Buying imported car advice

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Toffeecrisp

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Wannabe Geek

#190745 11-Jan-2016 10:35

Hi all, I am looking to buy a imported 2010 VW golf. It has been imported from japan just arrived in the country and passed a government compliance check by vtnz.

I had a look at the car at the weekend and it seems fine to me. However not knowing much about cars I was wondering whether I should get an AA pre-purchase inspection, to put my mind to ease on buying a newly imported car, or does anyone think that the vtnz compliance check would have covered most the things that the AA would check anyway and therefore be unnecessary.

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated.

ObidiahSlope

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#1467402 11-Jan-2016 10:42

The govt compliance check will have covered sefety related things like brakes chassis rust, odometer truthiness, seat belt compliance, tyre treads and unsafe crash repairs. It does not cover engine mechanical condition

Obsequious hypocrite

richms

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#1467415 11-Jan-2016 10:53

AA inspection for a friend found a whole lot of scratches and dents, and not a lot else.

And then the transmission blew up 5-6000k later. Good thing they bought the mechanical insurance as well. Which was a much better purchase than the AA inspection. It came from a dealer too, so there was the possibility they could have fallen back on that protection too, but Meh.

Also they came up with really useful conclusions like the spare tire was missing as was the jack. Great moneys worth there.

Richard rich.ms

xpd

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#1467418 11-Jan-2016 10:57

Hear hit and miss things about AA doing the inspections, but getting some form of pre-purchase (especially for engine and transmission) inspection highly recommended.

And personally wouldnt trust the VTNZ's "pre purchase" service - old BIL worked for VTNZ and described most of the staff as "failed mechanics" ;)

XPD / Gavin

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richms

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#1467421 11-Jan-2016 11:01

Prepurchase inspections are non invasive, they will not identify anthing on the verge of failing. IMO the cash is better put to the mechanical insurance policy.

Richard rich.ms

davidcole

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#1467434 11-Jan-2016 11:31

Though word of warning about mechanical breakdown insurance, doesn't cover filters, or diesel specifics much (if that is of concern...even though you pay for for a diesel policy).

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richms

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#1467502 11-Jan-2016 12:52

The one that cost me with the insurance is they didnt cover the exhaust, and the catalytic converter failed because of a failed sensor making it run absurdly rich. The sensors and diagnostics for that were covered, but the fault of the blocked catalytic converter and diagnosis of that was not. Pricy bloody things.

Richard rich.ms

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davidcole

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#1467507 11-Jan-2016 12:58

richms: The one that cost me with the insurance is they didnt cover the exhaust, and the catalytic converter failed because of a failed sensor making it run absurdly rich. The sensors and diagnostics for that were covered, but the fault of the blocked catalytic converter and diagnosis of that was not. Pricy bloody things.

Mine was EGR cooler

Aredwood

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#1468736 12-Jan-2016 21:02

Is the car a diesel one? If you only ever do short trips and / or around town driving don't get a modern diesel. As they need regular steady drives at motorway speeds to allow the particulate filter to be regenerated. If you don't do this the particulate filter will block up and will need the dealer to clean it or replace it. This applies to almost all modern diesels. Not just VW.

SATTV

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#1468753 12-Jan-2016 21:33

About 9 years ago I bought a Nissan Wingroad, fresh import,from a dealer, just passed compliance, we had an inspection done by VTNZ and they found that the rear right shock was leaking and something else, they said these were WOF issues.
I took the car back to the dealer and said that there were two major issues, he was really surprised and took it back to the compliance company, who had to fix them at their cost.

I think a second pair of eye's is a good idea, how may times do you see people on Fair Go complaining of car issues that would have been picked up by an inspection.

I have had two inspections done by VTNZ one in New Lynn and one in Kingsland and found both to excellent.
I had an inspection done years ago when I bought a car by private sale cant remember the name, gave the car a clean bill of health, the car blew the clutch in less than a week, while replacing the clutch Mitsubishi changed the brake pads as they were down to metal. My point is no inspection company is perfect, they are only as good as the staff on at the day.

John

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scuwp

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#1468768 12-Jan-2016 21:59

Yes. Definitely get it independently inspected. A mechanic you trust or the AA if not. Euro imports are notoriously expensive to maintain so do your due diligence.

(Ex VW Golf owner - awesome cars, but need lots of cash when things go wrong).

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rokki

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#1468857 13-Jan-2016 03:55

Hi I would recommend car inspection services.

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Toffeecrisp

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#1470331 13-Jan-2016 20:29

Thanks for all your replies, I ended up not going for the car as it was pointed out on the compliance check sheet that the car had a frontal impact.
Perhaps NZ new is a better idea. The search continues :)

iPhysc

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#1470364 13-Jan-2016 21:04

Just wondering if you did the import yourself?

Toffeecrisp

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1470373 13-Jan-2016 21:13

iPhysc: Just wondering if you did the import yourself?

No was through a dealer/importer in NZ