importing a UK s40, Passat or Insignia

b.gud

Hey guys,

I'm looking to get a new car within the next month or two and am in the middle of doing a bit of research as the minute.

I'm thinking about importing a post 2008 car. I want one that will be comfortable, reasonably spacious and when it comes time to sell will hold it's value reasonably well. I'm looking to spend in the region of £4 - £4.5 k on the car itself, based on the cars I've looked at so far VRT will be €1.5 - €2.5 k. My research so far has lead me to the possibility of a Passat, an Insignia or an s40.

Below are a few cars that I came across which interested me. Have a look and see what you guys think I am also open to suggestions on other cars.

Volvo s40

Passat

Another Passat

Insignia

bear1

Personally I would be going for the Volvo, better to look at, better spec and just better in my opinion.
Both Passats have that bog standard interior and it is quite dull, the Volvo has that funky dash.
The 1.9 Passat is quite a slow car but is less troublesome than the 2.0 Passat.
The Insignia would be my next choice after the Volvo but I'm not too keen on the interior.
GL which ever you choose

Harcrid

The Insignia and black VW look rough enough to me and the first one was a Cat D write off which needs to be taken into consideration.

The Volvo looks clean enough from the pictures but it can be hard to tell though without seeing it in the flesh.

Any interest in these?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201403182608496/sort/default/usedcars/page/1/body-type/hatchback/price-from/4000/fuel-type/diesel/model/octavia/maximum-age/up_to_7_years_old/radius/1501/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/postcode/ub35ab/price-to/4500/transmission/manual/make/skoda?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201403212689933/sort/default/usedcars/maximum-age/up_to_7_years_old/postcode/ub35ab/transmission/manual/page/1/price-from/4000/price-to/4500/radius/1501/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/make/ford/body-type/hatchback/model/mondeo/fuel-type/diesel?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201404083172999/sort/default/usedcars/maximum-mileage/up_to_100000_miles/fuel-type/diesel/price-from/4000/model/passat/maximum-age/up_to_7_years_old/postcode/ub35ab/radius/1501/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/page/2/price-to/4500/transmission/manual/make/volkswagen?logcode=p

b.gud

Thanks for the advice guys.

@bear1 the Volvo and Insignia are at the top of my list, (which is no 1 changes daily ), with the Passat a bit of they way back but trying to keep a relatively open mind.

@Harcid Thanks for the options. I'm not a big fan of the Skoda, my uncle had one and had a bit of trouble with it so he kinda put me off it. Like the look of the Ford would probably add it to my list of possible cars. Any version of the Ford I should be looking for, certain engines better or less troublesome etc. The Passat looks nice but I'm planning on going trade after talking to a few friends who imported cars from England.

bear1

Have you checked the Irish equivalent to those cars? Prices might be the exact same

dodzy

Harcrid wrote: »

The Insignia and black VW look rough enough to me and the first one was a Cat D write off which needs to be taken into consideration.

The Volvo looks clean enough from the pictures but it can be hard to tell though without seeing it in the flesh.

Any interest in these?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201403182608496/sort/default/usedcars/page/1/body-type/hatchback/price-from/4000/fuel-type/diesel/model/octavia/maximum-age/up_to_7_years_old/radius/1501/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/postcode/ub35ab/price-to/4500/transmission/manual/make/skoda?logcode=p

Rear passenger side looks like it had work. Noticeable colour variation

b.gud

bear1 wrote: »

Have you checked the Irish equivalent to those cars? Prices might be the exact same

Ya had a look and it looks like I'd be saving in the region of €1.5 - €2.5 k depending on the car. The other reason that I'm considering going to the UK would be the spec and condition of the car is in general* better.

*I know this isn't obviously always the case but for a few people I've talked to and the bit of looking I've done here that seems to be the consensus

ThisRegard

The Insignia looks like a basic enough version, wheel trims ? It even has windy windows in the back so I don't know why you'd bother importing that when there's much better trim levels out there.

b.gud

ThisRegard wrote: »

The Insignia looks like a basic enough version, wheel trims ? It even has windy windows in the back so I don't know why you'd bother importing that when there's much better trim levels out there.

Thanks for the thoughts. any examples of better trimmed one that you can point to?

bear1

b.gud wrote: »

Ya had a look and it looks like I'd be saving in the region of €1.5 - €2.5 k depending on the car. The other reason that I'm considering going to the UK would be the spec and condition of the car is in general* better.

*I know this isn't obviously always the case but for a few people I've talked to and the bit of looking I've done here that seems to be the consensus

You're including travel costs etc?
Condition of the car is a tricky one, generally UK cars are rustier compared to ours but yes the spec is much better there.

b.gud

bear1 wrote: »

You're including travel costs etc?
Condition of the car is a tricky one, generally UK cars are rustier compared to ours but yes the spec is much better there.

I'll take the Volvo as an example. Including my travel costs and VRT I should be able to have it on the road for ~ €7 k. From the searches I've done on donedeal an equivalent Irish one would be a minimum of ~ €8.5 k

bazz26

If you are after reasonable space then you can rule out the S40, it uses the Ford Focus platform so is from the class below the likes of the Passat or Insignia. Rear legroom in the S40 is very tight and access to the boot is narrow making it less practical. Also that particular car is the base model S40 which is nothing to write home about spec wise. You need to be aiming for at least the SE or R-Design for decent spec.

Black Passat and Insignia look like entry level models too and the garages/yards in background photos do not inspire me with confidence, along with the fact that the cars don't look particularly tidy and have all the tell tail signs of being ex auction fodder being resold by Arthur Daily type characters. OP, if you are on a tight budget and looking at the bottom end of the price scale then you will find the UK like here is dredged with cars too in poor condition and colourful pasts.

While there might still be savings buying in the UK, the savings are nowhere near what they were a number of years ago. Prices of straight tidy cars are strong in the UK these days, anything cheap for the year tends to be rough or comes with an interesting past. My advise is either wait until later in the year when decent cars are within budget or drop back a year and suck up the higher motor tax here. I'd rather pay a bit more in motor tax for a god tidy car than pay cheap motor tax for a rough one with a questionable past.

b.gud

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Based on your replies and a bit more looking at whats out there looks like I might have been a bit ambitious with what I can get for my budget.

Though I want a bigger car I don't actual NEED one. So I think I might switch over to looking at 2008 hatchbacks, (Focus, Auris and Astra), and be able to get something of better quality and spec in my price range.

Thanks again for all the advice really appreciate it.

keithclancy

The S40 comes with a lovely set of Triangle Tyres.

You'd be changing those straight away

Focus_sligo

My father just bought an s40 2.5 diesel 2008 in Liverpool, full Volvo history, brand new Bridgestone tyres, heated cream leather etc etc, vrt'd she will stand him 7000, with low tax.

I think it's the most comfortable car I have ever driven and some go in it too!

unkel

Focus_sligo wrote: »

I think it's the most comfortable car I have ever driven

It's based on the Ford Focus which is a very good driving car, no disrespect but you obviously haven't driven an awful lot of cars to consider the Focus to be the most comfortable of them all

bazz26

unkel wrote: »

It's based on the Ford Focus which is a very good driving car, no disrespect but you obviously haven't driven an awful lot of cars to consider the Focus to be the most comfortable of them all

I've owned both a Focus and a S40 and they do have different driving characteristics to each other. The S40 may share the same platform as the Focus but Volvo have setup the S40's suspension for comfort rather than sportiness. S40's seats like those in other Volvos, very comfortable and arm chair like especially the leather ones.

Focus_sligo

unkel wrote: »

It's based on the Ford Focus which is a very good driving car, no disrespect but you obviously haven't driven an awful lot of cars to consider the Focus to be the most comfortable of them all

Considering I work for Audi and VW, I have driven plenty thank you. There is a differences as said above in Volvo suspension and the way they drive!

I may be biased too as I have 3 focus's and my st with leather recaros happens to be very comfortable, far more so than most Irish spec VW and a fair few Audi cars!!