Thinking of going to England to buy a car and bring it in for resale...

JayMcS

Hey People,

I'm thinking of buying an 08 Ford Focus 1.6 Tdci. i have got a rough price off the revenue website of e1230 for the VRT. I was wondering roughly what are these fetching on the second hand market here.

Regards,
jay

Shefwedfan

JayMcS wrote: »

Hey People,

I'm thinking of buying an 08 Ford Focus 1.6 Tdci. i have got a rough price off the revenue website of e1230 for the VRT. I was wondering roughly what are these fetching on the second hand market here.

Regards,
jay

Carzone, donedeal will tell you quickly

Harry Palmr

Why bring in such a "average" car you'll just be selling another example of a familiar model, seems to be the only way to actually make money is to either pile 'em high and sell 'em cheaper than the Irish sourced models or specialise in a niche area. Just bringing in a single car that is a standard sort of vehicle with no obvious USP seems pointless

unkel

You'd do well to get €5k for it. How much you buying it for? What are your total expenses getting it here (and remember you will have to NCT the car too, otherwise it will be near impossible to sell)

JIdontknow

From carzone, cheapest is 5750 private sale, up to 9450 for most expensive car dealer sale (Crazy when you can get a 2011 for almost same price). In my opinion for a 2008 car you wouldn't make much on it when you take in flight / ferry, NCT, VRT, etc.

Quick search on autotrader for prices shows a few cars, one is £2990 the other 3000 sterling, so say you get it for £2800, that's approx 3600 euros. VRT another €1150, that's almost €4800, ferry / flight over, NCT etc you're looking at a few hundred, and you'll be I presume selling private? Also worth bearing in mind there is a lot of them here, they're popular which means you'll need to price it competitively to get it to sell. Again the above are only my assumptions...

Vic_08

JIdontknow wrote: »

From carzone, cheapest is 5750 private sale, up to 9450 for most expensive car dealer sale (Crazy when you can get a 2011 for almost same price). In my opinion for a 2008 car you wouldn't make much on it when you take in flight / ferry, NCT, VRT, etc.

Quick search on autotrader for prices shows a few cars, one is £2990 the other 3000 sterling, so say you get it for £2800, that's approx 3600 euros. VRT another €1150, that's almost €4800, ferry / flight over, NCT etc you're looking at a few hundred, and you'll be I presume selling private? Also worth bearing in mind there is a lot of them here, they're popular which means you'll need to price it competitively to get it to sell. Again the above are only my assumptions...

It's easy to see how people who choose to import as a business go down the haircut route, it's a lot of effort to go to without screwing an extra grand or two out of the punters.

Atlantic Dawn

You would need to be bringing back the top end spec of the model you are getting along with full service history in the form of stamped book and invoices otherwise it will seem ultra suspicious to a buyer if your selling a car shortly after buying it. There wouldn't appear to be much money it unless your already based in UK and making regular journeys back and forth.

bazz26

Donedeal has 117 2008 1.6 Tdci Ford Focus for sale alone and 105 2009 examples, that to me says that the second hand market is saturated for that model here.

g6fdyotp5nj2l7

Shefwedfan wrote:

Carzone, donedeal will tell you quickly

Not really they will only tell you what people are asking for them which is very rarely the same as what they get.

R.O.R

Seems likely the OP has really done his homework on this.

Buy car in UK
??????
Profit

Gumbo

Otis Shapely Scoop wrote: »

Not really they will only tell you what people are asking for them which is very rarely the same as what they get.

Well you can hardly contact every private sale in the country and ask them what they actually paid for the car.

JayMcS

Thanks everybody for your feed back and your ideas... i have taken everything into consideration an appreciate the suggestions:

i was looking on Autotrader.co.uk myself and seen them from 1500 sterling an up (not 3000)... Actually found a really nice one for 2000 sterling... low mileage, extras, mint, and alloys etc... I was talking to a friend of mine (well two actually) in the trade... An i asked what they were actually fetching !! not what there gettin advertised for. One of my friends said bout 6500 and the other said his brother sold one yesterday (high mileage and tatty body) for 5500. This say's to me that six to six an half is a reasonable expectation.

Regards,
Jay

ba_barabus

JayMcS wrote: »

Thanks everybody for your feed back and your ideas... i have taken everything into consideration an appreciate the suggestions:

i was looking on Autotrader.co.uk myself and seen them from 1500 sterling an up (not 3000)... Actually found a really nice one for 2000 sterling... low mileage, extras, mint, and alloys etc... I was talking to a friend of mine (well two actually) in the trade... An i asked what they were actually fetching !! not what there gettin advertised for. One of my friends said bout 6500 and the other said his brother sold one yesterday (high mileage and tatty body) for 5500. This say's to me that six to six an half is a reasonable expectation.

Regards,
Jay

In the trade as in they actually work for a garage that offers a warranty, service and fully prepped car and the confidence of back up service to the customer or work in the trade as in they post an ad on done deal and pretend to be a private seller?

Not being smart but the garage car would have a lot more going with it for 6000 or so.

JIdontknow

JayMcS wrote: »

Thanks everybody for your feed back and your ideas... i have taken everything into consideration an appreciate the suggestions:

i was looking on Autotrader.co.uk myself and seen them from 1500 sterling an up (not 3000)... Actually found a really nice one for 2000 sterling... low mileage, extras, mint, and alloys etc... I was talking to a friend of mine (well two actually) in the trade... An i asked what they were actually fetching !! not what there gettin advertised for. One of my friends said bout 6500 and the other said his brother sold one yesterday (high mileage and tatty body) for 5500. This say's to me that six to six an half is a reasonable expectation.

Regards,
Jay

Not questioning you, or interested in the car but can you post a link to that car (I understand if you don't want to if you'll be selling it on)?
For my original search I set the auto trader filters to up to £3000, up to 8 years, 1.6 Diesel, Up to 100k Miles, hatchback, Trade Adverts, and only showing up 7 on autotrader with that criteria so I might have missed something:

http://www4.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/ford/focus/postcode/se17pb/radius/1501/price-to/3000/sort/default/fuel-type/diesel/searchcontext/default/page/1/maximum-age/up_to_8_years_old/onesearchad/used/body-type/hatchback/maximum-mileage/up_to_100000_miles/seller-type/trade_adverts/maximum-badge-engine-size/1.6


I do see some with over 100k miles, for under 2k, 140,000 miles (2008 white studio) and 148,000 miles (2009 Red Zetec) so you're probably right, I limited my search to 100k miles (took this to be a low / average mileage) and seller to trade adverts.

Best of luck if you decide to go that route, if you could get 6000-6500 off a £2000 car then you'll make some profit. As previously stated there is a lot of them for sale so it will have to be priced competitively or a high spec, but good luck with it and let us know if you bring one in, I am considering getting a 2012 or maybe 2013 car in from the UK myself.

Golfgorfield

JayMcS wrote: »

Thanks everybody for your feed back and your ideas... i have taken everything into consideration an appreciate the suggestions:

i was looking on Autotrader.co.uk myself and seen them from 1500 sterling an up (not 3000)... Actually found a really nice one for 2000 sterling... low mileage, extras, mint, and alloys etc... I was talking to a friend of mine (well two actually) in the trade... An i asked what they were actually fetching !! not what there gettin advertised for. One of my friends said bout 6500 and the other said his brother sold one yesterday (high mileage and tatty body) for 5500. This say's to me that six to six an half is a reasonable expectation.

Regards,
Jay

I recently sold a 1 owner 100,000 mile FSH 2008 Focus 1.6Tdci, had belt done, new turbo, 4 new tyres, 2yrs NCT and had it advertised for months at €5700, one phonecall, ended up taking €4400 for it as had new car ordered.

Be careful, everyone assumes small frugal diesels are selling like hotcakes, i can confirm in this case its tricky.

JayMcS

Here is a list of the best selling cars in the country (tried to post a url from motorcheck, second hand car of the decade but it wouldn't allow me cause i'm new) the Focus is no 1, corolla second and gold is third... which is why there is so many listed. It's Ireland's Favourite second hand car !!

I'm afraid I can't remember the post code I typed into Autotrader as i made it up.. but over 100k is no big deal in a diesel. An i think it was about 110k

The dealer's I asked, one has no garage and one has... But they both knew I would be selling on done deal. But I'm sure I could stick it in a garage if it means more money and an easier sale (i'd just have to give the guy a few bob out of it)...

By the way what is the top end spec is that the FSH ??????

Jay

Henry Ford III

JayMcS wrote: »

...By the way what is the top end spec is that the FSH ??????

Jay

FSH means Full Service History. It's essential to have one to get a decent price for one of those 1.6TDCI's. It should be backed up with receipts too.

Top spec would be a Titanium X model with the slightly more powerful engine.

Most Irish spec. cars tend to be lower powered lower end models.

Golfgorfield

JayMcS wrote: »

Here is a list of the best selling cars in the country (tried to post a url from motorcheck, second hand car of the decade but it wouldn't allow me cause i'm new) the Focus is no 1, corolla second and gold is third... which is why there is so many listed. It's Ireland's Favourite second hand car !!

I'm afraid I can't remember the post code I typed into Autotrader as i made it up.. but over 100k is no big deal in a diesel. An i think it was about 110k

The dealer's I asked, one has no garage and one has... But they both knew I would be selling on done deal. But I'm sure I could stick it in a garage if it means more money and an easier sale (i'd just have to give the guy a few bob out of it)...

By the way what is the top end spec is that the FSH ??????

Jay

Over 100k in a focus 1.6Tdci is a very big deal.
Is the Focus 1.6Tdci irelands favourite 2nd hand car? Id think not.

Higher mileage ones give some fairly big trouble, heater plugs, Turbos, DPF all are issues.

I had a very good clean full service history 1 owner one and it too ages to sell.

Henry Ford III

Golfgorfield wrote: »

...I had a very good clean full service history 1 owner one and it too ages to sell.

It'd have to be outstanding to sell quickly in a crowded marketplace. There's loads of them about and it's a popular model.

Price and condition or perhaps the higher powered engine would help, as would a Titanium or Titanium X model spec.

JayMcS

Thanks again for all the help... I think you guys may be putting me off a focus... (considering a titanium x thanks Henry Ford!!)..
Any suggestions of something else that may be easier to sell ???

Jay

JayMcS

Interested to see is this anybetter....check this out sw1a oaa is the postcode... do search in autotrader .co .uk and say for instance 1500 - 3000... an in sub category for model put titanium... theres a 06 5 dr titanium one there for 1650 pounds... looks animal.

Is this a better seller do you guys think ???

colm_mcm

I think yd be better off bringing in something other than a focus TBH. Theres just too many for sale.

JayMcS

Any suggestions mate ??

Del2005

JayMcS wrote: »

Any suggestions mate ??

Since you don't know what FSH is take the money to a casino and put half on red or black on the roulette table, better chance of making money and less chance of loosing it all on a lemon.

JayMcS

Thats why i'm doing research mate... any actual advice to go with the insults ??

colm_mcm

Some cars hold their money very well over here but not so much in the uk.
Post 08 1.4 petrol i-VTEC Honda Civics and diesel Accords for example.
Possibly diesel Kia Ceeds and Hyundai i30s, but TBH I don't think there's as much potential to make money.
VW Jettas were going cheap in the uk a few years back, not sure how they're faring out now. Worth checking.

If you're in it to make a bit of money, I'd suggest maybe buying a trade car from a dealer here and try to add value to it and sell it. That'll give you a bit of practice at least.

Del2005

JayMcS wrote: »

Thats why i'm doing research mate... any actual advice to go with the insults ??

It's not an insult it's a way to make quick easy money with about as much risk as buying a 2nd hand car for import, when you have zero knowledge about cars.

Would your friends in the trade not be a better place to source information than random people on the internet?

JayMcS wrote: »

I was talking to a friend of mine (well two actually) in the trade...

bazz26

I'd look at the Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D. They sell reasonably cheap in the UK second hand, a good percentage of them are privately owned with reasonable mileage and the 1.4 D-4D engines is very reliable. Yes the first generation model is not brilliant but the Irish still love them and pay good money for them. I'd look at the TR or higher spec as it will be higher than the Luna spec sold here.

JayMcS

Every resource is good I suppose... I'm learning a lot from this forum.

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions..
Thanks Baz for that definately look at those... what is the top spec model called ????

Jay

bazz26

Some good info here:
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/toyota/auris/hatchback-2007/

TR is minimum you would want to be looking at or one of the various special addition models they launched that adds something appealing that you cannot really get over here. I wouldn't bother with the bigger diesel engines either as even though they are cheap to tax on the new tax system here, this being Ireland the majority of people will shy away from the "big" engine. The 1.4 D-4D is the sweet spot of what sells over here.

JayMcS

Thanks bazz sounds like great idea checkin those out now....

unkel

Newish BMW 520d. I'd say it would be easy enough to make a couple of grand on each car with very little work. Requires substantial initial pile of cash though...

bazz26

Just make sure you do proper research though as there may not be as much money in it as you think. Also there are alot of dodgy used cars for sale in the UK so make sure you do proper due diligence before buying.

JayMcS

Thanks for that unkel... which model 04 upwards or newer model again ???

bazz26

2010 onwards F10 model, however they cost substantial money to buy in the UK and will be difficult enough to sell a 18k+ car here privately.

newwan

Mind if i ask a few qs about "bringing a car in". This will be my third but not in 4 years so ive forgotten.

Do i swap my own insurance onto it? I presume i register it then apply for nct...

Im buying an ex enthuasist car with an mot 1 month ago and full fsh. Fingers crossed on Wednesday. Will offer 300 gbp less which is 12% and see how it goes

newwan

Anyone ever get the train to belfast btw. Can you book tix online? I dont see the option on irish rail.
Oh and wheres the best place to get 2k sterling at short notice?

JayMcS

I'm sure you probably book tickets online go onto ianroad eirean website mate...

what you guy's think about a honda jazz... which is best one to get ... there's 1.2 or 1.4 ... think the se seems to have all the extras???

The beamer seems like a good buy but it's bit out of my price range... maybe someday !! It would have to be put in a garage allright.

colm_mcm

The 1.2 would be the better one to get. Even the standard ES(?) model is decently equipped, so don't overlook one if it's well priced.

flazio

Just out of curiosity, apart from the VRT, would Revenue come after a person for anything else if they are buying and reselling cars for profit?

Aint Eazy Being Cheezy

flazio wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, apart from the VRT, would Revenue come after a person for anything else if they are buying and reselling cars for profit?

Yes, and you wouldn't be long coming to their attention once you were importing them. They're not really a crowd you wanna get on the wrong side of, long memories.

bazz26

flazio wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, apart from the VRT, would Revenue come after a person for anything else if they are buying and reselling cars for profit?

I think if you import 5 or more cars per year you are deemed a motor dealer by Revenue at which point you are liable for income tax on your profits. That's assuming the importer actually pays the VRT rather than selling on the cars still on UK plates and letting the buyer pay the VRT themselves which is generally illegal.

It wasnt me123

Can I ask a quick question.

Was thinking of buying a car in England, looking at dacia dusters. Apart from VRT and an nct, is there anything else to pay. I would be keeping the car, not selling it on - is the hassle worth it or just go to a dealer here?

punisher5112

It wasnt me123 wrote: »

Can I ask a quick question.

Was thinking of buying a car in England, looking at dacia dusters. Apart from VRT and an nct, is there anything else to pay. I would be keeping the car, not selling it on - is the hassle worth it or just go to a dealer here?

Well worth it if you can get at the right price and save. I brought many a car in.

You will find biggest killer is exchange rate.

You need to factor in money change, flight, boat back, fuel, booking in for vrt through ncts , insurance tax and away you go.

bmwguy

You don't seem hugely knowledgeable about car buying and selling but everyone needs to start somewhere and fair play you are researching and asking questions.

What I would do is set up a big excel spreadsheet with expected sales prices in Ireland in one column and prices in UK (plus all associated costs, I.e. travel, exchange rate, vrt, bank charges, petrol) in another. You can then see the difference and any potential profit. Don't use the highest asking prices in Ireland for your expected sales price. Be prudent. Pick middle of the road price and knock off 10%.

Since you don't care what car you bring in list a large selection and see what comes out.

Be careful of exchange rate too, get an actual quote rather than online fx calculator. This difference could make or break your profit.

Don't even look at big petrol engines, they are already far cheaper here than in UK. Especially pre 08 2000cc or above, just no market here.

Ideally find something that is very popular here but less so in UK generating a price differential between the 2 markets.

mullingar

It's tough without any trade connections sourcing half decent cars at trade prices .

Consider uk auctions too, some of these auctions are now on-line so you can buy from your sofa and get a car transporter truck to bring it back to Ireland, this is usually around the €400 mark.

Also consider non-runner cars from the likes of www.Copart.co.uk if you know a mechanic who will give you trade rates