More and more car buyers are thinking about buying an EU new car. To make your decision easier, I would like to share my experiences of the last months with you. Because I have also thought a lot about the purchase of a new EU car.
The advantages of an EU reimport over a new car in the German dealership are obvious:
- Much cheaper purchase price
- Lower depreciation
- No qualitative disadvantages
On the other hand, there are at first glance the following disadvantages of an EU-reimport car compared to a new car from Germany:
- Lower resale value
- Partly long delivery times
- equipment differs slightly
- Uncertainty about warranty services by dealers (I have also written an article about the experience with the new car warranty for EU re-imports)
How exactly my EU new car purchase went down, I will list in detail below. I had to spend a lot of patience at one point or another and experience some strange things.
The big experience report
chapter 1: the decision to buy
For a long time I thought about which car would be suitable for me and my family. I have long wavered between the new mazda 6 and the hyundai tucson. Generally two completely different cars. But I liked both of them very much in terms of handling and appearance. especially the mazda 6 convinced me with its noble interior. The tucson much more with its chunky SUV look. In the end the decision was made for the hyundai.
Directly in advance I was 100% sure that I will not buy a new car in germany, because I think this decision is completely stupid. The moment the car rolls out of hyundai’s yard, it loses ca. 15% in value. I was between the decision to buy a used with up to 20.000km, or the even better alternative a new EU car. I avoid the depreciation of a new car and get an almost brand new car.
Which car did I buy as an EU reimport??
- Hyundai tucson with 1,6liter and 177 hp 4WD – 7 speed automatic transmission
- Premium equipment with all extras (exception: no panoramic roof)
- List price approx. 41.000€
- Purchase price at hyundai with discounts ca. 36.000€
- purchase price at our EU dealer with 1% discount approx. 28,500€
Chapter 2: weighing the pros and cons
After I was sure which car would suit me best, I made a list of the advantages and disadvantages, which I am happy to share.
Advantages
- The purchase price:
- I have for my EU new car 28.500€ paid, which is a saving of 13.500€ to the list price and 7.500€ to the car dealer price corresponds. The price of course varies a little from dealership to dealership, depending on what discounts are granted.
- Due to the savings on the purchase of the car, there is automatically a lower loss of value. Generally, with approx. 10% to 15% are taken as a basis when leaving the yard. For very expensive cars these losses can be much higher. So the calculation in my case is quite simple. If I had bought in Germany, I would have lost 5400€ on the first day, while the loss on the first day of the EU car is 4275€.
- Whether the car is bought in germany or the netherlands, bulgaria or any other EU country is irrelevant. The cars are all made to the same quality standard. the parts are mostly imported from asia anyway and only the assembly takes place in an EU country.
Disadvantages
- Low resale value:
- Although it makes no sense from a logical point of view, but usually you get less money when selling the EU car. Buyers are not willing to pay the same price for an equivalent used EU car compared to a "German" car. At least this is what statistics show. And that, although the quality of an imported car is not worse. Nevertheless, this is often used as a price-reducing argument.
- Often two different types of cars are offered: stock vehicles and delivery vehicles. For vehicles in stock, the delivery time varies between a few days and up to 6 weeks. Delivery vehicles usually have a waiting time of 3 months.
- Since the cars are always made according to the requirements of the country, some features may differ slightly. Buyers should pay particular attention to the safety features and emissions standards. If these differ, there may be problems with the TuV or possible driving ban zones come. In our case were two emergency hammers for the windows under the driver’s seat. So rather an advantage than a disadvantage.
- You often read that the warranty in the EU should be the same, but I can tell you from my own experience something opposite. Hyundai includes the 5-year warranty only if the car is paid as end consumer was bought in the EU foreign country. The warranty is not granted by hyundai if the car is bought through an intermediary. To the bad experiences to it below something more to it.
Chapter 3: Buying from an EU dealer
We have been to the EU dealer once before and got different offers. After I decided on the hyundai tucson, I went with my wife to the purchase date and we signed the contract. Before we have asked all our questions and have us among other things again the delivery date as well as the security over the hyundaigarantie ruckverischert.
The delivery time was given to us with 6 but maximum 8 weeks. Regarding the warranty, our EU dealer made the following statement:
"you have the EU new car warranty on your new car imported from the netherlands just as if you would buy the car here in germany". There are no disadvantages for you. You save even more money, because you can get the car much cheaper in other EU countries"
So we were verbally assured that we would not have to worry at all. However, this guarantee was not stated in writing. All I would need and should definitely keep is the warranty booklet, which I will receive. That hyundai excludes this warranty on an EU re-import was confirmed to me in writing by hyundai itself. But only after the purchase on request.
Neither the delivery time nor the possible loss of warranty were reasons for us to shy away from the purchase. the savings compared to a new car in germany are simply too great. Any repairs after the two-year warranty by the EU dealer could be covered by the savings on the purchase to the emergency.
So we bought our new EU car in the middle of january and left with just under 30.000€ in advance, hoping to have the car in our possession within the promised 6 weeks.
chapter 4: delivery delayed – bad communication
according to the contract the delivery was scheduled for the end of february, but the dealer told me that the delivery would take place in early to mid february. Unfortunately our EU importer was not very communicative. There was no proactive feedback where the car is currently and with what waiting time I would have to expect. Several times I had to ask and there was not always an answer to my e-mails. Besides the slow delivery, there were also problems with the communication.
Even at the end of february the car was still not there. the delivery was delayed for another 15 days and the car arrived in berlin in the middle of march. Unfortunately with some defects.
chapter 5: defects on the new car
the car was not delivered to berlin as planned, but only to the dutch border. From there the EU importer was not able to organize a transport on a truck. That is why he picked it up and drove it to berlin on his own. So the car arrived in berlin already with ca. 500km on the speedometer.
As if that was not enough, the car also had damage to the left rear light. The damage amounted to approx. 500€. We were assured in the handover protocol that the car would be repaired.
Also, due to lack of staff, the car was not refurbished and was missing a warning triangle and floor mats at the time of delivery.
Since I finally wanted to take delivery of the car after a long wait and especially wanted to finally sell my used car, I took the car as it was. However, the hope for a quick elimination of the defects diminished from day to day.
Chapter 6: the first damage to the car
Maybe it is a bit drastically worded, but already after the first week the car was broken. Of course it was not completely, but these thoughts come to mind when the check engine light comes on. The check engine light is one of the warning lights in the driver’s cockpit that causes two thoughts to pop into his head:
- I should stop immediately and not move the car one centimeter more
- Damn – this will be expensive!
Besides my horror, how a car with approx. 500km mileage can be defective, I was of course worried about the assumption of the damage. As mentioned above, it is not sure if hyundai will cover the warranty. A detailed experience report I have summarized my article on the hyundai new car warranty.
chapter 7: communication still slow
The car is now about 3 months in my possession and unfortunately the communication with the dealer has not improved much. I do not receive any replies to my e-mails. The chance to reach the sales consultant personally is higher than a phone call. Unfortunately I have to run after the services that I am entitled to as a customer.
I am still waiting for the replacement of the rear light and the missing parts after three months.
I would also like to find out from the EU dealer how the misunderstanding with the warranty could have come about. Where the claim on his part comes from that there will be no problems with the warranty.
How to activate the launch control
Field report: the volvo V60 polestar
Compare car prices: the ultimate calculator
EU re-import car purchase? My incredible experience report
EU re-import: does the new car warranty apply at hyundai??
Summary and my opinion
As it turned out, the purchase of the EU re-import brought some negative things with it. Besides the lack of warranty, I am particularly bothered by the poor and non-transparent communication with the dealer. Damage during transport can occur and is simply bad luck in this case.
Unfortunately, I also had a bit of bad luck with the dealer himself. Even though this one seemed very open and honest during the sales talk, in the end I am unfortunately punished by the lack of communication. Here there are certainly such and such.
on the other hand there is the huge saving on the purchase price. The savings make it possible to overlook one or two dilemmas. I will almost certainly import my next car from the EU again, but not from this dealer. Other dealers often use the same system to import cars, with little difference in prices. I will try to make sure that the dealer buys the car in my name in a foreign country and that my name is on the sales contract with the dealer in the EU. So i have the full warranty claim.
If you have already made experiences with the purchase of an EU car, then just leave me and the community a comment.
About the author
The author with the focus on the practical use of cars.
cars should work for me and serve their purpose. In addition, a car should be safe nowadays in the area all standard overfill.