Import : yes or no ? help on stuff to check pls

[woodney]

A mate of mine has been offered an imported 172. Apart from checking the warrenty is valid with Renault UK - is there anything else he should be aware of before diving in ?
Private sale BTW.

 

[Gareth]

locking wheels nuts and alarm (CAT 1), take a look at mine in the for sale section by the way if he is interested, not far away.

 

[mrfuzzyfelts]

Also if the import was a WRITE OFF in the original country, when its imported it looses this!!!

So have a good look

 

[sh33n]

I can't see the point of buying an imported 172, there's so many UK one available so why bother?

See if it's got a BITMA report especially if it wasn't new when imported.

It's only worth buying an import if you cannot get a UK version of a car.

 

[woodney]

See if it's got a BITMA report especially if it wasn't new when imported.

What's a BITMA report ?

 

[sh33n]

What's a BITMA report ?

Actually I think that's just for Jap imports and not Europeon ones, so ignore that.

Info here though: http://www.bimta.org/

 

[MRBILLYUK]

A mate of mine has been offered an imported 172. Apart from checking the warrenty is valid with Renault UK - is there anything else he should be aware of before diving in ?
Private sale BTW.

First of all , lets clear one thing up . Was it sold new in this country as an import like most imports or was it imported second hand ? Chances are it was ne when sold in this country as it will be right hand drive .

Lots of 172/182's are imports and are sold new in the UK by places like Motorpoint .The idea behind buying an import is that they are cheaper than UK models when " new " .

Imports are the same car , built in the same factory as RS's intended for the UK . The things they didn't have fitted were an alarm , locking wheel nuts and etched windows which Renault stopped doing on later models anyway .

As to the warranty .Any import that was intended for Cyprus or was sourced from Holland only came with 1 years warranty and no AA assistance . All the other imports got the full 3 year warranty and 3 years AA cover .

Phone Renault UK customer services with your vin number and they will tell you what warranty / AA assistance is left on the vehicle if any .

Ren Cust Service . Tel 08000 723372

 

[Gareth]

I can't understand you guys who are against imports, there's f**k all difference.

 

[woodney]

Thanks guys for all useful info - I'll pass it on

 

[Steve]

I didn't realise renault had a factory in the UK.................fook me they don't.

SO ALL RENAULTS ARE IMPORTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MRBILLYUK]

I didn't realise renault had a factory in the UK.................fook me they don't.

SO ALL RENAULTS ARE IMPORTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep . Just like lots of other European manufacturers , BMW , VW , etc ...... lol

 

[MRBILLYUK]

I can't understand you guys who are against imports, there's f**k all difference.

The man talks sense

Its usually people who don't know what an import is that that sl*g em off . Its the the Jap " grey " imports that are different .Typically having no underseal , rear fog light , speedo in km/h .......

 

[sharkaroo]

I think mines an import, better get an alarm and wheel nuts!! suppose any cat 1 alarm will do(toad?)?

 

[sh33n]

I can't understand you guys who are against imports, there's f**k all difference.

There are differences, as stated, alarm etc, also resale price is affected, etc.

Insurance can be different.

It's more obviousy with some other cars that have completly different suspension setups, etc. Clio is relatively the same.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

There are differences, as stated, alarm etc, also resale price is affected, etc.

Insurance can be different.

It's more obviousy with some other cars that have completly different suspension setups, etc. Clio is relatively the same.

Insurance is the same , i'm on my second import in 5 years . As to reselling , i got more than some UK models , same age , mileage etc with my 172 on autotrader purely down to the fact the car was in very good condition . Imports selling for less is another myth .

 

[Gareth]

i've never had a problem with insurance, makes no difference, its the Grey Imports as said.

 

[sh33n]

Insurance is the same , i'm on my second import in 5 years . As to reselling , i got more than some UK models , same age , mileage etc with my 172 on autotrader purely down to the fact the car was in very good condition . Imports selling for less is another myth .

Fair enough on the insurance, though it would be different.

If someone pays UK money for an import they're a bit of an idiot tbh, the car cost less new, there it's worth less after x years.

I'm not saying don't buy an import as such, but I am saying, pay less for an import than a UK car.

 

[ooze]

How come there is so many non uk spec clio's? or do other makes/models have as many imports floating around too ?

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Fair enough on the insurance, though it would be different.

If someone pays UK money for an import they're a bit of an idiot tbh, the car cost less new, there it's worth less after x years.

I'm not saying don't buy an import as such, but I am saying, pay less for an import than a UK car.

Why are they an idiot ? Mine had locking wheel nuts on , a cat 1 alarm with a lifetime warranty , better than the cobra ones that are fitted as standard which only have an 18 month warranty .

So if you saw 2 cars both priced exactly the same , similar mileage , age etc .... the UK car being a little rough around the edges the import being almost mint which one would you buy ??

The guy that bought mine had looked at 6 others before mine and he said they were all rough as a witches tit , whereas mine was in near perfect condition compared to the others . So i would say that the guy got a good car , good price .

 

[sh33n]

Why are they an idiot ? Mine had locking wheel nuts on , a cat 1 alarm with a lifetime warranty , better than the cobra ones that are fitted as standard which only have an 18 month warranty .

So if you saw 2 cars both priced exactly the same , similar mileage , age etc .... the UK car being a little rough around the edges the import being almost mint which one would you buy ??

The guy that bought mine had looked at 6 others before mine and he said they were all rough as a witches tit , whereas mine was in near perfect condition compared to the others . So i would say that the guy got a good car , good price .

Imo, two identical cars, in the same condition, the UK one is worth more, try and trade in an import and they will say the same to you.

The cars worth what someone will pay for it at the end of the day, personally I wouldn't pay top doller when I could get a UK car and a bit of peice of mind for the same money.

Of course I wouldn't buy a UK car that was rough, etc, I would just go find a UK one that was mint, there's plenty around, this is no dig on your car, I'm sure it's mint, most people on the site really care for their cars.

 

[rory182]

How come there is so many non uk spec clio's? or do other makes/models have as many imports floating around too ?

blame motorpoint and the likes, loads of lagunas and meganes etc you see on the road are euro imports

 

[JPW172]

i have a import and i wouldnt think twice about gettin another new import either,end of the day when new there cheaper.when i bought mine i payed 3 grand less than my local renault dealer

cheers james

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Imo, two identical cars, in the same condition, the UK one is worth more, try and trade in an import and they will say the same to you.

If you trade your probably right , if your sell privately i beg to differ .

You've hit the nail on the head .Its what somebody is willing to pay .

 

[cliovicky]

I also have an import, I agree with what was said above, if i were to sell my car privately then i think i would have a few difficulties. I have had a few little problems with my car, the axel has been bent ( someone has hit a kerb or something or sum one has hit the side of the car) the axel was bent on it ! i wasnt impressed when i found out, when the axel was taken off the car it was only slightly out you couldnt even see where it was bent !. I have since had a new axel fitted and the car is now 100% . Thanks to Mattblack for helping me out with the parts

I wouldnt say imports are a bad thing i certainly wont be selling mine in a hurry its in fantastic shape just had its 36k service and i only payed 6.5 k with 28k miles on an 03 plate

 

[MRBILLYUK]

blame motorpoint and the likes, loads of lagunas and meganes etc you see on the road are euro imports

Blame motorpoint , lol .

Blame em for what ? Selling Joe Public cheaper cars ??

 

[cliovicky]

blame motorpoint and the likes, loads of lagunas and meganes etc you see on the road are euro imports

My clio came from motorpoint. My boss bought the car direct from them and i bought it off my boss, i was unhappy at the start as i didnt know the history of the car, i got in touch with motorpoint and he told me where it came from and all its history which he still had on file. The only thing i dont know about is how the axel managed to be bent, but i have been told that they aint the hardest to bend anyway, so i dont know.

Motorpoint dont hide the fact that they sell imports, and if your not too fussed about warranties and fitting your own alarm then i dont see the problem with them, after all they were all made at the same place !! Renault !!!

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Mines from motorpoint . Full 3 year Renault warranty and 3 years AA assistance , what more could i ask for

 

[DynamiqueDebz]

My Clio is an import (comes from Germany) . It was NEW when I bought her and I paid almost 2k less than dealer prices. It only came with 2 years RENAULT warranty, but I paid for another year. Which was ok. The only problem I find is with Renault themsleves when it comes to spare parts. My car will only show up on their computers if they put in ALL the numbers found on the Chasis label, can't be found my Reg number alone. I found this out when I needed a new gaitor for the gear lever when the alarm specialists broke the clips. The car is UK spec, and as far as I am concerned I got a darn good deal and would definitely do it again!

 

[Nomad]

Hmm, import cars are cheaper so if as the driver you're happy for the couple of things you lack then certainly go for an import, it makes much sense.

The funny thing is the import Clio Cup 172 has abs, air-con and leathers, so it had more spec then the uk spec, which ultimately defeated the object of the cup for me...

 

[sh33n]

Mines from motorpoint . Full 3 year Renault warranty and 3 years AA assistance , what more could i ask for

A free chauffeur called Les? lol.

 

[sh33n]

The funny thing is the import Clio Cup 172 has abs, air-con and leathers, so it had more spec then the uk spec, which ultimately defeated the object of the cup for me...

You sure

I've never seen one before!!

 

[DynamiqueDebz]

I didn't realise renault had a factory in the UK.................fook me they don't.

SO ALL RENAULTS ARE IMPORTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is soooo true, and I'm sure I mentioned that in a previous post about 'imports'. So, it doesn't really matter where they come from, as long as they are UK spec. The fact you get them via Renault normally only means you pay more, or get less warranty. This is swear is done to force people into buying only Renault Dealer cars.

 

[Nomad]

You sure

I've never seen one before!!

More sure than i'd like to be i'm afraid as i drove 40 miles to see it (The Car People, Wakefield, they might still have it as i only saw it last week and was still in compound).

 

[sh33n]

More sure than i'd like to be i'm afraid as i drove 40 miles to see it (The Car People, Wakefield, they might still have it as i only saw it last week and was still in compound).

Can't find it on the site :S

 

[Nomad]

Can't find it on the site :S

Probably sold then i suppose...

 

[rory182]

lol all so defensive, my use of the word blame didnt mean anything.

But you can get a UK car from a big dealer like Arnold Shark for the same price as motorpoint anyway, i paid £11,800 in june 04 for a uk 182 from arnold shark and Ally paid maybe £300 less a month before for an 04 172 from motorpoint.

 

[cliovicky]

The only probelm i have is Renault being absolute arses because the car is an import ! they dont want to know usually cos its a pain to find parts for them !

 

[cliovicky]

......... its only because they cant be bothered getting there finger out and finding them !

 

[rory182]

finding what? the car and parts are the same.

just the spec that might vary, belgian 182s have heated seats as standard I think! lol

 

[cli0 172]

The only probelm i have is Renault being absolute arses because the car is an import ! they dont want to know usually cos its a pain to find parts for them !

eh ??

they are exactly the same parts :S