How to tell if UK car?
Discussion
I am pretty sure there is something in the chassis number to confirm that the car was UK designated.
However the quickest way is to look at the white sticker on the underside of the bonnet on the front boot area. This has a series of numbers, most relate to option codes fitted to the car.
Generally the first number relates to the market the car was designed for. In the case of the UK it should show C16.
This sticker should also be in the inside cover of the service book and the option codes should match.
They should also refelct what is on the actual car. So, if for the sake of argument the sticker is showing the car is fitted with a tiptronic gearbox, and the car you are looking at is a manual - then walk away!!
However the quickest way is to look at the white sticker on the underside of the bonnet on the front boot area. This has a series of numbers, most relate to option codes fitted to the car.
Generally the first number relates to the market the car was designed for. In the case of the UK it should show C16.
This sticker should also be in the inside cover of the service book and the option codes should match.
They should also refelct what is on the actual car. So, if for the sake of argument the sticker is showing the car is fitted with a tiptronic gearbox, and the car you are looking at is a manual - then walk away!!
GreigM said:
It must have C16 as the first option and MUST have a UK dealers stamp as the first in the book.
You can spec C16 through foreign dealers.
You can spec C16 through foreign dealers.
yes but if it's a C16 from a foreign dealer, it's a UK car delivered to the foreign dealer instead of the UK dealer. There is no difference, car built for the UK only, just a different delivery address.
C16 is supplied for the UK whether it's an OPC or an individual. It is exactly the same car. The price will be exactly the same. I speak from real experience since I p/ex'd a UK car (C16) that I bought new in Germany to a UK OPC and they told me it makes no difference to the value of the car, main thing is it's C16. They gave me a quote and then I told them I had it delievered originally in Germany.
All warranty work will be done in teh UK without question since every Porsche in Europe (inc UK) comes with a CoC (Certificate of Conformity) and is covered Europe wide.
All warranty work will be done in teh UK without question since every Porsche in Europe (inc UK) comes with a CoC (Certificate of Conformity) and is covered Europe wide.
Edited by silver993tt on Friday 8th September 15:40
silver993tt said:
GreigM said:
It must have C16 as the first option and MUST have a UK dealers stamp as the first in the book.
You can spec C16 through foreign dealers.
You can spec C16 through foreign dealers.
yes but if it's a C16 from a foreign dealer, it's a UK car delivered to the foreign dealer instead of the UK dealer. There is no difference, car built for the UK only, just a different delivery address.
There are 2 downfalls though:
1. Your insurance may still classify this as an import - mine did when asked.
2. If its a young car but out of warranty and there is a problem, porsche GB will not offer a goodwill payment whereas on a UK sourced car they might (why should they, there was no profit in this car for them).
You are right there is no physical difference in the car, but it is still not a UK car.
world class pedantry GreigM said:
[quote=silver993tt][quote=GreigM]It must have C16 as the first option and MUST have a UK dealers stamp as the first in the book.
1. Your insurance may still classify this as an import - mine did when asked.
2. If its a young car but out of warranty and there is a problem, porsche GB will not offer a goodwill payment whereas on a UK sourced car they might (why should they, there was no profit in this car for them).
You are right there is no physical difference in the car, but it is still not a UK car.
1. Your insurance may still classify this as an import - mine did when asked.
2. If its a young car but out of warranty and there is a problem, porsche GB will not offer a goodwill payment whereas on a UK sourced car they might (why should they, there was no profit in this car for them).
You are right there is no physical difference in the car, but it is still not a UK car.
Porsche GB fixed the RMS on my GT3 as a good will payment Parts and Labour! and the car is a C00(ie German spec) purchaced from a UK indy!! the rule is there are no rules find a good OPC treet them well and they will recipricate.
edited to say they would notice as it is also LHD!
Edited by lightweight on Friday 8th September 17:14
Porsche GB fixed the RMS on my GT3 as a good will payment Parts and Labour! and the car is a C00(ie German spec) purchaced from a UK indy!! the rule is there are no rules find a good OPC treet them well and they will recipricate.
edited to say they would notice as it is also LHD!
Edited by lightweight on Friday 8th September 17:14
GT3 & RMS in same sentence
thought they were immune 
Edited by Rob_J on Friday 8th September 17:19
Are you sure? GreigM said:
silver993tt said:
GreigM said:
It must have C16 as the first option and MUST have a UK dealers stamp as the first in the book.
You can spec C16 through foreign dealers.
You can spec C16 through foreign dealers.
yes but if it's a C16 from a foreign dealer, it's a UK car delivered to the foreign dealer instead of the UK dealer. There is no difference, car built for the UK only, just a different delivery address.
There are 2 downfalls though:
1. Your insurance may still classify this as an import - mine did when asked.
2. If its a young car but out of warranty and there is a problem, porsche GB will not offer a goodwill payment whereas on a UK sourced car they might (why should they, there was no profit in this car for them).
You are right there is no physical difference in the car, but it is still not a UK car.
I had no problems with insurance whatsoever, was with NU who said as long as it's a UK spec car it would be treated the same. There was never an issue with servicing.
Also, a C16 car IS A UK CAR, it is built by Porsche FOR THE UK MARKET ONLY.
Sorry, I remember one difference now, I saved £11,000 at the time
silver993tt said:
C16 is supplied for the UK whether it's an OPC or an individual. It is exactly the same car. The price will be exactly the same. I speak from real experience since I p/ex'd a UK car (C16) that I bought new in Germany to a UK OPC and they told me it makes no difference to the value of the car, main thing is it's C16. They gave me a quote and then I told them I had it delievered originally in Germany.
All warranty work will be done in teh UK without question since every Porsche in Europe (inc UK) comes with a CoC (Certificate of Conformity) and is covered Europe wide.
All warranty work will be done in teh UK without question since every Porsche in Europe (inc UK) comes with a CoC (Certificate of Conformity) and is covered Europe wide.
Edited by silver993tt on Friday 8th September 15:40
Not strictly true unfortunately, there are sometimes (for whatever reason!) the odd specification variations with C16 imports, I have been told of one without top tint screen , another without air-con, early ones lacking full leather interior. Having said this I am sure they are the exception rather than the rule & as you say the warranty is the same as UK cars, BUT you don't get the RAC breakdown cover with imported C16 cars, only UK C16 cars.
There is also the question of whether the car was first registered new in the UK with 0 miles etc, if it was an import.
Confused aren't we all!
Didn't put me off, the MRS has a C16 imported from Sweden, but we double checked the specification with the supplying official Porsche dealer in Sweden & had copies of the import papers to prove all was ok spec & registration wise!
The VIL sticker with the country code is under the bonnet & in the service book, the supplying dealer stamp (Uk or foreign) should be in the service book.
Well, things like RAC cover etc aren't really part of the car.
You are right on things such as full leather interior. However, this is an advantage since when I ordered my Boxster I paid extra for this together with climate control and these were significantly cheaper than in the UK. It was a simple process really, I got the spec list for a basic Boxster S from a UK OPC and then my friendly German OPC configured the car to that list. Saved £11,000 which was about 25% at the time.
It included insurance and plates for a month. I had 1 month to register the car in the UK and the V5 had my name as the first owner, since I paid the VAT in the UK (and then got a refund from the German OPC).
I think that part of the problem with a few people here who are saying they are different cars, is that they have never bought a UK car and had it delivered abroad so they don't understand the process. Also, maybe a bit of resentment to those who make the small effort and save a huge amount of money and then expect to pass the saving onto the next owner who hasn't made an effort.
In effect, after 3 years my depreciation was £6k, or about 17% instead of about 40% had I had the car delivered to the UK.
You are right on things such as full leather interior. However, this is an advantage since when I ordered my Boxster I paid extra for this together with climate control and these were significantly cheaper than in the UK. It was a simple process really, I got the spec list for a basic Boxster S from a UK OPC and then my friendly German OPC configured the car to that list. Saved £11,000 which was about 25% at the time.
It included insurance and plates for a month. I had 1 month to register the car in the UK and the V5 had my name as the first owner, since I paid the VAT in the UK (and then got a refund from the German OPC).
I think that part of the problem with a few people here who are saying they are different cars, is that they have never bought a UK car and had it delivered abroad so they don't understand the process. Also, maybe a bit of resentment to those who make the small effort and save a huge amount of money and then expect to pass the saving onto the next owner who hasn't made an effort.
In effect, after 3 years my depreciation was £6k, or about 17% instead of about 40% had I had the car delivered to the UK.
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