Euroimports

[illyun]

I didn't mean that the techies would do a sh!t job on an import, but the service won't be the same as if you know the stealer because you bought the car off them despite what anyone says, its just human nature as you have a different relationship with them...

Also consider the following:

You save £2000 on an import but
You lose:
£300 for a Thatcham Approved Alarm
£300 for an extra years warranty
£200 extra on average added for On the Road price - i.e. tax and registration although not all imports have extra charges - but most do.
£1000-1500 lost on part-ex when traded in or sold within first few years
Are you 100% sure you are getting a UK spec car? Even though the importer says you are?
You lose a nice new shiny ballpoint Golf pen
VW offer a host of specialist insurance such as GAP that preserves the value of your car for 3 years- do you get the same with an import?
Are safe in the knowledge that the stealer will do their level best to help with any problems.

Taking all the above into consideration I firstly don't think imports are such a financial bargain and overall are not worth it.  I'd rather stick to the VW Main Dealer.


I know that there are many rogue stealers out their so just ask around and make sure that you don't buy a car off them.  I told VW Wolsey that I had only heard good things said about them in this forum and that also was the main factor in me choosing them - the only other one I trust is a dealer off the M25 near Essex.  My attitude is that I don't trust a stealer unless I have a reason to otherwise.  I would NEVER recommend VW Autohaus in Northampton who ripped me off.    VW Maindealer is very helpful and has an obvious interest in what he / she is selling - which garage are you from.... I might even come down for a part-ex next year 

 

[VWmaindealer]

illyun - I would love to reveal where I'm from. Believe me, the amount of PMs I get from people asking if they can come and see me is frustrating. I need to stay anonymous on this site because Volkswagen take a very dim view of people like me spilling the beans on how dealers work. I intend to offer dealer related advice to people and hopefully give an insight into why we do and say certain things.  I must stay anonymous otherwise, simply i'll have to leave the forum. I cannot run the risk of people in my dealership working out that it's me on here (which they will) and jeopordising my position.

Hey check it out, A dealer with morals!

[illyun]

A dealer with morals!      WOW!  Now I am even more keen to buy from your garage... but maybe I already am?!  But more seriously, I understand and its really great to have someone like you giving priceless information on this site...

[VWmaindealer]

Cheers!. any dealery related questions, either post them or PM me. I'm more than happy to try and help!

[cartmell]

Decided to go with the main dealer.  It was the part ex price in a few years time that swung it for me and the fact that I would never see the guy.  Ordered the GTI  on Tuesday for pick up in May.

[illyun]

You know you've made the right decision 

Saying that, my dealer told me that their allocation was two GTIs till April and that there weren't many around.  I haven't seen any in a showroom except the demonstrator I test drove, so I thought their explanation was right - plus from what I have read on this forum, other people have heard the same.   So I figured that residuals should remain high esp since I am planning on part-ex'ing with a GTI Anniversary Edition next year. BUT I went to the showroom today to book my Mk1 GTI in and saw about 5-6 GTIs all standing there mint - all/most were Approved Used - but I was shocked at the number I saw.  Still they were all mega-expensive 

I am also thinking of part-exing my GTI that arrives in April this year... drive it for 6 months and part-ex for an R32 - what do people think? In that way I can assess both cars and make a final purchase next year.

[VWmaindealer]

One of the reasons you'd have seen so many used GTis is that Volkswagen always run a large fleet of GTIs as press/training/company cars. They will probably have registrations that start OU or similar as they would be registered around Milton Keynes.  Nothing wring with them though, usually decent savings to be had.

IMO - keep the GTI or buy another GTI. R32 is good but not that much better than the GTi in my opinion. The difference on the mark iv between GTI and R32 was huge and worth the premium but the Mark V GTI is so good......

[Rendy]

I didn't mean that the techies would do a sh!t job on an import, but the service won't be the same as if you know the stealer because you bought the car off them despite what anyone says, its just human nature as you have a different relationship with them...

Also consider the following:

You save £2000 on an import but
You lose:
£300 for a Thatcham Approved Alarm
£300 for an extra years warranty
£200 extra on average added for On the Road price - i.e. tax and registration although not all imports have extra charges - but most do.
£1000-1500 lost on part-ex when traded in or sold within first few years
Are you 100% sure you are getting a UK spec car? Even though the importer says you are?
You lose a nice new shiny ballpoint Golf pen
VW offer a host of specialist insurance such as GAP that preserves the value of your car for 3 years- do you get the same with an import?
Are safe in the knowledge that the stealer will do their level best to help with any problems.

Taking all the above into consideration I firstly don't think imports are such a financial bargain and overall are not worth it.  I'd rather stick to the VW Main Dealer.


I know that there are many rogue stealers out their so just ask around and make sure that you don't buy a car off them.  I told VW Wolsey that I had only heard good things said about them in this forum and that also was the main factor in me choosing them - the only other one I trust is a dealer off the M25 near Essex.  My attitude is that I don't trust a stealer unless I have a reason to otherwise.  I would NEVER recommend VW Autohaus in Northampton who ripped me off.  :angry:  VW Maindealer is very helpful and has an obvious interest in what he / she is selling - which garage are you from.... I might even come down for a part-ex next year 

 

So if I bring a US spec '06 GLI (GTI w/boot) with:
a factory installed immobilizer.
4 year/ 50K mile limited warranty.
5 year/60K mile powertrain warranty.
more than 6 months old with insurance and payment proof.
all taxes already paid here.

What approximately am I losing/gaining?

[VWmaindealer]

Hmm. Your gaining what i'm sure is a nice car. You'll no doubt lose on re-sale though with (what is to us) a LHD Jetta GTI. Interesting that your car has a 60k warranty (same as UK) but for five years not three. I'd be interested to find out if you can extend that in the UK. I know you can buy warranty extensions for european cars but may differ for american cars (especially models we don't get here). Having said all that, depending on what it cost you, you may be okay come resale due to the specialist nature of it or if you happen to live on/near an US airbase.

Just a thought though, a UK Golf GTI wouldn't have any warranty if exported to the states as the warranty is europe-wide. Is the US warranty on your car valid in the UK?. I'm not being funny, I genuinely don't know....

Also, not being an expert on american specs, is the GLi literally a booted GTI? or does it have the Jetta front with the GTI trims. We of course get the 200ps Turbo Jetta but it looks the same as any other Jetta.

VWmd

[Rendy]

I'm not really worried about resale as that is not my intention.
I just don't want to sell a new car and start over.
I'll have to find out about the warranty on thiis end.
The GLI is literally a booted GTI.
Same 2.0T FSI engine, red calipers, GLI instead of GTI embossed headrests, honeycomb black grill.
BUT. . . . .HUGE boot for Costco and the supermarket 
Here:
Painted lowers, new zorst tips, logos/badges removed, paint protection film, hardwired iPod adapter, smoked tail lights, black VW badges, (uninstalled) H&R Cup Kit, summer and all season tires on OEM rims