UK imports by dealers

Lord Nikon

I find it funny that dealers complain about individuals bringing in imports, however, they are clearly selling used UK imports on their forecourts.

Only this morning, in the space of 10 minutes had I spotted 3 car transporters. One with used Nissans, one with Volkswagens and the last one with Peugeots, all the motors had UK plates.

Surely, dealers shouldn't be allowed to import cars and sell, and the reason I say this is because it lowers the trade in price of Irish cars.

We all know imports are cheaper to buy, and usually higher specced. For example I wouldn't be given a fair price if I traded in an Irish VW Golf, when their was a higher specced, more reasonably priced UK import on the dealers forecourt.

Hurrache

They've been doing it for years though. Even now they're bringing in cars that can't be sourced in Ireland easily. The last few Ioniqs I looked at recently were all brought in from the UK, and they'll offer to source a particular spec from the UK if you wanted.

wonski

Only dealers are allowed to import cars for sale so not sure what your issue is?

They import because there is a demand for certain cars not met by local market.

Original Irish cars are generally higher priced than equivalent imported car so it doesn't really cause prices of local market to crash. If anything scrapping vrt would cause huge crash but as long as it is there, the prices will stay high.

On another note cars in Ireland depreciate more than on the continent because of the limited market, not because of dealers importing cars from the UK.

Lord Nikon

What cars are they importing that the local market doesn't already have, oh you mean, higher specced Irish motors that they already charge too much for? If original Irish cars were specced higher then they don't really need to import at all.

Hurrache

I just gave an example, an Ioniq for one. And the standard spec of an Ioniq in Ireland I think is better spec'd than the majority of the ones they're bringing in from the UK. The days of paddy spec are gone.

Isambard

well, once they leave the EU the situation may change. If no deal is reached, the imposition of VAT will limit this trade. The upshot of that would be dearer cars in Ireland.

The only issue I would have is dodgy and clocked cars being imported. I think that happens a lot.

Lord Nikon

Hurrache wrote: »

I just gave an example, an Ioniq for one. And the standard spec of an Ioniq in Ireland I think is better spec'd than the majority of the ones they're bringing in from the UK. The days of paddy spec are gone.

The Ioniq is one car, I'm talking about standard petrol/diesel cars, which are everywhere already.

bazz26

Because they are cheaper to buy in the UK and there is more choice there. Not rocket science, it's just about maximizing profits.

colm_mcm

Lord Nikon wrote: »

I find it funny that dealers complain about individuals bringing in imports, however, they are clearly selling used UK imports on their forecourts.

Only this morning, in the space of 10 minutes had I spotted 3 car transporters. One with used Nissans, one with Volkswagens and the last one with Peugeots, all the motors had UK plates.

Surely, dealers shouldn't be allowed to import cars and sell, and the reason I say this is because it lowers the trade in price of Irish cars.

We all know imports are cheaper to buy, and usually higher specced. For example I wouldn't be given a fair price if I traded in an Irish VW Golf, when their was a higher specced, more reasonably priced UK import on the dealers forecourt.

Some dealers complaining
Some dealers importing.

macchoille

Lord Nikon wrote: »

What cars are they importing that the local market doesn't already have, oh you mean, higher specced Irish motors that they already charge too much for? If original Irish cars were specced higher then they don't really need to import at all.

Range of engines on many marques (brand/model) is far more limited here. Here you might have no choice of engine but in the UK you might have several.

You might be looking for a used 4wd version of a car/suv but they were only sold in 2wd in Ireland.

Lord Nikon

All valid points but it undervalues similar Irish second hand cars being traded in. That's not right.

bazz26

You can always pay more for an Irish car if you feel that way.

Toyotafanboi

Lord Nikon wrote: »

All valid points but it undervalues similar Irish second hand cars being traded in. That's not right.

But does it?

2x identical 2016 Golf Highlines side by side.

1x UK import, serviced on long life intervals, slight film of surface corrosion on everything underneath, gauges in MPH, no real idea of it's history.

1x Irish car, serviced on 15k intervals, underbody is much fresher, gauges in KMH, dealer can confirm, John from down the road was first owner and they know the car from day one.

Which do you buy, or which could command a slight premium?

Lord Nikon

Here’s an example of a VW Tiguan 2.0TDI 150bhp(Highline), both are 2018. Both are from dealer and have dealer warranty.

In UK : €29,900. 3057 kilometers
In Ireland : €40,950. 6250 kilometers

Now the UK one is priced to the public, but probably cheaper if traded to a dealer, say it's €26000. Then it's imported to Ireland, VRT could be 6k all in. That puts it close to €32k all in with VRT paid. A €9k difference between the two cars, of same spec.

Now Joe Public wants to trade in a Tiguan, but will be offered a much less trade in amount because he paid more for the vehicle when bought new than the same specced ones are selling for in the UK.

trellheim

Exactly. In my case I had to go to the UK - the spec I wanted just was not available

Lord Nikon

trellheim wrote: »

Exactly. In my case I had to go to the UK - the spec I wanted just was not available

You mean the spec was here but you didn't want to the higher price.

Squidgy Black

Lord Nikon wrote: »

Here’s an example of a VW Tiguan 2.0TDI 150bhp(Highline), both are 2018. Both are from dealer and have dealer warranty.

In UK : €29,900. 3057 kilometers
In Ireland : €40,950. 6250 kilometers

Now the UK one is priced to the public, but probably cheaper if traded to a dealer, say it's €26000. Then it's imported to Ireland, VRT could be 6k all in. That puts it close to €32k all in with VRT paid. A €9k difference between the two cars, of same spec.

Now Joe Public wants to trade in a Tiguan, but will be offered a much less trade in amount because he paid more for the vehicle when bought new than the same specced ones are selling for in the UK.

Same situation but Joe Public wants to trade in a UK import Tiguan and the dealer will tell him he'll get less of a trade in for it because they'll tell him people might be put off by it being a UK import.

trellheim

You mean the spec was here but you didn't want to the higher price

I went high and low looking for a well specced car and zero available.

irishgrover

Hurrache wrote: »

I just gave an example, an Ioniq for one. And the standard spec of an Ioniq in Ireland I think is better spec'd than the majority of the ones they're bringing in from the UK. The days of paddy spec are gone.

I'm afraid that this is not true. There are 2 specifications of the Ioniq available in the UK. The Premium, and the Premium SE.
The only version available in Ireland is the Premium, which has identical specs to the UK Premium.
The Premium SE is not available at all in Ireland. The Premium SE has the following additional features which are not available in Ireland.

• Leather seats
• Front seats ventilated (and heated)
• Powered driver seat (with 2 presets)
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated seats in back (2 outside seats only)
• Front and back parking sensors
• Blind spot detection system

I only know this because I had to go to UK to buy the Premium SE

Hurrache

In the UK there's 3 levels of trim
SE
Premium
Premium SE

The UK imports I looked at were the SE so had the smaller infotainment screen and no Android Auto/Apple Car play and other stuff.

The Irish standard version comes in above the SE so probably equivalent to the UK Premium?

If you went for the Premium you got the mid level UK one.

Isambard

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

But does it?

2x identical 2016 Golf Highlines side by side.

1x UK import, serviced on long life intervals, slight film of surface corrosion on everything underneath, gauges in MPH, no real idea of it's history.

1x Irish car, serviced on 15k intervals, underbody is much fresher, gauges in KMH, dealer can confirm, John from down the road was first owner and they know the car from day one.

Which do you buy, or which could command a slight premium?

the corroded Uk vehicles myth again. They've used salt here now for decades.

Wishbone Ash

Try to find a large petrol car here - nothing but bloody diesels. Much more chance of finding a large petrol from the UK.

irishgrover

Hurrache wrote:

In the UK there's 3 levels of trim SE Premium Premium SE

I'm talking about the BEV - only one (lowest spec trim available)
Based on your response you must be referring to one of the hybrid ones - which I did not look at
The info I posted was about the BEV and was correct. The premium SE car was not and is not sold in Ireland new.

Hurrache

Yeah, was looking at thy hybrids which came in 3 trim levels in the UK, the base one being the usual one imported which was a lesser spec than the Irish one.

Wildly Boaring

Isambard wrote: »

the corroded Uk vehicles myth again. They've used salt here now for decades.

Around 2000t of salt will have gone on the M8 any given winter.

Dont forget the "UK imports are all clocked" ****e too

irishgrover

Hurrache wrote:

Yeah, was looking at thy hybrids which came in 3 trim levels in the UK, the base one being the usual one imported which was a lesser spec than the Irish one.

Fair enough, assuming that Hyundai Ireland decided to go for just one trim (premium) for all 3 types of ioniq

sk8board

Bmw quite famously did it in late 2008 with the the co2 tax change, and had the ‘sterling collection’.
You still notice hundreds of bmws around with 08 D reg plates around 75000+, all registered here in December 08.
I owned one, a cracking 520d msport touring, imported with 4000kms and owned by bmw uk management.

Nothing new in it at all.

Neilw

Lord Nikon wrote: »

Here’s an example of a VW Tiguan 2.0TDI 150bhp(Highline), both are 2018. Both are from dealer and have dealer warranty.

In UK : €29,900. 3057 kilometers
In Ireland : €40,950. 6250 kilometers

Now the UK one is priced to the public, but probably cheaper if traded to a dealer, say it's €26000. Then it's imported to Ireland, VRT could be 6k all in. That puts it close to €32k all in with VRT paid. A €9k difference between the two cars, of same spec.

Now Joe Public wants to trade in a Tiguan, but will be offered a much less trade in amount because he paid more for the vehicle when bought new than the same specced ones are selling for in the UK.

The UK car is liable for 21% vat too, would make it more expensive than the Irish one.

mgbgt1978

Squidgy Black wrote: »

Same situation but Joe Public wants to trade in a UK import Tiguan and the dealer will tell him he'll get less of a trade in for it because they'll tell him people might be put off by it being a UK import.

Nothing new there .

Try trading in a 3 door and they will tell you people only want the 5 door (or vice versa).
Bring in a Red Car and they will say that Blue is making more money now.
.......all ridiculous and fairly childish attempts to offer you a lower value on your trade-in.

bs2014

I was looking to recently sell my car privately on donedeal but it was 141 and naturally a waste of time. Sold to an independent in Dublin for a little over the irish recommended trade value. I called a few dealers who import from the UK and they told me 10k was all I was going to get for my car regardless of buying something off them or not. Which is fair enough. However.....in this case I plan to sell my car and go to the north and buy maybe a 2016 GTD from a main dealer all in which is a full 4000 cheaper than the same dealers offering me 10k. My point is; the days of trading your car in and buying a car off the one dealer are not actually beneficial.

corks finest

colm_mcm wrote: »

Lord Nikon wrote: »

I find it funny that dealers complain about individuals bringing in imports, however, they are clearly selling used UK imports on their forecourts.

Only this morning, in the space of 10 minutes had I spotted 3 car transporters. One with used Nissans, one with Volkswagens and the last one with Peugeots, all the motors had UK plates.

Surely, dealers shouldn't be allowed to import cars and sell, and the reason I say this is because it lowers the trade in price of Irish cars.

We all know imports are cheaper to buy, and usually higher specced. For example I wouldn't be given a fair price if I traded in an Irish VW Golf, when their was a higher specced, more reasonably priced UK import on the dealers forecourt.

Some dealers complaining
Some dealers importing.

More in the more choice, FFS for years the Irish motoring public had their hands forced to buy a motor when no other choice was available until ppl started bringing down cars from the north etc same as Dunnes etc had a bloody monopoly on what you bought and at what price until Aldi and co turned up and don't get me started on car parts one example, vauxhall double a/c pipe leading to one ,prices in Cork varied from 1200/1450,sourced in the UK ,fitted and gassed up in Cork for under e300 I crazy stuff,went back to the garage in Douglas woollen mills with receipts and car - greedy get who quoted me the extortionate amount just turned and fled

corks finest

colm_mcm wrote: »

Lord Nikon wrote: »

I find it funny that dealers complain about individuals bringing in imports, however, they are clearly selling used UK imports on their forecourts.

Only this morning, in the space of 10 minutes had I spotted 3 car transporters. One with used Nissans, one with Volkswagens and the last one with Peugeots, all the motors had UK plates.

Surely, dealers shouldn't be allowed to import cars and sell, and the reason I say this is because it lowers the trade in price of Irish cars.

We all know imports are cheaper to buy, and usually higher specced. For example I wouldn't be given a fair price if I traded in an Irish VW Golf, when their was a higher specced, more reasonably priced UK import on the dealers forecourt.

Some dealers complaining
Some dealers importing.

More in the more choice, FFS for years the Irish motoring public had their hands forced to buy a motor when no other choice was available until ppl started bringing down cars from the north etc same as Dunnes etc had a bloody monopoly on what you bought and at what price until Aldi and co turned up and don't get me started on car parts one example, vauxhall double a/c pipe leading to one ,prices in Cork varied from 1200/1450,sourced in the UK ,fitted and gassed up in Cork for under e300 I crazy stuff,went back to the garage in Douglas woollen mills with receipts and car - greedy get who quoted me the extortionate amount just turned and fled

Del2005

Neilw wrote: »

The UK car is liable for 21% vat too, would make it more expensive than the Irish one.

You can reclaim the UK VAT after you pay the Irish VAT, you only pay VAT once in the EU.