Imports

H · Post by H » Sat Oct 02, 2004 9:27 pm

I've been looking at second hand 206cc's for weeks but I've been told to keep away from imports by 3 different garages (2 peugeot dealers). Is this good advice and how do I tell if it is an import?

The only way I've been able to tell so far is when the manual has been in French and no service history. Is there anything to look for on the car?

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 1:47 am

Hi H, i dunno why but peugeot dealers get the right arse when it comes to imports.... they like you to buy direct from them i guess :x

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 2:44 am

they are only telling you to avoid imports so they get the sales......

my 307CC will be an import - Â£4k saving on uk dealer price - it would be silly to go to a zoo for the same car

Pauline · Post by **Pauline** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 8:09 am

I've got an import and it's all been fully serviced by a UK Pug dealer. They're just trying to put you off imports to try to keep up the appearance that imports are unacceptable, which is rubbish. Any import registered after 1/1/2002 gets 2 years warranty, so just be careful when you work out how much warranty is left on it.

Also, I've even checked the registration document and compared it to a pukka UK one. They both say "new at first registration" or something like that so I think you'd need to do a bit of detective work - my first change of owner was 2 days after registration! And yes, my SERVICE manual is in French, but my owners book is English.

Hope that helps!

carl · Post by **carl** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 10:15 am

Our service book was in English, too.

We just PX'd our import CC for Â£11k. Parker's (not the most reliable source, I know) are listing at around 11k for a UK model, and most similarly-aged ones on Autotrader are going for Â£11.5k private. So I reckon it makes no difference (at the worst, the only difference should be the cost of extending the warranty for another year -- about Â£300).

Derek -- can you still make a saving on an import? I thought the bottom had dropped out of that with the exchange rates. Most of the UK companies who did imports are now doing UK cars (jamjar, Broadspeed) or have gone bust. I always imported direct anyway, but wasn't aware that a saving could still be made. It would be nice if it was possible to get an A4 Cab for <Â£20k.

H · Post by H » Sun Oct 03, 2004 3:25 pm

Thanks for the replies. You are right about the Peugeot dealers. I was told by one of them yesterday that they wouldn't even accept an import as a trade in and to keep well away from them as they have dodgy brakes and non-standard parts. - He was trying to get me part with Â£15000 for a brand new 1.6 Allure at the time....

Nobby · Post by **Nobby** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 7:32 pm

I think something to consider is how long you intend to keep the car. If like me you get bored and change after a couple of years, then go for an inport. If you intend keeping it longer I'd get a UK car with 3 years warranty.
I personaly would not want to own one of these cars without a warranty.

See Derek's posts regarding his roof for the perfect example.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 8:14 pm

the roof is that all

add the rest of the car and a CC without warranty = empty your bank account and flush your cash down the toilet - less pain

a 2 year warranty on an import is no big deal - it just means a uk dealer only gets 2 years instead of 3 to wreck your car.

T_J · Post by **T_J** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:40 am

I have a Peugeot 206cc 1.6s which I brought from Autoplanet in Maidstone, Kent. This was an import, i have had a few teething problems and I took it into Rootes Peugeot in Maidstone they didn't have a problem with it being a import and they said that Autoplanet was quite a good one. the only thing that they wouldn't allow was a courtesy car which really isn't that much of a problem. when you think i saved over Â£2000 and managed to get 2 years warranty, i am sure that i made the right decission.

One thing though, i had a problem with locking the car over the weekend (sorted now by Peugeot) and took it into Peugeot at Dartford and they were the most unhelpful, arrogant people i have ever meet, so why would you pay an extra Â£2000 and get no help at all.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 4:34 pm

peugeot dealers are often arrogant and unhelpful when you bought the car off them in the first place so that treatment with an import would be a walk in the park to me

p.s. missed out other words such as useless, incompetent, dishonest, cowboys, lack technical knowledge etc.. but i'm sure you knew about these words unless they only apply to Motorway Cars Bathgate

carl · Post by **carl** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:14 pm

peugeot dealers are often arrogant and unhelpful when you bought the car off them in the first place

Another reason to import. Calais Nord Automobiles couldn't have been more helpful. Mind you, I guess they know that even if they ship you a lemon they're not going to be sorting it out themselves

paulo · Post by **paulo** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 9:41 am

I got mine from Calais Nord Automobiles as well!

They were fantastic! And the sales lady was pretty fantastic also! What Peugeot is saying is obviouse rubbish, the cars are identical! All you are doing is picking it up from France instead of the UK!

I've had my car for just under 2 years - with no probs whatsoever! (touch wood)

My handbook is in english, just the service book isn't, still pug UK have no probs in servicing the car for me

carl · Post by **carl** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 9:22 pm

How bizarre paulo. IIRC, you picked yours up from CNA about a week or two before I did. But my service book was in English. Maybe they got a new stock of books in or something.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 10:46 pm

i'll go with motorpoint for the 307CC - glasgow is a bit closer than calais

carl · Post by **carl** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 9:25 pm

Not from where I live, it isn't