scoobysnacks

The only disadvantage of an import IMO is the extra insurance which may cost a few hundred quid more. Forget scare stories about parts as they're no problem these days. Apart from that they tend to be the better buy. Why? Well: more power - about 40 bhp in later shape' models and yes that's on UK Super, alloy bonnet and boot, climate control and electrically folding mirrors among other things. Try getting a UK car to that spec without spending lots of money and whacking up the insurnace a fair bit...
Edited to say - Lots of the above applies to older shape models which (for some reason) I'm assuming you're talking about.

[Edited by scoobysnacks - 8/6/2002 7:54:53 PM]

Esoteric Beast

I am now looking to purchase a scooby but do I buy an Import or a UK car?

Does one have more advantage over the other apart from an import being more insurance but also being higher BHP?

Esoteric Beast

come on somebody must have some idea.... you dont have to be shy

davyboy

UK Spec import, best of both worlds

Oh and I know of one for sale

Krade

The UK cars generally have a better Interior, but less horse power than the imports. You have to get the Imported car thru an SVA test but most companies that import cars can arrange that for you. Theres a load of info on the Sdic FAQ http://www.sidc.co.uk/faq.htm

micky

iTrader: (2)

had tuned uk. now decat import much prefer import ps better interior also imo.

hades

If you're talking about a brand new one, get it imported from europe - get the UK car for about £4-5k cheaper. That's what I did.

Only problem is longer delivery times, but order now and you'd get the now famous MY03 with whatever shape front that will have

Olly

Consider resale as well. I have never had trouble selling cars, but have REALLY struggled to sell my mint Jap-import MX5 for reasons I cannot explain: unlike Subaru UK, Mazda is happy to take my cash at service time, and the Mk2 guise the shape is identical, yet the spec is far higher.

After owning 3 UK spec Scoobs (2 imported from Holland) I had always fancied a full-on Jap import STi6, or an RA. The Mazda thing has left a bitter taste. This possibly could be the case with imported Scoobys: you only have to look at the bargain prices of late STi's in the For Sale section, and the length of time they remain unsold.

scoobysnacks

Ok, forgot to metion the resale, but only because I'll probably part ex eventually and not sell privately. Why are imports difficult to sell? - because there are a huge number of mis-informed or over cautious people who don't really know the facts about import cars and are too quick to believe the 'scare stories'. Sad but true.

importsti

Drive a UK turbo and then an Sti V5 and you'll notice a massive difference. An STi V5 is close to a P1 certainly in power (with
17 inch wheels and a tuned suspension) and is at least 5K cheaper.

If a P1 and an import were similarly priced I'd go for the P1 but they aren't and the costs of the import still make it the better buy.

InsBro

I thought an STi V would easily out drag a P1

I know the type R's do

Jeremy

Esoteric Beast

Looks like I'm edging towards an import...maybe

Esoteric Beast

davyboy whats this one for sale your talking about?

Eldar

There are 2 types of import - EU and non-EU.

If you buy EU (holland, belgium, etc) yu will save £5k, and get the same car as a UK supplied one, with the exception of an immobiliser (but you will need tracker or similar). Insurance isn't a problem, according to www.tesco.co.uk

Non-EU imports may be different spec, in ways you don't expect - thinner glass in the windows, higher octane fuel needs, rustproofing and possibly tricky insurance.

A non-EU import needs to be significantly cheaper (or extremely special). And there are a lot of people trying to sell imports at UK prices. Check with Subaru, with the VIN before you buy.

Colin.

Shaw.T

Ive just imported, no more on the insurance for me, coming up for first service so I have no experience of that yet, enabled me to the buy the car I wanted cause although peeps talk about a grand here a grand there etc... if its £100 more than you can afford its more than you can afford so by importing I could afford the car I wanted. This is a rough outline of events...
Choose Car and extras I desired.....
Received a request for deposit.
Paid Deposit to dealer.(Approx 15%)
Received car order confirmation.
Waited
Waited
Waited
Waited
Waited
Waited
Received final invoice from dealer
Paid final invoice to dealer
Waited (Seemed like and age but it was only two weeks)
Received car from agent delivered to my home
Paid agents invoice on satifactory delivery
2 weeks passed
Received VAT invoice
Paid VAT Invoice

Me now feeling like I ve got a proper car and I did not have to talk to any smug car salesman, no offence to the guys but my experience with them is one of complacency and deceit.

Not bad at all took exactly 6 months saved approx £4k, £4k I might add I just could not afford to pay to get approx the same car here.

Good Luck in which ever route you take....

My final advice would be if you can afford the UK one get the import and the money you save load the baby up man!!!!!

Shaw.T (The worlds slowest Scooby Driver)-they're a bit nippy you know and I might have someones eye out

Triggaaar

Resale is understandably a factor for some. I decided it wasn't for me, as I'll keep mine for years, until it's falling apart. Had a WRX for just over 2 years. Much faster than UK - better suspension, lighter, more BHP, climate control etc, and cost 2K less than the basic UK model.

Some may not care for the extra power, but it sounds like you will.

chrisp

Common myth that imports have ally boots, they dont, mines a RA which is the lightest spec of any impreza available. They are very light but I put a fridge magnet on mine and it stuck, must be a kind of steel ally . Bonnets are ally though and very light . Interior wise my 98 UK was spec-ally challenge compared to my MY00 RA. My import has blue alcantara seats, blue console, blue dash, ally pedal extensions, air con but my Uk did have a birght switch and headlamp washers , oh and plastic side skirts .

Must admit a lot people (esp. EVO and M3 owners) dont like the RA as is way too fast in standard trim .

chrisp

Esoteric Beast

Thanks for all the advise I'm off to view one tomorrow

An Import :O)

jods

Your Choice of course but Dealers get itchy with imports. Garages don't like touching imports if you have a knock.

If I was you I'd go for a UK / Euro unless the saving I was making on a NON-Euro import was SO big I didn't care !

What's the quote on the import ?

Esoteric Beast

the car is already over here, I'll post details if a deal is done


where in herts are you jods?

wheelwright

Esoteric Beast, Davyboys Car

chrisp

once you drive an import you are stuffed as only a well modded UK car will compare IMHO. Dont believe the bhp hype some owners have as well, they all dont have 320bhp, or 280bhp with just a 9" inch exhaust pipe .

Ken E

Why go to the dealers with your jap import when you can go to an independent subaru specialist and have no problems, and pay less per hour.

The only problem I had with my 95 WRX is that I had to move insurance companies or fit a tracker, and it does cost about £200 more per year over the same year UK car. I think it is well worth it.

It's all down to personal preference but when it finally comes to changing cars then I won't be looking at a UK model. As for losing out at sale time, it happens with every car especially in today's market. It's all relative anyway, the value of my car falls, the value of the next model falls, it's the amount you have to pay to change from one to the other that really matters. Just make sure you get your money's worth !

chrisp

I agree with Ken on bo9th points, specialists are cheaper and in my findings a lot better as they only work on turbos all day.

Also most of us when part ex arent after a run of the mill motor and looking for something a bit special. People in the know, know what they are looking at. The only way you will get you money back on a proper UK car is part ex to a Subaru dealer. Take it out of the network and get a part ex price and see how different it is to a 6K cheaper euro import . The same thing happened in the bike industry and they have all dropped to the same level secondhand, understandable really.

DanTheMan

The Jap spec cars are usually higher spec'd than UK cars with aircon as standard and a better interior with bucket seats and a rear wiper
I'm on my second Jap import, well worth the money IMHO