UK imports looking tempting again.

Stallingrad

With the pound in free fall time it might be time to consider importing again.

Pricing up 1 year old Passat 1.6S for €18.5K after exchange and VRT, the exact same model here is €24,750 from a dealer.

smash

Buy while the pound is cheap and before they leave the EU. Because afterwards you'll be hit with VAT on import too.

Del2005

Plenty of time for both. Problem is that the Euro is being dragged down along with Sterling.

Mc Love

Still think it needs to weaken a bit more!

bazz26

Surely it would be more beneficial to bring in a higher spec 2.0 litre Passat model than a basic 1.6 model?

Stallingrad

bazz26 wrote: »

Surely it would be more beneficial to bring in a higher spec 2.0 litre Passat model than a basic 1.6 model?

Not if budget is paramount, which it is in this case. The UK S is better equipped than our Trendline but below our Comfortline.

rivermansteve

im thinking about going over next week.Whats the best way to pay a dealer in england for a car? my bank says it takes a day for international transfers to go thru

1hnr79jr65

rivermansteve wrote: »

im thinking about going over next week.Whats the best way to pay a dealer in england for a car? my bank says it takes a day for international transfers to go thru

Do you have family/friend in UK you can transfer sterling cost of car into and pay out of that account?

rivermansteve

Sour Lemonz wrote: »

Do you have family/friend in UK you can transfer sterling cost of car into and pay out of that account?

Unfortunetly not
Any idea whats the next best way?

FrontDoor

I'd go back a year and get the 2.0 comfortline model if I was going over.

I have always found you will save a lot of money going to the UK for a car, irrespective of currency fluctuations. The irish used market just seems to track the UK one. If cars are dear over there, they'll just be a bit dearer here. I don't recall a time in the past 5 years where they have been cheaper here.

Transfermate is a great service.

Stallingrad

FrontDoor wrote: »

I'd go back a year and get the 2.0 comfortline model if I was going over.

Swings and roundabouts really, a year back is the old Passat, and with about only £1000 between a 2014 SE B7 and new Passat I'd be taking the newer car which is not poorly equipped by any means.

bazz26

Stallingrad wrote: »

Not if budget is paramount, which it is in this case. The UK S is better equipped than our Trendline but below our Comfortline.

Stallingrad wrote: »

Swings and roundabouts really, a year back is the old Passat, and with about only £1000 between a 2014 SE B7 and new Passat I'd be taking the newer car which is not poorly equipped by any means.

Try and wait until September when the reg plate changes in the UK which might bring used prices down a bit on early 2015 reg models. Sterling might drop further too.

SuperO'B

rivermansteve wrote: »

Unfortunetly not
Any idea whats the next best way?

I get paid in foreign currency and regularly trade across and have bought cars in the UK. Currencyfair is definitely the best rates that I can find anywhere for changing currency. Stay away from the banks at all costs.

Currencyfair give the actual conversion rates on the website including fees, not the indicative rate you'll find on other websites which is the interbank rate and designed to get you in. I'm not involved with currencyfair in any way but do think they've an excellent service.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Del2005 wrote: »

Plenty of time for both. Problem is that the Euro is being dragged down along with Sterling.

In comparison to other currencies not sterling which is the only relevant one if buying from the uk.

flazio

We are getting into that period of wanting used cars from the time of the recession, but since car sales were low, we need to look further afield to find a car we're looking for.

Lekrub

Does a UK import car affect insurance much?

FrontDoor

Stallingrad wrote: »

Swings and roundabouts really, a year back is the old Passat, and with about only £1000 between a 2014 SE B7 and new Passat I'd be taking the newer car which is not poorly equipped by any means.

In that case, I wouldn't stress about the 1.6 in the new model. I think its 120 bhp.

I priced a new one of those for cash earlier in the year. Somewhere around 29k if I remember correctly. Some going if you can get a year old one in for 60% of that.

Del2005

Lekrub wrote: »

Does a UK import car affect insurance much?

Not at this moment. Strangely enough they usually ask is it imported and when told all cars are imported get annoyed.

VincePP

SuperO'B wrote: »

I get paid in foreign currency and regularly trade across and have bought cars in the UK. Currencyfair is definitely the best rates that I can find anywhere for changing currency. Stay away from the banks at all costs.

Currencyfair give the actual conversion rates on the website including fees, not the indicative rate you'll find on other websites which is the interbank rate and designed to get you in. I'm not involved with currencyfair in any way but do think they've an excellent service.

You can request a dealing room rate from the bank if you do regular transfers.

My rate is 0.35% off mid market, neither transferwise nor transfermate can beat that.

Bank can also do a same day transfer - if the instruction is given before 11am its in the UK account by 3pm. Aib charge €12 extra for this.

Bambaata

Used currencyfair a few weeks back, very good rate and very quick and easy. When you have it in the currencyfair account and exchaged it will hit the destination account that same day (Monday to Friday)

Stallingrad

Bambaata wrote: »

Used currencyfair a few weeks back, very good rate and very quick and easy. When you have it in the currencyfair account and exchaged it will hit the destination account that same day (Monday to Friday)

What kind of difference in rates between banks and the likes of these services, is there much in it? Say on €14000.

SuperO'B

Stallingrad wrote: »

What kind of difference in rates between banks and the likes of these services, is there much in it? Say on €14000.

£260 between PTSB and currency fair at the moment on €14000. Not sure if the PTSB rate on the app is adjusted as the day goes on however and set in the morning. Might be different if you go into the bank.

Stallingrad

That is great, covers the travel expenses.

The J Stands for Jay

flazio wrote: »

We are getting into that period of wanting used cars from the time of the recession, but since car sales were low, we need to look further afield to find a car we're looking for.

Yeah, I'm dreading looking for a petrol in that age range when I come to change.

Are the UK dealers used to accepting payment from the likes of transferwise, or is there a lot of explaining how it works to be done first?

LeChienMefiant

McGaggs wrote: »

Are the UK dealers used to accepting payment from the likes of transferwise, or is there a lot of explaining how it works to be done first?

I doubt they care once they have cleared funds in their account.

SuperO'B

McGaggs wrote: »

Yeah, I'm dreading looking for a petrol in that age range when I come to change.

Are the UK dealers used to accepting payment from the likes of transferwise, or is there a lot of explaining how it works to be done first?

Once the money clears then they're good. It can be worth ringing the currency exchange companies to explain your situation. They can expediate things some what if needed.