GTI Imports - a good or bad idea?
Discussion
Hi,
Shouldn't be *too* many issues assuming the car is full UK spec. You'll only get 2 years warranty I think, as opposed to the standard 3 year UK warranty. Like you say, you'll save approx £2k now, but come resale time, you'll also get less back than if it was a 'UK' car.... Try checking out 2nd hand import prices to see what level they are at compared to UK cars - may give you a ballpark estimate.
I imported an S3 a few years ago and saved over £6k from the UK price... come resale time I managed to sell no problem at maybe £500 or so less than 'UK' car prices... so the maths worked out in my favour!
Hope this helps!
Shouldn't be *too* many issues assuming the car is full UK spec. You'll only get 2 years warranty I think, as opposed to the standard 3 year UK warranty. Like you say, you'll save approx £2k now, but come resale time, you'll also get less back than if it was a 'UK' car.... Try checking out 2nd hand import prices to see what level they are at compared to UK cars - may give you a ballpark estimate.
I imported an S3 a few years ago and saved over £6k from the UK price... come resale time I managed to sell no problem at maybe £500 or so less than 'UK' car prices... so the maths worked out in my favour!
Hope this helps!
We've had my partners GTi for 18 months, it was a euro import from a company called, wait for it, Euro Imports! At the time you couldn't get one anywhere, the VW dealers were their usual lethargic selves (from my personal experiences). we got a car in about 12 weeks at the time and saved just over £2k. It is exactly the same as a UK car, don't forget that they come off exactly the same production line.
The warranty thing is true, you get the standard VW two year warranty; in this country the VW dealer gives you, the customer, the third year, VW don't supply it. It is basically an insurance warranty so to give the same cover you, as the importer, need to buy the third year if you wish, you can actually buy it from a VW dealer if you like or a company like Warranties Direct (cheaper and probably better cover).
The car itself is fantastic, I don't think there is a better 'all round' car on the market, it has pretty much all bases covered. I own an Aston Martin V8 Vantage but I absolutely love the Golf, I still look forward to driving it now. It has a graunchy type noise when steering left at low speeds (anyone else have that??) but the dealers said initially they couldn't hear it, then when it was pointed out it was the old 'they all do that'!!. Warranty issues are no problem with the dealerships (re the euro import thing) but so far I have found them very disappointing. It went in for it's service, after a year, which was £380, they didn't wash it or vacuum the inside and it was three hours later than they said. Following complaints thay offered to wash it the next week when they weren't so busy! No reply to letters of complaint either. If anyone knows of a decent dealer in Herts or North London please let me know.
With regard to re-sale, my partners last three cars have been euro imports and it has not made ANY difference come re-sale time, two of the new owners didn't even ask and the third didn't care, we always sell privately though, I imagine a dealership may be more interested and knock your trade in value a bit, it wouldn't affect their re-sale price though!!
Anyway, I say go for it, save a bit of money and enjoy the car.
The warranty thing is true, you get the standard VW two year warranty; in this country the VW dealer gives you, the customer, the third year, VW don't supply it. It is basically an insurance warranty so to give the same cover you, as the importer, need to buy the third year if you wish, you can actually buy it from a VW dealer if you like or a company like Warranties Direct (cheaper and probably better cover).
The car itself is fantastic, I don't think there is a better 'all round' car on the market, it has pretty much all bases covered. I own an Aston Martin V8 Vantage but I absolutely love the Golf, I still look forward to driving it now. It has a graunchy type noise when steering left at low speeds (anyone else have that??) but the dealers said initially they couldn't hear it, then when it was pointed out it was the old 'they all do that'!!. Warranty issues are no problem with the dealerships (re the euro import thing) but so far I have found them very disappointing. It went in for it's service, after a year, which was £380, they didn't wash it or vacuum the inside and it was three hours later than they said. Following complaints thay offered to wash it the next week when they weren't so busy! No reply to letters of complaint either. If anyone knows of a decent dealer in Herts or North London please let me know.
With regard to re-sale, my partners last three cars have been euro imports and it has not made ANY difference come re-sale time, two of the new owners didn't even ask and the third didn't care, we always sell privately though, I imagine a dealership may be more interested and knock your trade in value a bit, it wouldn't affect their re-sale price though!!
Anyway, I say go for it, save a bit of money and enjoy the car.
So if I go down the import route there should be no issues with warranty repairs – I have heard horror stories, one from a mate with an imported Porsche that dealers were never friendly, and one refused to even look at it!
Also, on imports the spec list looks different – you can get things like a different colour interior, and on the DSG an anti roll function which I believe the UK car doesn’t have – very strange (also, are there implications with insurance costs?)
Cheers
Also, on imports the spec list looks different – you can get things like a different colour interior, and on the DSG an anti roll function which I believe the UK car doesn’t have – very strange (also, are there implications with insurance costs?)
Cheers
markizok said:
So if I go down the import route there should be no issues with warranty repairs – I have heard horror stories, one from a mate with an imported Porsche that dealers were never friendly, and one refused to even look at it!
Also, on imports the spec list looks different – you can get things like a different colour interior, and on the DSG an anti roll function which I believe the UK car doesn’t have – very strange (also, are there implications with insurance costs?)
Cheers
Also, on imports the spec list looks different – you can get things like a different colour interior, and on the DSG an anti roll function which I believe the UK car doesn’t have – very strange (also, are there implications with insurance costs?)
Cheers
Mark,
I imported a Mk 4 Golf GTI Turbo back in 1999 and had no problems at all with regard to warranty. I used my local dealers and they were happy to service and look after the car. If I recall we had only one warranty issue were the electric window motor broke and it was sorted in a couple of days. I also purchased the third year warranty with the local dealer which was completelt hassle free as they knew the car from servicing it.
I am looking at inporting a MK 5 GTI soon as the process is easy and there are savings to be made.
Good luck,
Andy.
Andy Oh said:
markizok said:
So if I go down the import route there should be no issues with warranty repairs – I have heard horror stories, one from a mate with an imported Porsche that dealers were never friendly, and one refused to even look at it!
Also, on imports the spec list looks different – you can get things like a different colour interior, and on the DSG an anti roll function which I believe the UK car doesn’t have – very strange (also, are there implications with insurance costs?)
Cheers
Also, on imports the spec list looks different – you can get things like a different colour interior, and on the DSG an anti roll function which I believe the UK car doesn’t have – very strange (also, are there implications with insurance costs?)
Cheers
Mark,
I imported a Mk 4 Golf GTI Turbo back in 1999 and had no problems at all with regard to warranty. I used my local dealers and they were happy to service and look after the car. If I recall we had only one warranty issue were the electric window motor broke and it was sorted in a couple of days. I also purchased the third year warranty with the local dealer which was completelt hassle free as they knew the car from servicing it.
I am looking at inporting a MK 5 GTI soon as the process is easy and there are savings to be made.
Good luck,
Andy.
Exactly as above, no issues re servicing or warranty on any of out imported cars. I'm sure we will purchase the 3rd year warranty from the dealer, gives them some sort of incentive I suppose. I know a few years ago Subaru were terrible with regard to imported cars but they were Jap imports, we're talking about Euro imports, they are legally obliged to deal with the car as if it were a UK car, nowadays it is so common place I doubt they even bat an eyelid.
With regard to specs I really can't comment, when we spec'd ours it was exactly the same as the UK spec list, options were the same but considerably cheaper (some were 40% cheaper). We dealt with Euro Imports, bloke called Richard Beech who runs the show, pretty much on his own, good bloke and easy to deal with, they advertise in the back of Autocar and I think its euroimports.co.uk , he'll definitely be able to advise you on specs. he seems to be saving at least £2 - 2.5k on Golfs.
Go for it i purchased a Black Golf Gti 3Dr which was full UK specification from www.cars4charities.co.uk the service was fantastic and i saved over £3K. Oh yes the manuals were in English to. Give them a try and make sure you speak to Emily she is spot on.
Norfolk n' chance
Had the same noise as you described when on hard lock at slow speed. Car is a personal import from Germany but my local dealer (Breeze of Poole) said that some of the early MkV GTi's had an inherant problem with the steering rack and they changed the rack under warranty without argument. Also changed one of the road wheels as the lacquer was flaking . Exceptional dealer, shame you're a distance away but look upon it as an excuse for a couple of days by the seaside.
Had the same noise as you described when on hard lock at slow speed. Car is a personal import from Germany but my local dealer (Breeze of Poole) said that some of the early MkV GTi's had an inherant problem with the steering rack and they changed the rack under warranty without argument. Also changed one of the road wheels as the lacquer was flaking . Exceptional dealer, shame you're a distance away but look upon it as an excuse for a couple of days by the seaside.
Read this thread first:
http://www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/C...
Links to here:
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=5881...
http://www.tyresmoke.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php/C...
Links to here:
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=5881...
Just been reading this very helpful thread and the others.
Are we saying that a car thats 12-18 months old and not yet registered but brand new is a bad idea? or just the ones which may have been stored poorly and corroded etc?
Found a nice golf at good money and am told it'll be 12-18 months old but that the VW 2 year warranty will start from the day I drive off in it.
Advice would be great
Greg
Are we saying that a car thats 12-18 months old and not yet registered but brand new is a bad idea? or just the ones which may have been stored poorly and corroded etc?
Found a nice golf at good money and am told it'll be 12-18 months old but that the VW 2 year warranty will start from the day I drive off in it.
Advice would be great
Greg
This lot are doing a 5-dr gti for £17,645
http://www.motorprovider.uk.com/
Can't tell if it's a UK car, i.e. 3-year warranty - anyone dealt with them?
http://www.motorprovider.uk.com/
Can't tell if it's a UK car, i.e. 3-year warranty - anyone dealt with them?
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