European RHD Imports?
Discussion
cableguy said:
The situation is that the car was bought and supplied (RHD) in Malta and is now residing back in the UK. The car is exactly the same specification as its equivalent UK Car apart from the first Dealer stamp being Maltese. 
C.
C.
If C16 then it will it is "worth" the same as it is identical to a UK OPC car. My view is a clued up buyer will bid lower only because they know you made a saving on purchase and they want a bit of it. After 3 or 4 years this difference disappears IMO.
Check the sticker in the log book or under the bonnet. My old 997 was a C98 (non country specific EU - same as Malta?) and when I sold it, I got a bit less for it than I would if it had been C16. Incidentally, none of the OPCs who advertise saying 'we will buy your car' would bid on it.
I would avoid C98 or "Cyprus spec" as they have lots of minor differences and less kit than C16. I think it denotes non-EU spec (?) so I wonder if they can be covered by OPC extended warranty?
As stated perfectly good cars if you don't mind and want to save a few K but OPC will not touch.
As stated perfectly good cars if you don't mind and want to save a few K but OPC will not touch.
Edited by adam b on Sunday 21st January 11:44
If it's a C16 car it will be worth exactly the same as any other Porsche imported into the UK for the UK market. OPCs will give you the same money for the car if it is C16 and so should any private buyer because they are the same cars as in the Porsche showroom. If you've managed to bag a good deal, that's your advantage due to your efforts. Don't reduce the price because of this, you don't have to.
Make sure the car comes with it's CoC (Certificate of Conformity) which shows it is a European specification and standars car.
Also, if it's come from Malta it should be very low mileage and in great condition because it's a very small island blessed with fantastic weather!
Make sure the car comes with it's CoC (Certificate of Conformity) which shows it is a European specification and standars car.
Also, if it's come from Malta it should be very low mileage and in great condition because it's a very small island blessed with fantastic weather!
Edited by silver993tt on Sunday 21st January 11:47
yeah, and I'll repeat again that C16's have exactly the same value in the UK as any other UK supplied Porsche 
I know from experience, i've bought a C16 in Germany and sold it in the UK without any problems whatsoever.
There are people who get jealous when someone makes the effort to get a good deal and the rewarded for it at sale time. These people will probably tell you that the Euro isn't real money and that the 'British Pound' is the only currency to trust
The world is a much bigger place than the sad overcrowded island called the UK
Free movement of goods in the EU - it's a fantastic way to enjoy a nice car and slash what you would have lost in depreciation if you had gone to an OPC in the UK.
I know from experience, i've bought a C16 in Germany and sold it in the UK without any problems whatsoever.
There are people who get jealous when someone makes the effort to get a good deal and the rewarded for it at sale time. These people will probably tell you that the Euro isn't real money and that the 'British Pound' is the only currency to trust
The world is a much bigger place than the sad overcrowded island called the UK
Free movement of goods in the EU - it's a fantastic way to enjoy a nice car and slash what you would have lost in depreciation if you had gone to an OPC in the UK.
cableguy said:
I am now worried with regard to moving it on in the future. 
C.
C.If you're paying less up front, you should accept that you'll receive less when you want rid.
I bought my old car new from an indy in Coventry and I'm pretty sure all their new cars are C98s. (It means the car is RHD and built for the EU, but not for any specific country - Malta and Cyrprus are both in the EU.) To be honest, it didn't really bother me. I knew the car would be worth around £2k less come selling time, but I made my choice because I wanted a brand new car to my spec and I didn't want to wait the 12 -18months the OPC was quoting me. You pays your money and all that...
But if you are a bit nervous, remember there a lot of cars out there. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.
Edited to add: I believe all C16 (UK spec) adds is top-tinted windscreen and full leather.
Edited by gmk666 on Sunday 21st January 12:16
Please don't listen to Silver993tt and AdamB as as they are talking bollox. Imports are worth less no matter what C number they are. Period. There's nothing wrong with them and I am not telling you not to buy one. As has been previously said they are cheaper to buy new so you expect to get less back if selling and of course pay less when buying. Most main dealers won't touch them. You need to satisfy yourself on this one and call a few Porsche dealers and see what they say.
Edited by elex on Sunday 21st January 12:30
elex said:
Please don't listen to Silver993tt and AdamB as as they are talking bollox. Imports are worth less no matter what C number they are. Period. There's nothing wrong with them and I am not telling you not to buy one. As has been previously said they are cheaper to buy new so you expect to get less back if selling and of course pay less when buying. Most main dealers won't touch them. You need to satisfy yourself on this one and call a few Porsche dealers and see what they say.
Edited by elex on Sunday 21st January 12:30
my opinion is based on experience buying in Germany and selling in the UK. Sure, at the time the Euro was weak but:
1) the car cost me 25% less. Extras were about 30% cheaper in Germany, compounding the savings.
2) the service from the German OPC was light years ahead of any I tried in the UK at was 3 hours drive from Calais.
3) had the car serviced without question at UK OPC. Standard of service though is another discussion!
4) First UK OPC to see my car when I was thinking of selling, made me an offer, we haggled and THEN i mentioned i had bought the car in Germany (C16). Response was, 'so what, it's a UK car, makes no difference'
If you make the effort to source a good deal, the savings are yours, no one else's. They are simply jealous or more probably:
1) Can't be arsed to make the effort themselves
2) Believe the FUD spread by people who prefer to pay an extra few 000's for the pleasue of a few coffees and 'special relationships' with their OPC. All this means is that they smile at you, shake your hand and call you by your first name. Well, there are many gullible punters who fall for that nonsense in the UK.
Next new car I by will definetly not be from the UK and there are many, many more doing exactly that
Listen, Silver, I don't agree with why cars are more expensive here either and I can recommend that people import them to make savings. However, these imports are not worth as much as a UK OPC supplied car so please don't go around telling people that they are as you will be responsible for costing them a lot of money.
elex said:
Listen, Silver, I don't agree with why cars are more expensive here either and I can recommend that people import them to make savings. However, these imports are not worth as much as a UK OPC supplied car so please don't go around telling people that they are as you will be responsible for costing them a lot of money.
The UK OPC cars are imported from the same place - Germany, off the same production line. If the car is a C16 they will give you the same price because it's the same car as they have on their forecourts.
I think there are people intelligent enough on this forum to understand that, although quite clearly there are others that can't.
I've made my point based on real experiences and this is my last post on this thread because it's going round in circles.
silver993tt said:
elex said:
Listen, Silver, I don't agree with why cars are more expensive here either and I can recommend that people import them to make savings. However, these imports are not worth as much as a UK OPC supplied car so please don't go around telling people that they are as you will be responsible for costing them a lot of money.
The UK OPC cars are imported from the same place - Germany, off the same production line. If the car is a C16 they will give you the same price because it's the same car as they have on their forecourts.
I think there are people intelligent enough on this forum to understand that, although quite clearly there are others that can't.
I've made my point based on real experiences and this is my last post on this thread because it's going round in circles.
Spot on. If you get less money on a C16 import from a Dealer, then it's more a reflection on your negotiating skills..
abarber said:
silver993tt said:
elex said:
Listen, Silver, I don't agree with why cars are more expensive here either and I can recommend that people import them to make savings. However, these imports are not worth as much as a UK OPC supplied car so please don't go around telling people that they are as you will be responsible for costing them a lot of money.
The UK OPC cars are imported from the same place - Germany, off the same production line. If the car is a C16 they will give you the same price because it's the same car as they have on their forecourts.
I think there are people intelligent enough on this forum to understand that, although quite clearly there are others that can't.
I've made my point based on real experiences and this is my last post on this thread because it's going round in circles.
Spot on. If you get less money on a C16 import from a Dealer, then it's more a reflection on your negotiating skills..
But surely the fact that a dealer would have (?) to tell a prospective buyer that the car was a C16 import would be an issue? Scenario, two 997 C2S's next to each other on a dealer's forecourt, one a C16 import and one a OPC UK supplied car. If you were out to buy one, which would you buy IF they were the same price and roughly the same specification?
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