Buying used (potential) import

[mainoooo]

Hi Guys,

First post here. Come from a history of hot hatches and after much research decided on Mk5 GTI as next purchase having been out of the game for a while because of family and mortgage commitments.

One of the potential purchases on my list has a fully stamped service book with VW (UK) dealer stamps but the service book language isn't English and appears to be in Dutch. A quick Google comes up with searches pointing to imports coming with Dutch literature.

My questions are:
Are imports okay?
Is there any way to tell where they're from and if they're missing standard kit (alarm etc)? Having purchased Beemers in the past there's a number you can call to check spec and service history.
I've read on the web about a consignment of imports from the middle east that sat in a field for a long time before being imported. Anyway to tell if this car could be one of those?

Thanks for any help.

[bacillus]

Imports are ok provided they have the correct UK spec. For the same money, you are likely to see more options installed vs an UK sourced new car.

[Wayne]

Better with a uk supplied car, imports can be hard to sell later

[J400uk]

Given the age of a mk5 you'll be fine with an import, it's only when they are newer that it affects the value

[shaz_bluebell]

aren't the engine codes different on the imports?