Roojai

Don't know hat happened with this posting, somehow got two blank posts, so here is the original again.

I am buying a 1996 JDM integra type R in the next week and I have three choices. details and prices below. Assuming you cannot find anything wrong with these cars on a test drive which would you choose and why? I have put costs allowing for details such as alarms and stereos. apart from the recaro colours the spec is the same on all of them.

Car 1 £7350
Fresh import from importer. I will be the first UK owner. 3 month warranty, underseal, new MOT and check etc. 82000 miles
Champ white with black recaros. 6 months tax, 12 months MOT

Car 2 £6400
Recently imported, first owner, a recent grad, new job and now decided doesn't need car so selling just 1 month after purchase. Has details of his purchase such as the dealer etc. 68000 miles,champ white with red recaros. Not much jap history, but a little and he has what sounds like the auction sheet. Recently serviced and new tyres. 4 months tax, 10 months MOT

Car 3 £5200.
Imported 9 months ago. One owner who has done lots of work on it himself such as timing belt, water pump etc (he is a mechanic). Recently changed clocks to MPH himself. Selling car as DC5 coming. No Jap history, no clock certificate. 64000 miles. Claims to have done less than £2000 miles since arrival in UK, lives in London so could be true. champ white with black recaros. 6 months tax, 5 months MOT


cheers for any replies

AudiLover

id go for the bottom one.

bioforger

iTrader: (1)

#2 for me, it has some offical paperwork, whereas #3 doesn't and you would be trusting the mechanic's word on the mileage and his quality of work. It could become a money pit that one.

Roojai

forgot to mention #3 has a cracked windscreen

GC8

You can get a BIMTA mileage confirmation for about £17 whichll level the playing field somewhat. All cars are serviced properly in Japan btw so lack of history isnt a real issue.

Pumpkin

I'd look at both 2 and 3 and then decide from there based upon gut feeling and condition of the car

Dracoro

2 sounds suspicious. Why sell after only 1 month, esp given he's presumably put some effort into buying the thing. Alarm bells are ringing. Prob found something seriously wrong which will cost too much to fix so selling on asap.

Personally, I'd say none of them. Wait and find the right one.

mattbeef

go for the first one, yea it costs more but you have a warrenty for 3 months where as the second one is yea suspsicious as he's put all that work in and selling up after a month. If you can get someone to look at the second one properly then consider it.

Jamescsti

First one or 3rd one,

The first one has some warrenty which is appealing, the 3rd one sounds good, i'd get it checked out fully, but the other thing is it's 2k cheaper, so you have that money to spend if a problem occours at a later date

kammy

Buy a UK one! Similar price, easier to insure, air-bagged and modern looking headlights. Less likely to ragged as you could get one with fhsh. I bought mine for 9k, with fhsh. Never looked back (that was a few years ago!)

Roojai

I much prefer the look of the JDM one and they are a little quicker too.

Gutmann pug

Drive them all and buy the one which feels best......

kammy

Hardly...same engine, gearbox, car etc. Fair enough WHEN on a higher grade of fuel. As for the extra weight, the safety elements should never be overlooked.

IF it is looks, then thats upto you. At least look at a good UK car, as you may find you are buying a JDM for no reason and taking on the extra risk.

All the best.

Roojai

thanks kammy, good advice

slim_boy_fat

On the descriptions you have given then #3. Haggle a bit and get is for £5000. Then you have a bid of wedge to fix any problems that crop up.

When you come to sell #3 will have depreciated less than the other 2.

Only thin is do ou trust the seller, and get the car check out for mechanical issues as best you can.

Pumpkin

plus insurance costs for the import will be higher than the UK model. The minor mechanical differences between JDM and UK can be retro-fitted - different exhaust manifold / downpipe and so on.

JDM is lighter, mainly due to lack of airbags. Quicker marginally, Safer no.

Stu_M

Will be selling my UK MY2000 X plate DC2 in next couple of weeks, Approx 50k, Probably around the £8k mark...seems better value than a JDM 96 model.

Roojai

Thanks for input, i bought number 2 today. Immaculate!

Pumpkin

Dc2 is on my shortlist to replace my Sera.

It fulfills Mrs Pumpkins specification of having 4 usable seats and a boot.

2000TLondon

Hope the guy has made an honest mistake and just wanted out of it! I was about to say I wouldn't go for number 2! Hope it works out mate!