Should I consider a UK import?

Do you think UK imports reliable? What about rust under body from salt? What about clocking?

Jason Kelly (Dublin 18)

Apr 2013 Filed under: importing

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Expert answer

Hi Jason,

UK imports are no more or less likely to be reliable or unreliable than are original Irish market cars. They're made in the same factory and road conditions are not so different. It could be said that we tend to look after our cars less well than our British cousins, and that prolonged exposure to Irish tarmac may wear out suspension components that much faster, but a careful inspection of any potential purchase should weed out anything suffering from either issue.

As for salt, we salt and grit our roads here now too, and as long as the car is washed properly on a regular basis, there should be no trouble. Again, if the underside of any car you're looking at buying is rusty, just walk away.

Clocking is, sadly, a serious issue and one could almost call it endemic. The best you can do is to check the mileage against the service record and have the vehicle checked by one of the car history experts such as Cartell.ie.

Hope that helps

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe