Wise to buy UK car exported to Ireland then reimported?

[RoVoFob]

I’m planning to view an Audi that is apparently a UK car that was exported to the Republic of Ireland and then reimported.

Are there any particular pitfalls with this? Likely problems with insurance, car history checks not showing clocking or write offs that happened in Ireland?

Ordinarily, I’d pick another car, but it’s proving very difficult to find cars with the engine/spec I want as it is. It’s this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204204...

The mileage is particularly low, so there’s potential for clocking to have taken place, and it’s only done 153 miles since August 2019, which is a concern.

The August 2019 MOT had no advisories, then 7 months and 5 miles later it failed on carbon monoxide emissions and smoke from the engine bay. Two years and 147 miles later it failed again for carbon monoxide emissions, insufficient brake pedal travel, CV boot joint and suspension arm ball joint issues. Four days later it had a clean MOT…

As I’m writing this, I think I’m convincing myself to run away, but trying to establish whether there are innocent reasons for all of these things or if the car’s simply knackered from being parked up for so long.

It also has a different speedometer to standard, which I understand was changed when it was exported to Ireland so kph was more prominent.

Run away?

[MustangGT]

Unless it is a very special limited edition model I would walk away, there will be another one without the potential issues.

[normalbloke]

They often come back appearing fresher and younger after a break there!

[CoolHands]

I wouldn’t. There’s enough clocked cars out there without purposely seeking one out.

[RoVoFob]

MustangGT said:

Unless it is a very special limited edition model I would walk away, there will be another one without the potential issues.

Thanks. I think you’re right. I’m just being inpatient - I can wait a month or so if needbe…

[RoVoFob]

normalbloke said:

They often come back appearing fresher and younger after a break there!

Is this a thing? The irony is that I wouldn’t object to it having three times the mileage - I just want to know the deal!

Wonder why someone would reimport it and then not drive it for not far off three years, too…

[RoVoFob]

CoolHands said:

I wouldn’t. There’s enough clocked cars out there without purposely seeking one out.

Yeah, you’re probably right. Any idea if there’s a site where you can check Irish MOT equivalents by reg or VIN? I imagine it’d be quite difficult to find the Irish records if it had a different plate but who knows.

[CoolHands]

I would just stop reading the advert. We’ve all been there, getting keen on an item that seems like a good deal. In my experience the best method is to close the browser, stop reading it, and come back in a months time to look for the model you want. You just shouldn’t pursue it.

[Golgarth]

There are a few people at work who have not used their cars throughout the pandemic, at all.....

Possible reason for the low mileage?


(but in reality I would walk away as I wouldn't trust it, unless there is irrefuteable proof that explains the reason for so few miles.

[anonymous-user]

normalbloke said:

They often come back appearing fresher and younger after a break there!

Apart from the drivers seat. That’s seen more than 39k miles.

[RoVoFob]

Golgarth said:

There are a few people at work who have not used their cars throughout the pandemic, at all.....

Possible reason for the low mileage?

This makes sense, but if someone went to the cost and effort of reimporting a car, you’d think they’d have wanted to drive it for the six months before the pandemic hit.

Its not like it’s something super-impractical, where you’d only take it out for very specific journeys. Don’t get it.

[RoVoFob]

CoolHands said:

I would just stop reading the advert. We’ve all been there, getting keen on an item that seems like a good deal. In my experience the best method is to close the browser, stop reading it, and come back in a months time to look for the model you want. You just shouldn’t pursue it.

Thanks. Wise words I think.

Annoyingly, the only similar one I can find is a manual and - supposedly - 90,000 miles more. Normally I love manuals, but for the driving I do, an auto makes more and more sense…

[eliot]

try carvertical - use sr10 to get a 10% discount.
but fwiw - i wouldn’t touch it as others note cars seem to go over there for a wash and haircut.

[RoVoFob]

eliot said:

try carvertical - use sr10 to get a 10% discount.
but fwiw - i wouldn’t touch it as others note cars seem to go over there for a wash and haircut.

Yep. Hear what you’re all saying and think that’s the right answer.

Thanks. I got a VCheck report, which I imagine covers the same things as carvertical.