Can anyone remind me of the pros/cons of buying a secondhand car that has been brought back from the Channel Islands? I remember reading something about dealers/manufacturers using the C/Islands to offload stock, but I can't recall the ins and outs of the story. Scam or not?
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They are usually much older than the registration implies. Check carefully the date stamps on the plastics (underside of the ashtray) and the year stamps on the windows. Also, because they are older than they seem, they will have suffered damage from standing around in compounds for months maybe even years on end. Finally they will have been laundered as Channel Island Hire cars to legally avoid VAT. The speed limit is 40mph, so they will have spent most of their working life in traffic jams.
HJ
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I think the bit about traffic jams may be wide of the mark. I don't remember seeing many jams in the Channel Islands. Cruising gently on country roads would be my description. Perhaps some folk who live there will give their opinions.
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Sorry John, I agree with David on this one, however it is true to say that it is probable CI cars never get fully warmed up, which we all acknowledge is not
good.
We took this into account when we purchased our then 6 month old Fiesta LX, build codes suggest the car was made in late June98 Registered in Jersey August98, we bought it in Feb99 from Trade Sales in Slough, with balance of Ford warranty, just to make sure that the warranty covered the car I did telephone Ford to give them the new registration no.
Buying the car this way we believe we got a far better car for less money than a new Fiesta 1.3 Encore which was within our budget at the time.
Andrew
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Having relations in the Channel Islands I'll say this, most cars don't get warmed up properly, ever, mostly 10-15 mins at a time, or if they're run for longer they are in traffic jams (they DO have traffic jams in rush hour just as we do!). Most cars never go above 40mph, oh and by the way HJ the speed limit is 35mph, not 40.
Knowing some of the garages, people are *advised* to service their cars every 6 months because of the fact that all their journeys are short, so maybe things will be marginally better looked after than here on the mainland.
I suppose the gear box and clutch will have had a harder life than they would here, possible points to look at. Um, nearside wheels/tyres. Guernsey drivers have a fond habit of ramming the cars up on pavements in the slightly narrower roads so look for damage there.
Mark
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It might be advisable to treat a vehicle that has been used in the way described as "new" regardless of the mileage.
If it has only had light usage it will not have "run in" and there is a danger of seisure or breakage if you get it off the ferry and thrash it up the motorway.
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If anyone still looks this far back and is interested in info two decades out of date here's my contribution from beginning of the 80's:
Guernsey 5 miles by 7miles - if you're a visitor and get lost just head for the sun/moon till you hit the coast, then drive round it until you recognise something. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes.
Population: 30,000. Cars: 50,000 (mainly hire - used in the summer, most of them parked up in the winter. Sensible locals don't buy: stuck in traffic jams all summer, can practically get paid to hire a car in winter).
Knew a guy who took his test in summer - never got out of first gear. Only just managed to get round the block and back to the test centre before the test finished.
Stopped in Alderney for the weekend with a local. Took me for a drive round the island. Out of his drive, and set off along his road. Asked him how long it would take to get round. What do you mean, he said, we're home!
Perhaps things have changed.
PS Don't forget you're never more than a few miles from the sea!
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