Luck1ng Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Hi guys Just wondering if any of you have imported your Gti's? What sort of saving did you get? Is there any warrantee insures? Which company should I look to use? Thanks for you help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ysabelle Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Imported my GTI over a year ago and its been in the dealers a number of times for warranty work. In fact, one senior service tech was chatting to me about imports without knowing that the one he was working on was indeed an import! There are numerous posts out there which clearly highlight what specification you should expect to see. The only other main difference is that you only get a 2 year warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 They all ultimately come from the same place. But expect to lose a little come resale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luck1ng Posted March 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Thanks you your replys Which company did you use? Was there a good discout? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyCh Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 I used Euro Imports and was very happy with their service and the saving I made (can't remember exactly but £2.5k-3k I think). Will I lose £3k on resale, I don't think so. Will anyone know it is an import? I don't honestly know. You can buy the extra year's warranty separately for about 300 quid I think (correct me if I'm wrong). I did it to cut the waiting list as well as save money and would definitely do it again with my next car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richy Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Saved 4k No warranty issues (it is registered with VWUK) Select Automotive Highly recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ysabelle Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 Heres a question... Come resale, how would a dealer or anyone else know its an import????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Heres a question... Come resale, how would a dealer or anyone else know its an import????? [/ QUOTE ] perhaps the foreign dealer stamp on your service book... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMC950 Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 For what it's worth.... I imported mine from Euroimports. I tripple checked that the car was exactly to UK spec. When I picked up the car I made sure that the book was not stamped by Euro and I had VW assistance and warranty and that the car was logged with VW UK. The next thing I did was take it to my 'local' VW garage where for £110 they did a pre-collection check, stamped the book with the official VW dealer stamp and put VW plates on it. I then had a warranty issue with my car which I took to a different 'local' garage, who absolutely did not notice that my car was an import. So, I have to say I am convinced that I could chop it in part-exchange for a new one and they'd not be able to tell it was an import. I'm sure they can with some digging but if they do I'll just go to another garage that don't! So, all in all, if your cautious, Importing is the way to go. They're all made in the same factory and the difference in cost is VW UK commission. Hope that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack_is_Back Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 My GTI was the first imported car I have purchased. I was a little sceptical but once I had satisfied myself that the car was to UK spec I was totally at ease. Oh, and the fact that I saved £4.5k on list price was pretty sweet. I can see no good reason for buying from a UK main dealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 You get imports cheap, so you have to be prepared to sell them cheaper. A dealer will offer you less, but it's to be expected. I wouldn't stump up full UK retail price on a dealer forecourt for an imported car, knowing the original owner would have paid considerably less than UK list price. Your car might be registered with VW UK, but it won't be registered with them as a UK dealer car. The only problem I can see is if come trade in a dealer or private buyer asks you categorically if it's an import car and you say no, then that's fraudulent on your part. Most punters might not be savvy enough to ask, but most dealers will be. There is nothing wrong with an import per say though, far from it! it's exactly the same car from exactly the same factory. Just for much cheaper. And like has already been said, the loss at resale should be nothing like the gains at purchase, so either way you should be quids in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I can see no good reason for buying from a UK main dealer. [/ QUOTE ] Apart from the high standards of customer service, the attention to detail, the aftermarket support and the way dealers make you feel special. Er...actually, you're probably right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ysabelle Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Heres a question... Come resale, how would a dealer or anyone else know its an import????? [/ QUOTE ] perhaps the foreign dealer stamp on your service book... [/ QUOTE ] The company who imported mine gave me an additional english manual and blank service book. I scanned in the engine/model data sticker on my orig service book and printed myself out a new label. I only have a UK stealer stamp for my oil change in my service book. Besides, another dealer wouldnt look at your service book before giving you a P/X price. If they are eagle-eyed enough they may notice a foreign stamp on the first page but that could have been an inspection as the car was released for all they know. Lets be honest, when you bring in your docs on handover day the deal has been done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fresco1 Posted March 16, 2007 Report Share Posted March 16, 2007 I've imported 2 cars - nothing too exciting, but in 1999 I imported a Renault Megane Coupe for Mrs. Fresco, then in 2001 I imported a Fiat Coupe 20v Turbo for Mrs. Fresco. Okay, I saved a packet. Bought both of them in Dublin, did the whole deal (in each case) myself, and got stung badly on resale. Leaving aside my taste in cars back then (ahem!), I simply could not sell on the Fiat Coupe. No-one would touch it, bearing in mind this was 2002 and imports were still very much frowned upon. In the end I had to sell it again in Dublin, meaning I took it home and flogged it via my father to a Fiat dealer there. The Renault was worse. Again, saved a bundle but this I traded in against a Toyota Celica T-Sport ( ) in 2001. The part ex was fine, the Toyota dealer was okay but wasn't good on the trade-in due to the 'import' status. However, when my Celica turned up, they rang and said they'd discovered having had my car for a week that it was purchased in Dublin and not exactly UK spec (something to do with my version having no electric rear windows?), so they asked for £1,000 more to complete the deal. They were okay, but refused to honour the exchange claiming I had misled them. To be honest, I'd just had a road-test in the Celica (a company car), so as it wasn't really my money I didn't give a and signed anyway. I took the cash from the Renault (now £1K less), drove about the Celica, and was happy. But I'd never import again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robs1977 Posted March 17, 2007 Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 When the dealer types your registration in to their computer at trade in time to check history it will come up in big letters that it is a peronal import,anyone that thinks they are going to get uk car money for theirs at a dealer just because visually you can't tell is dreaming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackDiamond Posted March 17, 2007 Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 I part exchanged my imported Golf GT TDI 130 for my imported MKV GTI at Motor Depot who gave me the full UK trade-in price for my part ex. I saved £4500 off the new price of a GTI. If you trade an import for a UK car they will offer less though. Thats why i'd never buy a UK-supplied German car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemod Posted March 17, 2007 Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 That's excellent, so if you saved £4500 off new price and then just traded it in you would get full UK sourced car money and actually make a nice profit. If you did that a few times you could then get the car for free Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackDiamond Posted March 17, 2007 Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 If only! Unfortunately you wouldn't get the UK trade-in price if the car was less than 3 years old because of the lack of warranty remaining. After 3 years though there is no difference to the buyer if the car is UK supplied or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted March 17, 2007 Report Share Posted March 17, 2007 [ QUOTE ] When I picked up the car I made sure that the book was not stamped by Euro and I had VW assistance and warranty and that the car was logged with VW UK. The next thing I did was take it to my 'local' VW garage where for £110 they did a pre-collection check, stamped the book with the official VW dealer stamp and put VW plates on it. [/ QUOTE ] Thats been bit sneaky lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ysabelle Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 [ QUOTE ] When the dealer types your registration in to their computer at trade in time to check history it will come up in big letters that it is a peronal import,anyone that thinks they are going to get uk car money for theirs at a dealer just because visually you can't tell is dreaming. [/ QUOTE ] Thats incorrect. My car is logged with VW assistance and on all VW systems. As I have already said,its been into dealers for work and they had no clue it was an import. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMC950 Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 [ QUOTE ] When the dealer types your registration in to their computer at trade in time to check history it will come up in big letters that it is a peronal import,anyone that thinks they are going to get uk car money for theirs at a dealer just because visually you can't tell is dreaming. [/ QUOTE ] I think your giving VW way, way, way too much credit for their diligence here. I think you might be dreaming that the check is as easy and likely as that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentandy Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 Mine is an import and is registered with VWUK, I've had a couple of warranty issues sorted out without any question or even mention of if being an import. Not long ago I went to order some touch up paint, the parts counter guy entered my VIN number and said it looks like someone forgot to put some of the details in the system when I picked it up from them, assuming I had bought the car from that dealer. He had no idea it was an import and just entered the missing information. The only problem I have had is it has been to 3 different dealers now for warranty & service work and every time they put one of their own stickers on the car, cheeky so and so's!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richy Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 I think I would punch someone if they put a sticker on my car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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