Parallel Import – justification to ask for price reduction?

[Matt82]

My Golf is an import, no issues with insurance/parts, anything, no difference to a normal Golf

How much is yours for sale for OP, out of interest?

 

[NigeP]

It's obvious that its an import because we stated it in the advert! Full disclosure etc etc

I wouldn`t have done. Do dealers put on their ads that they imported it from the country of manufacture ? It`s the same thing.

Your car is no different to any other UK spec cars, apart from instead of the UK dealer importing it, you imported it yourself.

I did exactly the same with a Scenic back in 1998, went to France myself and drove it back on transit plates then registered at the DVLA as a UK car which is exactly what it was.

The ONLY difference is that you imported it instead of the dealer. That should make zero difference to the price.

 

[Snubber]

Update...sold to a car dealer for £2100 over the weekend. £100 less than we originally wanted but chap noticed that car was due for a cam belt change.

He was not bothered with it being a parallel import - he did an HPI check and was happy.

Just ordered a new Skoda Citygo as a replacement for the Golf (which was really my wife's car).

Sad to see it go but it was not really suited to the small trips around town that my wife does. Plus there was no way we could get insurance for my son (aged 17) to drive it...Citygo is Insurance Group 1 so not a problem.

 

[jimmy321]

My old Impreza was also a parallel import (first owner bought it through litchfields, it was actually from Cyprus).

Never made any difference to anything really.

Not true, International Motors who handle Subaru for the UK bring them up to UK spec that includes ECU, body prep including undercoat and alarm. Litchfield would have to add these options themselves, you will get some warranty help from International Motors with a bit of communication but you would get a knockback from the local UK dealer as the car would not be on their system and they certainly will not cover corrosion issues. Also your insurance will cost more if you are honest with your cars details.

 

[ubersonic]

All Golfs are, of course, imports - they don't make them in the UK!

This, it's a UKDM (United Kingdom Domestic Model) car not an import car, despite having been imported.

If it doesn't matter to an insurance company it shouldn't matter to a prospective buyer.

 

[cheesyboy]

I had a 2000 GTI 1.8t which was bought abroad when new (I was 3rd owner). First registration was in the UK, since it was new, was just bought from a German dealer (during "rip-off Britain" era, much like yours).

For peace of mind, I insured as an import, and it added £20 to my premium in the first year - that premium being circa £500 at the time. I'm not at all convinced it needed to be insured as such, though, as I really am not sure it was technically any more of an import than any other Golf, since they're all made over there.

EDIT:

Just noticed this was a spam-necro thread