EU or UK Supplied

[430 DJ]

I am looking to buy my first Boxster and have seen one that meets my requirements, however, I have noticed it is EU supplied.

Therefore, please can you advise me if their are any pro's and con's with owning an EU supplied model ? Is their a greater risk than purchasing a UK supplied model and does this have an impact on any possible re-sale value ? Should I wait until I find a UK supplied model, ? Incidentally, the EU model is for sale at an OPC. Does this make a difference ?

In addition, are OPC's willing to negotiate on the price, as I will need to, so that it falls within my budget. Finally, will a local OPC be prepared to arrange for a model that is located at another OPC to be delivered to their premises so that it can be viewed and test driven?

Any information / guideance you can provide me with will be greatly appreciated.

Regards

David

Former 1987 944 S owner

 

[JCB..]

As long as the car is UK specification it should not matter. The OPC will be able to tell you if it is.

Resale may well be troublesome if selling to a*$%-retentives.

JCB..

 

[kitchens]

IMO I would only buy a UK supplied car unless you are saving thousands ,it way go against you when it comes time to sell it on.

Brian

 

[Guest]

i was under the impression that a EU sourced car is one that was destined for the European market but is then changed during manufacture to a UK spec car so its still regarded as so.

well this is what my OPC told me,they can also get a car from anyother dealer,you'll have to pay a intial payment which i was told was refundable if the car wasn't right when i saw it/drove it.

i do stand corrected if i'm completely wrong everybody before you all jump on this post!!!!

 

[JCB..]

i do stand corrected if i'm completely wrong everybody before you all jump on this post!!!!

IMO I would only buy a UK supplied car unless you are saving thousands ,it way go against you when it comes time to sell it on.

See my post and the current issue of the Porsche Post!

Every Porsche is supposed to leave the factory with a Country Option code and therefore a country specific specification. If the car is UK spec it doesn't matter in what country the original OPC was located in!

UK code is C16 but if your car doesn't have it it doesn't mean it's not UK spec.

My car is UK OPC ordered and supplied and has no "C" code at all!

It is 100% UK spec.

JCB..

 

[oliver]

I'm not sure if this is correct.

Surely C16 simply means that the car has been built to UK specification.

However, if it is a personal import, it may have been sold via a dealership in an overseas territory. It was therefore not officially imported through PCGB. If any problems arise, that need to be addressed under the sale of goods act, it may be necessary to pursue this through an overseas dealership. Likewise, if problems arise, particularly later in the car's life, perhaps out of warranty, it would be much more difficult to rely on goodwill from a UK OPC or PCGB.

I'd agree with Brian, I've always taken comfort, and enjoyed exemplorary service, buying a new Porsche through a good UK OPC. For me, there would need to be a significant saving to buy an unofficial import. And, if I was buying a used Porsche, I would, likewise, expect to pay less for a car that was unofficially imported.

The product may be no different, but there are implications.

 

[JCB..]

I've always taken comfort, and enjoyed exemplorary service, buying a new Porsche through a good UK OPC.

You are most fortunate.

Surely C16 simply means that the car has been built to UK specification.

That is what I have been saying!

If any problems arise, that need to be addressed under the sale of goods act, it may be necessary to pursue this through an overseas dealership.

Porsche warranty is worldwide so once again it matters not where it came from.

Likewise, if problems arise, particularly later in the car's life, perhaps out of warranty, it would be much more difficult to rely on goodwill from a UK OPC or PCGB.

Once it's out of warranty it's just another Porsche. Getting goodwill from a UK OPC or Porsche Cars Reading is fast becoming an Urban Myth!

In 2005, the idea that an overseas supplied Porsche, EU or otherwise, should command a lower price tag than one shipped direct to the UK is nonsense and the sooner people wise up and realise it the sooner the dogma attached to these cars can be dispelled. Having the twaddle that appears on page three of the Porsche Post only serves to prolong this misconception.

The last sentence is, of course, just IMHO!

JCB..

 

[salva]

Hi,

In the spring 1999 I ordered my wife's 2.7 Boxster in France and duly collected it in October 1999. It was a full UK spec car, right hand drive (C16). It was always serviced by an OPC in UK. The OPC did some jobs under guarantee, no questions asked. We sold the car to the OPC late 2002, they checked the origin of the car, we agreed the price and within a few days the deal was closed. So you should not have any problems, go for it. We have replaced the car by another 2.7 but LHD this time as we drive a lot on the continent. We have fitted a K and N filter, sounds great specially in LHD format.

Salvador

 

[Guest]

My box was sourced in Belgium to a full UK spec and has been serviced by an OPC throughout its warranty period with no problems. This idea of European sourced cars being worth less than a UK one was propogated by the motor trade in an attempt to scare people into not buying from Europe. It is true howver if the car was built to a European spec the value may be less due to non UK standard parts. I saved £6000 on a £38,000 car and got a quicker delivery when I did it 5 years ago which made it worthwhile This saving included the costs of 2 trips to Belgium.
6 mths after I got it they reduced the UK prices by 10%! and increased the cost of RHD models sourced on the continent by succesfully arguing with the European Commision that as they were a small specialist car manufacturer their unit costs were condsiderably higher producing RHD cars as opposed to to LHD.

Would I do it again - Yes if the savings were there but not at present as there are no appreciable savings to be had. I was a bit brassed off they reduced the UK prices but on the other hand if no-one had imprted any cars they would not have reduced them would they.

 

[NicD]

In 2005, the idea that an overseas supplied Porsche, EU or otherwise, should command a lower price tag than one shipped direct to the UK is nonsense and the sooner people wise up and realise it the sooner the dogma attached to these cars can be dispelled. Having the twaddle that appears on page three of the Porsche Post only serves to prolong this misconception.

The last sentence is, of course, just IMHO!

Quite!
If you show any part of the Porsche Post statement to be incorrect, it will be changed. I said this to you before John.

There are three facts -
1. Many cars imported outside the official channels are NOT C16 spec. (whether or not C16 appears on the options list is less important than the actual spec itself)
2. We have seen several owners rather unhappy to find their two year warranty starting when the car was originally sold some, or even many months previously
3. Porsche Cars GB are unlikely to make a goodwill payment outside of warranty

That's it.

And of course, every car that comes into the country outside the managed waiting lists of Porsche Cars GB increases the supply and lowers resale values for everyone else. This has to be said. Porsche Cars do manage the waiting lists to maintain second hand values.

BUT cars from any source will have their warranty observed here.

 

[JCB..]

If you show any part of the Porsche Post statement to be incorrect, it will be changed. I said this to you before John.

Nic I don't think you did but since you've volunteered it...

The disclaimer stating that "Imported cars even though C16 spec may have a lower resale value and may exhibit performance issues when used in the UK".

No one has given a valid reason for a non UK OPC sourced car to have a lower value.

A car is either C16 or it isn't and it's assembled in one of two places! C30, C60, C90 it's still the same car!

When I bought my car C16 UK spec was RHD, Green tint on the top of the windscreen and a wiring loom for the CD changer. How in the hell is not having any of that going to effect the performance!

Perhaps this should be on page three!

Porsche cars are unlikely to make a goodwill payment - period. It's pretty clear that this has always been the case!

JCB..

 

[oliver]

The Manufacturer's Warranty and the Sale of Goods Act are completely different.

In certain, albeit rare, instances where problems arise with a product, it is necessary to seek redress through the retailer (not the manufacturer). If a Porsche is unofficially imported into the UK (even if it is C16 spec), then no UK OPC nor PCGB can be held responsible. If someone wishes to pursue a 'non-merchantable quality' or 'unfit for purpose' claim then it has to be done through the original retailer (or, in some cases the finance company).

I might be entirely wrong but, wasn't Scouser's car an unofficial import'? If so, this is a case in point. It is my interpretation that, if the car was not supplied through a UK OPC or PCGB they cannot be pursued under the Sale of Goods Act. This makes any action more onerous because it involves proceedings against either an overseas supplier or, perhaps, Porsche A.G.

IMO, although the product might be identical, the implications are different, which is why I would expect to pay less for a Porsche which was originally supplied overseas.

Of couse I'm happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.

 

[JCB..]

The Manufacturer's Warranty and the Sale of Goods Act are completely different.

I'm very much aware of that, but how long can one expect to pursue claims under the Sale of goods act?

It's almost 3 years since my car came out of warranty and almost 5 since I bought it. Why should it be worth anymore than a 5 year old C16 car sourced from an OPC in Belgium?

JCB..

 

[Guest]

If my memory serves me correct there have been numerous instances of Porcshe refusing goodwill claims on the basis of a second hand car not being purchased from a OPC despite full opc service history.

It would appear that OPC's only give goodwill payments occasionally to their long term good customers who they know will continue to buy cars from them. As a business decision, entirely logical. Having a European sourced car makes no difference as you are therefore not one of thier regular customers anyway. Obviously you have a better chance of any goodwill if you buy the car from them.

 

[JCB..]

It would appear that OPC's only give goodwill payments occasionally to their long term good customers who they know will continue to buy cars from them.

Cary

I couldn't argue with that!

JCB..

 

[NicD]

No one has given a valid reason for a non UK OPC sourced car to have a lower value.

John, pure perception on part of the buyer (for a C16 spec), there was a post a couple of days ago - "don't buy an import".
Maybe there is an irrational feeling that the car is inferior, or maybe the thought that the original buyer made a saving and hasn't passed it on - who can say.

So the statement seems a fair one and to the members benefit to know.

Goodwill payments are partly (maybe largely) based on how much profit has been made by the Porsche GB network. That's a commercial reality, we have to accept it.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

I admit I feel uncomfortable about these statements being made in the location on PP3 (in a panel with Club contacts etc) - it looks like club policy rather than advice.

 

[JCB..]

John, pure perception on part of the buyer (for a C16 spec), there was a post a couple of days ago - "don't buy an import".
Maybe there is an irrational feeling that the car is inferior, or maybe the thought that the original buyer made a saving and hasn't passed it on - who can say.

So the statement seems a fair one and to the members benefit to know.

How is it a fair statement? It's pretty obvious that I don't think it to be!

What it should read is:

It is the perception of some members that "Imported cars even though C16 spec may have a lower resale value and may exhibit performance issues when used in the UK"

or I'd like to see a disclaimer to the existing disclaimer:

It is the perception of some members that the preceding paragraph has no basis in fact and is of no relevance in the 21st Century.

JCB..