I got 8% off the list price of a new S4 Avant

[Dippy]

Hi John,

I have no intention of arguing with you. You have correctly identified some of the downsides of personal imports, but you have marginalised the upsides. I take it from your mail that you have not done a personal import yourself and are relying on comments from others? Well I have done it myself and can give you facts:

The current exchange rate, whilst not as good as it was several years ago, is about the same as when I bought 2 years ago. I made a saving of £9,000.

Imported cars have a 2 year warranty. To buy the 3rd year costs around £700-800.

Resale is only a problem if you try to sell at UK used prices. I have very little data to go on, but what I have suggests that the resale value of my car now would only be a few £K less than a UK car of the same age and mileage.

Yes I paid Audi a premium for RHD, but I still saved £9,000 on the UK price.

I agree that you need to be sure of the UK spec of CERTAIN imported cars but can assure you that Audi's quality system is good. My car was entered into the Audi factory system as a UK car so it was built identical to a car which had been ordered by a UK dealer.

Also I might add that 2 of my options, multifunction steering wheel and APS, were never even available on UK-bought cars.

Like I said, I am not going to argue with you. You are happy to have bought your UK car and I am happy to have bought my personal import. That's all that counts.

[JohnH]

Dippy,

Your assumption that I have never imported a car is incorrect as I have imported both a Porsche 911 and also a Peugeot 307 and therefore have personal experience of both importing and buying in UK.

Also not wanting to argue but current £/Euro exchange rate is 1.45 Euros to the £ whereas 2 years ago it was about 1.68 so Euro value has increased by about 13.6%.

[Dippy]

John,

My assumption was based on the negativity in your post. I take it then that your importing experiences were less favourable than mine?

My exchange rate was nearer 1.6, but I accept that the savings are a bit less now. Nevertheless on an expensive car like the S4, especially a loaded one, even at 1.45 IMO the savings are still worth the effort.

I doubt that I will import again anyway. Last time I had my heart set on an S4 and I couldn't find a used one that suited me. I couldn't afford UK new prices so importing was my only solution.

Now that my S4's modded, the only car that would be good enough to replace it will be the B6 RS4 Avant (assuming it is made) or the equivalent from another manufacturer (Although at the moment none seem to want to join the party). I was happy to import an S4 as it was one of the last and Audi have got it right (at last), however based on Audi's performance so far, I do not trust Audi to get the B6 RS4 right first time either. I will readily admit that if I have a 'new' new car, I would like to have a solid contract with Audi UK rather than have an import. So I'm sure that my next car will be a used UK model.

[hAckNslAy]

I'm close to buying one dc2 - this is great info.
Did you try and get your local dealer to match the site?

[Gareth]

For what it's worth I would never buy an import again. I have had so much grief from selling my BMW import that I've decided I just can't be arsed to buy another import.

Just my own 2p's (or Euro) worth... [img]images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

[hAckNslAy]

I'd tend to agree, now the exchange rate has turned the hassle just isn't worth it...