Is an Import OK?
Discussion
I'm looking at a GT2 which is an import and not original UK car.
It has full UK spec, official Porsche warranty, OPC service history, etc. so is the fact that it's an import a problem?
When it comes to selling it some point in future will it matter as long as it still has an official warranty?
Cheers
a potential GT2 owner
It has full UK spec, official Porsche warranty, OPC service history, etc. so is the fact that it's an import a problem?
When it comes to selling it some point in future will it matter as long as it still has an official warranty?
Cheers
a potential GT2 owner
goatozaki said:
I'm looking at a GT2 which is an import and not original UK car.
It has full UK spec, official Porsche warranty, OPC service history, etc. so is the fact that it's an import a problem?
When it comes to selling it some point in future will it matter as long as it still has an official warranty?
Cheers
a potential GT2 owner
It has full UK spec, official Porsche warranty, OPC service history, etc. so is the fact that it's an import a problem?
When it comes to selling it some point in future will it matter as long as it still has an official warranty?
Cheers
a potential GT2 owner
Shouldn't be a problem provided there is history with it and you have all the legal papers etc.
i had a 965 Turbo 2 imported from Germany 2 or 3 years ago and it was superb, reason i bought was due to the fact that it was in better order than the equivalent UK cars.
Agreed, should not be a problem. I assume when you say "full UK spec." the car is classified as C16 (ie, Porsche's official code for a UK car)?
I have just imported a previously unsold CGT from the US which has been converted by the factory in Germany to C16 spec., have a letter to that effect from Porsche Germany and have no concerns about its resale (not that I intend to sell it!).
Likewise, a family member has just bought a 2002 Turbo from an Official Porsche Centre in the UK, which was an import but was C16 spec. Selling a C16 spec. import was no issue for the official network therefore I can't see it being an issue for any other purchaser.
Good luck - I've never driven a GT2 and they sound fantastic!
Kind regards
Steve
I have just imported a previously unsold CGT from the US which has been converted by the factory in Germany to C16 spec., have a letter to that effect from Porsche Germany and have no concerns about its resale (not that I intend to sell it!).
Likewise, a family member has just bought a 2002 Turbo from an Official Porsche Centre in the UK, which was an import but was C16 spec. Selling a C16 spec. import was no issue for the official network therefore I can't see it being an issue for any other purchaser.
Good luck - I've never driven a GT2 and they sound fantastic!
Kind regards
Steve
chrisw. said:
So what's wrong with C98 ?
They are all made --- by Porsche !
They are all made --- by Porsche !
But not to UK specification.
Also, even with an unofficially imported C16, there are potential issues. If you have problems you do not have the same rights of redress through the UK OPC network and Porsche Cars GB They will honour warranties but they may not be as sympathetic towards out of warranty issues.
An imported car's resale value will not be the same as a UK car either. Many people who sell imported cars, who have paid less for them than a UK Main Dealer supplied car, expect to get the same as a UK car. Some of these people can't get their heads around the fact that they have paid less than a UK car and should get less back because of the reasons posted above.
Geneve said:
chrisw. said:
So what's wrong with C98 ?
They are all made --- by Porsche !
They are all made --- by Porsche !
But not to UK specification.
Also, even with an unofficially imported C16, there are potential issues. If you have problems you do not have the same rights of redress through the UK OPC network and Porsche Cars GB They will honour warranties but they may not be as sympathetic towards out of warranty issues.
Nonsense, a C16 is treated as any other UK car by a UK OPC. In fact, if it's a European spec Porsche (not just C16) it will have a CoC (Certificate of Conformity) which defines that it meets ALL European standards (inc emissions etc).
From my experience buying a C16 car in Germany I had absolutely NO problems with UK OPC during servicing and a cpuple of small warranty items. Additionally, when I p/exed the car, it made no diffrence to the value. How could it, it was the same car that the UK OPC would have imported to their showroom?
elex said:
An imported car's resale value will not be the same as a UK car either. Many people who sell imported cars, who have paid less for them than a UK Main Dealer supplied car, expect to get the same as a UK car. Some of these people can't get their heads around the fact that they have paid less than a UK car and should get less back because of the reasons posted above.
Sorry mate you are totally wrong, I got the same at an OPC for my Boxster S which was C16 (just like all UK cars from OPCs).
The great thing was that I only paid 37k GBP for it in Germany and had to wait 3 months less than in the UK for it even though it was RHD. The same spec car in the UK was 49k GBP. Final offer from UK OPC was 30k for p/ex and the car was 3.5 years old. That was 19% depreciation over 3.5 years, absolutely fantastic.
Of course I expected to get the same trade in price as a UK car because IT WAS A UK car. The fact that I made the effort to source the car from the country it was actually manufactured in was to my advantage. It didn't make the car any less than it actually was, why would it?
If anything, the car was more genuine than a UK OPC supplied vehicle because I collected the car from where it was made and it had covered far less transprotation miles than if it was collected in the UK. For example, it would have had less bone heads driving it on and off loaders during it's delivery.
In fact, the car should have been worth more than a UK OPC supplied equivalent
Although the cars are probably identical, they are generally worth a bit less.
Porsche GB and the dealers don't really like people importing their cars from europe because they don't profit on them. Nowadays fewer people do it so they aren't too fussed, but you may not get the same levels of goodwill if you have problems, want loan cars etc. And some official dealers don't retail personal imports.
Porsche GB and the dealers don't really like people importing their cars from europe because they don't profit on them. Nowadays fewer people do it so they aren't too fussed, but you may not get the same levels of goodwill if you have problems, want loan cars etc. And some official dealers don't retail personal imports.
Koln-RS said:
Although the cars are probably identical
they are identical down to every tiny sticker, nut and bolt - 100% because they are the same cars that the UK OPCs import. This is exactly the attitude the OPCs want to instill - that they aren't. This has the effect that they get more business that isn't justified because they get it by spreading FUD.
Edited by silver993tt on Wednesday 3rd January 09:35
You should have no problems whatsoever if it is a C16. You can if it is a C16 by looking at the datasticker in the logbook or the the copy of that piece of paper which sticks underneath the bonnet. I have had numerous "imports" and have never had a problem with the OPC. Ok they do not make any margin on the sale but they still get the service which is more profitable in the long run anyway. In terms of resale values my experience says, that if you sell the car after 3 or 4 years even to to the OPC there is no difference in price. What is more important is still, that you have an OPC service history and the Porsche Extended Warranty.
Is there a 3 year warranty period covering new Porsches in Germany?
I know at one stage, the UK had 3 years, Europe 2. And that affected negatively the values of C16 imports.
There's also the issue of warranty 'goodwill' considerations. As suggested, a car which came in the back door will not be looked at/handled/treated in the same light as those sold through the official network.
It may not affect late cars but it may affect cars 3 - 7 years old may it not?
I know at one stage, the UK had 3 years, Europe 2. And that affected negatively the values of C16 imports.
There's also the issue of warranty 'goodwill' considerations. As suggested, a car which came in the back door will not be looked at/handled/treated in the same light as those sold through the official network.
It may not affect late cars but it may affect cars 3 - 7 years old may it not?
Yes - the length of the warranty period plays a part but that's why you cover yourself with the extended warranty so the difference in price should be the 800 or so pounds. Goodwill actions come down to the specific relationship you have with the dealer and I don't think differ that much if they choose to send the bill to Porsche HQ anyway. I had a couple of things that were sorted out under goodwill such as a broken catalyst after 10.000 miles which is not covered by warranty and there was no problem. Furthermore you can always go back to your original dealer (in my case Porsche in Copenhagen) if you have an issue the UK dealer refuses to deal with. I think that if you buy (outside the UK) from a Porsche dealership you should have no issues.
ph123 said:
Is there a 3 year warranty period covering new Porsches in Germany?
I know at one stage, the UK had 3 years, Europe 2. And that affected negatively the values of C16 imports.
I know at one stage, the UK had 3 years, Europe 2. And that affected negatively the values of C16 imports.
Sorry - don't understand this point. UK OPC only offers you 2 years warranty (scandalously since its 4 years in US) so there is no difference to Europe.
The 3 v 2 years was an issue on importing other brands, eg like my old Audi S3.
silver993tt said:
elex said:
An imported car's resale value will not be the same as a UK car either. Many people who sell imported cars, who have paid less for them than a UK Main Dealer supplied car, expect to get the same as a UK car. Some of these people can't get their heads around the fact that they have paid less than a UK car and should get less back because of the reasons posted above.
Sorry mate you are totally wrong, I got the same at an OPC for my Boxster S which was C16 (just like all UK cars from OPCs).
The great thing was that I only paid 37k GBP for it in Germany and had to wait 3 months less than in the UK for it even though it was RHD. The same spec car in the UK was 49k GBP. Final offer from UK OPC was 30k for p/ex and the car was 3.5 years old. That was 19% depreciation over 3.5 years, absolutely fantastic.
Of course I expected to get the same trade in price as a UK car because IT WAS A UK car. The fact that I made the effort to source the car from the country it was actually manufactured in was to my advantage. It didn't make the car any less than it actually was, why would it?
If anything, the car was more genuine than a UK OPC supplied vehicle because I collected the car from where it was made and it had covered far less transprotation miles than if it was collected in the UK. For example, it would have had less bone heads driving it on and off loaders during it's delivery.
In fact, the car should have been worth more than a UK OPC supplied equivalent
Did you inform the OPC who took your car that it was an import? If not you are in big trouble. This happened to someone I know recently who knowingly sold an imported car to an OPC as a UK car. The OPC successfully sued the seller for many thousands plus costs. It didn't come to light at the OPC that it was an import for over a year so unless they knew it was an import expect a call and then to get your cheque book out if you told them or signed paperwork to say it was a UK supplied car.
Edited by elex on Wednesday 3rd January 14:41
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