Hi, I'm considering a petrol DSG and noticed Motorpoint seem to have loads, appears they have leather and Columbus, are unregistered, but marked as imports.

Wondered if this means they will be a problem (short warranty) etc. Does anyone have any experience of them.

Obviously they are not going to be MY2017 spec, which you would get if you ordered now as they are already built. But saving over £7k is tempting.

Anyone got any experience of this organisation, and if the non UK spec is going to matter when it comes to reselling in a few years. Would appreciate your views.

http://www.motorpoint.co.uk/used-cars/skoda/octavia/options/-transmission=4-fueltype=14

Edited 9 May, 201610 yr by SurreyJohn

I've bought a few cars from there, if you are going to buy with cash then it's a great place to get a car IMO.

 

Don't expect an amazing trade-in if you have one to trade, but if I was in a position to buy one of those, I probably would.

The only warranty difference is that is will be 2 years only, as the third in the UK is from Skoda UK. The imported car is not a Skoda UK car, so no 3rd year.

 

There maybe other minor specification differences depending on the origin of the car, it will have come from either Cyprus or Malta.

With it being an import you may also find even more depreciation than a regular car

A Skoda will always be an Import to the UK from Mainland Europe into the UK unless they were exported to say Australia then re-imported.

Skoda do not build cars in the UK after all.

 

So maybe just buy on the spec of the car you are looking at, 

and see if it has a 2 year or 3 year manufacturers warranty, and that you can buy a Skoda Warranty when that expires.

'Ask in writing from the seller and Skoda UK, and get the reply in writing.'

The spec on the Cyprus/Malta imports is a bit strange....no Alarm, leather but no seat heating (guess they don't have much call for it there), 17" alloys.....but they do come with Columb us and a few other bits and bobs that aren't standard fit here.

Do be aware it will always be classified as an import so will reflect on this residual value....also it will only have 2 year warranty as there is no 3rd year dealer backed warranty on non-UK supplied cars.

If you know and appreciate what you are getting into though will probably equate to quite a bit of car for the money.

As above, check the spec very closely, it will always be classed as an import (insurance etc)

 

All Skodas have a 2yr warranty, the third year warranty (if it has one) will be from the country of origin. Not impossible to use from the UK but difficult. You will get NO help from Skoda UK

 

Do the figures carefully. The hit in residuals will be a percentage, if you keep the car a while that percentage is a relatively small amount. If you change it early, you may be better getting the best discount you can on a UK car 

As above, check the spec very closely, it will always be classed as an import (insurance etc)

Sorry about off topic, but how does the fact that a car is an import affect insurance?

Sorry about off topic, but how does the fact that a car is an import affect insurance?

I would imagine that differences in specification it can change the insured value and the ease of repairing/replacing as well as masking any potential history (should the car be the foreign equivalent of a cat c/d write off, which know in this case it isn't)

Sorry about off topic, but how does the fact that a car is an import affect insurance?

If it is a RHD car from a European country with a Euro certificate of conformity and has the same spec as a car sold in the UK then in reality very little, although many companies will still not touch you or will increase your premium as parts may not be available in the UK as easily as a for a UK car.

Sorry about off topic, but how does the fact that a car is an import affect insurance?

I'd heard that not as many European spec cars have alarms as standard compared with UK equivalent, although surely this wouldn't be the case with a vRS. We were on holiday in Majorca recently and had a newish seat toledo as a hire car. It had an A5 sized sticker on the windscreen warning any potential thieves that the car had an alarm!

Re post #10

flybynight,

It would be nice to hear who these many Insurance Companies / brokers / underwriters are that will not touch you with a New UK First Registered Skoda with Delivery Mileage that you have just bought from a Used Car Dealership in the UK?

Edited 9 May, 201610 yr by GoneOffSKi

In my experience if they're unregistered - either here or Malta/Cyprus/wherever but have just been shipped around then you shouldn't have any problems with insurance. It's just that the dealer network will pull a face because they didn't get any sales commission.

 

The're a different proposition from all those Mazda MX5s brought over in the 90s with several thousand kilometres on the clock.

More like buying a camera from some Amazon sites - come out the same factory as the one a UK dealer sells, but "you won't get the same support from Canon/Nikon/Etc UK..."

 

Motorpoint have been round long enough. They're prime business is selling cars, not selling expensive finance like some supermarkets. I wouldn't worry about spec. Used buyers look at condition/mileage as much as kit. Leather without heated seats is minor. IMHO.

Re post #10

flybynight,

It would be nice to hear who these many Insurance Companies / brokers / underwriters are that will not touch you with a New UK First Registered Skoda with Delivery Mileage that you have just bought from a Used Car Dealership in the UK?

Easy, just log on to any price comparison web site and price up insurance on a given car. Then tick the boxes that say it is an import. especially if you cannot say it is fully UK-spec (thatcham alarms etc)

 

See the difference in the number of quotes and price quoted.

 

Does not matter whether you buy it here or bring it in, it is the car itself that they look at. Many of my machines are/have been imported so it is not something I am averse to, just what I have found from experience if you are fully up front with the companies.

 

If you have a major claim or write-off they do check the origin of the car and try to adjust the payout, I have seen that first-hand.

 

As I said with a fully euro-spec car RHD, same spec as UK you should have little or no problem, but some companies don't like it.

It is not a 'Grey Import' is it.

 

So now that i know where you get your information can you name the Many Insurers that will not touch them?

 

Many of us have owned imports, cars previously registered in other countries, write offs etc etc

but actually there is so much Internet BS on the subject it is unreal.

Edited 9 May, 201610 yr by GoneOffSKi

It is not a 'Grey Import' is it.

 

So now that i know where you get your information can you name the Many Insurers that will not touch them?

 

Many of us have owned imports, cars previously registered in other countries, write offs etc etc

but actually there is so much Internet BS on the subject it is unreal.

One of the ones I am driving at the moment is not a grey import either, brand new from a main dealer (not in the UK) and full EU compliant The insurer covering the previous car would not insure this car and refunded the remaining policy. Who it is is irrelevant. I know the issues I had only last month

 

I had a payout reduced by a percentage because another car was an import, Again, brand new from a dealer in Europe

 

That is where I get my information from

 

If you think there is no insurance implication whatsoever to having a write-off or import I would be curious where you get your information from

 

I am just suggesting that doing a bit of research before buying something that is not UK mainstream is no bad thing. Would you say it is not sensible to ask the question of your insurer before buying it? It is nearly always still worth it but you need to go in with your eyes open sometimes

 

I agree there is a lot of BS on this

Come on no need to be shy, why not just say what Company that was, and name another and that will be 2 insurance companies.

a few more will make it many.

 

Please read what you said and i said.

I never mentioned no Insurance Implication, as i often get good value cover on Imports and Accident Repaired Vehicles and no need to be ripped off.

 

I just asked about your comment in post #10 about many insurance companies not touching you.

Or will increase your premium.

 

So you know of 1 that would not touch you and your import.

Edited 9 May, 201610 yr by GoneOffSKi

Come on no need to be shy, why not just say what Company that was, and name another and that will be 2 insurance companies.

a few more will make it many.

 

Please read what you said and i said.

I never mentioned no Insurance Implication, as i often get good value cover on Imports and Accident Repaired Vehicles and no need to be ripped off.

 

I just asked about your comment in post #10 about many insurance companies not touching you.

Or will increase your premium.

 

So you know of 1 that would not touch you and your import.

Shy? - no, just none of your business really, and pretty much irrelevant. different day different car, tick that box on the comparison and you will know everything (that you don't already know), up to date and you can see for your self.

 

if it makes someone look into it a bit and ask some questions before taking the plunge - job done from my view.

 

It is after all what the OP asked.

OK, the usual smell of BS and exaggeration.

You would probably be able to save that or very close to that if you bought a new car to your spec via a broker. I saved almost £6800 and had a UK car with full warranty.

The spec on the Cyprus/Malta imports is a bit strange....no Alarm, leather but no seat heating (guess they don't have much call for it there), 17" alloys.....but they do come with Columb us and a few other bits and bobs that aren't standard fit here.

Do be aware it will always be classified as an import so will reflect on this residual value....also it will only have 2 year warranty as there is no 3rd year dealer backed warranty on non-UK supplied cars.

If you know and appreciate what you are getting into though will probably equate to quite a bit of car for the money.

Peeking at the advt, this time they are on 18" rims & the leather seats are heated.

 

Both petrolsl & diesels too.

 

DC

Peeking at the advt, this time they are on 18" rims & the leather seats are heated.

Both petrolsl & diesels too.

DC

Indeed I noticed the same. The previous lot were not as well specified.

Had mine via this broker: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Octavia-vRS-hatch-estate-car-deals-contracts-from-190-VAT-pm-/182093981675?hash=item2a65a5a7eb:g:YNgAAOSwNSxU20Ss,

 

Was a totally painless experience & saved me £6776 delivered to my door on a truck, 4 miles on the clock! The car came from Simpsons Skoda in Preston so was a full UK car with UK warranty, etc.

 

Edited 10 May, 201610 yr by cherry evo

You would probably be able to save that or very close to that if you bought a new car to your spec via a broker. I saved almost £6800 and had a UK car with full warranty.

Quite agree!

I think the best reason to get a new import is to get something not available from home market. If you are going to get something available here then you can often do nearly as well with a bit of patience haggling, and or research, and save a bit of bother.

On that note, Price comparison site at random (confused.com) VRS TSi with some random details. When the box is ticked for Euro import non-UK spec 24 FEWER companies will quote "on those details" lowest price £110 HIGHER

That ranks as "many" in my book I am not going to list all 24 because frankly I am not that interested. If someone really wants to know the names of the 24 who do not like imports they can do the exercise for themselves.

Also, if you want to know what support you will get from Skoda UK, call up customer service and start by saying "I have a brand new Skoda imported from XYX which is under warranty" and see what response you get. I know the response I got!

Nothing wrong with imports - far from it, just do it with your eyes open and weigh up the pros and cons

OK, the usual smell of BS and exaggeration.

Charming as ever :-)

Edited 10 May, 201610 yr by flybynite

Caution on insurance if they do not come with the factory alarm system - could make a considerable difference,