Motorpoint imported cars

[D44nny]

Hi I am looking to buy a vauxhall insignia from motorpoint but have just found out that a lot of there cars are imported. Is this a problem? What are the disadvantages of this? Thanks.

[tannedstamina]

Where do they import them from??

[GenePoolReject13]

D44nny said:

Hi I am looking to buy a vauxhall insignia from motorpoint but have just found out that a lot of there cars are imported. Is this a problem? What are the disadvantages of this? Thanks.

For the most part non, your insurance company will probably need to be informed and it will usually effect resale value but that's about it.

[D44nny]

I have been told that imported cars can be built to different specs and the manufacturer can be funny regarding warranty.
The vin starts wits w0 which is Germany but is the insignia built there or in uk?

[DanielSan]

They import a lot from Europe also as parallel imports. Aaside form the odd possible minor spec difference there shouldn't be an issue. And with them being parallel imports you don't get the same issues as Jap imports.

[Sharted]

Why not ask them if its imported?I bought a nearly new from them last year, it was straightforward.

Mine was ex hire car, I put 30k miles on it over 9 months without fault, decent price too.

[D44nny]

Just spoke to them they assure me that it's a uk model. They say that they do sell imports but they at normally new cars. Thanks for the help guys.

[crostonian]

All imported 'Vauxhalls' sold by Motorpoint used to be badged as Opels. Can't see them going to the trouble to change the badges and grills so if it's badged a Vauxhall it's most likely a UK car.

[SteBrown91]

anything nearly new are usually x hire or ex demo cars. Anything new can be imported. My Golf was purchased from Motorpoint from new. VW have no issue with the 3 year warranty, so if it is an import (nothing specifically stated on logbook or anything) its almost identical to the UK spec. Some odd bits though, it has the RCD510 touch screen stereo but no MDI ipod port. It also doesnt have a spare wheel (has foam insert with gunk instead) which should be standard spec for a UK car.

Also some sites don't recognise the reg/VIN. VW's recall system picks it up but their service system doesnt, so had to be manually added. Some insurance/parts lookup sites dont pick it up either.

[750turbo]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

They often import from EIRE; if you ever see a Nissan TIDA on the road, it'll likely be a Motorpoint special.

Never knew they did that?

I do know that Arnold Clark bought a shedload of them though.

[daemon]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

They often import from EIRE; if you ever see a Nissan TIDA on the road, it'll likely be a Motorpoint special.

You will likely only qualify for the 2yr manufacturer warranty and there may be some minor spec changes, other than that
should be fine.

If they're imported from Ireland they'll be Opels.

[Martin_M]

Back in 2007 I bought a new Clio 197 from Motorpoint - imported from France - FP07 plate - it never came up when I insured it nor did it affect trade-in value. In fact, I got a great deal at the time when trading in 2 years later.

[daemon]

D44nny said:

Hi I am looking to buy a vauxhall insignia from motorpoint but have just found out that a lot of there cars are imported. Is this a problem? What are the disadvantages of this? Thanks.

New or used?

The rest of europe badge them as Opels, so if its a Vauxhall i'd say its from here

[mybrainhurts]

I bought a new Mondeo in 2004 from Motorpoint, UK spec, imported from Belgium.

The only problem was the warranty. It's not as long as UK supplied Fords and the warranty starts running when Ford releases the car to the Belgian dealer so, when I put in a claim after 8 months of ownership, Ford UK told me the warranty had expired.

Similar problem with my son's new Impreza. Imported by Motorpoint from Japan via Malta with NO Subaru warranty. Motorpoint set up an insurance based 12 month warranty, but told us nothing about this until I asked questions after the sale.

[MrC986]

you might just need to check the manufacturers' corrosion wty on imported cars as l found when we owned a parallel imported TT 8 yrs ago...it was the only difference Audi could tell me - it was only for 3 yrs & not the normal 10 if I remember rightly.

[D44nny]

It is badged as a vauxhall it's a 62plate. But doesn't have a spare wheel it has the inflation kit instead.

Edited by D44nny on Thursday 9th January 19:34

[daemon]

D44nny said:

It is badges as a vauxhall it's a 62plate. But doesn't have a spare wheel it has the inflation kit instead.

Ex lease or hire car then.

[Superhoop]

As above, if it was EIRE, it would be badged as an Opel. On in the UK are VX's badged as Vauxhall

Could be ex MDR though which would probably concern me more than it being an import

[va1o]

I don't think they really sell imports these days as there is no cost saving to be made. This sort of thing was very common in the 00s but I haven't seen it happen recently at all.

[gvij]

I bought a new import Golf from Motorpoint in 2003 imported through a Dutch VW dealer in right hand drive. Still have it in the family and no real problems. I saved at least 2k. The only difference was 1 year less warranty (not needed anyway)and an aftermarket Kenwood radio rather than VW. Other than that no difference.