I've been checking second hand cars in UK trhough autoscout, ebay and so on. Apparently you can get some nice cars for very reasonable prices, at least much cheaper than anywhere else in Europe. Is there a hidden reason why that happens? Are they rusty or something because of the rain and the cold? I mean a Mitsubishi FTO in pretty good conditions for just £1500 sounds like a bargain to me, you can only find crappy city cars for that price in Italy or Spain. RX7s, Evos, S2000s, Integras R and some other Japanese cars that I like can be found for much lower price than Italy, Spain or even Germany. Where's the trick if there's one? I wouldn't mind going there and bringing one to Italy, some day...

Because Japan shares the steering wheel position (right) with the UK and therefore more Japanese cars are imported to the UK, I guess.

Quote from ATHome :

Because Japan shares the steering wheel position (right) with the UK and therefore more Japanese cars are imported to the UK, I guess.

Even German cars are cheap in the UK. It's probably due to taxation.

Quote from ATHome :

Because Japan shares the steering wheel position (right) with the UK and therefore more Japanese cars are imported to the UK, I guess.

Well, try to sell RHD car outside UK...

It's because no-one could afford an expensive car *and* the insurance.

Quote from hrtburnout :

Even German cars are cheap in the UK. It's probably due to taxation.

I always thought Britain was relentless with their taxation...

It's very probably because of the insurance, since I see everyone from the UK complaining about that.

Quote from MAGGOT :

I always thought Britain was relentless with their taxation...

Not compared to mainland Europe.

Everyone in the UK has an obsession with having a new car on their drive, to "keep up with the joneses".

UK plates also have the year written on them, which means people get rid of their cars a lot sooner than in other countries.

Importing is also "easy" compared to other Euro countries.

Lot of Japanese sheds in the UK tho, with histories of poor maintenance...

So basically is a mix of everything... I can take one to Spain and put a Spanish plate and insurance (ridiculously cheap compared to Italy or UK). Then I take it to Italy and have it here, I don't care about RHD as long as the car is Japanese or British.
Well I will seriously think about this option whenever the time to get a car comes

Personally I would say the biggest factor is down to UK motor insurance costs which are staggeringly high.
If you want to buy a second hand Ford Fiesta or Fiat Punto or equivalent the cars cost is VERY expensive because they are cheap(er) to insure and run (petrol etc). Anything with any power or bigger engine size or even the slightest bit sporty the insurance costs are ramped up to £1000's instead of £100's (and with petrol @ £1.35 per litre) these cars are generally cheap(er) than you would think...

Quote from B1gch0pper :

Personally I would say the biggest factor is down to UK motor insurance costs which are staggeringly high.
If you want to buy a second hand Ford Fiesta or Fiat Punto or equivalent the cars cost is VERY expensive because they are cheap(er) to insure and run (petrol etc). Anything with any power or bigger engine size or even the slightest bit sporty the insurance costs are ramped up to £1000's instead of £100's (and with petrol @ £1.35 per litre) these cars are generally cheap(er) than you would think...

...only for young people.

Someone 40+ can have pretty much any car on the roads insured for sub-£600.

Quote from Jakg :

Everyone in the UK has an obsession with having a new car on their drive, to "keep up with the joneses".

Really? Your typical suburban type maybe, but personally I don't know anyone who gives a shit about what car they're driving so long as it's cheap.

Then again I don't know anybody with a giant TV either. I don't think I want to know anybody with a giant TV or a clean car. Suggests they've not found anything to do with their lives.

Quote from thisnameistaken :

Really? Your typical suburban type maybe, but personally I don't know anyone who gives a shit about what car they're driving so long as it's cheap.

Then again I don't know anybody with a giant TV either. I don't think I want to know anybody with a giant TV or a clean car. Suggests they've not found anything to do with their lives.

Just because you chose to socialise with people who aren't braindead idiots doesn't mean they don't exist.

Quote from Jakg :

Just because you chose to socialise with people who aren't braindead idiots doesn't mean they don't exist.

But it does demonstrate that not 'Everybody in the UK' is a conspicuous consumer, if pretty much everybody I know isn't.

Depends on location and lifestyle Kev. By and large, a majority of people either do have to keep up with their neighbours, friends, whatever, or at the very least feel an "insignificance" when present with someone who has something they want.

Quote from S14 DRIFT :

Depends on location and lifestyle Kev. By and large, a majority of people either do have to keep up with their neighbours, friends, whatever, or at the very least feel an "insignificance" when present with someone who has something they want.

I don't think there's an argument worth having here, given that we're already resorting to phrases like 'by and large', and 'a majority'.

I think the experience you're talking about is mostly something children do - where they have to be wearing the right brands. Anyone who carries this sort of concern into their adult life still has a lot of growing up to do.

Quote from NitroNitrous :

I've been checking second hand cars in UK trhough autoscout, ebay and so on. Apparently you can get some nice cars for very reasonable prices, at least much cheaper than anywhere else in Europe. Is there a hidden reason why that happens? Are they rusty or something because of the rain and the cold? I mean a Mitsubishi FTO in pretty good conditions for just £1500 sounds like a bargain to me, you can only find crappy city cars for that price in Italy or Spain. RX7s, Evos, S2000s, Integras R and some other Japanese cars that I like can be found for much lower price than Italy, Spain or even Germany. Where's the trick if there's one? I wouldn't mind going there and bringing one to Italy, some day...

most are in rather poor condition, imports with clocked mileage, basically any fault you can name you can expect...


you pay Good money for a Good car, anything else is a minefield. I buy the odd car and sell the odd car to and from england but what i buy is broken for parts or rebuilt, whats sold is generally scrap on wheels and the owner knows it.

well its more down to the rhd issue, driving on the right in spain (or the rest of europe ) in a rhd is a pain in the arse.

but the prices in spain have dropped aswel recently, i saw a toyota rav 4 for sale for 6000 euros which for spain is a bargain

Most japanese UK imports I've seen over here have been rotten as hell. First they have been imported from Japan (where road salt isn't really used much, therefore no aftermarket anti-corrosion treatment required) but after they are shipped to UK where there is lots and lots of salt, they will rust VERY quickly without proper treatments. Which the youngsters who mostly drive those type of cars, don't seem to bother with.

If you want a mint condition japanese car and don't mind RHD, then ship one over from Japan. The higher import costs WILL be worth it in the long run. Plus, no mileage "tweaking" to be done by UK importers in between, so what you see is what you'll get.

Driving a rhd in a lhd country isn't as big deal as people make it out to be. Sure lhd is nicer, but it's far from a deal breaker. Rhd brings a bit more 'exoticness' to the car aswell.

Quote from AndRand :

Well, try to sell RHD car outside UK...

You say that like only the UK and Japan use RHD?

Thanks Matrixi, thats the kind of reply I was expecting. However, why do you think if you get the car straight from Japan its mileage wont be tweaked?

As long as you don't buy it from some shady importer over at Japan (protip: avoid the russian ones) and choose a car with maintenance history, the indicated mileage should be true.

When I bought my GT-R, it came with all the local shaken (japanese inspection) sheets all the way back from 1989, and the japanese authorities keep the mileage of their cars pretty well documented.

Because fuel is expensive.

Nitro if you would like an FTO (or any performance car) delivered to Italy, im the man for the job. drop me a line

Good to know anttt69. Is that what you do for living? Do you have a website in that case? I just started working and I am borrowing a MX3 from a friend, so it's gonna have to wait, but we can have a talk when I decide to get it