No Irish need apply

Mena

Ok so the title's a bit melodramatic but in my defense it's stolen from the IT. Seems they don't want us buying their 2nd hand cars anymore. Is this a policy they've come up with or is it due to pressure applied from local dealers here I wonder?

Irish Times wrote:

MERCEDES-BENZ UK is no longer permitting the sale of new or used cars for export to Irish motorists through its nine group-owned Retail Used Cars outlets.

Source

racso1975

I'd suspect that is highly illegal under e.u. Laws

finbarrk

Maybe they are trying to protect the dealers here.

Padraig Mor

No way is that legal.

fricatus

Whatever happened to the Single Market? I can't imagine this standing up to any sort of legal challenge. Too busy to go searching for sources right now, but I've read in tons of places that EU citizens can buy a car from a dealer in any other EU country.

Stevie Dakota

That's outrageous. Nice way to send customers to BMW and Audi though.

I like this bit...

Importing used cars from Britain has become increasingly popular with Irish motorists, due to a perception that significant savings can be made, even after Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) is paid.

Yeah, that's why we endure the hassle and time required to import, the perception that it is cheaper. :rolleyes:

squod

It'll result in less merc sales overall IMO. Highly immoral of them to try this. Hope they end up in court sooner rather than later.

Anan1

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

I like this bit...

Importing used cars from Britain has become increasingly popular with Irish motorists, due to a perception that significant savings can be made, even after Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) is paid.

Yeah, that's why we endure the hassle and time required to import, the perception that it is cheaper. :rolleyes:

Actually, i'll bet that many, many people have imported cars without properly looking here. You'll sometimes see posts here claiming to have imported a car and saved xxxx, and you just know that their comparison is with the most expensive ROI sticker price they could find.

Stevie Dakota

Anan1 wrote: »

Actually, i'll bet that many, many people have imported cars without properly looking here. You'll sometimes see posts here claiming to have imported a car and saved xxxx, and you just know that their comparison is with the most expensive ROI sticker price they could find.

I would say you are right, but cost is only one reason for importing, better service histories, better looked after cars and better specs are part of it too.

Satanta

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

I would say you are right, but cost is only one reason for importing, better service histories, better looked after cars and better specs are part of it too.

+1 on that. Always higher spec's compared to the same model here.

Satanta

Satanta wrote: »

+1 on that. Always higher spec's compared to the same model here.

That old chestnut

Anan1

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

I would say you are right, but cost is only one reason for importing, better service histories, better looked after cars and better specs are part of it too.

Absolutely. I've never really bought into the whole UK cars are cheaper thing as prices here are so negotiable, but there's no denying the quality and choice available there.

EPM

Satanta wrote: »

+1 on that. Always higher spec's compared to the same model here.

Not always. Most are probably the same, many are lower specced over there.

When I was researching my car prior to purchase I looked at buying one in the UK. They were more expensive there and many lacked extras that are standard here such as dual zone climate control, front arm rest, rear electric windows and multifunction display.

Tinker13

I've gone this route with my last two cars, bought in UK, kept for 12 months and added approx 20k km, then sold privately for what I'd paid. However, Sterling was a little cheaper 12 months ago and I've noticed dealers seem to have dropped prices significantly here... VW and Audi still look cheaper through UK dealers than their ROI cousins from what I can see

CarMuppet

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

That's outrageous. Nice way to send customers to BMW and Audi though.

I like this bit...

Importing used cars from Britain has become increasingly popular with Irish motorists, due to a perception that significant savings can be made, even after Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) is paid.

Yeah, that's why we endure the hassle and time required to import, the perception that it is cheaper. :rolleyes:

Ihave to disgree with your rolleyes!!

I bought my last 3 cars in the UK. The last one I bought was in 2008. The car was 6 months old with 8500 miles on the clock thus saving VAT on the VRT. I couldn't get the spec I wanted here. The closet spec was ~euro45k here (49k new). I paid euro27k for car plus euro11k VRT. In May 2008 the Euro/Stg rate was good. Job done.

I'm planning to buy another 'family type' car for March, I've been looking here for <make> <model> <spec> <petrol> <engine size> and I can't find the combination I want. If I do an autotrader.co.uk search I can find what I want, add VRT and it's still cheaper than the basic spec in Ireland. It's a pity, but there you go.

That went over your head a bit Car Muppet

Stevie Dakota

EPM wrote: »

Not always. Most are probably the same, many are lower specced over there.
.

You do have to be careful alright, VW's in particular, UK VW SE Passats do without a lot the equipment we get standard on Comfortline.

CarMuppet

RoverJames wrote: »

That went over your head a bit Car Muppet

Sure did... 3 hours sleep last night with sick toddler.... no excuse I know.





............ahem I still don't get it.....



EDIT: *clunk* penny dropped..... off to sleep again..

Cheers,
Michael.

si_guru

Racist MB UK Spokesperson wrote:

"The company will not sell a used car when it is known it’s going to be bought for export. This is a group decision and so would apply across all Mercedes-Benz Retail Group used car centres, which are all owned by the same company.”

I like to see them explain that in court.

Kashkai

fricatus wrote: »

Whatever happened to the Single Market? I can't imagine this standing up to any sort of legal challenge. Too busy to go searching for sources right now, but I've read in tons of places that EU citizens can buy a car from a dealer in any other EU country.

Yes you can buy a car from any dealer under the single market and thats one of the wonderful things about our membership of that illustrious organisation that is the EU but then again didn't our equally wonderful government introduce VRT so you get screwed whether you buy here or in the UK anyways:rolleyes:

Satanta

RoverJames wrote: »

That old chestnut

It is true though. In my experience anyway

EPM wrote: »

Not always. Most are probably the same, many are lower specced over there.

When I was researching my car prior to purchase I looked at buying one in the UK. They were more expensive there and many lacked extras that are standard here such as dual zone climate control, front arm rest, rear electric windows and multifunction display.

Not sure what you were buying. I live way up there in Donegal, and as such I have mostly shopped across the border when looking to change my car and compared the options to what I would get here. As does the rest of my family and lot of my friends. Each time we see that the models are offered at a higher spec and more often than not cheaper as well. To clarify though, as far as cheaper goes I am talking about the second hand car market... never have bought a new car.

By way of example I bought an 04 Peugeot 407 3 years ago (must change soon!) and for less money that I would have paid here for same year and engine I got leather interior, gsm integrated phone, sat nav, ipod connection.... I took it to a peugeot dealer a while ago to get the computer read and he simply told me that I wouldnt have got that trim here without paying big cash for it.

mickdw

So do I get this right - you would need to have a uk address to now buy any merc from a dealer in uk? Silly silly move. Does it mean they are going to attempt to introduce higher pricing here, perhaps bmw & audi too?

This still wont stop most irish people with relative over there who can just buy the car & have the reg cert sent to their address then sent over here.
This relates only to the mercedes owned dealers I see. That leaves a hell of a lot of other mercedes dealers who will still be more than willing to sell to irish customers.

si_guru

mickdw wrote: »

So do I get this right - you would need to have a uk address to now buy any merc from a dealer in uk? Silly silly move. Does it mean they are going to attempt to introduce higher pricing here, perhaps bmw & audi too?

This still wont stop most irish people with relative over there who can just buy the car & have the reg cert sent to their address then sent over here.
This relates only to the mercedes owned dealers I see. That leaves a hell of a lot of other mercedes dealers who will still be more than willing to sell to irish customers.

From what I can see it only applies to used cars supplied by MB Direct. who probably supply the Irish dealers too.

Viper_JB

Ah well, I didn't need much of an excuse to never spend my money on a merc....that'll do Ted!

ashleey

I think you are mistaken or being ironic about Irish cars having higher spec than UK cars? Bear in mind that the Irish importers often specify them without traction control for example to make a 'hidden' saving. They used to do the same with abs and the eu is putting a stop to all this. If they have any teeth they'll be after mercedes too now. In fact I can't think of any Irish car that is higher spec than the UK version. Could you post an example maybe?

Unrealistic

Anan1 wrote: »

Actually, i'll bet that many, many people have imported cars without properly looking here. You'll sometimes see posts here claiming to have imported a car and saved xxxx, and you just know that their comparison is with the most expensive ROI sticker price they could find.

It's an awful lot of trouble to go to if you aren't going to actually save anything. I think anyone who goes to that trouble has probably done their homework. In my case I spent three months looking in both Ireland and the UK for the car I wanted. I looked at specific cars in Ireland and got to price negotation stage at least half a dozen times before but never got a vendor to drop to what I thought was a realistic price. I ended up buying nearly new from a main dealer in the North. After paying VRT the price was still 14% lower than the best equivalent option available in Ireland and 20% lower the average price for the dozen or so equivalent cars (<12 months and <10k miles) listed for sale in Ireland at that time. No one in Ireland was going to offer those kinds of discounts of the asking price for this car. I know because I tried. As an added bonus, because the car was less than a year old, I also ended up with a longer warranty than if I had bought new in Ireland. The UK warranty is three years but Irish models only get a two year warranty.

Stevie Dakota

ashleey wrote: »

Could you post an example maybe?

I thought I did.

Irish Passat (old model) Comfortline
V
UK Passat SE.

UK model has no climate, for that you have to buy the SEL (our Highline)

Padraig Mor

ashleey wrote: »

I can't think of any Irish car that is higher spec than the UK version. Could you post an example maybe?

Irish Skoda Superb Elegance (Boards.ie Car of the Year 2009 - 2014) has front sensors and self parking as standard; UK doesn't.

sean1141

EPM wrote: »

Not always. Most are probably the same, many are lower specced over there.

When I was researching my car prior to purchase I looked at buying one in the UK. They were more expensive there and many lacked extras that are standard here such as dual zone climate control, front arm rest, rear electric windows and multifunction display.

the mk2 vrs octavia's in ireland were better speced as standard than the uk ones..

Anan1

Unrealistic wrote: »

It's an awful lot of trouble to go to if you aren't going to actually save anything. I think anyone who goes to that trouble has probably done their homework. In my case I spent three months looking in both Ireland and the UK for the car I wanted. I looked at specific cars in Ireland and got to price negotation stage at least half a dozen times before but never got a vendor to drop to what I thought was a realistic price. I ended up buying nearly new from a main dealer in the North. After paying VRT the price was still 14% lower than the best equivalent option available in Ireland and 20% lower the average price for the dozen or so equivalent cars (<12 months and <10k miles) listed for sale in Ireland at that time. No one in Ireland was going to offer those kinds of discounts of the asking price for this car. I know because I tried. As an added bonus, because the car was less than a year old, I also ended up with a longer warranty than if I had bought new in Ireland. The UK warranty is three years but Irish models only get a two year warranty.

That's the right way to do it, examine all your options and buy where you find the best deal for you. We used to get a lot of posts here, though, from people who wanted to import 'because it's cheaper' and didn't even try to negotiate an acceptable price here.

ashleey

Goodness! I'm surprised I must admit. It just shows how much research is needed before you take the plunge. Looking at ford grand c max at moment and titanium here is inferior to UK

Guy:Incognito

Padraig Mor wrote: »

No way is that legal.

They dont have to sell cars to anyone they dotn want too.

Padraig Mor

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

They dont have to sell cars to anyone they dotn want too.

AFAIK yes, they do have to. And absolutely no way can they restrict it on basis of country of origin.

EPM

sean1141 wrote: »

the mk2 vrs octavia's in ireland were better speced as standard than the uk ones..

I was very suprised at how basic the standard one was in the UK tbh.

It's worth noting though that while people say UK cars are better specced quite a lot, they aren't comparing equivalent models most of the time. It's a bigger market giving a greater choice of cars with differing specs. There's plenty of boggo spec cars around the UK but most tend chose a properly specced car as opposed to the attitude here of buying the most basic model possible.

Anan1

Padraig Mor wrote: »

And absolutely no way can they restrict it on basis of country of origin.

They're not.;)

Zubeneschamali

Anan1 wrote: »

They're not.;)

The story says they will not sell cars for export.

To anywhere.

Of course, only Irish people would want to export a RHD Merc from Britain...

Stevie Dakota

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

Of course, only Irish people would want to export a RHD Merc from Britain...

I think we are just being paranoid, I bet this move is targeting the big export markets to Malta and Cyprus...

Anan1

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

The story says they will not sell cars for export.

To anywhere.

Of course, only Irish people would want to export a RHD Merc from Britain...

They'll still sell to an Irish person resident in the UK, but they won't sell to an English person resident here. They're restricting sales for export, the purchaser's country of origin is irrelevant. And lots of people other than Irish export RHD cars from the UK.

SoulTrader

Treaty Establishing the European Community

Article 28
Quantitative restrictions on imports and all measures having equivalent effect shall be prohibited
between Member States.
Article 29
Quantitative restrictions on exports, and all measures having equivalent effect, shall be prohibited
between Member States.

Their move would seem to be in direct contradiction of Article 29.

Anan1

Anan1 wrote: »

They'll still sell to an Irish person resident in the UK, but they won't sell to an English person resident here. They're restricting sales for export, the purchaser's country of origin is irrelevant. And lots of people other than Irish export RHD cars from the UK.

They still wont be able to stop the Irish people (or English) living in Ireland who have access to a UK address though

Anyway I think what there doing is totally illegal and they wont get away with it for long if atall.

Anan1

Yusuf Glamorous Snob wrote: »

They still wont be able to stop the Irish people (or English) living in Ireland who have access to a UK address though

That would mean registering the car to oneself in the UK prior to export though, thus adding another owner.

Yusuf Glamorous Snob wrote: »

Anyway I think what there doing is totally illegal and they wont get away for it for long if atall.

Agreed.

Anan1

Anan1 wrote: »

That would mean registering the car to oneself in the UK prior to export though, thus adding another owner.
Agreed.

Not the biggest deal in the world id imagine. You could always photocopy the VLC showing you took ownership of it there before registering it here thus proving it is essentially one owner less than stated.

The person buying the car from you will also have to do a hpi check, if they don't they will never know how many owners the car had.