Part exchanging an import.

[Monza_GTI]

Out of curiosity who's GTI falls in the category as an import? ( I know all are built in Germany but some were ordered for a different market but later shipped to UK)
And has anyone ever part exchanged an import and did the value offered get effected?

[MateyGuv]

If the car comes up as an import in a history check (ie HPI report) it'll be valued as an imported vehicle. This could be marked as an import or other signs are the transmission type states "unknown", Co2 "unknown", body type "unknown" and sometimes engine number "unknown" Depending on how old the car is, condition and miles it will effect the value.
The perception of customers that come and buy from me is that the first owner saved thousands and thousands when they bought it (not the case but when your asking people to pay money for something their opinion as all that matters) so they are not prepared to pay what a legit UK car is worth. Not that it'll effect a MK5 but different market places have different warranties so on newer cars a main dealer would not re sell it so it'll go to auction. There could also be specification differences depending on where it started life. When I was at BMW a UK Msport had climate control and PDC, the "same spec" import had neither.
If you've got a young, mint and low mileage MK5 it will probably effect the value on p/x but if it's an older, shed with high miles probably not.
PM me the details and I'll look into it if you want?

[Monza_GTI]

I was just curious to find out other people's experiences. I know mine is an import, it was built in Wolfsburg but then shipped to Amsterdam and from there to England. And it has a feature I've never known cloth interior to have - heated seats!
But the log book says new when first registered.
But yes, your point of hpi does come up with unknown, say the free car check app on Apple, UK cars show emissions etc, mine just says what car it is and engine, rest is unknown.

[MateyGuv]

It will say new when first registered as it was but was an Amsterdam car. Back when MK5 was new some people wanted to save a bit and you could back then by importing a car. Some "dealerships" **cough cowboys** imported cars from other markets and registered them then sold them as pre registered cars at stupidly low prices.
For a worst case idea of trade value put your number plate, miles and be honest with condition on we buy any car then take 20% ish off. You won't like what it says but there or there abouts wbac are normally fairly accurate with auction prices.

[StuF]

My first mk5 gti was an import from Ireland - came without climate or aircon
I didn't know these were standard on UK cars at the time and it was more difficult to sell on when I needed to change.

[Monza_GTI]

What annoys me is that I bought my car from a vw dealer. I didn't find out until about a year or so after, then contacted vw UK about it, they told me that it was a policy of don't ask don't tell. It's because with the car coming from the EU, the laws of freedom to trade within the EU.

But my car has almost every optional extra possible except for xenons and leather.
Hopefully that will help when coming to get rid.

[Eddie-NL]

as the mk5 is getting on now, I doubt it would make much difference.

In some cases the spec is better than some UK cars

[MateyGuv]

What annoys me is that I bought my car from a vw dealer. I didn't find out until about a year or so after, then contacted vw UK about it, they told me that it was a policy of don't ask don't tell. It's because with the car coming from the EU, the laws of freedom to trade within the EU.

But my car has almost every optional extra possible except for xenons and leather.
Hopefully that will help when coming to get rid.

Freedom to trade is great but with some items can be a pain when coming to sell on. The MK5 is old enough now to not be too effected as its list most of its money. When you do come to sell you can sell on condition and spec. Good MK5 GTI's are being searched for but the people who are searching are enthusiasts that want everything. Don't worry about it till the time comes to sell 
What it a main dealer or a specialist dealer you bought from?

[MateyGuv]

What annoys me is that I bought my car from a vw dealer. I didn't find out until about a year or so after, then contacted vw UK about it, they told me that it was a policy of don't ask don't tell. It's because with the car coming from the EU, the laws of freedom to trade within the EU.

But my car has almost every optional extra possible except for xenons and leather.
Hopefully that will help when coming to get rid.

Freedom to trade is great but with some items can be a pain when coming to sell on. The MK5 is old enough now to not be too effected as its lost most of its money. When you do come to sell you can sell on condition and spec. Good MK5 GTI's are being searched for but the people who are searching are enthusiasts that want everything. Don't worry about it till the time comes to sell 
What it a main dealer or a specialist dealer you bought from?

[Monza_GTI]

It was lookers vw Blackburn.
My car has had full service history with either vw dealer or vag specialist. And with extremely low mileage of less than 70k for a 55k.

I have considered getting rid next year but the age old question of what to replace it with. Car values seems to be mental and overpriced.
And my mentality is to maybe get a faster car than what I've already got, and those usually are at a premium.
And a pearlescent black GTI clean in the sunlight still looks good and no way looks it's age so it's a tough decision.

[Scott73]

Mines an import, was registered as new here in the UK but there's an import stamp in the front of the book from Dubai, it's fully loaded with xenons, leather, sunroof, etc.. It's got full VW history with the first service being done here in uk @ 8k so dont actually know if it did any miles out in dubai or if it was actually ever owned by anyone out there other than a garage/dealership.

[xjay1337]

Mines an import, was registered as new here in the UK but there's an import stamp in the front of the book from Dubai, it's fully loaded with xenons, leather, sunroof, etc.. It's got full VW history with the first service being done here in uk @ 8k so dont actually know if it did any miles out in dubai or if it was actually ever owned by anyone out there other than a garage/dealership.

Yup the same as mine.
It PDI was in dubai/UAE and it was first registered in Bristol VW. came with electric folding mirrors, puddle lights, sunroof, xenons etc, only thing it didnt' have was an alarm. minor issue really.

they came with a 2 year warranty rather than a 3 as it wasn't a VW UK car but it's all the same bits under neath..

[MateyGuv]

On a side note it's worth confirming with your insurance company they know if it's an import. One of my customers had his total loss claim refused as they were unaware his car was an import. Bit of a horror story but it happens