Miss sold import

[Al 182]

As per alternate post on Roadside Assist, I have discovered that the 182 I purchased was in fact imported from Cyprus.

What differences are there with imported cars ?

Off course, as I have realised there is no Roadside Assist or rain sensitive wipers.

I understand that the warranty is two years (as opposed to three).

Do Cypriot cars have any underseal ?

Is there anything else ?

 

[LegoHead]

Worth Less. Insurance probably void if you do not have the alarm fitted, which is the case with imports. I would kick off :evil:

 

[Al 182]

Car has alarm, and checked that insurance not effected.

How much less are 18 month old imports worth than UK cars ?

 

[Bluebeard]

To my knowledge, the air/fuel setup is different, as it set up to run in a hotter climate, and the car won't carry the same anti corrosion warranty as a uk car as its not treated in the same way.
Just take the thing back to whoever you bought it from!!!!

 

[sh33n]

Are your insurance company aware it's an Import? Might make a difference.

How long have you had it?

 

[Maz]

Did you ask if it was a UK car when you bought it ??

 

[Mark5290]

Al 182 - Just take it back, kick off and demand your money back, i can't see they have a leg to stand on if they never told you it was an import even if you did not check the details fully.

 

[Clio 1.216v Dynamique]

Are your insurance company aware it's an Import? Might make a difference.

How long have you had it?

Good point you know what the Insurance companies are like they'll find any little itch to avoid paying up in an event

 

[Clio 1.216v Dynamique]

I would go f**king mad at who sold it me if they had kept it quiet about it being an import and then youself finds out

 

[Maz]

Give your local CAB office a ring mate before getting in touch and giving them hell . .always helps to know what your talking about so they don't end up fobbing you off

 

[Al 182]

Been checking with Renault customer services:-

Service intervals ever 6000 miles
Do get 3 year warranty, but limited to 25000 miles
They are checking on corrosion warranty

Talked to dealer used car sales manager. He wants to talk to salesman who I dealt with to confirm/deny that he had confirmed that the car was UK sourced. If salesman confirms this, he will consider looking at swapping car. He will not consider a full refund an option. If salesman denies telling me it was a UK car then he does not consider that car was miss sold.

What is interesting is he pointed out to me that HPI check confirmed that car was NOT sourced outside EU. I have rechecked VIN number with customer services who have confirmed that it is a Cypriot import. This point might prove interesting if salesman denies telling me it was UK sourced.

I am not actually unhappy with car. There is no insurance implication (I checked), so its down to additional service costs due to frequency, cost of joining AA (£133/year), not doing more than 14k miles in next 18 months to stay below 25k, and potential loss when reselling in future.

Paid £9k for 54 plate with 10k on clock, which I thought an excellent dealer price for a UK car. To keep it, how much should I ask back to cover above points ?

 

[Djw John]

Reno arent going to have different service intervals on the exact same car just cos its an import. The only differences between cars for different countries are added at the landing point, eg Britain gets an alarm, locking hweel nuts etc. The engine is exactly the same

 

[BIG jts]

No locking wheel nuts, and im sure Cypriot imports have less or no corrosion warranty due to the hot climate...

 

[Steve]

Don't see what all the fuss is about.........

Take meg 225 06 uk car 18 - 20K.........same car Motorpoint 14K

Have it for a year or so should still get close to 14K, as 04's go for 13K at present.

2 years motoring for feck all, sounds good to me..........

 

[Bluebeard]

he will not consider a full refund?????

*ring ring ring ring* hello is that trading standards??

 

[Dave]

As John says at end of the day the car is the same. As long as you have all your UK goodies then I guess 9k isnt a bad price for that car on that mileage from a stealer!

 

[The Hoff]

Did you ask if it was a UK car when you bought it ??

Shouldn't have to ask, if it's from a dealership it should be labelled as import.

Personally i'd be taking it to where i acquired it, and taking this up with the dealer. And threatening action from OFT for mis-selling an item.

 

[BIG jts]

yeah ^^^^ thats true, if you save 20% at the front end then you will just loose the same at the rear over a uk car when you come to sell it, you still laid out the same money, but what fcuks me off is people who think there worth the same as a uk car thats just being greedy....the saying " cant have your cake and eat it"
if your going to keep it a few years and you fell you have paid a good price then keep it, if not then fire it straight back..

 

[Bluebeard]

yeah ^^^^ thats true, if you save 20% at the front end then you will just loose the same at the rear over a uk car when you come to sell it, you still laid out the same money, but what fcuks me off is people who think there worth the same as a uk car thats just being greedy....the saying " cant have your cake and eat it"
if your going to keep it a few years and you fell you have paid a good price then keep it, if not then fire it straight back..

what do you know? you're a fecking Service washer??!
This is mans busines, now stay out!

 

[Steve]

yeah ^^^^ thats true, if you save 20% at the front end then you will just loose the same at the rear over a uk car when you come to sell it, you still laid out the same money, but what fcuks me off is people who think there worth the same as a uk car thats just being greedy....the saying " cant have your cake and eat it"
if your going to keep it a few years and you fell you have paid a good price then keep it, if not then fire it straight back..

Yeah i agree but also buyer beware, a fool & his money are easily parted, etc ,etc.( not being funny by the way, it's just a fact of life, everyone out there is out to rip you off)

If you do your research & are wary, you should have no probs.........................

 

[Ad]

Don't see what all the fuss is about.........

Take meg 225 06 uk car 18 - 20K.........same car Motorpoint 14K

Have it for a year or so should still get close to 14K, as 04's go for 13K at present.

2 years motoring for feck all, sounds good to me..........

few issues with the motorpoint meggys.... they are ph1 meggies.. s**t colours.......

also you can get a pre reg ph2 car for similar money for a uk broker.

 

[182 sport]

yeah ^^^^ thats true, if you save 20% at the front end then you will just loose the same at the rear over a uk car when you come to sell it, you still laid out the same money, but what fcuks me off is people who think there worth the same as a uk car thats just being greedy....the saying " cant have your cake and eat it"
if your going to keep it a few years and you fell you have paid a good price then keep it, if not then fire it straight back..

mate bollox.i sold my 182 for the same price as any other 182.mine was bought from motorpoint.I saved myself £3,000.

 

[DynamiqueDebz]

Worth Less. Insurance probably void if you do not have the alarm fitted, which is the case with imports. I would kick off :evil:

My car is an import (came from Germany) and it's a UK spec car. The car didn't come with an alarm , but all my insurance company were worried about was if it had an immobiliser. I indeed only got 2 years RENAULT warranty but paid for an extra year. As far as Renault were concerned it did not matter that it was an import as long as it was a UK spec car, which it is. I paid £1500 less than I would have done if I had gone to a Renault Main dealer, which I thought was abit of a bargain. The car was brand new and had 7 miles on the clock.

The only problem I have found is with getting spare parts. It appears that unless Renault have Reg number, chasis number and all the other numbers that are on the label with the chasis number, my car will not show up on Renaults records. It can not be found by just chasis number and Reg number alone. This I find abit weird as it was on their main computers in March of this year and was indeed found by just the Reg number, but it now appears it can't be identified like that amymore. Personally I think Renault have got the hump as I didn't buy it from them. I'm not fussed though, the car is totally UK legal, so sod them!

 

[Mattieuk]

Been checking with Renault customer services:-

Service intervals ever 6000 miles

You sure about this????? Why is a import 182 serviced twice as much as a UK car??? Its the same mechanics:S

To add my first 172 was a import from Holland....no problem with Renault or insurance in the time I owned it

 

[ukaskew]

The only problem I have found is with getting spare parts. It appears that unless Renault have Reg number, chasis number and all the other numbers that are on the label with the chasis number, my car will not show up on Renaults records. It can not be found by just chasis number and Reg number alone. This I find abit weird as it was on their main computers in March of this year and was indeed found by just the Reg number, but it now appears it can't be identified like that amymore. Personally I think Renault have got the hump as I didn't buy it from them. I'm not fussed though, the car is totally UK legal, so sod them!

My 172 Cup is on a private CUP plate, I get this exact same problem every time!

I was even asked if it was a 1998 model once due to the S plate.

 

[kiza1986]

Didnt john (dubai 182) say that his car was serviced more regularly than renaults over here??? Perhaps thats the same reason??? Then again come to think of it he said his car was serviced twice as much due to the sand over there...strange

Kiza

 

[DynamiqueDebz]

If Renault insist you have to have your 'imported' Clio serviced more often than normal UK Renaults, then it has got to be for one reason, and one reason only. To make MORE money out of you, convince you the car needs it as it's an 'import', implying that 'imports' are not as good. Do they think we are dumb or something? Since when were Clios 'built' in the UK anyway? Aren't they 'all' imported, just normally imported by Renault to sell to UK drivers? Cheeky b******s!!


As far as I know, there isn't a Factory where Renault Clios are built in the UK, is there? (correct me if I am wrong please).

 

[Day]

yeah ^^^^ thats true, if you save 20% at the front end then you will just loose the same at the rear over a uk car when you come to sell it, you still laid out the same money, but what fcuks me off is people who think there worth the same as a uk car thats just being greedy....the saying " cant have your cake and eat it"

So why has a Renault dealer sold an import car knowing this at FULL uk spec price?

Sounds like said dealer eats a lot of cake...

 

[DynamiqueDebz]

Only one answer to that Day. To make MORE money! Renualt = stitch-up-merchants.

 

[Al 182]

Went to see dealer yesterday. Their stance is that they never say whether a car is an import or not. Checked out legality of this with Renault customer services, any they agreed that a dealer does not have to tell a customer if a car is an import, but if asked they couldn’t lie. The dealer did do and provide an HPI check, which will tell you if sourced outside EU. On my car it said it was not sourced outside EU, which was incorrect as it was from Cyprus!

However, when I purchased the car the dealer did say that car was 3 year/60k (not 2 year/25k), had 12k service interval (not 6k) and had Renault assist, which it does not (and how all this started). Dealer has offered to take car back against any other he has in stock, but he has nothing in which I am interested. He will not take car back and refund £9k. He has offered free service to cover associated extra costs (good start) and has agreed to discuss with his boss how they can cover the Renault Assist cost (AA equivalent cover £133 year) for next 18 months. Will contact him again on Monday.

Regarding questions on why same car in Cyprus has different warranty etc. I would suspect the following:-
Shorter service intervals - dry climate, a lot more dust in air, filters require replacing more regularly
No Renault Assist - not available in Cyprus
Shorter warranty mileage - how the hell could you cover 60k on an island the size of Cyprus ??? Would expect all manufactures to reduce warranted mileage as much as possible to reduce claims so this makes sense.

Will provide further update next week, but if I can work something out with dealer on AA cover, I will probably keep car as they do not have any other 182s in stock I like the car.

 

[Steve]

Well i went into Renault yesterday they said my 'import' was worth 20% less than UK car
( still offered more than 7K).
So it's OK for them to screw the public on trade ins, but up to the public to be informed & wary when they buy!!!!!!!!!!!!

B'STARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Turkish]

If you are keeping it you will probably want to get them to underseal the car if it comes without it being a cyprus car. As for the servicing you may find another reason cars in cyprus/dubai have shorter service intervals is sand/dust. You'll find alot of the time cars from regions that are dry and hot and have alot of sand and dust kicking about will have different airboxes and filters to those that dont to protect the engine from sucking it all up and prematurely wearing or suffocating itself with a filter packed with sand.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

mate bollox.i sold my 182 for the same price as any other 182.mine was bought from motorpoint.I saved myself £3,000.

Same here for me . I sold my import 172 similar age , mileage etc for the same as a UK model .

Nothing wrong with imports , your insurance isn't affected , obviously you need an alarm and if your the second owner i would imagine it already has one as i think you'll find it pretty hard to get a 172 insured without an alarm .

Plus your insurance company will know its an import when you supply them with the vin number .

 

[gray-efc]

i had the same problem with a scooby i bought. When it came to part ex it no one would have it cos it was a parralel import. had to part ex for a car from the shitty place i bought it from in the end.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

[QUOTE
As far as I know, there isn't a Factory where Renault Clios are built in the UK, is there? (correct me if I am wrong please)[/QUOTE]

Thats what makes me laugh the most , people going on and on about imports . They are built in the same factory , lol . You just don't get locking wheel nuts , on the 172's etched windows and an alarm ( big wow ) which are crap anyway from some of the posts i've read on here , they go wrong alot and you only get 18 months warranty on a UK cars alarm . Get a toad fitted with lifetime warranty

Look underneath the car . I would imagine that it IS undersealed . Its only usually Jap or imports that aren't .

 

[BIG jts]

So why has a Renault dealer sold an import car knowing this at FULL uk spec price?

Sounds like said dealer eats a lot of cake...

Most renault dealer inc myself dont sell imports on the forcourt we trade them, if they are selling them then they should tell the customer....

 

[sneeks]

Sale of Goods Act is in your favour and if you want a refund you can get one. I had this problem when I bought my 172 and despite the dealer claiming they could not offere a refund they changed there mind when I threatened legal action based on the SoG Act. As it happens I kept the car after the dealer offered to cover all costs to make my 172 UK spec.

They have a duty to inform you if a car is imported, they cannot say afterwards that there policy is not to tell you one way or another.

You have the HPI which is inaccurate, that is enough to prove the car does not match the description on which it was sold.

Sale of Goods Act

Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 traders must sell goods that are as described and of satisfactory quality.
If consumers discover that products do not meet these requirements they can reject them and ask for their money back providing they do so quickly. Alternatively, they can request a repair or replacement or claim compensation.

http://www.br0wn.co.uk/lawofshopping/

What to do if the Shopkeeper Refuses a refund on faulty goods

Some retailers actually don't know the law, but much more likely they're just hoping you don't.
First, ask to see the manager or supervisor and tell them you are claiming your rights under the sale of goods act. 75% will give in at this point.
If you still don't get joy, phone, email or write in to the manager or the head office (if its a chain store). Tell them your complaint, and that you want a refund in line with your rights under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (and subsequent amendments). Also say that if they don't give a refund, you will pursue that matter in the small claims court. This should wrap up another 20% - you're left with the rare few who will resist this pressure.
Going to small claims isn't actually that hard, if you need to go this far, your first stop is the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Sometimes, the shopkeeper may say its not his problem and you should contact the manufacturer. This is wrong. You have a contract of sale with the shopkeeper. He has his own contract with his supplier, its up to him to claim for faults under his contract.

 

[Al 182]

Only after numerous phone calls, including to the groups Managing Director, they agreed to "swap" the car for a UK sourced car by end of July. Although the date stretched, I pick up a UK car on Wednesday.

Its 3 months older, which makes it an 04 instead of Cypriot cars 54, and has done 3000 more miles. They will not negotiate on price etc. and will only offer straight swap.

Decided to take it as import will be worth less when I sell, it has always had rough tickover, and as said before will cost me more to service due to shorter intervals, provide AA cover and has lower warranty mileage.

I have checked the VIN number on this one with customer services as the HPI check on the first car was incorrect.

Did get them to agree to swap import cars rear tyres to front of new one so that I get four with decent tread depth.

All's well that ends well.

Now to start to think about how to improve (new exhaust anyone ?)

 

[TheCake]

Glad you got it sorted mate. All's well that ends well and all that.