Why imported used cars are cheaper?

whizkid9 · 21-07-2018 11:13AM #1

Sorry newbie here.

I am trying to buy a used vehicle for personal use. Obviously I wish to spend as little money as possible as this is my first car and just starting EDT lessons. On the otherside dont wish to buy a car which constantly breaksdown or need frequent repairs as well. Prefer a midsized car. So I was looking at Toyota prius and Auris hybrid. Looks like those imported from northern ireland, uk, Japan are selling much cheaper than Irish bought cars. Used prius/auris, 2012 model with 70k miles on it sells for 10K in carzone. while Irish cars asking price is much higher. Say 15K+ . I am wondering, why is this? Is there any risk in buying in imported cars? especially toyota prius/auris models, which I am looking at. If there are downsides how to mitigate it ? Some dealers are offering 6 months warranty on these imported cars. Are they real? If the seller provides a local toyota service history of the imported cars, is it useful?

SOrry for somany noob questions

heebusjeebus · 21-07-2018 11:16AM

Do the prices for the imports include the VRT you need to pay on them?

Stanford · 21-07-2018 11:37AM

heebusjeebus wrote: »

Do the prices for the imports include the VRT you need to pay on them?

Does the dealer not have to pay VRT just to get the car in here in the first place?

bazz26 · 21-07-2018 12:35PM

OP post links to examples of imports v irish cars that your talking about.

Sesame · 21-07-2018 12:41PM

I bought a Auris in UK for much cheaper than the equivalent here.
I bought it from a main Toyota dealer in UK as I felt that would remove any risks as I could still technically return to them if they was any issues. (not easily, but if I had to!)
The yalso printed off its full service history and I did the usual checks to see if there was finance on it or any write offs, etc.
If you buy an import in Ireland, can you get the old UK registration number so you can do your own background checks?

California Dreamer · 21-07-2018 12:53PM

whizkid9 wrote: »

SOrry for somany noob questions

A simple search of the buying forums will show you the amount of cars that are imported every week with no hassle and thousands of euro saved.

drunkmonkey · 21-07-2018 12:54PM

Stanford wrote: »

Does the dealer not have to pay VRT just to get the car in here in the first place?

Not until they sell it.

Heres Johnny · 21-07-2018 01:03PM

Genuine question, if a manufacturer sells same car to Ireland and the UK, do they sell for same price to each? Ignore currency for this.

Ireland then puts VRT on the car, UK does not so the car is dearer in Ireland, I get that.
If I went over to UK to buy a brand new car would pay UK retail plus same VRT Irish government place on dealers here? If so, where does the price differential arise?

I saw 13k difference in a 1 year old BMW on another thread.

Also, as car ages how does the differential work? Is it supply/demand or what is it?

Atlantic Dawn · 21-07-2018 01:04PM

The downside to the Japanese imported Prius is the head unit which displays navigation and radio etc is normally butchered out of them and refitted with some dodgy fitting cheap screen that ruins the look of the entire car. I think the reasoning behind this is originals would be Japanese language and also radio incompatibility with UK/Irish radio bands

Example here...
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Charles Babbage · 21-07-2018 01:10PM

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Genuine question, if a manufacturer sells same car to Ireland and the UK, do they sell for same price to each? Ignore currency for this.

The manufacturers price in Ireland is often less, because the consumer price is higher owing to VRT. Hence people in NI buying their new cars in Monaghan over the years.

Also, as car ages how does the differential work? Is it supply/demand or what is it?

Cars may depreciate at a different rate in different markets. There is a particular problem in Ireland as few new cars were sold in 2009-2010 and so there is a hole in the availability of used cars.

But the main reason UK cars are cheaper is that the exhange rate changed after the Brexit vote.

bazz26 · 21-07-2018 01:18PM

Ireland has some of the lowest pre tax car prices in Europe.

whizkid9 · 21-07-2018 04:52PM

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

The downside to the Japanese imported Prius is the head unit which displays navigation and radio etc is normally butchered out of them and refitted with some dodgy fitting cheap screen that ruins the look of the entire car. I think the reasoning behind this is originals would be Japanese language and also radio incompatibility with UK/Irish radio bands

Example here...

Havent noticed it. thanks

whizkid9 · 21-07-2018 04:54PM

bazz26 wrote: »

OP post links to examples of imports v irish cars that your talking about.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2010-toyota-prius-eur7-995/18868739
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-prius-massive-price-drop-7999/15455532

Hitman3000 · 21-07-2018 05:02PM

Sesame wrote:

If you buy an import in Ireland, can you get the old UK registration number so you can do your own background checks?

The 'log book' will have the pervious registration before it was registered here.

Why imported used cars are cheaper?

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