Motorpoint: channel islands car

Ashcroft

Hi All,

I really like the look of a nearly new fiesta on Motorpoint, only a few months old with 2000 miles on it. They said it was a company car in the channel islands that was originally shipped from UK, and so was a UK spec. I would have to pay for new tax (£120), new reg (£55), and their non-optional delivery charge (£89) that valets and checks for hpi. They are also trying to to talk me into taking GAP insurance (£299) and paying for it all via HP that is almost 18%. It still works out to an all right price compared to buying second hand from the main dealer, and a lot cheaper than buying it new.

Questions:
1) Is there anything that I should be aware of that would cause me trouble with buying it since it's been imported from the channel islands? Is it even technically an import since they are almost part of the UK? Do insurers have any problems with this?

2) I've never bought a car without a reg already in place, and I've always previously paid for a reg check just to make sure that it isn't stolen/not been paid for/etc.. With no reg, I've asked for the VIN number, which they gave me, but not to sure how to run the previous owners check on it?

3) Is the GAP insurance worth it?

4) What are peoples previous experiences, if any with Motorpoint?


Thanks!

[Deleted User]

You can get the GAP insurance cheaper elsewhere so buy separately if you want GAP insurance.

Also Don't be scammed into paying them for the HPI check. They should have already done one. If they car is later found to be dodgy then it is their problem as they sold you the car.

Mr_Toad

Motorpoint aren't really a car dealership, they're a finance company that use cars to get you take out their finance and other stuff. That's why their cars are often cheaper than anywhere else, it's the bait.

I know someone who works for them and they only get something like £50 commission on the car and make most of their money in commission selling the GAP, the finance, the extended warranty and extras like mats and that paint protection rubbish.

As Lee says, you can get GAP yourself for a lot less and don't pay the HPI it's a con, if a dealer sells you a car with outstanding finance it's their problem, not yours and if they want indemnity then they pay for it.

Don't worry about Jersey, 99% of their car come from the UK. What you should worry about is when they say company car that'll be a front company for a hire car company and those 2000 miles will have been driven by hundreds of tourists.

Ashcroft

Deleted_User wrote: »

You cant get the GAP insurance cheaper elsewhere so buy separately if you want GAP insurance.

Thanks, I didn't know that about GAP insurance, never heard of it before they tried to sell it to me.

Deleted_User wrote: »

Also Don't be scammed into paying them for the HPI check. They should have already done one. If they car is later found to be dodgy then it is their problem as they sold you the car.

I don't have the choice, they have combined it with valeting, and some other bits that I can't op'd out of.

Mr_Toad

Ashcroft wrote: »

Thanks, I didn't know that about GAP insurance, never heard of it before they tried to sell it to me.



I don't have the choice, they have combined it with valeting, and some other bits that I can't op'd out of.

You mean that's what they've told you.

Go and have a look at the Motorpoint website;

http://www.motorpoint.co.uk/contact/Motorpoint/Derby

Right down at the bottom of the page where it says ;

All prices exclude Road Fund Licence and a First Registration Fee at the current rate where applicable. A Pre-Delivery Fee of £89 (optional) includes, HPI Certificate, PDI, Service (if required) and valet. Vehicles are supplied with balance of manufacturers warranty where available. Vehicles may not be to UK spec. Specification subject to confirmation on inspection. You may not be the first registered keeper. Vehicles may be moved from site to site at an additional cost. Pictures are for illustration purposes only. Finance available subject to status. Written quotations on request. A guarantor may be required.

skivenov

Mr_Toad wrote: »

What you should worry about is when they say company car that'll be a front company for a hire car company and those 2000 miles will have been driven by hundreds of tourists.

Normally I'd agree, but 2000 miles seems low even for a hire car, unless it's been damaged. The ones we see at work have normally done at least 8k before they get remarketted. On a half-educated guess, I'd say either repo or a motability fatality.

Mr_Toad

Jersey is only 9 miles long by 5 miles wide and isn't covered in tarmac. There's not many places to go and in the tourist season what few roads there are are jammed nose to tail.

My parents in law live in St Brillards Bay, in the winter the drive into St Helier is 10 mins. In the summer it can take an hour due to the tourist traffic.

They've told him it's a company car, how many company cars other than hire companies get changed while the car is nearly new? All the company car drivers I know have their cars for 3 years, often 4 years these days due to both the economics and company car tax.

NBLondon

I had an ex-Channel Islands Focus some years back - bought in a used car sale at a Ford main dealer. The only issue was that the V5 said it was a CL (very basic model) whereas it was sold to me as a Zetec; the reality was that it was a CL that had been dealer specced up to be a Zetec in all but the badges. Which might be a small issue with resale value if you change it quickly. Insurance company didn't care once it had a UK reg.

JonathanA

This WILL be a former hire car, without any doubt. I've owned several ex channel islands hire cars over the years, all bought aged between 3-6 months old, and with as few as 800 miles on the clock when purchased.

None of them has ever given me any problems, none has ever been a problem at resale. Can't remember the name of the company who was on the V5 as the owner before me, but it is a generic company name rather than anything that indicates it is a hire car.

If the deal is good, I doubt you have anything to worry about.

skivenov

Stand corrected on that one - thanks for the info

Ashcroft

You've all given me a lot of good info to go on. This has helped a lot!

Thanks Guys!