Why would a car be marketed as "for export only"?

[Codswallop]

As per thread title^^

Can't think of any non-dodgy reason that a car might be advertised as being for export only.

Link to the advert here.

[CubanPete]

Some large fleet disposals can be for export only to maintain used prices (and brand image). Not sure why on a car this age tho.

[Deva Link]

I would guess that it's unroadworthy as it doesn't have an MOT and it's illegal for a trader to sell an unroadworthy car.

[confused_buyer]

Because, from the pictures, it has the not uncommon VSA failure fault which is about £1000 to fix so not economical to do.

This means it won't pass a UK MOT but could happily trundle around somewhere in Africa with Connect 7 on the dash lights.

[Codswallop]

confused_buyer said:

Because, from the pictures, it has the not uncommon VSA failure fault which is about £1000 to fix so not economical to do.

This means it won't pass a UK MOT but could happily trundle around somewhere in Africa with Connect 7 on the dash lights.

VSA as in vechicle stability assist? If it is down to that and the new MOT rules, well done EU. What can be more environmentally friendly than scrapping cars early...

[Deva Link]

Codswallop said:

VSA as in vechicle stability assist? If it is down to that and the new MOT rules,

...which still haven't actually been brought into use.

Codswallop said:

well done EU.

What's our MOT got to do with the EU?

[Codswallop]

Deva Link said:

Codswallop said:

VSA as in vechicle stability assist? If it is down to that and the new MOT rules,

...which still haven't actually been brought into use.

Fair enough, haven't memorised the date of the MOT change. Can you not therefore disable the VSA and get an MOT easily enough under the old system then?

Deva Link said:

Codswallop said:

well done EU.

What's our MOT got to do with the EU?

I was under the impression that the new MOT rules were in part influenced by EU directives. Do correct me if I believed wrong.

[4key]

Could they actually force you to export it? Hand over the cash, pick it up and apply for a new v5?

[Meoricin]

4key said:

Could they actually force you to export it? Hand over the cash, pick it up and apply for a new v5?

I'd think that the purpose of saying that is to protect them; they don't actually care what you do with it, they just want to make sure you can't buy it from them and then start claiming they've sold you an undrivable car/report them to trading standards/whatever.

[confused_buyer]

The fault also brings up the ABS light which is a failure and has been for some time. The dash has a serious Christmas Tree element to it.

There is a common fault in the ABS/VSC module. I believe the replacement cost from Lexus is about £3000 - hence most cars with the light up are a write off as far as the UK is concerned. Whether anyone else can fix them yet I do not know.

Edited by confused_buyer on Monday 12th November 21:00

[vit4]

Clicked the "Performance & Economy" tab, is that right that it's a 3 litre four cylinder??
Only aware of diesel 4-pots that big.

[AlexS]

Codswallop said:

confused_buyer said:

Because, from the pictures, it has the not uncommon VSA failure fault which is about £1000 to fix so not economical to do.

This means it won't pass a UK MOT but could happily trundle around somewhere in Africa with Connect 7 on the dash lights.

VSA as in vechicle stability assist? If it is down to that and the new MOT rules, well done EU. What can be more environmentally friendly than scrapping cars early...

What is wrong for failing an MOT for having defunct safety features? Afterall, would you be happy with a car in which the seatbelts weren't safe.

[psymonr]

vit4 said:

Clicked the "Performance & Economy" tab, is that right that it's a 3 litre four cylinder??
Only aware of diesel 4-pots that big.

Pretty sure the 3.0 litre GSs are inline 6 not 4 cylinder, but on another note, the Porsche 944 had a 3 litre 4 cylinder engine,

[Codswallop]

AlexS said:

What is wrong for failing an MOT for having defunct safety features? Afterall, would you be happy with a car in which the seatbelts weren't safe.

I never wrote that it was wrong. However I do feel that the importance of such systems may be overplayed in certain scenarios, especially if it will result in needless scraping of cars early because an expensive computer decided to go on the blink.

For what it's worth, none of the cars I have owned have had VSA, and I haven't died in a flamming fireball of kittens and children yet. In fact, I think a good few drivers survived since the invention of the motorcar upto the year 2000 without VSA. Good brakes, tyres, suspension and general mechanicals I agree are a must however.

[Deva Link]

Codswallop said:

...In fact, I think a good few drivers survived since the invention of the motorcar upto the year 2000 without VSA.

...but even more would have survived if cars had always had it.

(It's still not yet fitted to every new car, by the way)

[Manks]

OP said:

Why would a car be marketed as "for export only"?

Because the car is horrible and the seller has a sense of social responsibility?

[Codswallop]

Deva Link said:

...but even more would have survived if cars had always had it.

(It's still not yet fitted to every new car, by the way)

Shh! Don't let the Health and Safety brigade hear you saying that

[mph1977]

in the case of the vehicle in the advert cited - as has been suggested ifthe various electrickery has let the magic smoke out then it might not be economical to put back as UK / EU road legal

you occasionally find new or nearly new stuff down as for export only - but that is often because it's 'rest of the world ' spec and not type approved for the UK / EU - quite often 4*4s that pop up at the likes of Withams which are either embargoed for whatever reason or were ordered by NGO for a project in bongo-bongo land that then falls through

[va1o]

I was following an ex-lease 09 TT TDI recently through auction, and it popped up on a website a few days later for export. Didn't have any faults, FSH and HPI Clear UK spec car.

EDIT: Was on here - http://www.markdonelan.com/index.php

Edited by va1o on Monday 12th November 22:31

[poshboy]

va1o said:

I was following an ex-lease 09 TT TDI recently through auction, and it popped up on a website a few days later for export. Didn't have any faults, FSH and HPI Clear UK spec car.

Certain year/model cars are exoprtable, not all cars could be exported to the likes of Pakistan or Malaysia but the models that are sell for major money....some times 2 or three times the value of a 6 month newer car that doesn't qualify. Don't ask what cars qualify as I can't tell you for sure but generally big petrol mercs and big engine 4wd's