What is it about 'imports' that causes all of the problems with selling them on. If a car is RHD, just where was it destined for in the first place? Why are they always considered to be inferior to cars that are not imports? Isn't a car manufactured abroad an import by definition anyway, if it is sold in this country?
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Imports take away business from concerns that are in a position to diminish their value, thereby discouraging them.
As to inferiority, some of the Jap imports are superior to products of the same country "oficially" imported.
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The company car culture in this country has a lot to blame too. The powerful fleet buyers dictated new and 3 year prices and the private punter was forced to paying full retail for his cars so the fleet buyers could sell their 3 year olds at an inflated price.
Importing really took off 3 years ago and now those vehicles are coming onto the market alongside UK dealer supplied models, the pressure is on franchises to offer much more competitive prices. I think to some extent the consumer won.
Unfortunately the strong Euro has prevented competitive imports for the last 2 years but the supermarkets have taken over with large discounts on UK retail.
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Salesman at the garage told me that when offering a PX value on an inport, they know it costs thousands less, so they dont see why they should pay the normal price. I dont agree at all but at least he was honest!
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Motor point always have excellent offers.
IMO, one is deemed weak if they accept the BS from the trader when it comes to PX, especially if the car is of UK/vey similar spec. Most people could not tell the difference as they are uneducated in this field.
So next time you buy an imported motor, sell it privately - there are millions out there that do not know the difference as in their opinion, EG - a MB is an import as it is not made in the UK. :)
M
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Most people could not tell the difference as they are uneducated in this field
Sorry, but a lot of \"imports\" referred to as such are full UK specification cars simply sold through a European franchised dealer rather than the UK dealers.
I accept that there are Cypriot and other countries models at the supermarkets but personal imports have generally been of full UK spec vehicles, the only difference being the original warranty period and the supplying dealers foreign PDI stamp on the first page of the service book.
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The problem dates from when imports first took off.
I'm talking here about a "true" parallel import - i.e. one that is specified to full UK spec but sourced via an EU dealer. The car will thus be identical ex-factory. The problem is what happens after that.
Most national prices & terms are set by the national arm of the manufacturer. It has been the case that continental cars are supplied under different terms. The norm there is for a one year warranty as opposed to a three year warranty here, for example. In addition, dealers sometimes fit some equipment such as an alarm on new Mercs; that equipment is not factory fitted and is not standard on the Continent.
So an import will lack any epquipment that is only fitted by UK dealers. It may also have different warranty terms. It may also need to be taken back to the source dealer or country in order for a warranty claim to be made.
Much of that has been sorted out now, but we (the public) have no way to check that a particular car has the same terms etc and therefore may be suspicious.
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Imports take away business from concerns that are in a position to diminish their value, thereby discouraging them.
That is exactly the reason!
Years ago the manufacturers colluded with the distributors until the EEC declared it an illegal practice. It did not only apply to UK as VW got fined millions for preventing Germans buying diesels in Italy.
It is a pity that the strong Euro has made personal imports less attractive than earlier days.
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The reason was to keep the second hand price up, and hence (customers dont like loosing a shed load) the new price up. There are so many "imports" and "cheap" cars sold new and barely second hand now that this practise of trying to devalue the import is and will fall away.
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