Robroysboy Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 (edited) Considering buying a European spec car from a car dealer. Brand new coming in at 4 k cheaper than a UK spec car similar engine size. Any pit falls to look out for ? Edited February 2, 2016 by Robroysboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Insurance can be more difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimstroma Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 You can only put European fuel in it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deecie Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 You'll have to return it if we leave the EU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mee Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Left hand drive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolaaand Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Aye. Insurance can be pricier. Get some quotes before you buy. Insurers will ask if it is imported and even though your car will comply with EU laws and have been built on the same production line as a UK car,they will charge you more. Worth it for 4k off though. I bought an EU import Subaru from Malta about 12 years ago. Insurance was about 30%ish more pricey than a UK car. Still worth it given the price I paid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robroysboy Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 Aye. Insurance can be pricier. Get some quotes before you buy. Insurers will ask if it is imported and even though your car will comply with EU laws and have been built on the same production line as a UK car,they will charge you more. Worth it for 4k off though. I bought an EU import Subaru from Malta about 12 years ago. Insurance was about 30%ish more pricey than a UK car. Still worth it given the price I paid. Cheers, thanks for advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robroysboy Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 Left hand drive? Hope not. Feck that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherwell Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 What about buying a nearly new car. Motorpoint generally do a very good deal with big discounts over buying brand new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robroysboy Posted February 3, 2016 Author Share Posted February 3, 2016 What about buying a nearly new car. Motorpoint generally do a very good deal with big discounts over buying brand new Wife got a second hand car from motor point, wasn't impressed as it was unreliable as the break pads got stuck reguarly and we think it was in an accident as we discovered masking tape within the engine compartment. Would only consider a brand new car from them as I don't need to be concerned about its history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deecie Posted February 3, 2016 Share Posted February 3, 2016 If you're going for a brand new car, lease it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacTaz Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 Left hand drive? If it s an EU built vehicle surely it will be LH Drive? I've just brought my LH drive VW Passat estate over from Germany to get it registered on UK system head lights need to be swapped (£300-600 ) but that is all (Just had it MOT'd today passed easily ) The only problem I have with mine over here is the bloody ticket machines in car parks . If I'm on my own in the car i have to get out and walk round to get ticket / open barrier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robroysboy Posted February 4, 2016 Author Share Posted February 4, 2016 If it s an EU built vehicle surely it will be LH Drive? I've just brought my LH drive VW Passat estate over from Germany to get it registered on UK system head lights need to be swapped (£300-600 ) but that is all (Just had it MOT'd today passed easily ) The only problem I have with mine over here is the bloody ticket machines in car parks . If I'm on my own in the car i have to get out and walk round to get ticket / open barrier. EU spec, right hand drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
min Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 My Da bought an EU spec. car a few years ago - a RH drive, built for Cyprus. Saved a few grand when buying, but difficult to sell / trade-in.... lost any 'saving' he made at that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Endell Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 My Da bought an EU spec. car a few years ago - a RH drive, built for Cyprus. Saved a few grand when buying, but difficult to sell / trade-in.... lost any 'saving' he made at that point. ^^^Why I wouldn't touch one or go anywhere near the likes of Motorpoint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pool Q Posted February 5, 2016 Share Posted February 5, 2016 Was involved in a few of these about 15 years back, mainly BMW and Merc. They are RH drive, but the whole thing really was a bit of a pain in the arse. There are savings to be made, no doubt about that, particularly with sterling strong, but there are lead-in time, insurance and RV implications. In addition be very, very careful when checking the exact specification of the car you are getting - do NOT assume that a, say, BMW SE specification in Germany is precisely the same as in the UK. For whatever reason UK cars seem to have more bits included in the same 'spec' as cars in continental Europe. Don't know why, just seemed to be case, and people can end up disappointed getting a car that doesn't have something they wanted (and would get with the UK car). Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole personally, but there are specialist importers making a living so it clearly can be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robroysboy Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 Was involved in a few of these about 15 years back, mainly BMW and Merc. They are RH drive, but the whole thing really was a bit of a pain in the arse. There are savings to be made, no doubt about that, particularly with sterling strong, but there are lead-in time, insurance and RV implications. In addition be very, very careful when checking the exact specification of the car you are getting - do NOT assume that a, say, BMW SE specification in Germany is precisely the same as in the UK. For whatever reason UK cars seem to have more bits included in the same 'spec' as cars in continental Europe. Don't know why, just seemed to be case, and people can end up disappointed getting a car that doesn't have something they wanted (and would get with the UK car). Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole personally, but there are specialist importers making a living so it clearly can be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robroysboy Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 Shat it and got a second hand UK spec golf. Blue motion 74.3 mpg desiEl. Nice car, engine cuts out when idle. Thought it had stalled during the test drive. Lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunchy Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Don't know about other parts of the country but don't buy a car from Peterborough. Don't know how many cars have been bought between me and my friends but every on that was bought in Peterborough has had loads of problems. Doesn't help that it has (as far as I know) one of the biggest car auctions in the UK and it seems every dodgy car comes from there and gets sold with as little work done as possible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
euan2020 Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 If it s an EU built vehicle surely it will be LH Drive? I've just brought my LH drive VW Passat estate over from Germany to get it registered on UK system head lights need to be swapped (£300-600 ) but that is all (Just had it MOT'd today passed easily ) The only problem I have with mine over here is the bloody ticket machines in car parks . If I'm on my own in the car i have to get out and walk round to get ticket / open barrier. how long can you run car on euro plates in UK ? could you not play around on that ? or more issue on insurance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McExpat Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 Shat it and got a second hand UK spec golf. Blue motion 74.3 mpg desiEl. Nice car, engine cuts out when idle. Thought it had stalled during the test drive. Lol I experienced the same situation when hiring a new golf last week! Also noticed and loved the new handbrake technology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alibi Posted February 8, 2016 Share Posted February 8, 2016 I experienced the same situation when hiring a new golf last week! Also noticed and loved the new handbrake technology. I have one of these electronic handbrakes on my Q5. Don't ever flick it on before the car has stopped moving completely because it just about puts you through the windscreen. I'm not really a fan - there is none of the subtlety of a traditional handbrake; it's either off or fully on, and when it's on it locks the wheels. Maybe saves space on the centre console so they can fit in MMI interface controls and so on, but they should come with a warning. Supposed to be easier for someone to stop the car in an emergency, but if you pulled the switch at 70 i'm not sure what would happen. As for handbrake turns - forget it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McExpat Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 I was referring to the auto hold functionality as opposed to an electric handbrake in general. I've had an electric handbrake for years but never really took much notice of, nor made much use of it as I've never needed to with the car being an automatic, resulting in me mostly only using P & D to stop and take off but now you mention it, I wonder what would happen if the button were to be pressed at speed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alibi Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 I was referring to the auto hold functionality as opposed to an electric handbrake in general. I've had an electric handbrake for years but never really took much notice of, nor made much use of it as I've never needed to with the car being an automatic, resulting in me mostly only using P & D to stop and take off but now you mention it, I wonder what would happen if the button were to be pressed at speed? Wouldn't recommend it, although it's supposed to make it easier for a passenger to stop the car in an emergency. A wee bit of proportionality would be nice though, rather than the quantum fully off/fully on arrangement. I'm not a huge fan of the way the handbrake releases itself when you press the accelerator - saves the effort of releasing the handbrake, but what happens if someone presses the accelerator accidentally while waiting at traffic lights? I'm talking about automatics here obviously, as in a manual you would need to put it in gear and release the clutch. In an auto even a light touch on the accelerator sets the car off as you don't tend to put it in neutral when stopped temporarily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robroysboy Posted February 10, 2016 Author Share Posted February 10, 2016 Got a new electronic handbreak, was of in test drive. But was weird tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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