Where
do you buy an RV8?
A good selection of RV8s is advertised for sale on the RV8s for Sale
webpages on the V8 website and there a several well known RV8 specialists
who actively trade RV8s and regularly get good member satisfaction
reports - in the UK Clive Wheatley mgv8parts, Brown & Gammons
and Classic and Sportscar Consultants. In Australia there are James
Brown at the MG Car Centre in Tasmania and Stuart Ratcliffe at RV8
Cars Australia in Sydney. The supply of RV8s reimported from Japan
is a very important factor in both the UK and Australian markets,
but how do you go about getting one?
There are three options:
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1
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Should
you play safe and buy from a specialist UK based RV8 reimporter
so you can inspect the car before making a payment? |
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2
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Commission
a UK based specialist to find an RV8 for you in Japan that meets
your requirements? |
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3
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Should
you be more adventurous and use a local trader or agent in Japan
to get your RV8? |
Where can I get more information on RV8 reimports?
More information on RV8 reimports. More
List of specialist RV8 reimporters. More |
Using
a local trader or agent in Japan
Commissioning a local trader or agent in Japan to find an RV8 for
you is a route that needs careful thought. The clear advantage here
is that the local trader is on the ground in Japan and can attend
the auctions with relative ease. An experienced local trader acting
as your agent will have a good knowledge of the RV8 model and be able
to identify key condition features from their pre-auction inspection.
They will also understand the information on the auction reports and
service records which are of course in Japanese.
The local trader should have a good knowledge of the recent "knock
down" prices for RV8s and have a close understanding of the price
levels achieved at auction for various grades of condition and quality.
Where a UK enthusiast engages a local trader to act as his agent and
bid for an RV8, clear agency instructions will need to be issued and
confirmed regarding the bid price ceiling, the agent's fee and any
other costs so you will be able to feel confident over the final purchase
costs. You will also need to clarify the condition and quailty of
the RV8 you are seeking - not easy at long range, but it's an important
matter to cover thoroughly.
It is fair to say that some RV8 buyers have saved substantial sums
by dealing direct with commercial organisations in Japan, but unfortunately
we have also heard reports of some bad experiences. So if you do opt
for that route, it is wise to proceed with caution!
(17.10.08) |
Caution
with buying
sight unseen
Two key features of this purchase route are that a UK enthusiast
is buying "sight unseen" and you are remitting funds
to the local trader or agent prior to obtaining either ownership
or physical possession of the vehicle - shipping from Japan
takes several weeks, sometimes months. In these cases normal
prudent considerations of credit risk exposure arise as a substantial
sum of money is transferred to the trader's or agent's account.
Buying sight unseen and remitting funds in this way involves
an essential reliance on the integrity, skills and care of the
local trader or agent. It is essential you are completely satisfied
on those two counts before entering into any arrangement with
a local trader or agent in Japan.
Caution of over paying deposits
Any deposit paid to a local trader or agent should only be paid
with clear conditions agreed between the purchaser and local
party regarding the terms upon which they hold the deposit and
the circumstances when that deposit may be used in whole or
part by the local agent to offset his costs in the event of
a failure to find and purchase a
suitable RV8, an aborted purchase or a termination
of the engagement. |
Most purchasers
will feel it would be prudent to obtain legal advice to ensure
the engagement of a local agent or trader and the matters relating
to any deposit are clearly set out in a document to be exchanged
with the local party which would then become the legal agreement
between the parties.
Useful consumer protection when buying in your home market
In a V8 Bulletin Board posting, Alan Rennie commented "I
would prefer to buy a reimported RV8 from a UK based specialist
reimporter who had local inspectors in Japan who can check cars
out at the auctions to make sure the quality of the car is what
I had ordered and wanted. Plus with a UK based reimporter you
can inspect the car before paying for the car and have the benefit
of UK consumer protection law too. That will be a similar consideration
for members downunder I feel sure. Problems with long range
secondhand car deals where you are buying without sight of the
car can be difficult to resolve. If it should come to it, disputes
are very difficult to litigate overseas as in any case by then
the funds will have been paid over." |
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V8
Register - MG Car Club - the leading group for MG V8 enthusiasts at www.v8register.net |
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