Japan Motors Glasgow feedback

[mick85]

I'm hoping this is the right place to post, wondering if anyone has any experience of buying cars from Japan Motors Glasgow based over in Wishaw?

 

Looking to purchase a car they have so would welcome any feedback. Thanks

[Clairasday]

Hi Mick, 

 

I know its been a few years since you posted your question! Im wondering if you did go along to the JMG dealer in Wishaw?  If you did, how did you find them please?  I am in Dundee and am hoping to buy an Alphard and would very much appreciate knowing whether it is worth popping along to Wishaw?  
 

Thanks in advance,

 

Clair 

[Michael Brown]

Don't be afraid to travel to look see. I live 5.5 miles south of Chichester near south coast. I drove to Leicester, then Halesowen west of Birmingham, then Exeter, where I bought my Hybrid.  One has to be prepared to travel.

[Clairasday]

Thanks Michael.  I have been all over Scotland chasing leads and cars that might be 'the one'.  I know what I am looking for but I am also really cautious as I recently had my fingers burned with a car that has turned out to be a disaster leaving me with not a lot of money to buy a replacement (not a Japanese import - a Vauxhall!) 

 

I have to say that I have tried to book an appointment with the place in Wishaw but so far they have not got back to me - hopefully they will.  Castle prestige came highly recommended and have been really helpful,  but they do not currently have the right car for me.  Can I ask where you ended up buying please? Was it a good experience? 

 

One thing that is worrying me a bit is that a car I looked at had low mileage and looked good but then I noted that the interior was really tired - particularly the drivers seat... this left me asking how a car with 50k miles could have such a worn seat.... I didnt buy it as I suspect that it might have been 'clocked' ..... unless the Japanese owner loved it so much that all he did was sit in the drivers seat all day? 

 

Thanks again and in advance for my additional questions!

 

Regards,  

 

Clair 

 

 

[Rojie]

Hello Clair,

 

Was the drivers seat leather ?

As the vehicle sits quite high the the kerb, and most Japanese drivers are quite short the squab can incur quite a lot of wear with ingress and egress.

Bit if the leather is 'just cracking' it should be able to be refurbished at reasonable cost.

 

If the vehicle was clocked in Japan you will never know; but it is just not consistent with Japanese culture.

 

The Auction Sheet is, imho, the acid test. You must insist on a copy.

 

There are also BIMTA certification and CarVX reports regarding 'mileage'.

 

Most imports have their speedometer and odometer converted to miles from km.

 

The technique does offer the opportunity for clocking, not that I am accusing anyone of such activity.

[Clairasday]

Hi Rojie, 

 

 

It was a fabric seat and really quite worn but I had not considered the above.  However,  the import certificate for the car above was also not available so there was no way to check.  I was mindful of your previous kind advice and did not buy.  Doing my research I did discover that sometimes (although rare) there may be a discrepancy in mileage from Japan,  but,  this will normally be marked on the import documents with an astrix.

 

I know the right car is out there for me - we just need to find each other!

Thanks again

 

Clair 

[Michael Brown]

The garage I went to was Topsham Car Sales in Exeter,  EX3 0QH. They had been advertising on Ebay and I liked the colour, Olive Green. I'd been staying at my Mothers house in Stratford Upon Avon and drove down to look at it. I was satisfied and left a £500 deposit and asked if they could deliver it to Stratford Upon Avon, They said yes they could. I then drove home to my house in West Sussex. A few days later I was back in Stratford to receive the 2.4 Alphard. I'd had the use of Mothers Toyota Auris as I am insured to drive it. I bought the Alphard on 27th August 2022.

[Rojie]

13 hours ago, Michael Brown said:

The garage I went to was Topsham Car Sales in Exeter,  EX3 0QH. They had been advertising on Ebay and I liked the colour, Olive Green. I'd been staying at my Mothers house in Stratford Upon Avon and drove down to look at it. I was satisfied and left a £500 deposit and asked if they could deliver it to Stratford Upon Avon, They said yes they could. I then drove home to my house in West Sussex. A few days later I was back in Stratford to receive the 2.4 Alphard. I'd had the use of Mothers Toyota Auris as I am insured to drive it. I bought the Alphard on 27th August 2022.

 

Joseph, at Topsham Car Sales, has been in the importation business for many years.

[Clairasday]

Thanks both.  I have been all over today looking for 'the one' but did not find it.  I am now thinking that it might be better to wait until I have a bit more money so that I can afford a later model and perhaps a hybrid ( later one).  I can only hope that I will eventually track down the right car for me!

Thank you both very much for your help

 

 

 

 

[Rojie]

13 hours ago, Clairasday said:

Thanks both.  I have been all over today looking for 'the one' but did not find it.  I am now thinking that it might be better to wait until I have a bit more money so that I can afford a later model and perhaps a hybrid ( later one).  I can only hope that I will eventually track down the right car for me!

Thank you both very much for your help

 

 

 

 

 

I am sure you will find the right vehicle.

 

As with any pre-owned good, anyone can buy easily, but it can take time to find a problem free purchase.

 

There are some poor vehicles out there, we read about them on this forum; but there are many well cared for examples too.

 

The DVLA resource for MOT history is always a good place for an initial assessment of the condition.

Ongoing advisories is not a history that I would be hoping for.

However, it seems that the MOT testers are finding more and more advisories to demonstrate their thoroughness !

 

Good Luck with your search, it is the time when under used vehicles tend to enter the market, market seasonality and all that.

 

 

[PaulE]

Try Vine Place Motors in Durham where I bought mine, they give good advice and not pushy. They list their vehicles on their website.

Used cars for sale in Durham & County Durham: Vine Place

[Clairasday]

 

Thanks Paul,  I did call Vine place last week about one of their cars but it was a V6 and I am concerned about fuel consumption.  I am leaning towards a hybrid but am still trying to understand what to look for ( i know the earlier ones had problems).  Also,  I am worried that I may not be able to find the right mechanic here in Dundee ... I am currently doing more research than I did at Uni!

 

Thanks again to you and all for help and advice.  

-much appreciated.