Is the FTO experiencing a Renaissance?

[Mustang]

In the last 1 to 2 years, Pretty much all the FTO's on the Irish market were '95's. Even finding a '96 was difficult enough at times, anything newer fell into the 'hens teeth' category. And there seemed to be none coming into the country either. A quick look at carzone, shows that the market is now flooded (relatively speaking) with '97, '98 facelift cars. Renaissance? Knock on effect of import restrictions in the UK preventing import of facelift cars? Inevitable that the newer facelift cars would eventually start flooding in? Has the insurance market changed so much? (I believe it was this that killed off FTO imports in the first place).
Are we so rich that the excessive insurance is no longer a concern?
All of the above

[CJ]

Knock on effect of import restrictions in the UK preventing import of facelift cars?

This is the biggest driver in my mind. Insurance has calmed down a certain amount (though not by a large margin) over the past year, and the most important of all is the huge positive publicity that this site generates for the FTO

CJ

[pergau]

It's the cost of the later models that bothers me. 13k or 14k for a 98 seems to be a lot compared to the vaule of a 95.

I know that it's not that much compared to other makes but I'm very happy with my 95 and although i'd love one with ABS, TCS, airbags etc I don'tknow if it is worth changing.

Reading this back I might have aswered my own question.

[Myfeckin FTO]

It's the cost of the later models that bothers me. 13k or 14k for a 98 seems to be a lot compared to the vaule of a 95.

I know that it's not that much compared to other makes but I'm very happy with my 95 and although i'd love one with ABS, TCS, airbags etc I don'tknow if it is worth changing.

Reading this back I might have aswered my own question.

This has been going around in my head for a bit as well - Is it really worth spending an extra 5-8K for a newer FTO and then spend more on it to bring it to the spec your last car was at. So far the answer for me is NO.

[Neil]

and dont forget about half of that difference is simply poxy VRT lads, difference between 95 and 98 in irish illegal tax alone is about 2grand

[Neil]

in fact here ill post a handy little chart i made showing the VRT for various DE3A FTOs...

VRT 2000 manual €4158
VRT 2000 tip €3812
VRT 1999 manual €3581
VRT 1999 tip €3210
VRT 1998 manual €3234
VRT 1998 tip €2497
VRT 1997 manual €2683
VRT 1997 tip €1801
VRT 1996 manual €1866
VRT 1996 tip €1321
VRT 1995 manual €1283
VRT 1995 tip €840

Notice a 1997 manual has shot up nearly €700 since I last complained about it last May (when it was €2121). They only "offically" update twice a year, so they seem to have clocked that a few more are coming and wacked up the price to screw us accordingly

[Daz]

Also i know a sh*t load of 94/95/96 are flooding england at the mo but they are mostly sheds. the other reason 97-99 ftos are coming is that the shakem (spell) 10 year test in japan is extreemly strict (hence the sheds arriving in england) and the jap owners figure it best to get rid a year or 2 before the test so as to get some value from their car

Daz...

[Mustang]

Neil wrote

Notice a 1997 manual has shot up nearly €700 since I last complained about it last May (when it was €2121). They only "offically" update twice a year, so they seem to have clocked that a few more are coming and wacked up the price to screw us accordingly

FFS
That shower of unscrupulous F*(@er$.
While VRT annoys me, I accept that it's something we have to live with for now. It effects us all (once you own a car) and we all have to pay it either directly or indirectly. But to raise the price based on an increase of imports (and perceived demand). Thats just down right under hand and sneeky.

[paulkenny]

It's the cost of the later models that bothers me. 13k or 14k for a 98 seems to be a lot compared to the vaule of a 95.

I know that it's not that much compared to other makes but I'm very happy with my 95 and although i'd love one with ABS, TCS, airbags etc I don'tknow if it is worth changing.

Reading this back I might have aswered my own question.

Note that you are comparing the prices of mostly private sale 94 95 cars with garage sale 98ish cars so that also accounts for some of the difference. I have just imported my own 98 manual GPX and it was a LOT less than 14K. I know importing yourself is a risk but from my experience it has been well worth it.
I still got stung by those feckers in the VRT office though it was €400 dearer when I went to VRT it than it was at the time I bought it at auction only about 7 weeks ago!!
Just got my new P & J on the road yesterday grin on my face since!! I'll pop up some pics later.

[Dave]

will you be able to make the meet paul??
me and marc will be travelling up from the kildare direction tomorrow morning!

[paulkenny]

will you be able to make the meet paul??
me and marc will be travelling up from the kildare direction tomorrow morning!

Hi Dave,
Under normal circumstances I'd definitely be on for comin to the meet but I've got to head down to Cork this weekend for a mates engagement party. Still the trip down to Cork should give me a chance to bond with my new baby
p

[Dave]

ah no worries Paul, sure we may arrange a mini meet some other time!!



any ways back to topic!!


god damn government!!

[Neil]

That shower of unscrupulous F*(@er$.

My thoughts exactly. Try explaning that to the biddy at the counter though...

[soc]

Isn't the reason there are more 98/99's on the market is because they can't be sold in the UK because of the new SVA test?

[CJ]

Isn't the reason there are more 98/99's on the market is because they can't be sold in the UK because of the new SVA test?

Quite right

Knock on effect of import restrictions in the UK preventing import of facelift cars?

CJ