Clues To Finding a Clocked import
24 October 2007, 09:06 PM
#31
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With reference to the last post. My friend, maybe it is the case for a newly imported car, but where have I said newly imported car? You can get greys that were imported well over a decade ago, well before any BIMTA check.
Regarding your assumption that many 17 year old cars won't have a service history. The point is mute as many 17 year old cars have been scrapped. Those that remain are likely to be 'sports' models and enthusiast owned, (probably the biggest hoarders of paperwork relating to a cars history there is) and the most fussy about history and paperwork when it comes to buying. I don't run a car business but I've bought and sold well over 20 cars in the past few years, ALL have had a service history and/or a bona fida papertrail. If a car didn't I wouldn't buy it. It's stood me well.
Regarding your assumption that many 17 year old cars won't have a service history. The point is mute as many 17 year old cars have been scrapped. Those that remain are likely to be 'sports' models and enthusiast owned, (probably the biggest hoarders of paperwork relating to a cars history there is) and the most fussy about history and paperwork when it comes to buying. I don't run a car business but I've bought and sold well over 20 cars in the past few years, ALL have had a service history and/or a bona fida papertrail. If a car didn't I wouldn't buy it. It's stood me well.
. If you need a perfect car with a perfect history be prepared to pay alot more 
Dave.
25 October 2007, 09:11 AM
#33
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Oh and a top hose went, so i replaced it with samco hoses, could just replaced the top hose from a scrapper if i wished t0hough
If buying a car with no history then just use your head, if it looks rough, then it probably is!
25 October 2007, 09:48 AM
#34
Damn my car came with no history so that must mean it's clocked or stolen, i think not, it was a fresh import (me being the first owner) it had slight paintwork damage (it's a 93wrx so i would expect a few bumps and scrapes).
The only thing to have gone wrong is the cambelt tensioner and rollers needed replacing and that can happen on any car (UK or JDM, new or used).
The only thing to have gone wrong is the cambelt tensioner and rollers needed replacing and that can happen on any car (UK or JDM, new or used).
25 October 2007, 10:00 AM
#35
I love the way people do go on about imports and service history! I have people calling me on 17 year old MR2's asking if they have a full service history.........stupid buggers!!! How many Escorts / Fiestas / Astras or any other 17 year old UK cars would have a service history? None!! Yes, i know they are not high performance cars but any old car needs love attention and servicing to look and go well.
Talk to the dealer, does he have a clue what he's saying? Look at the car......does it look straight / does it drive well / does the engine sound harsh or rattle at all / is the interior in good condition...yes...well the chances are if the interior and body are in good order then the rest of the car will be fine.
I run an import company and sell cars all over the UK, it's only a small company i admit but like many other dealers i do give a damn and i only sell cars that i know and love such as GTR's, STi's, MR2's, Evo's and the odd 996.
Dave.
ps....with reference to the last post, a newly imported stolen import is far, far less likely than buying a stolen/ringed/cloned UK car my friend!!
Talk to the dealer, does he have a clue what he's saying? Look at the car......does it look straight / does it drive well / does the engine sound harsh or rattle at all / is the interior in good condition...yes...well the chances are if the interior and body are in good order then the rest of the car will be fine.
I run an import company and sell cars all over the UK, it's only a small company i admit but like many other dealers i do give a damn and i only sell cars that i know and love such as GTR's, STi's, MR2's, Evo's and the odd 996.
Dave.
ps....with reference to the last post, a newly imported stolen import is far, far less likely than buying a stolen/ringed/cloned UK car my friend!!
I look at the condition, the owner, their attitutude, the service history that there is since being in the UK, is it a clean fairly tight car.
A car is either a straight one or not.
If it is a nice straight sounding and looking car but only has some service history because it is an import - then no problem.
My last impreza that I sold - was a WRX import. It didn´t have Jap service history. But the first bloke that saw it bought it as he could tell just by looking at thing even before he started the engine that it had been lovingly looked after and I had the bills to prove it.
So service history is important - but one factor.
How straight the car is the key - and its condition should reflect the mileage through the tell tale signs pointed out by others on here
Steve
25 October 2007, 01:22 PM
#36
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I have two cars at the moment (one is for sale)
Seat ibiza 1.2 full dealer history 2003 car.. mechanicly sound but few things are wrong, fan heater only works no one setting, its got a bush gone, paintworks shoddy etc.
Then my impreza.. no history and a 1995.. perfect all round bar a blemish on the bonnet!
I know which ones the better and more cared for car
Seat ibiza 1.2 full dealer history 2003 car.. mechanicly sound but few things are wrong, fan heater only works no one setting, its got a bush gone, paintworks shoddy etc.
Then my impreza.. no history and a 1995.. perfect all round bar a blemish on the bonnet!
I know which ones the better and more cared for car
25 October 2007, 02:03 PM
#37
What a pointlessly confrontational post. Ive explained the Japanese domestic used car market here more times than I care to remember. A very very small minority of cars have their books completed; others are worth having a paper record completed by the servicing dealers before export.
There is no suggestion that Iain is anything other than honest but that doesnt alter the fact that most 'service histories' are fanciful.
There is no suggestion that Iain is anything other than honest but that doesnt alter the fact that most 'service histories' are fanciful.
Hope the sleep is helping. Why does a service history add value then?
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