Imported Cars

[Graham]

I am looking at getting an Opel Zafira (51) plate which has been imported at some point in it's life, I am assuming when new.

Does anyone here own an imported car?

What problems does it pose?

I have found that on the insurance comparison sites some of them do not recognised the number plate and those that do show it as an Opel Vectra.

It also does not show on the DVLA tax checker.

I have seen the car and it is right hand drive and looks just like a Vauxhall Zafira except for the Opel badges.

Any advise

[matty0785]

Re: Imported Cars

i had a nissan skyline a while back and was a jap imports aside from insurance being expensive same as a uk car

imports tend to be worth less also

[Davey J]

Re: Imported Cars

As above. Worth less yet more to insure.................

If the car is cheap then it is probably worth going for as the insurance will be countered slightly. However, that only really applies to year one. Beyond that you pay more as insurance is only going one way.

[matty0785]

Re: Imported Cars

on the plus side depending where its been imported from sometimes they have a higher spec than uk models mainly jap stuff from what iv heard though

[speedruss]

Re: Imported Cars

In 2001, I imported a new RHD Opel Zafira Elegance 1.6 16v. The only problem I had was insurance as they didn't recognize the Elegance spec with a 1.6 engine. They were all 1.8 or 2.0 dti in this country. The first time I insured the car, I had to do it as a 1.8 16v (payed a bit more), then over the years other insurance companies agreed it could be covered under a 1.6 Club or Special Edition spec. No other problems.
Kept the car for 9 years and it never let us down.

Hope this helps.