Imported Volvos

[Rich850R]

Really interested to see what people’s opinions are of all the imported stuff coming over here, it seems mostly 850s, but I’ve also seen a few P1 V70s and also P2 V70R’s

With the market becoming a little more diluted, does this devalue the U.K. spec cars??
Or do uk registered cars with provenance still hold a decent price
Cheers

[HankScorpio]

I bought a jap import P2 70R about 6 months ago. Bit of a risk as you generally don't know history or get any service info. Although as a generalisation, they do tend to look after their cars.

All the messages being in Japanese is a bit of a headache (can be sorted for about £60) and I could do without the speedo being in kph (again, easily sorted for a few quid).

When I come to sell it on, I expect to be selling it to someone who knows what they're looking at. I think they'll see its been looked after for the last 'x' years of my ownership. Has absolutely no rust as they don't salt the roads in Japan and is in exceptionally good condition (although it is used to cart around two kids and a massive dog, so this will deteriorate a bit).

With cars of this age, condition is everything. I've had one garage asking if it was a show car when it was up on the ramps and another (Volvo specialist) stating that it was a pleasure to work on as he'd normally be heating up bolts and fighting with them.

So to answer your question.... I don't think there will be too much difference in value between equal UK and imports. But I think the imports will be easier to sell due to condition.

I'm that happy with it, I've debated importing a few myself.

[tonyldee]

HI HankScorpio. Very interested in your post, particularly the pricing you quoted on "messages" and speedo conversion "for a few quid!" MORE information, please!

[Thekilt]

when i was looking at the possibility of getting an import, the only downside is the insurance is more for an import (i did a few checks on comparison websites verses UK vehicles, dont know about specialist insurance)
However Tax is lower i beleive?

[tonyldee]

Avoid price comparison sites for insurance. The "specialist" insurers will typically quote £150 over the odds. Direct line quoted £247. Others wanted £400-£500. Tax rates on, say, the V70 £265 ( same as my 960)

[HankScorpio]

Originally Posted by tonyldee

HI HankScorpio. Very interested in your post, particularly the pricing you quoted on "messages" and speedo conversion "for a few quid!" MORE information, please!

Volvo diagnostic in Rainham quoted me £60 to change the messages into English (which I really do need to get done). This only changes the messages though and having the milage displayed in miles rather than km is apparently a much bigger job.

Lockwood international have replacemt (mph) dials for around £65.

Some imports I've seen have dials in kph with mph in the middle. Sadly mine is just kph. In all honesty it doesn't bother me as after a week you'll be completely used to it. At the end of the day you o ly to remember the conversions for 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 so it's not hard remembering 5 numbers (and everyone knows 50 mph is 80 kph)

I didn't have any issues with insurance. Cost was about the same as the 13 plate diesel A6 I was previously driving. I've just renewed with Chris Knott (advertised on here somewhere) and they beat the renewal.

Give me a shout in 18 months, there's a good chance mine will be for sale. With the exception that I've just ripped the 'unlocked' tab on the back seat when it got stuck on my wedding ring, it's in fantastic condition

[Danf44]

Hi Hankscorpio
I’m hoping to get some info if possible on the import you have, I’m going to test drive and look at one on Saturday, my main question is, do you really need to bother with underseal and the car I’m looking at has a Japanese HU- have you had to do much to get yours working on the uk radio etc? Any input would be greatly appreciated as I’m 99% sure I will be purchasing the car but just want to know about the underseal situation along with it’s the radio situation........

TIA.

[HankScorpio]

Hey Dan

Apologies in advanced for any spelling/gammer mistakes. Just finished making a batch of rum and I'm a bit ****ed. I also have caveman fingers and a little phone.

The one I bought looked like it was never really used in the wet so the underseal is still in good nick...although I now live on a single track road in the arse end of nowhere and it's muddy tractor season, so I'll probably look to have it retreated next winter. As mine is in such good nick and I'm intending on keeping it, it seems worthwhile. My mate just had his old school bmw underseal edand it wasn't a big bill.

Got to admit, I'm still without a stereo. Thought I'd miss it, but really don't. Started making one with a raspberry pi, but got it 90% of the way there and had to move on to another project. Maybe if I'd have used my car a bit more this year, I would have moved it up the priority list. I am debating just throwing in a second hand double din one for the time being. The face plate is about £20.

Give it a good check over, listen for suspension rattles and do the PCV rubber glove check. If its a fresh import it will have no history, so I did oil and belts as a precaution. There was no sticker saying when belts were done, so I had to assume they hadn't.

I took it straight to a local garage that would let me look underneath as soon as I bought it to look for immediate problems. I then took it to a a recommended local indi Volvo garage for a once over when I needed the front top mount fixed. They were awesome, they spend all day under volvos so knew exactly what to look at.

[Danf44]

Thank you for the super quick response!

I’m based not far from A.R.Mills So planning on taking the car there straight away, had a good quote for belts all and all auxiliary parts including water pump etc..... the car comes with a double din after market Japanese interface, I’ll see if I can get that running in English with an expander fitted. I’d rather listen to my on music either way so if it’s blue tooth compatible, happy days.

I’ll keep you posted on how it goes with the test drive Saturday and thanks for the input around cream etc. If this isn’t the one I’ll keep looking as I have that itch now and my father worked on the original design why back in the days of TWR...... Got a good feeling about this one and it will be used as my daily offset against another vehicle or two. Hope the rum went down well! Reminds me I need to stock up now over the period too 🥃🍻

[DAN AT ADRIAN FLUX]

Hi.
If anyone ever needs any help with insurance for an imported vehicle then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.