[happy-kat]

Best of luck tomorrow hope it all goes well.
Just caught up with your blog, hope you have got it all sorted the paper work etc. Change of port.

[usapuma]

Well, change of port stuff is ok it seems - I called Savannah back and spoke to the nice lady that was dealing with me and learned that I just got the old guy at Brunswick that was a bit grumpy. She said not to worry about him, it will all be fine! I have some confidence.... Equally, I am not doing anything wrong - the only bit I was nervous about was not having attained an authorisation from EPA for my 'non-conforming vehicle' on the advice from Customs at Savannah. I was told that it is not necessary for a temporary import, even though the guy at EPA on the phone said it was. But then CBP are the ones authorising the import in the ultimate instance; if they have advised that I don't need it, then that is what I am going by.
My nerves were that the guys at the new port may not be aware of this but I will have Savannah on speed dial on collection day!
A little update for those that haven't Checked out the blog.....
CAR IS AT SOUTHAMPTON!!!!!!
Scary stuff. Got quite attached to my Puma and felt like I was abandoning it like a child on its first day at school! To see the pictures, head to usapuma.blogspot.com
Cheers.

[happy-kat]

That is sounding really positive
Not the only car being shipped, mini clubman to a range rover.

[Fanwheel]

Excellent. I hope Puma has a smooth trip on the boat and you have an hassle free pick up at the other end. Will you have to change the license plate or can you use the UK ones for a year?

Wishing you the very best for the trip and look forward to seeing the photos!

[happy-kat]

Great to read your recent blog entry, that's another step passed.

[usapuma]

Thanks for the support guys. Car will be on UK plates, yes. I bought new ones with the GB bit on the side and took them in my hand luggage as apparently plates can go missing while bored seaman are wandering around the ship for weeks in the middle of the Atlantic.

Puma is over the Arlantic now according the track and trace software />

I forgot to take out the spare headlight assembly from the back seat before I left (replaced due to whirring adjustment motor at cost of 20 squids), so if I have a bump, lets hope it's the left side!

This post has been edited by usapuma: 28 January 2016 - 05:03 AM

[happy-kat]

Quite fun to track the ship, you can see the progress.

[usapuma]

A little ad hoc update for you.

Insurance is a bit of a nightmare! It goes up if you have an international license and if you don't have existing insurance at the time of purchase of a new policy.. So I have done a driving test and passed - that takes care of that. My insurance for the car in the UK although valid still is not totally compatible with US insurers - they don't seem to use no claims; they are more interested in how long you have been with ONE company, which isn't helpful... The reason it goes up if you don't have existing insurance is to do with Florida State law; if you don't have existing coverage, you must purchase what they call 'full coverage', which we would call 'fully comprehensive' from what I can understand.

Actually adding the car to their systems does not seem to be too much of an issue (it is the same platform as their Ford Escort of the same era), which is helpful - but although I technically don't need insurance based on the way in which the car exists here - I need insurance because I'm not a moron and it's a whole lot easier to deal with the police when I get pulled (for having odd plates probably).

There is another hitch it seems.. Many insurers (naturally) will not underwrite a car that has a foreign registration - I have been advised to check with a local broker but its cutting it all reeeeeally fine now. Seems no matter how much you prepare, you cannot prepare enough! Wish me luck.

[happy-kat]

Insurance is good as hopefully it cover the personal liability side, they do like to claim to wipe their nose in the US.
Good luck with the insurance paper chasing.

[usapuma]

Sussed it.. Went back to Progressive Insurance with my Florida license and they quoted me $390 for six months (they are all six month policies here). That is sensible and the can use my foreign registration and my existing insurance from Blighty

#winning....

Gonna update the blog now if anyone's interested in having a catch up: www.usapuma.blogspot.com

[usapuma]

Ok little update. My car is here, but I don't have it yet… It's just as well I didn't go out this weekend just gone as although it has been discharged from the vessel, it hasn't yet been released by The Brunswick port police … And I had planned to pick it up on Tuesday!

I am calling the port each day just so they can let me know when it has been officially released. I have a 10 hour 15 minute train journey booked up to Savannah because I want to see it while I'm up in that direction and then I'm renting a car to drive down to Brunswick (amazingly there is no public transport available to get to Brunswick!).

While I am in Savannah, I will go to the nice customs lady that had been looking after me and file my paperwork with her before heading down to Brunswick to go and pick the car up and then drive to any customs office to have them check over the vehicle to make sure I didn't bring any foreign matter (mud) into the US. (Although, arguably I could probably stop by somewhere and get it washed on the way back to customs!)

Once they see the car and are happy… They stamp my paperwork for up to 1 year and it's happy days with my puma driving from Georgia back to Florida :-)

Stay tuned and check out the blog if you're interested

usapuma.blogspot.com

This post has been edited by usapuma: 12 February 2016 - 04:18 AM

[happy-kat]

Getting there :-)

[Fanwheel]

Good work and good luck with the final formalities. Looking forward to seeing the pictures of a Puma on US soil. I expect you'll get a lot of looks on the highway, amongst all those huge pickups!

[pumamartin]

Hope every thing will be ok and looking forward to see pictures of the Puma in Florida and all the spots in the US you we visit the next year.

[usapuma]

Paperwork stamped… Off to the port today :-)

Wish me luck :-)

[happy-kat]

Yey exciting day, good luck

[usapuma]

Fellow lovers of the Ford Puma…

I give you…

http://usapuma.blogspot.com

My gift to all those who take interest… I have successfully transplanted (albeit temporarily) a RHD Ford Puma Black…

To the USA!

Thanks to everyone that has taken interest and I hope you enjoy the blog if you haven't seen it before.

[XAF]

Awesome! I've been following the blog with interest as this is definitely something I want to do in the future.... Just not sure the wife quite agrees with me!!

[Fanwheel]

That is absolutely brilliant. I'm just about to drive to work through a cold wet Worthing and that has brightened my day. I'd also love to follow in your footsteps one day.

Your meticulous approach has obviously paid off. I enjoy driving in the States and it must be doubly good in a Puma. The car will get some attention, and surely deserves to be in a museum at the end of your year, if it has to be taken off the road Interesting about the tyre pressures increasing unexpectedly, I expect that is due to the heat. Enjoy it and keep posting!

[pumamartin]

Chris, fantastic all went well.
Great to see your Puma in the US.
Thank you for the pictures and have a great time.
Looking forward to read more and more in your blog.

And you mean these two mounting points in the frontbumper