Imported vehicles would you buy one ?

xmaslolly76

As it says above

We are currently in the process of looking for a 7 seater car we will need it once new bubs comes along.

We have come across something called a nissan Elgrand however they are imported and just wondered if any one has any views on imports.

Are they worth the initial saving or will i be counting the cost later on ?

motorguy

It will be harder to insure, harder to get parts for, less people will want to service it, and harder to sell on.

Personally, i'd stick with something mainstream

elektra-2007

Had a Lantra a few years back, it was only imported from ireland and had irish plates, was a nightmare to insure most insurers wouldnt quote on it. When I rung garages to get parts, just simple things like oil filters ect they ask your reg and then cant find it, Most times I had to take the car down to the parts place to get the right thing which was a bit awkward.
Id look into a one registared in the u.k from new.

gaz_jones

Getting parts will be an issue as I don't think they origionally sold those in the UK.

My last BMW 318 was a South African import and it didn't make the slightest bit of difference. There was no difference between that and the UK model other than a few added extras coming as standard. I would happily buy an imported common car, but would be less inclinded to buy an imported model that wasn't sold at one point in the UK.

blued

I'm currently looking for a Pajero which is basically an imported Shogun. A 1994 Shogun will most likely be rotten but a 1994 Pajero imported around 2001-2007 will not be and can be had for not a great deal more. The difference in insurance quotes is about £20 going by the quotes I've got.

So my answer is the same as gaz_jones, yes I would with something that is also available over here or a similar model that shares parts but otherwise no!

Rolandtheroadie

What about a Grand Voyager?

frugalmike

I am currently looking into getting a Mazda Bongo which is also an import they come as an 8 seater but I will be getting a camper conversion,

more info and a lively forum here https://www.bongofury.co.uk :beer:

rev_henry

frugalmike wrote: »

I am currently looking into getting a Mazda Bongo which is also an import they come as an 8 seater but I will be getting a camper conversion,

more info and a lively forum here https://www.bongofury.co.uk :beer:

Isn't the factory camper version called a Bongo Friendee? Even worse lol!
There are advantages and disadvantages to imports. On the plus side, the new CO2 based road tax rules don't apply to many of them; it goes by the old system. Which will probably save you money for the type of cars you're looking at. If you find a decent specialist insurer, and you're not 18 you should be fine for insurance.
On the other hand you will get the 'computer says no' answer at dealers when you want parts. I know the jap imported old micras looked almost identical to the UK ones but had many totally different parts, even basic little things, that were a nightmare to sort out. Or so I read.

I've always wanted a US import GMC Yukon XL...hopefully when I'm 25 and can insure one. You might want to consider it actually as a big 7 (or 8 or 9) seater. If you can stomach a left hooker, and the fuel bills!

karenx

Imports arent that much harder to get parts for, service etc etc!
I have had about 4 imported hondas and can still buy service things from Honda itself for it.
Yes they may be a bit more expensive to buy first though.
Insurance isnt that big a deal either, I had a uk honda then changed to a imported honda and the insurance actually went down even though the engine was bigger and it was a higher insurance group.

xmaslolly76

We were looking at spending around 4k-5k thats once we have sold OH ZX-10 and saved a little.

I'm 33 soon to be 34 so age shouldnt push my insurance up.

I used to work for Audi about 6years ago and can remember the problems customers had with the imports then which is why i came to ask if anything had changed in the market since then.

Think i will give it a miss as its a jap import and look for something else. Problem im having is i know enough about normal cars to know what im looking for and not to get ripped off but i have no knowledge at all of people carriers or off roaders so wouldnt know a bad one if it slapped me in the face and the OH knows nothing at all as he has always been a biker and cant even drive a car.

Scotaman i really like the Grand voyagers but they seem really pricey from what i can find. I'm thinking maybe a galaxy would be the way to go :-)