Hello All

Thank you for the replies,

I still need to do some calculating to see what its worthwhile doing.
My vehicle would actually be a 1991 JDM Toyota 4 Runner( Hilux SUV),which though it is RHD (I have had RHD cars in LHD counties for years,not as big a problem as some folks make out) I have had in Canada for years (not driven in salt) with very low millage and a very simple diesel motor. I would send over my diesel 60 series Land cruiser(also RHD), but I would miss it too much ,

The car cost is negligible on the 4 runner(bought and paid for many years ago), it runs well and has A/C ect, and finding parts anywhere in Europe or Africa should be easier as it is Hilux based (I have more problems in Canada with that,but the internet is a wonderful thing is it not!).

I need to find out if I can have my insurance cover it (liability only,same as I have here already) while it is is Europe, in Africa I would simply purchase the required local coverage at the borders.

The registration would remain in Quebec, there is no annual MOT here(this greatly simplifies things), and I can suspend the registration for up to 364 days per year, so I would only activate the registration when needed and the car would be stored in doors and out of sight unless I was using it while in Europe,same with insurance(from Canada if possible).

Again, this is out loud thinking and trying to get feedback from other who may have done the same,when I read what folks have done with motorcycles,the rules are the same,yet there are many posts suggesting what I am proposing here.

I dont think I will be going through countries requiring a CDP, though that can be done if required,and the point is not to keep the car there forever, but simply use a car I know well,has no real cost to me (other than shipping back and forth,which is much less than buying a comparable vehicle in Portugal),

Importing it to Portugal is out of the question (these guys will charge you an arm and a leg), I looked at that for my mom, (who does not drive a manual car,and we have 95% automatics here in North America), its almost cheaper to buy her a new car there, than "importing" a very used one from here or even elsewhere in the EU (very protectionist).

I still have to look into the insurance,and once that is solved I will look at the sums and see what we will do.

Buying elsewhere in the EU is not simple, with no residency it is a problem,with both registration and insurance (I spoke with someone from Quebec who did it in France,and they ended up having to find a long lost aunty,and the insurance was still a nightmare)

I am not averse to buying in Portugal, I already have an old Fiat 128 that I keep over there,but getting it through MOT is always a pain(and its very clean) but due its age ,I dont have to pay any roadtax, and insurance is about 50 euro/year (as a classic),which is why I keep it,some years it only goes from the MOT and back to the garage,but it is perfectly usable and my daily driver when I am over there for a few weeks at a time.(sucks not to have A/C though)

Thanks again for you inputs,they are welcome and useful

Cheers,

Paul