UK or Import

[Corpulent Tosser]

OK, I am going to see two cars, one this evening another tomorrow.
One is a UK car, 2003 62K miles, 1.8 Trilogy special edition (circa £4K), the other is a 1999 Japanese Import, 92K miles (circa £2.5K)

The import has a six speed gearbox and I presume a LSD, as most have don't they. How do I determine if it does though ?

The online insurance quotes I got have the UK car at around £270, the import at £480, quite a big difference but not a deal breaker. Is there a good insurance company for covering imports ?

Head says go for the UK car, but would the import be more fun, and the saved money spent on a turbo perhaps ?

Of course when I go to see them one might be a dog and so make the decision easier.

Advise of any kind appreciated.

Murray

[vdubbin]

Buy on condition over any thing else, check that the import is clean (rust-wise) as they dodn't get the same underbody protection that UK cars got.

[Planet Claire]

The Trilogy is a nice car, but look at the alloys on it. Mazda used the same ones as the 10AE - the highly polished ones which have a track record for corroding. Mine are in desperate need of a refurb, which is easier said than done because not many places will do the work, mainly I think because they can't guarentee the end result. I know someone did a DIY job on theirs which looked ok though, and probably a lot cheaper.

[MX-5 Lazza]

Don't belive all you read on forums - there is no difference between UK & JDM cars with regards to under-body protection (i.e. it's not good enough either way ).

[CaptainSlow]

MX-5 Lazza said:

Don't belive all you read on forums - there is no difference between UK & JDM cars with regards to under-body protection (i.e. it's not good enough either way ).

yep and imports have had less time on salty roads

[MX-5 Lazza]

CaptainSlow said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

Don't belive all you read on forums - there is no difference between UK & JDM cars with regards to under-body protection (i.e. it's not good enough either way ).

yep and imports have had less time on salty roads

Quite true though I wouldn't put much faith in that either. Many imports have been over here for well over 10 years now after all.

[Hodjay]

Im very close to going out and buying an MX-5 soon and I keep having this debate with myself, but it does sound like it mainly comes down to overall condition of the individual car and how much the insurance difference ends up being...im 21 and this is my first car in my name, most of the insurance quotes I get are more than the car!
Its going to be an expensive summer!!...but im sure it will be worth it in the end!

[Corpulent Tosser]

Thanks Guys.

I guess buying on condition is what matters, and the UK car is newer/has less miles so will very likely be the better car.

I have been to the bank and have a large pocketfull fo notes which I hope will help get the price down a bit, I am going to see the first car (UK) at 7pm, will let you know how it goes.