Need some help from UK'ers (long)

[Wickedmom75]

Hi everyone I live in Norfolk , Virginia and I have a small dilema (sp). Hubbie and I are looking into a buying a newer used car and have been trolling the various websites. My husband found a 2003 Honda accord for an unbelievable price ( yes I know that should tip me off right there) Well he emailed the person and got a response and I should like you to peruse it and tell me what you think , it seems a bit fishy to me but then again I have no knowledge of UK registrations on US cars ( even though hubby is in the military we have gone nowhere) any more info I get I will pass on . Thanks for any help you can give me.

This is the response email:Hello there,
First of all I want to thank you for contact me and your interest in my car.My husband was recently promoted so we had to move in London, United Kingdom. We brought the car with us,but I can't drive it here because cars from here are with the steering wheel on right ,and this it have the steering wheel on left so for me this car is useless. So please try to understand my situation. I tried to sell it here, but registering it again costs a lot since it's the U.S. model.The car is bought from US and is made for US market.The price I want to obtain for it is $3,310.The car is like new, completely working,low miles, with 3 years EXTENDED, INTERNATIONAL and TRANSFERABLE warranty, which will be honored at any dealer in your country. It is US model with US specs and passed the US test emissions. All the manuals and the original ocumentation are written in eight languages.The car will be delivered from London, United Kingdom and I will take care of all shipping and insurance charges. I've made some research and the best and fastest way I can ship with is using World Cargo Express insured and it takes between 3-5 days to arrive at your door.You won't have to pay for customs or any additional taxes when it will arrive in your country.I would like to use PayPay (www.paypay.com) for this deal because it is a large purchase and I want a smooth transaction. Also you will have 5 days to see it, test it and inspect it, and if you will not keep it, they will refund you all your money.If you agree with these terms, please reply me and I will be more than glad to provide you with further information how to purchase the car asap.Looking forward your email and your Final Decision about this car.Mail me asap if you are still very very interested in my car because now i have more buyers still interested in my car.Thank you!
Pictures: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mkhar02/album?.dir=/7915re2
Description: Miles: 34680, Doors: 4, Transmission: Automatic, Interior: Tan, Engine: 4 - Cyl., Year: 2003, Exterior: Gold, Engine: 2.4L DOHC 16-valve i-VTEC I4 LEV-certified engine, Fuel Type: Gasoline, AC, Auxiliary Pwr Outlet, Climate Control, Clock, Cruise, Driver Lumbar, Dual Climate Control, Dual Heated Seats, Heated Driver Seat, Leather Shifter, Leather Steering Whl, Power Driver Seat, Power Locks, Power Mirrors, Power Steering, Power Windows, Rear Vents, Sunroof, Tachometer, Telescoping Wheel, Tilt, Tint, Wood Inlays, Drivers Front Airbag, Dual Front Airbags, Keyless Entry, Rear Defroster, Security System, Side Airbags, Variable Wipers, AM/FM, Anti-Theft, CD Changer, In-Dash CD Changer...and much more!!!

 

[Minniespal]

Sounds very fishy to me.

 

[T16GEM]

Do you know what ..... I wouldn't touch it! It must have cost them a lot to get it over to the UK (supposing that is where it really is - even if it exists) so I am sure that they would have known that we have right hand drive cars.

I think you would be better off looking for a vehicle nearer to you. JMO
what do other UKers think?

 

[Dicky Knee]

Sounds a bit dodgy to me. There are many people who drive left hand drives cars in the UK.....it's just a little more tricky. Re-registering isn't a major issue; a friend of mine brought his french car over a couple of years ago, left it at the garage for the morning and picked it up in the afternoon.

The fact that they are selling so cheaply should really give concern...it costs a lot of money to transfer a car from the UK to the US.

 

[Wickedmom75]

Thanks guys , I wanted to make sure I wasn't reading into things. I will pass on the info to my hubbie. Thank You again. Susan

 

[Boo Boo Too]

This is the response email:My husband was recently promoted so we had to move in London, United Kingdom. We brought the car with us,but I can't drive it here because cars from here are with the steering wheel on right ,and this it have the steering wheel on left so for me this car is useless. So please try to understand my situation.

That is completely not true.

One of my neighbours owns a left-hand-drive BMW 5 series estate car. He works for the armed forces and must have picked it up in Europe whilst living/working over there (Europe is also left-hand-drive). His car now has a British registration, but it was not bought in the UK, is left-hand-drive and not British spec....

There are a number of left-hand-drive cars in the UK. For years it has been cheaper to buy new cars on the European continent than in the UK. Now you can get the European car dealers to sell you a right-hand-drive model, but many years ago that wasn't possible - so people bought the left-hand-drive models and brought them back to the UK....

That being said, I would not choose (or like!) to drive a left-hand-drive car over here in the UK (because you visibility will not be as good - especially for overtaking and alike).... BUT, in the UK, you don't HAVE to have a right-hand-drive car.

I tried to sell it here, but registering it again costs a lot since it's the U.S. model.[/COLOR]

I don't belueve that is true either. AGAIN, when buying new cars from a continetal Europe dealer, these cars are provided with their French/German/Dutch registration plates etc. People routinely buy cars in continental Europe, bring them back to the UK and change them to British registrations. I believe that the registration fee is £38 - http://www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/exptimpt.htm - hardly breaks the bank...

I would be very suspicious of this seller (they don't seem to know what they are talking about...) and wouldn't touch the car with a very long barge pole...

Boo

 

[kkymmy]

forget about the car, I was put off by the bad english!!!
I've NEVER heard of or used paypay....and this 'seller' seems to think that it will be paypay and not themselves who will refund the money if the 'car' isn't satisfactory!

 

[UKDEB]

Very nice photos, but not taken in the UK, so they must have been taken before arrival here. I wonder why you'd take such shots of a car you intended to keep.

 

[kkymmy]

insurance purposes....my mum does it every time she gets a new car

 

[Boo Boo Too]

I've NEVER heard of or used paypay....and this 'seller' seems to think that it will be paypay and not themselves who will refund the money if the 'car' isn't satisfactory!

Paypal is ok (have used it before), but I would have to trust the seller before using it.

Very nice photos, but not taken in the UK, so they must have been taken before arrival here. I wonder why you'd take such shots of a car you intended to keep.

Agree, hadn't looked at the photos (was put off by the lies/untruths before that stage...), but very true/odd!

I am not convinced about the "will not have to pay taxes either".

If the seller was both reputable and had ANY sense at all, they would have realised that the UK is right-hand-drive, that a left-hand-drive is not the most sensible car to have over here and would have sold it before leaving the US (it would not have been cheap to ship over here and wouldn't be cheap to ship back either...).

"World Cargo Express" doesn't have a working website (which I can't believe) - the whole thing COULD be some form of smuggling (drugs or whatever) scam... not something you would want to get caught up with!

Boo

 

[dazeddaisy]

As others have said you can buy, and register left hand drive cars here. Its slightly more paper work but not that much more. Nor does it cost more.

Also you would be charged custom fees. The only items you are not charged custom fees on are books, and paper work (there is a few others, but its nothing like a Car).

Paypal is a pain in the butt to try to get money back off them. You can get money, but it takes time. Its not as safe as people think it is.

I would avoid it at all cost.

 

[Wickedmom75]

Well I told hubby what all of the UK Dis'ers said so he has said we will definitely not pursue this vehicle. He was surprised I asked but I figured you guys knew what was what. Thanks again Susan

 

[kkymmy]

Paypal is ok (have used it before), but I would have to trust the seller before using it.

but this isnt paypal....its paypay! v dodgy if you ask me!

 

[Boo Boo Too]

but this isnt paypal....its paypay! v dodgy if you ask me!

Doh! Yes, you are right (of course).

Yes the whole thing is VERY dodgy.... the seller is trying to sound reputable and plausable, but none of it rings true (too many lies, half-truths and use of reputable-sounding-but-probably-quite-dodgy companies....)

Boo

 

[angel659]

forget about the car, I was put off by the bad english!!!
I've NEVER heard of or used paypay....and this 'seller' seems to think that it will be paypay and not themselves who will refund the money if the 'car' isn't satisfactory!

Hi I agree 100% I was thinking that as soon as I started reading it.

Dont go ahead with this deal its a con.

Well done for asking. People like that who prey on people who are nieve.