Imports

[Robbie]

The problem with whats legal and what goes on behind closed doors seems two seperate things on occasions.

The EU have been trying to stamp out overpricing in the UK for years, fining manufacturers time and again yet it still goes on and its still difficult for an individual to go abroad to obtain a right hand drive car within a reasonable space of time. With so many documentaries citing examples of this, I wouldn't be a bit suprised if some dealers are leant on by manufacturers in the UK to make servicing difficult with imports or that these dealers wouldn't be able to identify an import from simply tapping into the computer data base. Then you've got the inevitability of dealers taking the view that those that go abroad/obtain imports, are taking the bread from their mouths (rightly or wrongly - I don't personally hold this view but then I'm not running a dealership dependant on the manufacturer).

I'm sure that there are a good number of professional dealers out there who service imported cars just the same like any other but I also bet there are dealers out there that make things difficult for those with imported cars too.

I personally think things will change for the better once dealers are allowed to sell a variety of new makes thus helping to break the apparent "cartel culture" that contributes to artificially higher prices.

Perhaps then we won't have to import cars.


Robbie

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: robbie on 2002-03-18 20:35 ]</font>

[NikNik]

Just joined the import gang for the second time!! - First ordered from Motorpoint in Jan for deliver in mid-Feb. After no contact and a sales advisor who in a previous life must have been a Peugeot Monkey I cancelled the car yesterday .
Today I've been to Available Car.com's showroom and ordered and driven my new 02 silver 2.0se cc and will collect next Thurs. Again an import but the saving can't be ignored. Car broke down on the test drive - visions of fuel and speedo problems flashed before me - but they filled it up with petrol and off we went



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: NikNik on 2002-03-18 20:26 ]</font>

[Nickolarse]

I haven't actually got a CC yet, but I graduate from uni this year and hit 21 so I thought I would treat myself to a flash car. I've saved up all my student loans (£6,000) which have a ridiculously low interest rate, am gonna sell my current car, and get the rest of the money from a graduate loan (again, a ridiculously low interest rate). Effectively I'll be paying cash for the car, but am really worried about getting screwed by dealers over here. If its too much of a risk then my only other option is to buy a used CC over here as I cannot afford UK dealers prices :sad:

[Matt]

Yeah good point. Here in Oz there are hardly any CCs, let alone second hand ones, but judging from experiences posted on this site (Rob's, Derek's) I would STRONGLY advise you not to get a second hand CC, especially from a dealer, as it's bound to have problems.

You might like to try a tactic that I read about on a website from the USA called a "fax attack". You basically work out all the dealers within a reasonable radius of where you live. You send each of them a fax saying that you want to buy this CC in this colour and with these options and all the rest. Tell them you want to pay about this much (pick a fairly low price - lower than you would actually pay) and that you are faxing all the dealers asking for a quote to see who will give you the best price. Tell them you can pay cash. Ask them to fax (or email) you back with their best quote, and then see what happens.

As I said I got this from a website in the USA, so I don't actually know anyone who has used this tactic yet. I plan to do it when I go to buy. I suppose they can always ignore you, but if they want to sell a car, then they should give you a good price - and you have it in writing!!

Let us all know if you try it and it works!

[Derek]

if you are looking for a used CC then my dealer is selling one.

it has been well looked after and has been kept in a garage for most of it's life.

work it out

[rob]

my dealer wil hopefully have 2 more for sale soon.

Hopefully for me that is, not who ever buy them

[Derek]

rob,

any progress on the rejection ?

derek

[rob]

its all gone quiet

I do have a loan car that belongs to Peugeot at the moment

[Derek]

i hope you are looking after it

[rob]

I certainly am

[will]

I saved £3000 by buying it from Mtoropoint.
It broke down after 21.5 miles and Motorpoint was Brill, a hire car and courtesy car. Peugeout tried to avoid any help and took 3 weeks to get a new starter motor in from France.
Peugeot nil point, Motor point 10 points.
The extended warranty is provided by the same company. Warranty holdings. You can extend up to 4 year plus one originally for about £1000, net profit £2000. I think if you have a spare £2000 you could waste it on an identical car. Hopefully common sense will mean most will buy this way and then Peugeot will have to drop their prices.
End of RIP OFF BRITAIN.
Will

[gmjones]

Hopefully one day all the EU prices will be roughly the same. Importing will be a thing of the past (Hopefully). In the meantime I cant wait for my imported CC £3000 saving.

[Nickolarse]

GMJONES> are you importing your CC yourself, or are you getting one from a dealer?

[gmjones]

Importing m8 from a company up in London. Ordered it in Feb and it will be with me in May. 2.0SE with full leather for 14000 and saved £3100. What about yourself?

[Nickolarse]

that is a bargain mate! Do you have any contact details of the company, such as a website? I'm doing my research before i order one in the summer!