Buy a Cupra from Motorpoint

[mnkiboy]

Hi Guys,

I'm off to look at a 'brand new' Cupra from Motorpoint tomorrow.

Now i'm aware that these cars are Euro imports, and that they have been sat at Motorpoint for some time. Does anyone have any pointers as to what I should be looking for? I've been assured that these cars are to UK spec, and I imagine they will be bog standard; no bluetooth, xenon lamps etc.
The cars are £3K cheaper than list price, though part of me thinks I might be better off going for an older better spec car for around £13-14K.

Finally, anyone got any experience, good or bad, of buying from Motorpoint? I've already been given a p/x valuation, which wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Any comments welcome!


Andy

 

[Nath.]

All cupras have xenons I think.

I know of a mint yellow one with aero pack and all the extras on an 07 plate for 14k

 

[InfernalBadger]

All cupras have xenons I think.

You think wrong

Xenons were dropped for the MY08 model I believe

I wouldn't buy an import one. Try Irfan and see if he can match whatever offers you're getting. Also, I wouldn't get one without at least bluetooth.

 

[Fl@pper]

The cars are £3K cheaper than list price

how much cheaper are low mileage - one owner cars going for ?

 

[mnkiboy]

Low mileage 58 reg cars go for a similar price, maybe a little less.
Maybe i'm just getting over excited about getting a brand new 09 reg car. I guess there's nothing wrong with going for an 08 or 58 instead.

I think i'll wait until i've seen the car tomorrow before I make a decision.

 

[SeanCorky]

What are the major differences though in buying one (euro imported)?

 

[phil3012]

Xenons were dropped around about the start of 2008, MY08 was actually released in May 2007 (indicated by the black rather than chrome grill).

I would triple check the spec of cars at motorpoint. I got a quote for a Golf GTi from them before i got the Cupra.

You need to add things like a delivery and cleaning charge onto the quote which is a few hundred pounds, insurance may be more as its an import and used value is considerably less. I know a few people stung by the used value.

Check that the spec includes basic items like an alarm as this is often missed off non U.K models. You may struggle with insuarnce if it doesn't have one.

 

[mnkiboy]

Good points raised there, I hadn't thought about the insurance aspect. Will certainly check that it has an alarm to UK spec.

 

[Noel<>leoN]

I looked at motorpoint before, but didn't go for it. It isn't a bad deal, I couldn't find anything to match the price for a new car, but it wasn't really like for like.

The most important thing is the warranty: a new UK car gets 3 years: 2 years manufacturer and 1 year dealer. The imports don't get the dealer warranty, so you're down to just the 2 years manufacturer warranty. Dealers will do this, but they won't be your greatest fan for not buying in the UK in the first place. Secondly, the warranty started from when they bought the car in europe. This averaged about 4 months before your purchase would be when I looked into this. Therefore, you'd probably get around about 20 months (2 years - 4months) warranty on the new car. In the current climate its def wirth checking how much warranty they have left- who knows how long they sat around for.

I agree with the above comment about lesser resale value as well.

Xenons were indeed dropped for cupras a while back, so they're only an optional extra now.

I guess the advantage is that you can get an unowned car for a relatively low price. Personally, I felt it was a better choice to either go for a nearly new car (probably with more warranty), but already driven by someone else, or else pay slightly more for a good deal on a new UK car, where the extra cost could be looked at as an extra 12-16 months of warranty and better resale value.

Hope that helps...

 

[Fl@pper]

I guess the advantage is that you can get an unowned car for a relatively low price.

is it actually a new (1 owner being you) car ? i thought they were all pre registered ?

 

[Greerso]

I talked to them before about a seriously cheap GTI Golf and I think all the points above are what you want to be considering. Spec, insurance and warranty issues - Bottom line - would you consider buying a 3 year old import? - what you save at this end in terms of purchase price is gonna balance out when you try to sell it as a used import. That said the deals are very tempting

 

[phil3012]

Low mileage 58 reg cars go for a similar price, maybe a little less.
Maybe i'm just getting over excited about getting a brand new 09 reg car. I guess there's nothing wrong with going for an 08 or 58 instead.

I think i'll wait until i've seen the car tomorrow before I make a decision.

Thinking about it, I would also check it will be an 09 reg car.

There is a possibility they have been registered abroad first and if this was before 1st March it couldn't be registered in the U.K as on 09 plate.

 

[tgp_motorsport]

I heard that imports were never wax oiled or treated underneath for protection from salt, grit and water. May be wrong, but just what i was told a while back.

 

[chrisboyle999]

this isnt at the foot of every page on the site for no reason;

"All prices exclude Road Fund Licence and a First Registration Fee at the current rate where applicable. Vehicles are supplied with balance of manufacturers warranty where available. Vehicles may not be to UK spec. Specification subject to confirmation on inspection. You may not be the first registered keeper."

 

[mnkiboy]

The car has 2 years warranty starting January 09, so i'll only be getting 18 months. Tax and first reg fee bump the price up to £17360.

I only presumed it would be an 09 reg. If not, then i'm certainly not interested and will go for an 08/58 low mileage car instead.

I'm quickly going off the Motorpoint idea!

 

[phil3012]

The car has 2 years warranty starting January 09, so i'll only be getting 18 months. Tax and first reg fee bump the price up to £17360.

I only presumed it would be an 09 reg. If not, then i'm certainly not interested and will go for an 08/58 low mileage car instead.

I'm quickly going off the Motorpoint idea!

Sounds like it would have to be a 58 plate then.

I'm no expert but you're not allowed to make a car look newer than it is. I pressume they would take the date first registered which sounds like Jan 09 if that's when the warranty starts.

For £17360 I'd shop around the U.K dealers and see what they can do, not sure if you could get it that low, but you should be able to get a good discount off RRP.

 

[GainfulShrimp]

I'm just off to pick up my FR TFSI... from Motorpoint!

It's been registered to me first (i.e. I'm the first registered keeper) and is an 09 plate, although I had to arrange insurance first (based on the chassis number), for some reason. It's an import, but seems to be UK spec inc alarm etc (plus bluetooth and sunroof).

To be honest, Motorpoint's customer service has been pretty p*** poor. It took them weeks to find the correct part to swap the km/h speedo for a mph one - which has now been done at a main dealer local to them. And generally they've needed kicking every step of the way. But then, it's cheap for a new car.

Wish me luck!

 

[InfernalBadger]

The car has 2 years warranty starting January 09, so i'll only be getting 18 months. Tax and first reg fee bump the price up to £17360.

Just to let you know I got essentially a brand new (ex-demo with 20 miles on it) Cupra for £17k with bluetooth, convenience pack and black alloys. I think I'm the first registered owner as well (although I'd have to check).

So I wouldn't really say you're getting a good deal there.

 

[RobsCupra]

Just to let you know I got essentially a brand new (ex-demo with 20 miles on it) Cupra for £17k with bluetooth, convenience pack and black alloys. I think I'm the first registered owner as well (although I'd have to check).

So I wouldn't really say you're getting a good deal there.

You'll be the second registered keeper as the dealer that it was demo for will be the first.

 

[Nath.]

You'll be the second registered keeper as the dealer that it was demo for will be the first.

Agree, my new leon is the same deal