996 import - resale value?

[incubus]

My dad's been looking into swapping his 996 C4S. He bought the car (used) from a main dealer. It now transpires that the car is not a UK car, but was imported from Germany. He was not informed of this when purchasing it.

From looking into things it seems that this may have an effect on re-sale value. A different main dealer have even suggested that they would not take the car in part-ex as they will only deal in UK cars.

Has he got a case to be a bit narked with the dealer he bought the car from originally - surely they should have informed him of this?

Thanks.

[cardigankid]

But it is right hand drive? Not I have to say that that worries me either. Its not Jungle Green with Savannah is it?

Why don't you post it on Pistonheads classified? Its pretty effective and it costs you nothing. Also you are appealing to an educated market that will appreciate the car for what it is and does not believe that a German import will give you AIDS. Post a lot of pictures too, so we can have a leer at it.

Personally I would be a lot more interested in seeing that the car is properly documented and fully serviced, as well as currently in tip top condition. Came from Germany. So the what. They all come from Germany.

By the way, dealers will always talk the car down, its how they make a living, I wouldn't get paranoid about it.

Edited by cardigankid on Friday 24th August 17:16

Edited by cardigankid on Friday 24th August 17:18

[lightweight]

you need to look under the boot lid at the build sticker if it says C16 on any of the options then it is UK spec will be retailed as such with no price difference,the OPC buyers will always talk down this type of car as thats the point at which the profit is made.

If it says say C96 then that is a dferent spec, and may not be as high spec as say UK C16 or germany C00 cars.

[thegoose]

UK spec (but elsewhere supplied) C16 cars are identical to UK supplied cars except for the driving course you get from a UK dealer - which obviously only matters to the first owner (most would prefer to save a few grand and lose out on a £500 day).

• Some* OPCs won't deal in non-UK supplied cars, whether C16 or not. Some will deal in any C16 cars and some will deal in others too, such as C98=Cyprus, C45=Hong Kong(?), C50Barbados(?) I'm not sure of the last 2 numbers, but I've dealt with cars from these markets with no problem.

If the car is C16 there was no need for the dealer who sold it you to mention it, unless it was brought here as a used car (which seems unlikely). They all have 2 years worldwide warranty wherever they're from.

[incubus]

lightweight said:

you need to look under the boot lid at the build sticker if it says C16 on any of the options then it is UK spec will be retailed as such with no price difference,the OPC buyers will always talk down this type of car as thats the point at which the profit is made.

Can confirm it is a C16 car.

Policy seems to be not to disclose at sale, but mention it at trade in time. Bit cheeky.

[lightweight]

if its C16 then you dont have an issue with value the buyer is just trying it on. I have a LHD C00 car and i even have a UK extended warentee from an OPC no issues

[lex luther]

Just sold my 996 to Porsche Leeds - non UK car BUT full UK spec (plus a few extra's) was dealing with the main buyer and he mentioned it in passing but more for my information rather than to use it to batter the price down.

And before anyone asks how far I got my trousers dropped in selling to an OPC they offered me the best price out of all the indies I tried (and believe me I tried a few!!!!)

This guy is trying it on with you - I wouldn't sell it to him on principle now.

[cardigankid]

Put your car on Pistonheads classified first! Its cost you nothing and you might get a pretty fair price from someone who will appreciate owning your car.

PS No relation

[Geneve]

C16 means it conforms to UK specification, but could have been supplied through another territory.

An official UK car was imported by Porsche Cars GB and sold through one of its Official Porsche Centres.

There are reasons why some people, myself included, would expect to pay less for an unofficial import, and some OPCs will not take them in part exchange or, will not retail them.

[ChrisW.]

The notion of non UK spec is only to protect UK OPC's who are asking more than the established price in other close markets.

What exactly do you think C16 spec is ?

On the 996 it used to be tinted top windscreen and rear wiper.

For the 997 they deleted to rear wiper --- or something like that.

Listen up guys, they are ALL manufactured in Germany.

They all have 10 year bodywork warranties.

And OPC's are almost universally happy to sell you a Porsche extended warrany for your "unofficial" imported (they are all from Germany) Porsche.

Oh I forget, somebody once told me thet the C98 Cyprus RHD cars have a larger aircon blower --- roll on global warming ?

Please take note, Porsche do not make bad cars --- and any car from within the EU MUST be treated by OPC's as a home market car. Any proposed price diferential is therefore a mere bargaining counter --- topped up with a little sour grape.

So Mr Porsche, please may we have a common pricing policy ?

I do love the guys at my OPC --- honest !!!

[Geneve]

If you buy a Porsche that was not officially imported through Porsche Cars GB, and sold through an OPC, you may not have any rights of redress against them in the event of certain claims. These would need to be dealt with through the original supply channels. Likewise, beyond the normal warranty terms, unofficial imports are unlikely to receive the same benefits under the goodwill matrix.

For these, and a number of other reasons, based on specific case experience, I would value an Official UK import more than an unofficial one. However, this significance does diminish with time.

Oh, and those familiar with the Contract of Co-operation between Porsche Cars GB and Porsche Club GB, will understand.

Edited by Geneve on Friday 7th September 23:44

[ADDLED]

Geneve said:

There are reasons why some people, myself included, would expect to pay less for an unofficial import, and some OPCs will not take them in part exchange or, will not retail them.

Apart from a dealer using the fact its an import to barter down the buy price to max out the subsequent margin, provided the car is full uk spec and kosher, im inquisitive as to the reasons why you would expect to pay less for an unofficial import.

If it came from an OPC then in fairness I think the dealer should have mentioned the fact that its a grey import, but its depends on the question asked. "Is it a uk car?" is the usual vague question asked, to which the honest answer is "Yes".

I recently sold my 330Ci Sport that I imported from Germany. It was looked after, low mileage, FSH and so well specced that it put all of the other cars in the small ads in the shade, so there was a bidding war and so I got more than would have dreamed of for it.
Im almost ashamed to add that I had also saved 6 grand on the purchase price, so it was well worth putting up with the numpties and tyre kickers until a couple of serious buyers came along.

Dont be put off; if its a good car, well looked after and with a full documented history and no nasties, it will sell for what its worth.
Good luck

[ChrisW.]

Geneve said:

If you buy a Porsche that was not officially imported through Porsche Cars GB, and sold through an OPC, you may not have any rights of redress against them in the event of certain claims. These would need to be dealt with through the original supply channels. Likewise, beyond the normal warranty terms, unofficial imports are unlikely to receive the same benefits under the goodwill matrix.

For these, and a number of other reasons, based on specific case experience, I would value an Official UK import more than an unofficial one. However, this significance does diminish with time.

Oh, and those familiar with the Contract of Co-operation between Porsche Cars GB and Porsche Club GB, will understand.

Edited by Geneve on Friday 7th September 23:44

And OPC's at their discretion, buy imported cars and sell them at the same price as original UK cars. Of cours if there is a glut, they can become more choosey -- as any dealer can.

But if one has saved when buying and the car is good, one can afford to ratchet the selling price down a notch --- and maybe sell it privately rather than through a dealer ?

As I say, extended warraties can aslo be purchased, at which point a good car can be a very similar offering to that from an OPC.

And to take nothing away from Porsche GB (on whom we all depend at some time), they will consider goodwill claims so long as the car has a decent OPC service history.

Geneve, the decision is merely a question of the individual fear / opportunity profile. But I repeat, Porsche do not build sub standard cars for ANY market, and the differences between markets, particularly the european markets, are extremely small.

Which is why I would ask Porsche to examine their European pricing policy because I am sure that we would all rather support our local OPC.