Importing your car

Good or Bad in here.........
ladymxenna
Posts: 181
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2002 8:03 pm
Location: Midlands, UK

Post by ladymxenna »

I actually imported my car using Virgin Cars. I ordered it in May 2001 and it arrived in September 2002.

Pros:

Saved a nearly 2.5K from UK listed prices and that was with it taxed, insured, registered, AAmembership, 1 year warranty, modified to UK specification and delivered to door.

Only had to pay £500.00 deposit to begin the process

Could follow progress - in theory - online

Just had to sit back and wait - no hassle

Compensation given due to delay (actually still waiting for that but it's in the contract so I'm enforcing it.)

I used a large recognised importer to minimise the risk of the company going bust half way through the transaction and losing my desposit. ( could have got a better reduction in price with other importers but ye' pays ye' money and ye' takes ye' choice...as they say)

Cons:

Long delay - more so than ordering through UK supplier ( although on the plus side I was able to save and pay cash in the end)

I had to keep phoning to find out at what stage my car was.

Had to pay final balance almost two months before I actually got my car.

Had to insure my new car - before I got it - before importers would proceed - which meant that I had insurance on two cars at the same time, only one of which owned.

I 'screwed' myself by selling my existing car ...had a great offer...before my Peugeot arrived. This was a problem as my Peugeot was delayed, so I had no car for two months.

On balance is importing worth it? Probably yes. You just have to plan everything very very carefully and pick your importers wisely....oh and make yourself a pain in the backside if there appear to be delivery delays -otherwise you get walked all over.

Lady Mxenna
ex Platinum Silver 206CC SE 2.0 driver
_________________________

Alex LS
Posts: 1895
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Slough, UK

Post by Alex LS »

What I've found so far:
Saved a nearly 2.5K
I'm saving nearly £3k
Only had to pay £500.00 deposit
Initial deposit is now £100 for paperwork then a total of 15% to confirm order.
Long delay
Yeah - 16 months is quite long :shock:
If there are no more delays, I'll have had a 8 month wait.
Had to pay final balance almost two months before I actually got my car.
Reasonable. They have to pay the supplier for the car so they need your money to do that. Although it's now "an average of 4 weeks"
Had to insure my new car - before I got it
Of course. Insurance is needed in order to register and tax the car.
I had insurance on two cars at the same time, only one of which owned.
Me too. Temporary insurance on my current car at a cost of £40 for the month.
"It is not an ordinary job. It is not like being manager of Aston Villa." - Gérard Houllier

[url=http://www.peugeot206cc.co.uk/newowners?id=386]Owner #386[/url] - [url=http://alexlslfc.users.btopenworld.com/pug/][u]My pug stuff[/u][/url]

ladymxenna
Posts: 181
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2002 8:03 pm
Location: Midlands, UK

Post by ladymxenna »

If I haven't already said it, the wait was worth it - The car is as perfect as they come ( I am touching wood as we speak.) Incidentally, I have just spent ten minutes taking photographs of it from every conceivable angle - signs of a sad life perhaps?


Lady mxenna
ex Platinum Silver 206CC SE 2.0 driver
_________________________

Alex LS
Posts: 1895
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Slough, UK

Post by Alex LS »

:D
"It is not an ordinary job. It is not like being manager of Aston Villa." - Gérard Houllier

[url=http://www.peugeot206cc.co.uk/newowners?id=386]Owner #386[/url] - [url=http://alexlslfc.users.btopenworld.com/pug/][u]My pug stuff[/u][/url]

Vivi
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2002 11:07 am
Location: Isleworth, Middlesex

Post by Vivi »

I'm waiting for my import car to arrive, I'm saving around £2500 too and got Alloy Wheels and Sports Pack but couldnt get the leather interior. Am getting a black 206 CC 1.6.

Do you have any recommendations as to questions to ask the garage importing the car, ie what happens if I pick up car and something doesn't work, etc? What are my rights? Not having done this before Im not sure what Im supposed to ask or know.

Thanks for your help
Vivi

Alex LS
Posts: 1895
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Slough, UK

Post by Alex LS »

Who are you buying the car from?

If buying FROM the importer, then your rights are those under English law (unless you're in Scotland, of course). If something's wrong with the car, you can reject it etc. etc. etc.

If buying THROUGH the importer, then it may be a little more complicated. As long as the supplier is within the EU, however, you should be ok - some things will be a little more difficult (rejecting the car for example). You will still be covered by the manufacturer's warranty though.
"It is not an ordinary job. It is not like being manager of Aston Villa." - Gérard Houllier

[url=http://www.peugeot206cc.co.uk/newowners?id=386]Owner #386[/url] - [url=http://alexlslfc.users.btopenworld.com/pug/][u]My pug stuff[/u][/url]

Derek
Posts: 5541
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2001 1:00 am
Location: West Lothian, Scotland

Post by Derek »

i don't see the attraction of waiting 18 months just to save £2500.

when i ordered my 1st CC in july 01 i could have saved over £3k by importing with a 40 week wait. i bought it from a dealer with a 20 week wait instead as i wasn't prepared to wait that long.

also when it came to rejection i was even happier that i bought it from a uk dealer.
Derek

206CC 2.0SE Owner 2001 to 2004 - 308CC GT Owner 2010 to 2011 - Now RCZ GT 200BHP Owner

[img]http://www.ecosse-peugeot.co.uk/images/ecosse_logo.gif[/img] Peugeot Specialists: http://www.ecosse-peugeot.co.uk

Duncan
Posts: 1041
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Berkshire

Post by Duncan »

Agree with Derek

When we bought Virgin were quoting 7 months, not to mention extra delays others have encountered.

10 days from the dealer.

There are advantages buing from a dealer you just have to pay for them.
"all aboard the Skylark"

Alex LS
Posts: 1895
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Slough, UK

Post by Alex LS »

Ah yes. But when buying from the dealer and not saving that extra couple of thousand means you'd have to wait several months more in any case, it becomes an easier choice.

Basically, if I hadn't been saving this much, I'd only have been thinking about ordering it around now in any case...
"It is not an ordinary job. It is not like being manager of Aston Villa." - Gérard Houllier

[url=http://www.peugeot206cc.co.uk/newowners?id=386]Owner #386[/url] - [url=http://alexlslfc.users.btopenworld.com/pug/][u]My pug stuff[/u][/url]

TheMinel
Posts: 908
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2002 2:03 pm
Location: Manchester UK (italian though)

Post by TheMinel »

i've done differently.....I bought the display car at my dealers in Italy, saved, £4000 and drove it here LOL :lol:
[url=http://www.peugeot206cc.co.uk/newowners?id=364]Owner 364[/url]
Mods to date: chrome hoops chrome gear shift surround, Ecosse lexus lights, SP lower grille, chrome washers, EBC greenstuff Brake Pads, clear fog light, Cadamuro Design Back Spoiler, Front Corner Splitters, colour coded bumpers and sides. CAR SOLD
Now: Azure 350Z

Derek
Posts: 5541
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2001 1:00 am
Location: West Lothian, Scotland

Post by Derek »

i guess money must be a subject close to the heart of import owners :P
Derek

206CC 2.0SE Owner 2001 to 2004 - 308CC GT Owner 2010 to 2011 - Now RCZ GT 200BHP Owner

[img]http://www.ecosse-peugeot.co.uk/images/ecosse_logo.gif[/img] Peugeot Specialists: http://www.ecosse-peugeot.co.uk

TheMinel
Posts: 908
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2002 2:03 pm
Location: Manchester UK (italian though)

Post by TheMinel »

ehm i think money is a subject close to everybody's hearts really.....
[url=http://www.peugeot206cc.co.uk/newowners?id=364]Owner 364[/url]
Mods to date: chrome hoops chrome gear shift surround, Ecosse lexus lights, SP lower grille, chrome washers, EBC greenstuff Brake Pads, clear fog light, Cadamuro Design Back Spoiler, Front Corner Splitters, colour coded bumpers and sides. CAR SOLD
Now: Azure 350Z

Paul-T
Posts: 226
Joined: Wed Aug 21, 2002 1:00 am
Location: LONDON

Post by Paul-T »

Money wasnt the issue for me :D

I was just driving by my local dealers one morning and decided to pop in an have a look at a CC.

By the time I left, id signed up for one :D so I guess it was an impulse buy.

Hmm .. come to think of it .. that's how ive bought all of the cars ive owned so far :?

Duncan
Posts: 1041
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 1:00 am
Location: Berkshire

Post by Duncan »

Seen in local free rag

Viking Basingstoke (dealer)

2 used CCs 14.5k and 15k no further details

Next Page

Trade Sales

New Imported 2.0S.E.(doesn't mention leather) 14K.

Draw your own conlusions but is somone still going to pay 14k for the import when its a year old?
"all aboard the Skylark"

stephen T
Posts: 1828
Joined: Wed May 22, 2002 1:00 am

Post by stephen T »

being realistic the import prices are going to be lower.