jonathansargent Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 There has been a lot of correspondence on these forums about buying from a car supermarket. I thought it might be useful if I put my experiences down for others to read. I decided I wanted a MkV GTi – fairly basic spec – the CD auto-changer was the only thing I particularly fancied, but I did want a 5 door. In mid January I found a second hand one in Red at a local dealer – with 11000 miles on it, out of tax and very tired tyres. They wanted £19k (all but £5!) I was offered £8.5 k on my 02 clean Celica with 42k miles. Cost to change £10.5k. I thought this was steep. My wife – bless her – is an internet fiend. She went on line and found motor depot. They alleged they were selling MkV GTis – 5 door for £18k. Very half-heartedly I felled in the e-form….. Within half an hour Matt Gallagher phoned me – I was very suspicious – but he convinced me that they were full UK spec cars, imported through Holland. He couldn’t offer me any spec change they had a job lot with CD auto-changer and cruise (for Dutch legal reasons I understand) for £17995. I had a choice of red, silver, black or shadow blue. He asked what I wanted and without thinking I said “Red.” After becoming convinced that this was a genuine outfit, I asked him if he would quote me for my Celica. He asked what I wanted. I said £9k – he said “Deal”! I was gob smacked – was I really going to buy a car over the phone in five minutes? I said give me twenty minutes to make my mind up. He said sure – but the car could be gone in that time. I decided to take a chance and out the phone down. The deal was this – brand new, + one year tax + autochanger + cruise, cost to change £9.2k or seconds hand, no tax, knackered tyres and 11k on the clock for £10.5k. A no-brainer! I phoned him back and said I was going with the deal – he said the red was gone – so I went for the blue – my wife preferred it anyway. They took £250 on my card as deposit and I had to wait from mid January to 11 February. On 10th I drove up to Newark in the Celica – overnight in a Travelodge £10 (if you book 21 days in advance!). By 8.30 on the 11th I was at Motor Depot – for those of you that don’t believe this place exists – I am attaching a picture - you can just see my Celica on the right. Matt was very pleasant and helpful – showed me the car, and I had a look over it – no doubt, MkV GTi – UK spec (miles on the speedo and mpg on the midline computer). It looked gorgeous – with GB plates as requested and a full valet. No knocks on bodywork or wheels. It took about 40 minutes to do the paperwork and hand over the Celica keys and take the Golf. Motor Depot took the balance of the money by Switch – so even that was easy. I then spent about 30 minutes getting used to it – sorting out all my stuff, sat-nav etc. Then straight off from Hull to Ashford to pick up my wife and go to France for a few days holiday! The car was on Eurotunnel with 5 hours of purchase. So what do I think – now the best part of a week in? The car is an utter delight – I am running her in carefully and thoughtfully. With 800 miles up, I am letting her rev a little more once I was nearly up to 4000revs! It is a clever car – lots of gizmos and I enjoy it a lot. Value for money is fantastic. Also I am very impressed with the petrol consumption 33.5mpg overall at the moment. But I am driving her gently! Downsides – three so far: 1. The manual is in Dutch – Matt has said that he will get me a British one. 2. The car doesn’t have a space-saver tyre – she has a puncture repair kit (made by Dunlop) and an inflation pump. I don’t know if this is UK spec. I thought UK Golfs have a space saver… I am not too worried by this and have checked with the cops – there is no need to have a spare tyre for UK driving so long as you are not in a taxi! 3. The low tyre pressure light came on in France – PANIC! My wife managed to figure out from the manual that the tyre pressure info is inside the fuel filler (I had only filled three times and not seen it!) I checked the pressures at a French garage 2.1 to 2.2 bar – all round – low. I inflated them to 2.6 all round (slightly over spec but we had some booze on board and I wanted to re-set the sensors. When I switched on the sensor was still alight. I touched the Set switch – it flicked off then came back on. I then wondered if you had to push and hold to reset – I did – and voila – the light went out! If only I had an English manual – on the other hand I am figuring things out…. So on balance 800 miles in, my vote is solidly for Motor Depot. Yes, there are one or two annoyances – the manual mainly; but the car is fantastic and a real bargain. I know I only have a two year VW warranty and I don’t get the third year from VW UK, but I am saving over £3k….. If anyone wants to contact me and ask more detailed questions – please feel free to send me a private message. Meanwhile I will probably be asking zillions of stupid questions while I am waiting for the manual… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayza Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Sounds like you have a had a good experience thanks for the write up. Good to see you enjoying her!! I am around the 900 miles mark and have started to let her loose (so hard not too). Ref the manual, there is a guy on ebay selling them (just do a search on GTi wallet or something) and they are not expensive either upto you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathansargent Posted February 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Does your have a space saver Rayza? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spankit Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Steve did you find out the difference between motor deport and Allbrandsnew.co.uk? If they are linked or if they just happen to be next door to each other? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathansargent Posted February 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 I don't know if they are linked firms or not... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenjaminTDI Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Wow...do these folks have a website? Thanks for the write up, glad you're enjoying your new car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayza Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Hi Sussex, yes it has a space saver. I believe UK cars have space savers. But it does also mention in the manual about puncture repair kits and space savers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathansargent Posted February 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Yes sure they have a website.... I think they are sold out of the current lot of GTis which were by their own admission at a great price... http://www.motordepot.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 Space saver in the UK. Im sure you have check the rest of the spec is exact though. Alot of other make cars now only come with the puncture repair kits. MINIs, VW Lupo GTIs, Mk4 Golf R32, just to name a few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
william200 Posted February 19, 2006 Report Share Posted February 19, 2006 try motorprovider www.motorprovider.co.uk proper people and cars (my car had space saver) you wont go wrong here and I went in and chose my car at sheffield but if you are more choosey they did have various specs and colours coming but I WANTED ONE NOW and save £3200 !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 try Richard at Euroimports who also has stock and ordering facilities and on occassions also the R32 http://www.euroimports.co.uk/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathansargent Posted February 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 I am delighted to report that Motor Depot have today sent me an English Manual for my car. And guess what - i think i have the highline computer fitted as standard! I can adjust things like the duration of the lights on, the brightness of the footwell lights, units of measurement and all that good stuff... Things like the electirc mirrors used to be synchronised when adjusting the right one, I have been able to de-couple through the computer - now isn't that highline capability? Would be grateful to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nutkins Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Do you get a graphic picture of the car in the display when you get in? If yes then it's the Highline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Midline Highline Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathansargent Posted February 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Thanks Guys - its a highline! I get the pic of the whole car Nutkins and it looks like the highline in the pic u showed snoopy - but it doesn't show the gears at the bottom... But then would it on a manual? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nutkins Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Result then! - I passed up several used GTI's due to lack of Highline, might sound petty but it would bother me not having it when it's only a £40 option. It should really be standard - No gear display in the Manual car that's normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 [ QUOTE ] - but it doesn't show the gears at the bottom... But then would it on a manual? [/ QUOTE ] Your correct it will not show the gears i pinched the photos from a DSG thread. So another £45 saving Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathansargent Posted February 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Yes - thanks Nutkins! As Homer would say WHOOOOOOO!!!!! Yes - I would certainly have ordered it given the option! And when I asked Motor Depot they said it didn't have it - but I got it....!!! Any chance of help with the thread I just started on key numbers - dumb-ass me or what!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhs Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 And they still have a Dark Blue Pearl finish on sale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathansargent Posted February 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Yes - they seem to have a lot of higher spec GTis in - as Motor depot say: Electric Drivers Seat:Climatronic:18"" Monza Alloys:Xenons:Cruise Control:Park Pilot:15mm Sport Suspension:6CD:Electric Sunroof and much more!" - at 21k. I am just so pleased to have got mine at the price I did. 21k would have been outside my budget... Wanted to change for under 10k - and did! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppetboy Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Highline [/ QUOTE ] does the 85 miles refer to the range left of the fuel tank? glad I ordered the highline, I love all these features! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathansargent Posted February 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 yep! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonoNZ Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 The midline has all the same "trip computer" features, just smaller. The highline does allow you change various settings of the car, the midline does not allow this (has to be done by your dealer). Highline is the way to go, but the midline display I reckon is actually slightly higher resolution (imho) and looks classier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 [ QUOTE ] The highline does allow you change various settings of the car, the midline does not allow this (has to be done by your dealer). [/ QUOTE ] Not just the dealer anyone with VagCom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnie Posted March 29, 2006 Report Share Posted March 29, 2006 what settings can be changed by the highline that the midline cant do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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