paid $10, at least you used to be able to do that, maybe they closed that hole.
Twenty years ago when I moved to FL it was cheap, I think I only paid the normal fees, but shortly afterwards they invoked these rules to extract as much cash as they can from the newcomers.
We had a nice heated discussion at the tax office. He just gave MY car back to ME. Wasn't a gift. It was always my car. Just in his name for insurance purposes. He was under 24 years of age.
I did not pass 'Go' or collect $200.00. But I did have to pay the sales tax to take ownership in my name. Hate those SOB's
[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 11-04-2009).]
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11:36 PM
Nov 5th, 2009
Old Lar Member
Posts: 13797 From: Palm Bay, Florida Registered: Nov 1999
Get used to it the tax man needs to fund the buracracy.. Did you read that California was going to withold an addition 10% from workers salary to pay for the deficits, then you get to file for a refund next year and get an IOU from the state for the extra taxes you paid.
I'll get my tag tax for the four cars I have licensed in Fl, next month. I can hardly wait for that bill.
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08:32 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
We had a nice heated discussion at the tax office. He just gave MY car back to ME. Wasn't a gift. It was always my car.
I feel your pain, but instead of arguing with them, I would have just played their game and asked for the gift form, filled it out and gave them the 10 bucks and called it a day.
It really tweaks me to pay $200 for a title to a parts car just so I can legally scrap it. I would rather buy a torch and cut it up into little pieces and leave it in the DMV trash dumpster.
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11:56 AM
yellowstone Member
Posts: 9299 From: Düsseldorf/Germany Registered: Jun 2003
But - nothing is ever perfect with a Fiero! Just as I pulled into the parking garage at home the engine overheat light came on and the car started spilling coolant from the front overflow tank.
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05:47 PM
ltlfrari Member
Posts: 5356 From: Wake Forest,NC,USA Registered: Jan 2002
But - nothing is ever perfect with a Fiero! Just as I pulled into the parking garage at home the engine overheat light came on and the car started spilling coolant from the front overflow tank.
Nice! It's been in the states for a minute and it's already complaining about the Florida heat.
If Putin had got his way you could have driven it over:
But - nothing is ever perfect with a Fiero! Just as I pulled into the parking garage at home the engine overheat light came on and the car started spilling coolant from the front overflow tank.
She just got all excited to see you again. Glad you finally got it here. I still have that gift for your car too...
Originally posted by yellowstone: But - nothing is ever perfect with a Fiero! Just as I pulled into the parking garage at home the engine overheat light came on and the car started spilling coolant from the front overflow tank.
Well isant that a nice welcomeing it gave you.
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07:53 PM
Old Lar Member
Posts: 13797 From: Palm Bay, Florida Registered: Nov 1999
Washed her and laid her to rest in her new home in the parking garage below the condo building... I'll deal with the coolant tomorrow.
I doubt it's a stuck thermostat since I drove about 15 miles before the temperature went up. Possibly loss of a bit of coolant in the 1.5 years it was stored and therefore an air bubble in the system. Is there an agreement on the best coolant fill procedure? I haven't done it in a few years...
[This message has been edited by yellowstone (edited 11-05-2009).]
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09:27 PM
Nov 6th, 2009
SuperchargedV6 Member
Posts: 1966 From: Hinckley, Oh, US Registered: Jan 2006
I doubt it's a stuck thermostat since I drove about 15 miles before the temperature went up. Possibly loss of a bit of coolant in the 1.5 years it was stored and therefore an air bubble in the system. Is there an agreement on the best coolant fill procedure? I haven't done it in a few years...
Just a stupid question if I may... You did have some ramps to get the car out of the container yes? If not, are you sure you didn't damage your coolant tubes getting it out??
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10:24 AM
jscott1 Member
Posts: 21676 From: Houston, TX , USA Registered: Dec 2001
If not, are you sure you didn't damage your coolant tubes getting it out??
Good question, but I don't think the coolant tubes can be damaged without the rocker panels cracking first. It might be possible if you hit it at just the right angle, but unlikely in my opinion.
I think Kolja's idea is the correct one, it probably just lost a little coolant and developed an air bubble.
The quickest and easiest way to burp in my opnion is to park the car nose down and open it in the back and remove the thermostat. Fill it all the way to the top (with 50/50 mix) and start the car, let it run for a little while, but not too long as it will get hot and start spitting water out the top. Shut it off and then top it off again. Put the thermostat back in and close it off.
Same thing happened to my car...after sitting in body shops for 5 years first time I got it on the road it puke coolant all over the place. I topped it off and it's been fine ever since.
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