S2000Golfer

Hi Guys,

BMW M3 driver here, who is selling shortly and buying a S2000 for a completely different driving experience.

I drove a 2004 model recently and loved it, and am looking to buy a late 2006 model with VSA.

Does anyone have any experience with buying a European parallel import? If so, just wondering what your comments are both negative and positive?

I am thinking of buying one from a dealer in Leicester (UK) and have heard lots of good things about them, and can't really see any issues. Do Honda UK dealers tend to turn their noses up at them?

Thanks in advance.

lower

if its a dealer in leics. its probably bob gerard. I bought my car there from new and they were excellent. They registered it with honda for me so the that the warranty is honoured and now that its registered, honda have been fine.

Honda dealers do turn their noses up when it comes to resale, but for servicing etc, they are quite happy to work on them.

S2000Golfer

Thanks for the reply. Yes that's right, Bob Gerard.

Do you worry at all about the resale etc? If you were to sell it privately, would you declare to the buyer it's an import? Would a dealer take one as part X without any quibbles?

Do Bob Gerard carry out a proper pre-delivery check? Was there anything wrong with the car at all when you picked it up?

Do you have any reservations at all?

Thanks for your help.

lower

BG did do a pre delivery check. They knew all the things to check like removing the spring spacers etc.

A dealer will take one as part ex, though the might reduce the trade in price slightly. I actually bought my previous S as an approved used honda and that was an import. I did have some problems with the dealer over that because they didn't tell me it was an import but that's another story.

Resale within 3 years of new, an import is worth slightly less because you paid less. But then Honda dealers have cars of the same age as mine up for more than i paid for it new so it was a bit of a no brainer to buy an import.

Whether you tell an prospective buyer that its an import is entirely up to you. The V5 makes no indication its an import, its identical to uk spec etc. Depends on how honest you want to be.

The only variation between an import and a UK car is the warranty. Once you get past that period, Honda UK will give you more goodwill on a UK car than an import but that's about the sum total of the difference.

I would most definately buy again from BG.

S2000Golfer

Thanks for your help lower.

ADP

I had one from Motorpoint - its very hard to tell - I seem to remember the warranty is slightly different and it doesnt come with the same alarm.........after that? erm not a lot

Nick Graves

I got mine from a dealer in Brussels & apart from a couple if IT glitches with Honda UK's computer (it kept forgetting my chassis number was registered!) I have had no issues at all.

I'd be wary of buying an official UK car, TBH! Belgian Dealer was friendly & knowledgeable.