OK, so I've owned a variety of cars, not one a Subaru. I'm changing jobs, so I'll only be doing 10k miles a year, rather than 35k. So, boring BMW to go and Impretza instead, I think.

Test drive a new Impreza, and it make me grin big style Trouble it is £21,000, rather more than I can afford.

So what is the catch with a european import - I can just about scratch £16,000 that buys a new belgian one. Am I going to regret it?

 

Nope

 

Not one bit

Only difference with imports is the service intervals (7500 miles instead of 10000 miles for UK model). Providing you register the car with International Motors (official Subaru UK importer) then you have a 12 month warranty too. UK supplied cars get 3 years but some would argue that this isn't needed.

Yorkie

Edited to say that I have a UK supplied car so I am not biased in any way towards imports

[Edited by Yorkie - 5/16/2002 8:39:29 PM]

 

Go for it

And welcome.

David

 

Ohh, you rats. That sounds like a go for it, so I'll have to spend my hard-earned dosh....and spend some time looking happy!

 

Sorry to add some negative comments but as things stand just now, I would not buy an import, for 2 reasons.

1. Most Subaru dealers will not service imports (unless this has changed).

2. The resale value will be alot less than a UK sourced car, so any savings made when you buy may be lost when you sell.

D.

 

DJB,
The dealer says they will service it and do warranty (1st year) provided it is a)a european import, and b)registered with Subaru.
The gaurantee is pan-europe?

If i'm paying 5k less than a UK car, I can take a 3k hit at 3 years old. At least, that appears to be what is reflected in secondhand prices....

 

They lies the problem after a two years an 20K miles the UK car you are expecting to get maybe 16K (well a dealer would be) for it maybe with one year of the original 3 year warranty left or you can have a brand new euro import and with a full one year subaru warranty with zero miles on the clock. Its a tough decision to make.

The only imports Subaru dealers arent allowed to service are ones outside Europe.

In fact just checked parkers.co.uk and a classic MY00 X reg with 20K has a dealer price of 15.5K

[Edited by chrisp - 5/16/2002 10:23:34 PM]

 

dealers will service the euro-import cars with no problems, as they service my dutch example on a regular basis...

the re-sale value is an issue - it's EXACTLY the same car, so it should be valued the same, but unfortunatley it isn't. Well, that's not strictly true - very new values are quite differnet, but as you get towards two, three and five years, they even out considerably, i.e. the same.

Which is the way it should be really, I can't help thinking of 5th gear the other week, when Quentin was talking to some buttstain of a Honda Dealer, who admitted on TV that he deliberatly offers LESS trade in for Euro-cars due to the fact that the owner has saved so much... what a guy, we need more of his type. not.

You also need to bear in mind the european market conditions at present, and what they will look like in 3/5 years, cars have been consistently cheaper year after year. It's likely that all of this euro-price crap will disappear entirely within the next few years, the Euro currency will (and is!) helping this at the moment.

roll on euro, roll on federal europe!

oh well, rant over. Anyway, go for the import, by the time you want to sell it (never!) the values will be practically even anyway.

 

You would be mad not to go for it

 

Don't worry about the servicing - there are 100's of specialists to choose from! and IMHO you often get much better service and they're alot cheaper

I have a UK car (right car at the right time situation!) but wouldn't take it too a dealer anyway

You'll love it - it has to be done

Jen

 

A definate YES! I bought mine from Belgium, no problems whatsoever, it cost me £16,400 all-in, Taxes vat and delivery to my door. Arrived in perfect condition and pdi`ed properly. My local main agent (Lucas of Mansfield) did the first service with a smile and I had told him it was an import.
So go ahead you have nothing to lose.
Bob

 

Eldar,

I'm based in Cumbria and have a MY01 Euro Import. If you want to meet up and have a chat, drop me an E-mail.

Steve

 

Got to be a go for it. Thanks for all those recommendations. Any reason why I shouldn't use a dealer called Knockaert nv in Ypers, Belgium. Quoted 21,557.65 euro, with UK vat to pay on that. The only difference is that the car doesn't have an alarm, though does have an immobiliser. Delivery is six months.

Eldar