I know this has been done to death but I just wondered what people's current views are.

Taking into account a 1k-2k price reduction are EU cars significantly more difficult to sell on? Will main dealers take them in PX or not touch them?

Finally, am I better off buying an EU 02 or a UK 01 for an identical price? (I do prefer the 02s handling and refinement)

 

02 for me

 

If you need to sell your Euro-import in a PX, it will prove difficult, especially if it is with Honda. If they had two identical S's side-by-side, one UK and one EU for the same price, which would you buy? EU cars are harder to shift due to the stupid stigma that has been placed on them.

The DVLA does not officially recognise EU cars as being different from UK cars, but there are many indicators, including the Service History with the PDI stamp (but you could lose that ).

I have got a Euro-import Audi S3. If you are going to get one, you just have to be realistic and understand that when you trade in, the car will be worth a little less. Luckily the S2k is not mainstream so there are not too many kicking around.

 

But I will be buying used, so will be looking to make a 2k saving compared to UK prices. And will be quite happy to sell for a 2k saving over a UK price.

How many people have had a PX refused or private sale disappear because it is an EU?

 

Neil I'll give you 2K less than a equivalent UK car in 3 years time for it .

I guess at 4 years iold if they're more than

 

So what are these "many" indicators?

Service history book and PDI stamp - that is one.
Alarm - possibly two - but many EU cars seemt o have superior alarms fitted.

Then - er - what else?

 

my company specialises in data and information solutions, and I specialise in the supplymotor data. Including DVLA data, SMMT, CAP, Glass's etc

Some of the Motortraders that we supply data to are quite clever in the way that they can interpret it, as they know that the DVLA do not directly supply the information. Certain codes are available through our service such as a CAP Code. The Cap Code is used to link registration to valuations and other data sets (that CAP supply). If the CAP code is not available this is an indicator that the car may be a euro-import.

Its quite complex really if you don't understand the data, and I doubt the majority of dealers would have any idea, but there are some clever ones out there who have good IT companies creating software packages for them! I know one that I cannot name that will use these indicators.

Also, when the completeding a Car Data Check or HPI check some of the vehicle description fields are missing or are incorrect. My Audi S3 is an EC car and the description is poor, it is described as an Audi 2-wheel axle ridgid!

Apologies, as I didn't mean to confuse things, I was really thinking out loud when I mentioned the *many indicators*, the consumer will not really be able to find this out, I could, but that is because of my job!

 

Ah ... the old chestnut returns ...

No. The only people that will tell you that they are difficult to sell on are people with an interest in UK cars i.e. dealers (who want to make money) and UK owners (whom when they sell, want to make money).

You pay less, you sell for less.

I have heard that some Honda dealers do, but most garages will offer you a price on ANY car. You do realise that the dealer will fleece you whichever car you choose?

As moff said, "If they had two identical S's side-by-side, one UK and one EU for the same price, which would you buy?". Hopefully people are not stupid enough to do this

There really is no real world difference between a UK car and an EU car with the Honda warranties bar a couple of fiddly idiosyncracies.

I am truly bewildered by people thinking that buying a car is a sound financial decision. If you prefer a newer car, buy it. I chose an EU car and sold it without even trying.

 

Yes Mr Biscuit