UK Jap Car Market - What's happened!?
Discussion
I left the UK almost 4 years ago, and find it incredible to see how cheap the Japanese motors are selling for now. I guess there are now a lot of old japanese dogs being picked up at auction, and they've driven the "good motors" prices into the ground. Or is it still that a good car that is well modded and look after will still get good money to the right buyer - or does everyone now expect to rob the seller blind??
Cheers
Andre
Cheers
Andre
I guess its a case of supply and demand. A lot more Jap cars are being imported for a quick buck and therefore the supply of good and bad cars has risen, but due to the current economic climate and the price of petrol demand has wained therefore sellers cant get the price they are after and therefore have to sell for a lot less than the car may be worth. If you want a very cheap quick car buy now !!!!!
LOL ... I have a very cheap very very quick car in the classifieds (Ex-Cannnonball GTO), was "exploring" the market to see what is going on over there! 
All makes sense I guess. I've had mine 4 years now, but they won't let me bring it over to Oz, so having to sell it in the UK while I'm here.
Will be interesting to hear from both recent buyers and sellers.
All makes sense I guess. I've had mine 4 years now, but they won't let me bring it over to Oz, so having to sell it in the UK while I'm here.
Will be interesting to hear from both recent buyers and sellers.
silent k said:
I got a decent price for my ST205 a couple of weeks ago (only 700 quid less than I bought it for 2 years ago), it went within a week as well. It was a decent car though and didn't need anything doing do it.
That's what I reckon, there are a few pockets of good sales! How did you sell it, on Autotrader, on here or through an Ownersclub?Sulley said:
silent k said:
I got a decent price for my ST205 a couple of weeks ago (only 700 quid less than I bought it for 2 years ago), it went within a week as well. It was a decent car though and didn't need anything doing do it.
That's what I reckon, there are a few pockets of good sales! How did you sell it, on Autotrader, on here or through an Ownersclub?
Gazboy said:
Also, image is crucifying the jap cars. Hardly any stockers and most look like they were 'styled' by Stevie Wonder.
Most of the market distrust a 'modified' car, as they've no idea:-- who's done the mods
- to what standard
- how long they'll last
- what they'll do to insurance premiums
If you've a good-condition, stock (or virtually-so), desirable Jap-car, you're fine.
But 'desirable' is still the question-mark:-
- Evos and Scooby's date quickly as they're perennially bringing out new versions, so only the 'greats' survive (P1, 22B, Evo VI TME or RS) as at-all desirable.
- Almost all the 90's+ coupe's have suffered due to image and brand (the DC2 seems to be having a resurgence thanks to the attentions of a certain magazine, but values of those (and the cars were ALWAYS that good, it just wasn't widely recognised) weren't much more than a similar-age 200SX for a while...).
- Hot-hatches have always been a 'european' thing, with only the EP3 CTR remaining at-all valuable, and there because it got the image right as well as the performance.
- Big saloons worst of all - another image-led market where if it's not German it's 2nd-rate. New Legacy starting to hold it's own, but all the old stuff (VR4 & Spec-B spring to mind, plus non-GTR Skylines) is cheap-as-chips.
Conclusion: If you're after a bargain, fantastic. If you bought high, sorry mate...best to run it into the ground...
Sulley said:
I left the UK almost 4 years ago, and find it incredible to see how cheap the Japanese motors are selling for now. I guess there are now a lot of old japanese dogs being picked up at auction, and they've driven the "good motors" prices into the ground. Or is it still that a good car that is well modded and look after will still get good money to the right buyer - or does everyone now expect to rob the seller blind??
Cheers
Andre
Hi Andre.Cheers
Andre
Long time, no see.
On my visits to Eurospec I've watched your car being brought back to that immaculate condition. Good luck with the sale.
Re. auction prices: GTOs are quite rare at auction; perhaps 2 a year here at Blackbushe. Mk 1 models have made c. £1700, Mk2 a bit more but none have been in perfect nick.
Rob
Whilst on the same topic are Japan having a similar slump like we are? If not then the car importers must be getting hit the most from this as the profit margins are just falling.
Must admit I bought my ae86 just before the peak, they have steadily increased in price over the past few years. I thought I'd be safe with it being a old classic but they are going down in price now too
Must admit I bought my ae86 just before the peak, they have steadily increased in price over the past few years. I thought I'd be safe with it being a old classic but they are going down in price now too
Xaero said:
Whilst on the same topic are Japan having a similar slump like we are? If not then the car importers must be getting hit the most from this as the profit margins are just falling.
Must admit I bought my ae86 just before the peak, they have steadily increased in price over the past few years. I thought I'd be safe with it being a old classic but they are going down in price now too
Second hand cars in the Japan have always been cheap thanks to the regulations out there governing them, it becomes ever more expensive to MOT and tax cars over there as they get older hence the huge amount being exported.Must admit I bought my ae86 just before the peak, they have steadily increased in price over the past few years. I thought I'd be safe with it being a old classic but they are going down in price now too
Yeah, I've heard exactly that .... the old 90s GT cars, the likes of the GTOs, Supras, R34GT-Rs, and RX7s are becoming rare at auction now. Hopefully, this will lead to a rise in prices as the remaining dogs on the market are crashed or broken and sold in bits. let's face it, most of these cars are coming up to the 15-20years old now, heading into Classic Car territory, only 5 more years and they're vintage!!
Logic tells me that most of the crap examples will be taken off the roads soon, leaving only the good ones that are well maintained and still running.
I'm still working out whether it makes more sense to keep the car for a few years until that appreciation is realised, or sell at a loss now!?
Logic tells me that most of the crap examples will be taken off the roads soon, leaving only the good ones that are well maintained and still running.
I'm still working out whether it makes more sense to keep the car for a few years until that appreciation is realised, or sell at a loss now!?
Yeah, I guess petrol is pricey over there!! Over here it is expensive, but not compared with there! We are averaging around $1.50 per litre (that's about 65p). I'm guessing its more like GBP1.20 over there.
The other thing is perception. In Australia a large engine car is considered to be around 5-7 litres. A 3.0 V6 is considered small by comparison. It's pretty tough to find any cars with engines smaller than 2.5l unless they are mini cars.
My other motor, the Daihatsu Copen is all of 657cc ... and I get some very strange looks over here in Oz. But I'm the one laughing all the way to the bank at the moment!
The other thing is perception. In Australia a large engine car is considered to be around 5-7 litres. A 3.0 V6 is considered small by comparison. It's pretty tough to find any cars with engines smaller than 2.5l unless they are mini cars.
My other motor, the Daihatsu Copen is all of 657cc ... and I get some very strange looks over here in Oz. But I'm the one laughing all the way to the bank at the moment!
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