Moving to Switzerland, then US - To Sell or To Store?

[anditsoundslikebells]

My time in Holland has come to a close. I'll be in Switzerland for a year and then I'll move to the US.
I wasn't planning any of this, but a work opportunity like this doesn't come along often.
What to do with the RS.....

I'm into the 6 for way more than I planned. With the forums help, I've built my dream version of this car, all major issues fixed, drives like a dream.
I've uprated or replaced all the major issues, gearbox, suspension, inter-coolers, and uprated plaenty along the way, tuned, making good safe power. I have a spreadsheet with something like 50 rows of changes/repairs. Given that this must be some where at 10-12k more than the value, I'm hesitant to sell. This is a lot of cash for me.

I'm 40 and this is my first nice car. Maybe I'm too attached to it.

I've always read about cars, and there aren't many out there that are realistic and that I would take over the old RS.

Then there is the fact that they might go up in price and then I'd be priced out of another.

I could sell in Holland after my year in Switzwerland. (the mountain passes look amazing!)
I could put in storage in Holland, after Switzerland, and see how life goes in the US.... mine can be imported in 2028.

Given the loss I'd make, and not knowing what price they'll fetch in the future, I'm very hesitant to sell.

What would happen to the car if it sat in storage for four years? Would recommisioning it be a major makor headache?

Any thoughts or opinions are welcome!

[Shoppinit]

"Shooting tigers"

Maybe 40 is too young to get that reference.

If you're going to CH for a year, and you're moving there, I believe you can import your personal car with no import duty as long as you've owned it for more than 6 months, which you have. I think you can drive it for a year on NL plates, too, so that kinda pushes the decision back a year.

Where in the US? It used to be impossible to import cars like the RS6 to the USA, but I believe that changed in the last couple of years.

/Where in CH?

[steve2003rs6]

Alex. If I was you. I would take it to CH with you and postpone the decision for a year.
Gives you another year of fun motoring.

[anditsoundslikebells]

Shooting tigers with a machine gun. ..
A classic, one of my most watched films, 'this is the self preservation society'... classic.

CH is Basel, US is NY... so no car ownership in NY.

I am hoping to keep the car Dutch while I'm in CH as it's easier.

When I'm in the US having the RS tucked up in storage will scracth the inevitable itch.

Now it's all fixed seems a shame to part with it, especially given I don't really know what or where my life will be in the coming years.

I'll start to research the most economic storage solutuon. It seems GBP150 is the cheapest for somewhere that looks after it. If not, it seems a wash, new oil, fuel stabilizer, possibly remove the wheels if it's standing for a long long time. Doesn't seem too bad.

I guess no bushings would deteriorate in four years. Is there a risk of some (expensive) seals going?

[anditsoundslikebells]

True
I'm probably over thinking it as my whole life is now up in the air a bit.

[steve2003rs6]

I believe these cars need to be driven.
I wouldn’t want it stationary in storage for 4 years.

Really pleased I am not the one having to make the decision.

[Shoppinit]

150 GBP doesn't sound too bad to me. What do they do for it? That's almost 8k, not counting price increases. Hopefully your car will appreciate by at least that much in 4 years.

The most important thing to consider is the environmental aspect. Needs to be completely dry and preferably dark.

4 years is quite a long time. I've stored cars for 6 months at a time with no ill effects. I didn't do anything other than hyper inflate the tyres to avoid flat spots / tyre deformation and plug it into a battery conditioner. You can get tyre cushions. Aston Martin sell them, but they cost a fortune. Maybe you can make some.

You can get fuel stabilisers. Not sure how useful they are. If the tank is airtight, I don't think it'll matter. Might be worth researching.

I'd want to run the engine until it's up to temp every now and then to keep seals lubricated. At least every 6 months. Every 3 months is better I would have thought. Mine regularly goes for that long at a time without being started.

That way, there really won't be much in the way of recommissioning.

You could drain down all the fluids: Fuel, AC, Oil, ATF, etc. but it seems a bit extreme to me. Might be worth leaving it with fresh oil in. Even that is probably overkill.

Alternatively, if the car owes you 10-12k over its current value, then that's not far off the storage costs. That ignores appreciation, which is an unknown, but if you did sell now then at least you'd know that you weren't making a real terms loss once you'd factored in the other costs.

It's probably more of a heart decision than a head one.

[stuartbarriskell]

Ditto above with reference to keeping the 6 till Switzerland at least, the mountain passes are just sensational.

I covered most of the Alps on a fireblade during the summer, you honestly could stop at every bend for a photoshoot.

The Cops clamp down superhard on excessive speed, I was paranoid about Police Helicopters as I ripped up various stretches, but had no problems thankfully..

Sent from my SM-S918B using Tapatalk

[Capt Ric]

Alex. If I was you. I would take it to CH with you and postpone the decision for a year.
Gives you another year of fun motoring.

I'd follow Steve's advice.

[Shoppinit]

Just came across this while looking for something else:

https://www.munichlegends.co.uk/car-storage-sussex/

[anditsoundslikebells]

Thanks Shop
A UK storage would be easier as I have family there. I'll keep the car as far a Switzerland and then decide later. I keep changing my mind so will see where I land later.

On a different note.... spare parts

I gave the original intercoolers, ARB, 18" alloys. Thinking of selling everything.
Is there any point to keep the wheels for example? I guess they are easy enough to buy again if I ever wanted to put it back to original? (This seems very very unlikely)

[Shoppinit]

That is UK storage.

Don't think the 18" have much value except for using for winter tyres. They're not bad looking, but 18" is a bit small these days.

[anditsoundslikebells]

I meant your solution is a better value and location than what i found in Holland.

I think I'll move the wheels and ARB on for cheap just to get rid of things before I move.

[anditsoundslikebells]

A quick update.
Porsche roof box, old KW, original (working) IC up for sale.
Inbound to Switzerland where I'll enjoy the car for a year... the landscape looks too stunning to not use the 6 as intended.
The good news is my dad thinks the 6 will fit in our grandparents garage... meaning free storage, trickle charge, the occasional start, an I can easily check on it when I go and see them.
Hopefully it pans out as it seems I'll be able to keep her, not regret selling her if/when the prices go up, not lose the 10k or so I've put in to her.
She's driving like a dream at the moment (should I say that), so keeping her would be great!

[steve2003rs6]

Best wishes Alex for the future.
Give us a update every now and again and let us know how you are getting on in CH and USA.

Pleased you are keeping the 6. Some beautiful roads to drive on in both countries.