All is not what it seems

2 of the left · February 20, 2012, 20:14

On buying my 2 I thought I had a UK Toyota edition - By checking that I had the 3 sensors onboard convinced that this was so - But now on researching the chassis number it appears that I am the "proud owner" of an IMPORT!!! - Question - Will this affect my insurance? s:? :? s:?

uktotty · February 20, 2012, 20:15

Yes and no
Depends on your insurance provider, what does your V5 say?

2 of the left · February 20, 2012, 20:17

V5 makes no reference to an import but does give the chassis number of course

Anonymous · February 20, 2012, 20:17

If you have 3 sensors then it is probably a "grey" European import which is more or less the same as having a UK one.

SteveJ · February 20, 2012, 20:27

My current '2 is a grey import - never had a problem with insurance. Ordering bits from Toyota using the reg number on the other hand doesn't work - I just use the reg from one of my old cars which usually does the trick s:)

s:)

2 of the left · February 20, 2012, 20:32

I was going to invest in an OBDII Reader - Out of the question now,I suppose! - With regard to using old reg no - won't cut it in this case - my last two Toyotas were Mk's 1 and 2 s:cry: :cry: s:cry:

uktotty · February 20, 2012, 20:37

NO!!
Only if the car is a JAP import, spend the £10 try it out, sell it for 310 if its doesnt work

markiii · February 20, 2012, 20:42

Eu import is to all intents and purposes a uk car

But you will need to tell the insurance company

2 of the left · February 20, 2012, 20:45

Quote from: "uktotty"NO!!
Only if the car is a JAP import, spend the £10 try it out, sell it for 310 if its doesnt work

Oh - cheers for that - I thought all imports were in the same category with regard to Readers - Well I will invest then!! Thanks again
310

Are you talking Euro's here!!! s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

2 of the left · February 20, 2012, 20:53

Well it looks like I'll have to contact the insurers then - for peace of mind if nothing else - No doubt in these straightened times they'll screw more coins of the Realm from me!! s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

uktotty · February 20, 2012, 20:58

Quote from: "2 of the left"
Quote from: "uktotty"NO!!
Only if the car is a JAP import, spend the £10 try it out, sell it for 310 if its doesnt work
Oh - cheers for that - I thought all imports were in the same category with regard to Readers - Well I will invest then!! Thanks again
310 Are you talking Euro's here!!! s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Lira s:)

s:)

Bloody shift key!

skyinsurance · February 24, 2012, 14:56

Quote from: "2 of the left"On buying my 2 I thought I had a UK Toyota edition - By checking that I had the 3 sensors onboard convinced that this was so - But now on researching the chassis number it appears that I am the "proud owner" of an IMPORT!!! - Question - Will this affect my insurance? s:? :? s:?

If the car is insured as a UK car then yes your insurance is potentially void.

There are many companies out there who cater for Import car insurance and it will not necessarily cost any more to insure than a UK model.

m http://www.skyinsurance.co.uk/car-club-insurance.html m

onion86 · February 24, 2012, 15:00

Quote from: "skyinsurance"There are many companies out there who cater for Import car insurance and it will not necessarily cost any more to insure than a UK model.

m http://www.skyinsurance.co.uk/car-club-insurance.html m

However, skyinsurance will cost you more for an import before you go getting any ideas s;)

s;)

skyinsurance · February 24, 2012, 17:43

Quote from: "onion86"However, skyinsurance will cost you more for an import before you go getting any ideas s;) s;)

Generally speaking , if there is a UK model , we wont charge any more for the import.

frogger · February 24, 2012, 18:06

And many standard insurers (e.g. those in gocompare-the-confused.com-moneysupermarket market) will also just tick a box to say import instead of UK, with no real change in price.

My jap import comes in the same as a normal roadster quote with admiral.
And admiral (and several other standard insurers) also came in hundreds of pounds cheaper than the import 'specialists' i rang around!

Anonymous · February 24, 2012, 20:12

QuoteUK Toyota edition

Have you notice any other spec differences from UK?
Got a two button Toyota key? Badges? Which side of the wheel are your indicators on? Got an LSD? Are your 3 sensors connected?

onion86 · February 25, 2012, 01:20

Quote from: "skyinsurance"
Quote from: "onion86"However, skyinsurance will cost you more for an import before you go getting any ideas s;) s;)

Generally speaking , if there is a UK model , we wont charge any more for the import.

The only reason I said that is because it seems to have been what I have observed. When I got my new car and transferred the insurance over (and all modifications) in December I was told that the premium on the new car was less so I will only be charged an admin fee and can expect the premium to go down considerably at renewal time? Also, when I called AF they quoted me £270 less (almost 30%) on my new UK car than the Jap one even thought it's 5 years newer so I would assume worth more.

I know for a fact due to this forum that I've been paying considerably more for my J-Spec than other members have for UK cars, even younger people with less no claims with V6s / turbos. One of the main reasons I got a new car is due to the decreased premium I will now get from having a UK car so if that's not the case then sky have obviously been lying to me for the last 4 years. Even when I first got the car in 2008 (I'd only quoted on a UK one as I hadn't invisiged an import costing more as it's the same car) my first premium was almost double what I had been quoted on a newer UK spec car a week before and I almost regretted buying the car (£1100 vs £600) and when I asked why I was told it was due to it being an import... modifications, although just bodykit and alloys at the time, also made a slight difference, but I was informed I was only being charged a 10% premium for those.

I just thought it was a common thing (even thought it made no sense to me) as I saw the same with sky, adrian flux and direct line; swiftcover wouldn't even touch me on an import but would on UK. I agree Admiral etc. do seem to charge the same but they're no good to me without modification cover.

2 of the left · February 25, 2012, 01:45

Quote from: "dick2ski"
QuoteUK Toyota edition
Have you notice any other spec differences from UK?
Got a two button Toyota key? Badges? Which side of the wheel are your indicators on? Got an LSD? Are your 3 sensors connected?

Indicators are on left of wheel / wipers to the right No badges at rear - but vehicle had been involved in a rear end shunt as far as I can make out, by the odds of paperwork history I've got The key (The one and only ) is valet key which starts the engine operates the immobiliser and locks doors (glove box and rear stowages cannot be locked )What's an LSD? s:? :? s:?

Anonymous · February 25, 2012, 08:37

It may not be a valet key, but simply a basic key. To check, get a copy made. If it works, thats an indication that yours is a full MRS with no Toyota immobiliser.
Indicators on the left is the norm for UK cars.
An LSD or limited slip differential is a component in the gearbox casing, which distributes the power to the wheels. The original road testers, when the car was introduced, raved about the LSD as it improves traction at the limit. The car is unable to spin up one wheel as most cars do, and accelerates paricularly out of corners rather than just making smoke.

UK cars all had them as standard. I understand most MRSs didnt. Having said all that, during normal driving, you would never know. Its only when pushing hard that you notice.

Many cars over time will become a mix, with LSDs, gearboxes, controls etc being swapped around to keep them on the road.

normanh · February 25, 2012, 08:41

LSD = Limited slip differential, the bit that transfers the engine/gearbox output to the wheels, a diff enables the rear wheels to turn at differing speeds when going around corners. Without it leads to serious issues of staying on the road. A LSD is more complex than a standard diff and can have a number of advantages but at the expense of being more complex.

For the techically minded

m http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limited_slip_differential m

norman

2 of the left · February 25, 2012, 20:42

The more I dig for info on this motor, the more I'm convinced it's the genuine article - All legends within the vehicle are in English - The 3 sensors are connected - The immobiliser is onboard and works ( red light on centre of dash extinguishes when engine fires at start-up ) - Owners Handbook is for a MkIII Roadster Everything onboard is where it should be - also the alarm logos on side windows are the genuine article. The only thing that is amiss is the chassis number which has indicated an import!! s:oops: :oops: s:oops: The original stereo/CD unit that was in the vehicle at purchase was a Model TM 4201

Anonymous · February 25, 2012, 21:02

Do you have an alarm under the spare wheel?

2 of the left · February 25, 2012, 21:06

Quote from: "life of bryan"Do you have an alarm under the spare wheel?

That is the only thing I haven't checked!! but have relevant alarm descriptors on side windows

2 of the left · February 25, 2012, 21:08

I've taken out emergency wheel twice and not noticed any alarm unit there!

Anonymous · February 25, 2012, 22:07

This pretty much covers things.

Quote from: "GSB"An EU Import is essentially the same as the UK car. (in fact it IS the same car - and dont let any clueless Toyota Tech. tell you otherwise...)

The key differences between UK/EU cars (I'm talking 2000-2003 here - not sure about the later model) are the ones the Toyota GB add at the port when it arrives. Toyota GB obtain all thier MR2's as EU spec, and then add:

Big Sony Stereo
Alarm, (with siren in the front luggage bay)
Glass Etching
Roadster Badge
Locking wheel nuts.

Plus a couple of other things I cant remember.

If your car is missing these, particularly the alarm as the others are easy to add yourself, it's probabley an EU import.

Another giveaway is the leather interiors if fitted. UK cars are embossed with the "roadster" logo. Mine (from Denmark) are embossed "MR".

So the UK and EU cars are the same beast, apart from the small fortune saved by the original purchaser. Warranty is the same for all EU cars, insurance is unaffected as the car was first registered in the UK and it has an EU certificate of conformity.

Jap-spec cars are a slightly different beast...

They tend to be imported as second hand cars, with all service history in Japanese... They arent type approved like the UK/EU cars, so they have to be put through an SVA test. Insurers may charge extra for them as they are a grey import. The theres the differences in spec. You're unlikely to get an un molested J-spec car, the japanese are mod crazy. The giveaway to a J-spec car is it doesn't have a 3rd O2 sensor after the main Cat. Thats not the only difference though, there are dozens...