Has anyone read the article released yesterday concerning the huge amount of stolen WRX's from Japan which are having their identity changed in Dubai and are then ending up on our roads over here. This is serious if you own one as the Police are starting to track them all down and if your an unlucky owner then you'll lose everything. BBC's watch dog uncovered the massive scam in Southhampton.

 

Thats one hell of a group buy....

 

......another few reasons not to buy an import...........
And another rise in car insurance I fear

Gastro

 

Depends what they're doing in Dubai but there still shouldn't be any excuse for buying a stolen car, its easy enough to check if VIN and log book have been fiddled about with.

 

Gastro,

as the owner of an import I have to disagree - buy from a reputable source with a long term reputation - even better somewhere with an office in Japan.

As for insurance, buying a stolen car has no impact on insurance whatsoever - you can't claim for it and it was stolen in another country.

I do, however feel very sorry for whoever has one of these cars - I have heard of people losing their Scoobs in this manner

Trout

 

As far as I am aware there is just as bigger problem with cars being stolen and ringed/exported in the UK as the is anywhere else. It sounds like Quentin Wilson has been up to that good old scaremongery again!!

There are sensible steps which should be taken when buy an import, either as the 1st UK owner or down the chain somewhere.

1 - Estabish who imported the car and how they aquired it if possible (ie Auction, Private Sale, Dealer etc).
2 - Do a car data check - (eg HPi/AA), I did this when buying my WRX and the accompanying documentation just says I have 12 months insurance for a maxiumum loss of £10k should the data change, no idea how this would stand, but gave me reasurrance.
3 - Check the car for obvious signs of crashing/ringing (ie locations of VIN, dodgy welding, overspray etc).
4 - Buy the soundest car you can for your money and everytime you boot your right right foot.

Just don't worry too much and get on with enjoing driving he car be it Jap, EU or UK they are all fun!

Jon

 

Trout,

Surely having a used car imported makes the cars history somewhat more tricky to trace ? Therefore - if perhaps the car had been crashed/repaired (perhaps even to a lower than usual standard) and that said car is perhaps a little less safe on the road than say a new car....... does that not have an impact on its insurability.........

Just a thought ......... but then again as an owner of an import - perhaps you have a different slant on this ?

Gastro

 

I dont own an Import but If I do go to get one then..

A. Buy from a reputable source
B. Check for paper work, even if you cant read it it MAY show that the owner gave it to the seller.
C. Check the keys/locks are not brand new, new keys/lock show that it has had them replaced (Were old locks forced?)
D. Look for paint round the locks
E. Check for VIN tampering
F. Look for missing stuff like alarm fobs or radio facia (why Diddnt the owner give them to the seller?)
G. Dont buy from someone who bring the car to your house (why dont they want you to know where they live?)
H. If you buy second hand (in the UK) make sure it came from a good dealer
I. Check for new Glass (missing a sticker on one side, or glass filaments in the carpet, when My MR2 has an "attempt" it took months to get the glass out the carpet!)

And finally Quentin Wilson is a grumpy old git who should stick selling old Mercs to grandads. (in my opinion)

 

Even though I don't own an import, it seems to me that scare stories about owning an import come around every couple of months.

If you buy a *used* car with little care or thought then there is a high chance that you will burnt. Take care (as I think everyone in this community will do), follow the steps outlined above and you will be ok.

I don't think it helps when people suck their teeth and say "ooooo, imports are well dodgy".

SDB: Is there an exasperated icon I could use here?

 

For the record - I'm not saying they are dodgy (!)........
More inferring the impact of such publicity and figures on future insurance policies...
I've got nothing against them

Gastro

 

here we go again.

if these cars were 'stolen to order' you'd know if yours was a nicked one, as you would have 'ordered' a stolen car hence the term 'stolen to order'.

If you didn't order a stolen car chances are yours is OK (if you were sensible of course)

 

remember that a lot of the dodgier right hand drive models find their way to other countries that drive on the left. I would imagine that the UK scoob buyer is a little more discerning.

I was in the carribean recently and they have tonnes of highly dodgey japcars - that have no keys for ignition etc. Also, many countries in africa drive on the left.

I used to live in the middle east and its amazing how they store tens of thousands of cars there (no wet = no rust) they just drive them onto the sand and park them in massive rows - usually with both sets of keys and the log book on the passenger seat. Never saw scoobs though. I went to pick up a new jeep cherokee and they said, "choose whichever one you want."

rd

 

The only way IMHO to not buy a suspect jap import is to find one that is
A. brand new to the uk,
B. was brand new to the uk and bought thru a dealer
C. just buy a uk car

Sorry but all others are dodgy IMHO and you cant trace the history of them, cheap yes, stolen....... possibly
Dont take the risk, buy new

Tony

 

The same's true of any UK car

 

I own one of these so called dodgy 2nd hand import WRX's and I have to say its a minter.
If you import yourself rather than go through a second (or third) party then its highly unlikely that you'll get a ringer.

I used a broker based in Japan that sourced my car through the auctions. These warehouse auctions are extreamely professional, all cars are fully inspected and graded before being put up for bidding. I have the original auction sheet for my car, I can't read hardly any of it except the VIN No., age and its mileage(km's).

There are risks though, its means money up front before it is shipped, I've bought a car I've never driven and only seen digital pics, I had to wait 6 weeks hoping it hadn't been damaged in transit etc.

There are reputable dealers here that do exactly the same as I did, the only difference is that they stick them on a forecourt, stick a couple of grand on and sell it on. I just drive mine!

I couldn't have afforded scooby ownership any other way, so for me the risk was worth taking

Justin

 

I don't think it meant stolen to order (by a customer) Mattn, the article refers to stolen to order by car dealers who then sell them on to an unsuspecting public..

 

For god sake - is this jealousy by Uk owners ?

Insurance goes up because of claims - not public perception !! Grey imports need to be regularly crashed to have an effect - if you're worried insure your car with somebody that doesnt insure imports, then there will be no effect.

Grey imports only are more likely to be dodgy due to the difficulty in checking the Japanese history. But buy though a decent importer that checks the car over and what's yr problem ? Just scaremongering.

 

THIS ARTICLE READS.

(heading) STOLEN CARS FROM JAPAN FLOOD UK.
(article, quote.)
**Thousands of used cars sold in Britain after being stolen in Japan may be reclaimed by police and returned to there rightful owners.
About 85,000 cars stolen in Japan - including Toyota's, Honda's, Nissan's, Mitsubushi's, and Subaru's - are thought to have been sold to unsuspecting British motorists.
According to BBC1's Watchdog programme this Wednesday, the cars are shipped to Dubai first and given false papers***

 

Ive got a UK Car so na na na na na

Trigger, I'm joking of course but seriously, where does the law lie over a car stolen abroad. The car wasn't stolen in this country so surely UK laws do not apply. So presumably it's a joint operation between Japanese and the UK police.

That unjumbled means what exactly is the law on returning the car?

Dave

 

From the article it says that the vehicles were impounded before arrangements could be made to send the cars back.

Bad news for those who have paid cash, those on hp agreements can try to argue with them about it.

 

Now you really have me woried

I bought my motor off a so called repritable company, but since going back i have found it borded up and out of business! I have the original recipt for it bought in japan and the vin look's fine and matches the recipt but on my log book it say's "Imported vehicle - Previously registered overseas. Declared manufactured 1999. But it's a 1995?? Help.

Is their anyone here who can decifer japanese I'll scan my recipt from japan if there is.

 

I can get it translated if you scan it.

 

I think there are more pernicious motives behind this story. There are vested interests in the government and industry that want shot of car importers - just look at the rough ride over SVA.

Unfortunately its the decent and honest importers that suffer from all of this and of course the punters.

 

Extract from BIMTA Bulletin: 20.7.01
You will all be aware that Quentin Willson has been working on a story concerning the number of stolen greys in the UK. We now know the BBC TV Watchdog 50 minute special will go out at 7;30 p.m. next Wednesday (July 25th).
It is titled 'The Biggest Car Fraud in The World' , suggests there are 'tens of thousands' of stolen vehicles in the UK worth a billion pounds and that Japanese insurance companies are poised to repossess the lot - leaving dealers and motorists to bear the brunt.
We have been in almost constant contact with both the BBC and Scotland Yard over the past few weeks in an effort to put the problem into prospective and ensure that the programme reflects the fact that there is am established, legitimate trade in Japanese imports- that we do not want prejudiced!
BIMTA believes there are perhaps 1,000 stolen greys entering the UK each year - tops 2,000. There is absolutely no evidence to support higher figures.
The BBC have suggested to us that around 80,000 stolen vehicles have arrived in the UK over the last three years. Even if we accepted this figure - which we most certainly do not - it still does not constitute 'the biggest car fraud in the world.'
In the UK alone last year there were something like 400,000 vehicles stolen. Of these 150,000 were never recovered. Put against these numbers the trade from Japan is almost insignificant.
We have also stressed to the BBC that the problem of stolen cars, which was first highlighted by BIMTA to the police two years ago, involves for the most part vehicles shipped through the Middle East and in some cases then through Rotterdam
There is no evidence at all to support any theory that any appreciable number of stolen cars are being shipped direct from Japan to the UK.
Legal action to stop the programme is not an option. The potential cost to BIMTA Members would be prohibitive.
We suspect Quentin Willson will also run a story on the issue in The Mirror next week. We have written a strongly worded letter to the Editor expressing our concerns.
We hope to have further talks with the police, DVLA and Customs to resolve the question of stolen imports in the longer term.
Each of you must decide how you wish to handle any fall out next week if you are approached by concerned customers. Some Members have already informed us they will tell customers that IF it eventually turns out the vehicle they purchased has been stolen they will offer a full, immediate refund.
Obviously that represents the most effective way to allay customer fears.
Our understanding of the current law is that police are, under certain circumstances, entitled to seize a vehicle they believe to be stolen. Alternatively they can issue a PACE notice leaving the vehicle with the 'owner'. The customer then has the right to return to the dealer who supplied the vehicle seeking a refund. That dealer, in turn, has the right to go to the original source of the vehicle and attempt to recover his/her costs.
There are going to be a lot of worried motorists out there over the coming weeks. If you are approached we suggest you:
1) Tell them your own trade association (BIMTA) in fact first alerted the police to the problem two years ago.
2) Tell them the situation has been grossly exaggerated and there is absolutely no evidence to support the claim that 'tens of thousands' of cars are involved.
Tell them that they have no cause for concern unless, and until, someone comes along and proves their particular vehicle has been stolen. Those of you who buy cars shipped direct from Japan should stress that the overwhelming majority of stolen cars came through the Middle East. If they are still not satisfied then it's at this point you must decide whether you are going to offer them a full, immediate refund if there is clear evidence the vehicle has been stolen. Should any of you be approached by sections of the media we are quite happy for those queries to be referred direct to us at Head Office at least for initial comment.
If any of you believe you have been caught up in the BBC investigation we need to be informed immediately.
The BIMTA Code of Conduct, to which you all signed up, clearly sets out the rules by which we operate. Action will be taken against anyone shown to have broken those rules.
Richard Moore
General Secretary

 

This is really bad news for import owners (and possible any impreza owner) as it gives the police a decent excuse to stop any impreza they like.... Grrr

When will Quentin give up grey bashing???

Jon

(who is going to invest in 'Turbo 2000 stickers for his WRX!!!)

 

Being a UK Impreza car owner, I feel somewhat sympathetic to owners who have imported versions. I would not like the thought of going out and being pulled over and thinking is this the last time I am going to drive my car. I have and I'm sure most of you invested time and effort in upgrades, expensive tracking systems, keeping it spick and span, etc

I'm sure the people who import these stolen cars can make them look 99% new, there's enough technology out there.

It should not be the legitimate owner that should lose out!!