[kaishang]

Originally Posted by iceraq

thanks for your responses!

fyi ill be working right off of victoria station. Probably will want to live somewhere close to there as well.

Sounds like whether to buy or not will be something I wait on till I get settled in... no rush.

In the meantime, is it easy to get a UK driver's licence? I hear people fail several times

You don't need to take a test if you exchange your US licence. The problem is, that is what it is, an *exchange* so you lose your US licence. PITA and not really acceptable if the US is your domicile.

Do a bit of research and see if you can get a UK licence without losing your US one.

[Falmouthboy]

Originally Posted by iceraq

thanks for your responses!

fyi ill be working right off of victoria station. Probably will want to live somewhere close to there as well.

Sounds like whether to buy or not will be something I wait on till I get settled in... no rush.

In the meantime, is it easy to get a UK driver's licence? I hear people fail several times

If you are an experienced driver, the test shouldn't be too much of an issue, but you are probably best driving on your US licence for a few weeks then booking a couple of lessons before you take the test with an approved instructor to ensure you are aware of any bad habits we all develop so that you can 'behave' during the test. You will also need to take the theory test before that which is a simple multi choice computer test that anyone with half a brain can pass after an evening reading the Highway Code.

Be aware that in the UK if you take a test in a car with an Automatic gear box, you will only be able to drive Auto cars (take the test on a manual and you can drive any car). I say this as I am aware that in the US Auto is far more common.

Re the earlier car club thing. I don't live in London so can't recommend one, but I see a subsequent poster has given some suggestions. There are two types of club, those suggested that provide a BMW 118 or similar. Also 'enthusiast' clubs where you pay for credits to have more 'exotic' wheels. I don't know your financial status so can't say if that would be for you, but it is a way of enjoying the benefits of a very nice car without the cost and worry of ownership or the excessive cost of a Hertz or similar performance hire. This is the sort of thing I mean http://www.clubgt.co.uk/index.php

[xenon]

I took a driving test in Florida - I don't know how that compares to other states but it is nothing like the UK driving test which is much harder. The test in Florida was so stupidly easy I don't why they even bothered.

[carl_d]

and the conjestion charge (toll) at £10/day. Leave the car at home!

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/...-charging-zone

[Madhouse]

Ok...for a North American, not living in London, here is my two cents (pence!)...

The 335i is a hell of a car on B roads, but LHD is a pain in in the ass to overtake anyone. If you are in trouble when you pull out...the torque is nice though!

As for gas (petrol!), as someone already stated, expect on close to 100 pounds for a tank (assuming you use Shell V-Power)..so think around $160 USD for a tank of gas. Not cheap!

Finally, if you have a later model 335i with Adaptive Xenon's, you should be fine with the MOT.

Afer being here for a year, I wouldn't give up my 335i for anything, but if I was staying here and not taking the car back to Canada, I would get a 330/335d, get better fuel economy, pay less road tax, and still have plenty of smiles when putting the right foot down.

Perhaps another option would be getting a 2008 M3 for a year or two as a toy??? Just sayin