Looking for a 1.5t mini digger (and any advice)

[Lffsam]

We arrived 2005. Happy days . Still loving life, it's just not quite the same . Don't yearn for many things but I do miss my bacon & sausage! No English butchers round here, and the prices of Bacon in a Box !!!

I am having no joy with traders regarding the VAT. They all want EORI and TVA numbers......which I don't have. Spoke with HMRC today, they directed me to Personal Export Scheme, form 707, which as far as I can ascertain is only for motor vehicles and motorbikes. Also, no one seems to have heard of it, and it's a choice of sellers use it or not! Great help lol.

Have written to my local Douanes this morning, with whom I have had previous dealings, just to confirm the things at the French end if I choose to go it alone and import a digger myself.

It's all getting a bit frustrating. I don't really want to buy privately, would prefer a well respected dealer....... but then I am back to the VAT issue.

Watching the news today, I may well get bacon and sausage back on my plate ..... at some point

 

[Storrsy]

We arrived 2005. Happy days . Still loving life, it's just not quite the same . Don't yearn for many things but I do miss my bacon & sausage! No English butchers round here, and the prices of Bacon in a Box !!!

I am having no joy with traders regarding the VAT. They all want EORI and TVA numbers......which I don't have. Spoke with HMRC today, they directed me to Personal Export Scheme, form 707, which as far as I can ascertain is only for motor vehicles and motorbikes. Also, no one seems to have heard of it, and it's a choice of sellers use it or not! Great help lol.

Have written to my local Douanes this morning, with whom I have had previous dealings, just to confirm the things at the French end if I choose to go it alone and import a digger myself.

It's all getting a bit frustrating. I don't really want to buy privately, would prefer a well respected dealer....... but then I am back to the VAT issue.

Watching the news today, I may well get bacon and sausage back on my plate ..... at some point

I thought most bacon came from Denmark anyway at the cheaper end at least.
So what's the problem with buying a used machine privately in France? Is it lack of machines or do they command more money than UK equivalent? I often see machines in mascus in France/Germany etc and always think they look so much tidier than the grotty British disease that effects many machines over here

 

[Lffsam]

Most of the machines I have looked at here in France are vastly overpriced and have had a hard life. The French tend to buy new and keep for life. It's the same with cars. I recently imported a jag x type estate ( my wife lives them). I paid £1400 in the uk, the imports cost me another €500. However during the import process my local customs office valued the car at €7k . He eventually capitulated after weeks of back and fore, and accepted the price on the reciept/ bank transfer/ advert etc.
As for bacon, try taking a packet of Danish to France from the UK legally. Madness !

 

[CPS]

We arrived 2005. Happy days . Still loving life, it's just not quite the same . Don't yearn for many things but I do miss my bacon & sausage! No English butchers round here, and the prices of Bacon in a Box !!!

I am having no joy with traders regarding the VAT. They all want EORI and TVA numbers......which I don't have. Spoke with HMRC today, they directed me to Personal Export Scheme, form 707, which as far as I can ascertain is only for motor vehicles and motorbikes. Also, no one seems to have heard of it, and it's a choice of sellers use it or not! Great help lol.

Have written to my local Douanes this morning, with whom I have had previous dealings, just to confirm the things at the French end if I choose to go it alone and import a digger myself.

It's all getting a bit frustrating. I don't really want to buy privately, would prefer a well respected dealer....... but then I am back to the VAT issue.

Watching the news today, I may well get bacon and sausage back on my plate ..... at some point

What if you brought a machine through Ireland? surely you would have no import tax to pay then?

 

[Lffsam]

Here are a few random examples

https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/btp_chantier_gros_oeuvre/2741442290

https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/btp_chantier_gros_oeuvre/2992314264

 

[Lffsam]

What if you brought a machine through Ireland? surely you would have no import tax to pay then?

No, nothing to pay from Southern Ireland, but the ferries are expensive to France, and the ports serving Ireland are as far away as you can get from me on the north coast. I have been looking, but it seems most of their plant is coming from the UK, over the invisible border. I on the other hand will have to have a paper trail.
I have not researched actual costs with a transporter yet ..... it's always an option, thanks

 

[Furniss]

I want a dumper and have vat and eori - maybe we could sort something

 

[Lffsam]

Now that sounds interesting........I would be up for a twofor......

 

[Lffsam]

I leave tomorrow morning for Blighty.

Once in the UK, we are having a week away in Spain, then will be buying a digger on my return, to ship to France.

Having looked at 2.5t ish machines, there is nothing in my price range at plant sales business. I do not want to buy privately.

So I have decided to go for a 1.7 of 1.9 t machine.

Still no joy with most retailers as they want paperwork I don't have.

However, one retailer has the following machines for sale and is willing to 0% rate the VAT with the paperwork I do have.

1. Bobcat E17 year 2015, 3019 hours
2 Yanmar VIO17 year 2016, 2282 hours
3. Takeuchi TB016 year 2013, 3059 hours

If you were to put these machines in order of preference, what would it be, assuming that they were all alike in regards to condition? They are in fact all similarly specked, same no of buckets, quick hitch and price.

It's not really the outcome I wanted, but I need to sort this out in the next couple of weeks, time is ticking on the work I have to do, it will be hay time when I get back to France, the local mayor is involved at the lake and pressing to get moving etc.

I appreciate all the feedback from you guys, the work at the lake is mainly ditching and drainage, no real work on the lake itself so I think the 1.7/1.9 will work ( famous last words lol ).

Still will not be able to transport it locally myself, but that problem is now solved ( thanks to M. Montsacre ). Happy days!

 

[Storrsy]

I leave tomorrow morning for Blighty.

Once in the UK, we are having a week away in Spain, then will be buying a digger on my return, to ship to France.

Having looked at 2.5t ish machines, there is nothing in my price range at plant sales business. I do not want to buy privately.

So I have decided to go for a 1.7 of 1.9 t machine.

Still no joy with most retailers as they want paperwork I don't have.

However, one retailer has the following machines for sale and is willing to 0% rate the VAT with the paperwork I do have.

1. Bobcat E17 year 2015, 3019 hours
2 Yanmar VIO17 year 2016, 2282 hours
3. Takeuchi TB016 year 2013, 3059 hours

If you were to put these machines in order of preference, what would it be, assuming that they were all alike in regards to condition? They are in fact all similarly specked, same no of buckets, quick hitch and price.

It's not really the outcome I wanted, but I need to sort this out in the next couple of weeks, time is ticking on the work I have to do, it will be hay time when I get back to France, the local mayor is involved at the lake and pressing to get moving etc.

I appreciate all the feedback from you guys, the work at the lake is mainly ditching and drainage, no real work on the lake itself so I think the 1.7/1.9 will work ( famous last words lol ).

Still will not be able to transport it locally myself, but that problem is now solved ( thanks to M. Montsacre ). Happy days!

Takeuchi TB016 is a decent enough machine but check kingpost etc. At those hrs as likely to be knackered. Can't knock takeuchi for reliability though

 

[Lffsam]

Thanks Storrsy, that's just the kind of response I was hoping for

 

[Bri963]

Although I’m a Kubota man below 2 tonnes, I’ve never operated a bad Yanmar. So out of that list, I’d go for the VI017. However, have a look at the slew rings on all three. You’ll be looking at well over a grand for a bearing and bolts.

As Storrsy says, pay attention to king post and all bushes, but these are all easier to do than a slew bearing.

 

[Lffsam]

Many thanks Bri963, these are the things that they didn't teach me at school . Great advice.

 

[pettsy]

Is the vio17 a zero tail swing, compared to normal on the E17/TB016? What’s the availability of spares for each machine locally for you in France?

 

[Lffsam]

Is the vio17 a zero tail swing, compared to normal on the E17/TB016? What’s the availability of spares for each machine locally for you in France?

I noticed the zero tail swing when I downloaded the specs. Some people say"you need a big ass! " when I have researched the forum ....... What are your thoughts?
Furness sent me a link to a place here in France that seems to carry stock for most of these type of machines, but that's a good call and something I will look in to more closely before making a final decision

 

[Storrsy]

I noticed the zero tail swing when I downloaded the specs. Some people say"you need a big ass! " when I have researched the forum ....... What are your thoughts?
Furness sent me a link to a place here in France that seems to carry stock for most of these type of machines, but that's a good call and something I will look in to more closely before making a final decision

Think those Yanmars are made in France so you'd hope there would be parts available!

 

[jd6820]

For me it would have to be the TB016, great machines and capable for their size.

 

[Lffsam]

Think those Yanmars are made in France so you'd hope there would be parts available!

You are right, I saw it on the manufacturer plate in the photos

 

[Lffsam]

For me it would have to be the TB016, great machines and capable for their size.

So that's 2 votes for the Takeuchi.......

 

[V8Druid]

I leave tomorrow morning for Blighty.
, the local mayor is involved at the lake and pressing to get moving etc.
I appreciate all the feedback from you guys, the work at the lake is mainly ditching and drainage, no real work on the lake itself so I think the 1.7/1.9 will work ( famous last words lol ).

Still will not be able to transport it locally myself, but that problem is now solved ( thanks to M. Montsacre ). Happy days!

if that is all that is urgent and the rest can wait, why impose such strict time constraints on yourself and end up with something that, ultimately, is not going to be able to cope, with what appears to be the bulk of the remaining balance of work ??
rent a little un' for a week or two, to take the 'pressure' off (why is the mayor agitating - the lakes is yours, isn't it?) then buy at a more leisurely pace, when something that actually fits the bill comes up