Potential purchase

[oryx3dr]

I'm currently looking at going back to basics a little but an picking up a Mk6 GTI / ED30. I have an i30n at the minute but looking at possibly moving house so I want to release the equity in that car.

I'm seeing a lot of Jap import Mk6's in good condition but not sure about the idea of buying an import. Anything to be aware of?

[Snoopy]

Check insurance first as its an import.
Off tge top of my head, radio will be different. Rear lights are the early halogens, not the Led ones, no steeringwheel controls. Not sure as not looked into it if speedo in kph and if it can be changed to mph.
Not sure about underseal spec on them compared to UK models.

[SRGTD]

In addition to the above;

• Ensure any Japanese import has passed both the UK MOT and IVA (individual vehicle approval) tests.
• Cars in Japan don’t legally require a rear fog light. If an import has passed the above tests then one should have been fitted for UK road use.
• Japan measures distance in kilometres, so presumably the speedometer and the odometer reading will reflect this.
• If an import has sat nav, maps and spoken directions are likely to be Japanese.

[joe6]

All the above are important points. Can't emphasise the insurance and underseal points enough. Japan does not use salt on roads in winter so underseal is not to European standards so needs to be added to purchase costs. Also need the Japanese export documents that ensure mileage etc are genuine.

[oryx3dr]

Really useful info, thanks all. I think I'm going to stay away from that then, not worth the trouble it seems.

[Hertsman]

I am a recent purchaser of a MK 6 and did a ton of research prior including Japanese imports and concluded that for any saving on purchase (which is minimal) the effort and additional cost and items have to live with make it really not worth it.

Patience is the key, good, clean, well looked after MK 6 GTI do come up, personally waited about 6 weeks before saw one that ticked all the boxes.

Did start a thread that has some my experience and what and how bought, plus some good bits of additional advice from the long term owners of MK 6 https://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=289110.0

[oryx3dr]

I am a recent purchaser of a MK 6 and did a ton of research prior including Japanese imports and concluded that for any saving on purchase (which is minimal) the effort and additional cost and items have to live with make it really not worth it.

Patience is the key, good, clean, well looked after MK 6 GTI do come up, personally waited about 6 weeks before saw one that ticked all the boxes.

Did start a thread that has some my experience and what and how bought, plus some good bits of additional advice from the long term owners of MK 6 https://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=289110.0

Funnily enough I did actually have a read through your thread! The example you picked up looked lovely! Quite a rare find as well. I have seen one that I like the look of but it would have to be a distance buy with delivery, a bit risky but might be worth it.

[Hertsman]

I am a recent purchaser of a MK 6 and did a ton of research prior including Japanese imports and concluded that for any saving on purchase (which is minimal) the effort and additional cost and items have to live with make it really not worth it.

Patience is the key, good, clean, well looked after MK 6 GTI do come up, personally waited about 6 weeks before saw one that ticked all the boxes.

Did start a thread that has some my experience and what and how bought, plus some good bits of additional advice from the long term owners of MK 6 https://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=289110.0

Funnily enough I did actually have a read through your thread! The example you picked up looked lovely! Quite a rare find as well. I have seen one that I like the look of but it would have to be a distance buy with delivery, a bit risky but might be worth it.

To avoid the tensioner issue went as late as could find, Sept 2012 and it was then FDSH and checking the owners, which was two, and then its MOT history as if lots of advisories it may indicate less care, but all them pillars set myself were ticked and given it was a main BMW dealer used network got 12 months warranty that actually means something.

They will squeeze you on the trade to which stuck my ground and did not budge on what prepared to pay and eventually we agreed, but if want to maximise what receive from the 130N imagine Motorway would be a better way to go to get best cash price and then source your MK 6 with cash.

But must have looked at and dismissed 50 cars prior, and patience and not jumping at one as losing patience that's the key, good ones do eventually show their face.

have always set myself a 2 hour drive as preferable, and always found cars within that, but from a main dealer network would go country length it it was truly and really the right car.

[oryx3dr]

I am a recent purchaser of a MK 6 and did a ton of research prior including Japanese imports and concluded that for any saving on purchase (which is minimal) the effort and additional cost and items have to live with make it really not worth it.

Patience is the key, good, clean, well looked after MK 6 GTI do come up, personally waited about 6 weeks before saw one that ticked all the boxes.

Did start a thread that has some my experience and what and how bought, plus some good bits of additional advice from the long term owners of MK 6 https://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=289110.0

Funnily enough I did actually have a read through your thread! The example you picked up looked lovely! Quite a rare find as well. I have seen one that I like the look of but it would have to be a distance buy with delivery, a bit risky but might be worth it.

To avoid the tensioner issue went as late as could find, Sept 2012 and it was then FDSH and checking the owners, which was two, and then its MOT history as if lots of advisories it may indicate less care, but all them pillars set myself were ticked and given it was a main BMW dealer used network got 12 months warranty that actually means something.

They will squeeze you on the trade to which stuck my ground and did not budge on what prepared to pay and eventually we agreed, but if want to maximise what receive from the 130N imagine Motorway would be a better way to go to get best cash price and then source your MK 6 with cash.

But must have looked at and dismissed 50 cars prior, and patience and not jumping at one as losing patience that's the key, good ones do eventually show their face.

have always set myself a 2 hour drive as preferable, and always found cars within that, but from a main dealer network would go country length it it was truly and really the right car.

Really great advice, I had previously been searching nationwide on Auto trader but I'm going to narrow that down a bit. One just came up local to me but annoyingly it's not a DSG which is an absolute must for me.

[Snoopy]

Shame you don't want a manual, as one was just posted on Facebook page 'mk6 gti owners uk'

Quote:
owned from New March 2010. It is Manual 3 door, 47k miles  , full dealer and VW specialist history.  Extras are Deep black pearl paint, Dyna Audio, Monza Shadow Alloys, DCC adaptive chassis, Tyre pres monitor, RNS510 sat nav stereo, Premium Bluetooth connection, Storage pack , Cruise control, Luxury pack.
 £10250 Sheffield