Difficulty in selling an import?
Discussion
All,
I'm ready to take the plunge an buy an mx-5. I've wanted one for a long time. I've been offered a mk2 at what looks like a very good price. But (and there's always a but) its an import.
Now, I'm aware of the pros and cons of an import vs a UK car. The main one that concerns me is reselling it in a years time.
How much more difficult are imports to shift?
I'm ready to take the plunge an buy an mx-5. I've wanted one for a long time. I've been offered a mk2 at what looks like a very good price. But (and there's always a but) its an import.
Now, I'm aware of the pros and cons of an import vs a UK car. The main one that concerns me is reselling it in a years time.
How much more difficult are imports to shift?
snotrag said:
The only cars that are hard to sell are ones that are too expensive.
Fair point. In which case, perhaps the question ought to be along the lines of "how much cheaper, if any, should an import be?".It's an early mk2 1.6 with leather and air con, 60k miles, if that helps at all.
Thanks
Chicharito said:
CaptainSlow said:
Possibly the opposite now. Some specialist dealers don't touch UK Mk1s now due to rot.
Stupid and out-dated perception - even imports will have done at least 10-15 winters in the UK by now!Condition is more important than age or import status.
Nick
HorneyMX5 said:
Not exactly, mine was imported in 2003 so that's only 7 winters (MKI V-spec) and my mates was imported 2009 so only 2 winters (MKI standard spec). Both have been well looked after since landing here and have zero rust.
Nick
There are exceptions - and it really does depend on where they're imported from. I'd be equally worried about any MkI that only came in 2 years ago... what has it been doing for the last decade?Nick
However, if you find a recent import, you're right - but most imports came over a long time ago now.
Chicharito said:
CaptainSlow said:
Possibly the opposite now. Some specialist dealers don't touch UK Mk1s now due to rot.
Stupid and out-dated perception - even imports will have done at least 10-15 winters in the UK by now!Condition is more important than age or import status.
UK cars are, on average, rottier than imports. When I was looking for a MK1 all the UK cars I went to look at were complete rust buckets. Add to this the import models tend to have more toys.
eta
this is the dealer (ok it says he doesn't buy many not none)
http://www.goodwoodsportscars.co.uk/info.html
Edited by CaptainSlow on Saturday 3rd December 16:07
Chicharito said:
Shouldn't be any cheaper than a UK model - just double check the power output, as I'm sure UK models had less BHP than Jap imports.
The only UK car that had less power than a JDM car was the 95-98 Mk1 1.6 which had 88bhp. All other UK models had identical power to the JDM equivalent.There is also no guarantee that a JDM car is higher spec than a UK car though Japs like their options and Japanese weather means AC is more common so they are much more likely to have a higher spec.
CaptainSlow said:
this is the dealer (ok it says he doesn't buy many not none)
http://www.goodwoodsportscars.co.uk/info.html
He has an interest in scare stories and keeping prices high for his imported stock!http://www.goodwoodsportscars.co.uk/info.html
MX-5 Lazza said:
The only UK car that had less power than a JDM car was the 95-98 Mk1 1.6 which had 88bhp. All other UK models had identical power to the JDM equivalent.
There is also no guarantee that a JDM car is higher spec than a UK car though Japs like their options and Japanese weather means AC is more common so they are much more likely to have a higher spec.
Ahhh, OK - wasn't sure if the Mk2 still had the de-tuned 1.6 in UK cars or not.There is also no guarantee that a JDM car is higher spec than a UK car though Japs like their options and Japanese weather means AC is more common so they are much more likely to have a higher spec.
I wouldn't let AC influence my decision, as it can be a real pain to get old systems recharged these days - almost every MX5 I looked at before buying mine seemed to have non-working AC, where fitted, for this reason. (It's not a simple 50 quid recharge at Kwik Fit).
I think it's fair enough to warn people that JDM imports might not be rust free as the majority have been through quite a few winters here. Yes UK cars would have done more winters but I haven't really noticed any difference in rust between UK & JDM cars. It used to make a big difference but not any more. The safest advice would be to not limit yourself at all and just choose the best condition car whatever it might be (except the late UK Mk1 1.6).
The general feeling here is this, my wife has a 91 Eunos MK1 1.6 and arrived here 12 winters ago and is still virtually rust free with nice clean factory wheel arches!
I bought a 97 MK1 1.6 MX5 home car. Hers is great and mine was without power steering, leccy windows, remote boot, air con and basically a slow boring rusty shed which I sold quickly.
She still has her car which she loves and frankly so do I.
Pay no attention to dealers as they are only loyal to whatever they have for sale.
Choose a car for what you like and trust me others will like it too when it becomes sale time.
I bought a 97 MK1 1.6 MX5 home car. Hers is great and mine was without power steering, leccy windows, remote boot, air con and basically a slow boring rusty shed which I sold quickly.
She still has her car which she loves and frankly so do I.
Pay no attention to dealers as they are only loyal to whatever they have for sale.
Choose a car for what you like and trust me others will like it too when it becomes sale time.
Well I'm the guy who runs Goodwood Sportscars and most of the time, I won't bother travelling very far to look at UK cars. In my experience, they simply have more rot than an import. That said, there are exceptions (I've just sold a 20 year old rust free UK car) and just because a car is an import, it most certainly doesn't mean that it will have no corrosion.
I just know from experience based on looking at hundreds of MX5s, that most UK cars will have susbstantial rust problems. Its not just bodywork either. The only MX5s on which I have had to replace rusted out suspension components are all UK cars. I also find that what should be straight forward jobs, like changing a broken spring, can turn into a saga due to seized nuts and bolts.
And thats before we even get into the issue of lower specification of UK cars.
I'm not really interested in price: its down to condition. And imports are very simply often in better condition.
I just know from experience based on looking at hundreds of MX5s, that most UK cars will have susbstantial rust problems. Its not just bodywork either. The only MX5s on which I have had to replace rusted out suspension components are all UK cars. I also find that what should be straight forward jobs, like changing a broken spring, can turn into a saga due to seized nuts and bolts.
And thats before we even get into the issue of lower specification of UK cars.
I'm not really interested in price: its down to condition. And imports are very simply often in better condition.
I can't really see why anyone would want a UK car given the choice. The special editions were generally pretty lame and the basic spec often isn't as good as JDM equivalents. I think I'd rather take an import with a proper torsen diff over a UK car with, umm, a tartan gear lever gaiter...
The one thing some of the UK cars have in their favour (documented service history) isn't all that relevant given the excellent reliability of the basic design.
The one thing some of the UK cars have in their favour (documented service history) isn't all that relevant given the excellent reliability of the basic design.
Edited by Risotto on Thursday 22 December 17:28
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