I'm In Spain!

"Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?" (o51r15) 07/28/2015 at 16:12 • Filed to: Rental Cars

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And since I’m posting, it means I finally have internet! Now...for the “review” of the rentals.

So it’s been a while for me. I’ve been off and on during work but now that I finally have internet at my house, I can do that write-up about the rentals I promised to the four or five opponauts that are online during my daytime (it’s 10:00pm for me).

Up first was the car we had rented in Madrid for the drive to Sevilla. This was the car that we had for only 24 hours and was supposed to haul two adults, two kids in car seats, two dogs (50 and 70 pounds respectively), one large cat and about seven bags worth of clothes, electronics, my military gear and other basics needs for survival when moving from one country to another. That car is aasleep2ot Expert Tepee.

Now, what does Tepee mean? I don’t know. Why is it named Expert? I can only imagne it was designed to carry a family who brought way too much stuff to a country in which most cars are the size of a Focus or smaller, and it does that...wait for it...Expertly!

OK, all bad puns aside, it was truly a fantastic vehicle to drive. We got the diesel version with a manual and on the seven hour drive (normally five and a half but I decided not to listen to the little Brittish lady on the screen) we barely used two thirds of the tank. That was amazing, you know, until we filled it up and I found out how expensive diesel is in Europe. Fuck me. Anyways, back to the van. It was great. It was so smooth that the kids slept. The wife slept. The animals slept. Hell, I almost fell asleep. The only downside, courtesy of the wife, was that there was no A/C in the rear. All A/C was coming from the front in a massive vehicle. But it was easy to shift, easy to figure out the transmission, easy to get going. All in all I’d give it a solid 8/10. Would I ever buy one as a daily? Hell no. Would I rent one if I needed something to move my family for a road trip? Hell no. I have a 2010 Explorer on the way for that. But if I didn’t? I don’t see why not.

So after 22 of the 24 hours were up, we drove it to Sevilla airport and picked up rental car number two: Peugeot 208.

Now, at first glance, I thought that this car would be too small. I wasn’t wrong either. The 208 makes the Aveo look massive. But it was cheap, we didn’t have to haul the animals in it, and we could go get some groceries for our hotel room.

After driving it for an hour or so, it really didn’t feel so bad. It was quick, nimble, and held the kids in the back fairly well. At 6’2” I was slightly cramped in the front but it was fine. Now this one was a gas engine. In the three days we had it we went through almost the entire tank of gas. It wasn’t nearly as expensive though. One thing I absolutely could not wrap my head around (and couldn’t shut up about either apparently) was the steering wheel.

Seriously though, look at that thing. The center sticks out so that it’s completely awkward. I hate it. If I was planning on buying a 208, the wheel is a deal breadon’t.

Even though it was a manual, I just didn’t seem to enjoy this car as much as I should have. Or at least I believed I should have been able to. Overall, I’ll give it a 6/10 based solely on the fact that it did exactly what I needed it to. Even though that tumor of a steering wheel was there.

After the three day with the pretty fun minus the steering wheel 208, it was time to return it. We had been able to reserve another rental through my bank (USAA) for a pretty kickass price. Our reservation was for a Ford Focus but when we got there, they didn’t have it. I was pretty heated because I knew they were going to try and throw us into something bigger for a lot more money. Well I was pleasantly surprised because they gave us easily my favorite of the three. Seat Leon TDi.

Ho. Ly. Shit. I love this car. Room for both my wife and me plus the kids had plenty of room in the back (wife’s favorite). Torque for days (my favorite). And a trunk big enough to store more than one bag of groceries. This car is fun. It’s sexy, quick, available with a diesel, and (most importantly) a friend of Manuél Transmissíon. My daughter (4 years old) kept telling me to “vroom real fast!”. So of course, with my wife objecting, I obliged for a second or two. She loved it. I loved it. If I had the 20K in Euro’s available to me, I’d go buy one right now. The sound that that diesel engine made was ungodly beautiful. Now, I had never driven a diesel up until I arrived in Spain. I can truly say I have been missing out. Now all I want to know is how to get a 2015 Leon into the states. The interior was beautifully set up. The infotainment system was pretty awesome. You could go to a little spot and see how the car was doing (tire pressure, oil temp, engine temp, etc.). There were others, but honestly I spent so much time looking at the car stats that I forget what the others were other than the radio.

Now, with the Leon, I may be biased. I loved that car. Personally I would rate it 10/10 without any hesitation. I only had it for three days though so I didn’t get to really do to much with it. But the steering wheel was perfect, so it has that going for it. Which is nice.

(All pictures were shamelessly ripped off of Google Images as I didn’t take any pictures of the cars themselves. Deal with it.)

Svend > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? 07/28/2015 at 16:53

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This a friend’s recent taxi (one of, the other is the Skoda Superb estate), called the Eurobus in taxi form and was a great little people carrier.

Svend > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? 07/28/2015 at 16:57

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What was the engine and spec of the Leon?

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Svend 07/28/2015 at 17:11

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Honestly, other than 5 speed manual and diesel, no idea. But lots of power and much fun could be had with it!

Svend > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? 07/28/2015 at 17:32

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Sounds like it could of been the SE 1.6TDi 110ps 5 speed manual. Good for 64 to 83mpg or 53 to 69 mpgUS. Well speced with features without hitting the pocket.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Svend 07/29/2015 at 00:34

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That sounds about right. Using the current mpg monitor, I was averaging 65 to 75 mpg on the highway.

Svend > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? 07/29/2015 at 01:14

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Imagine taking that back home to the states. ;)

I came across a thing the other day regarding U.S. personnel stationed overs seas along the lines of being able to import a ‘one in a lifetime’ deal in that U.S. personnel can import a car as regardless of whether it conformed to U.S. regs if they bought it new while stationed overs seas and signed a waiver to not sell the vehicle within a set time. Maybe worth checking out

http://www.importexporthelp.com/importing-cars…

FREE ENTRY

- GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND U.S. CITIZENS employed abroad and who are returning on voluntary leave or TDY may import a foreign manufactured vehicle free of duties provided they claim nonresident status, enter the U.S. for a short visit and export the vehicle upon leaving.

- MILITARY AND U.S. GOVERNMENT CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES returning from extended duty outside the Customs territory may include a vehicle that conforms to all requirements among their household and personal effects duty free. The vehicle must have been purchased outside the USA and must be in the owner’s possession before departure. Extended duty generally means 140 days or more. Personnel aboard a U.S. naval vessel or who support a naval vessel on its departure from the USA to its return with an intended 120 day or more overseas deployment are entitled to this extended-duty exemption. If you sell the conforming vehicle within one year of importation you will be required to pay duties on it. You must pay duties at the Customs office most convenient to you before you complete the sale. Once formal entry is made for the EPA, a conforming vehicle so imported may indefinitely stay in the U.S..

- NONRESIDENTS may import a duty-free vehicle for personal use for up to (1) one year if it is imported in concurrence with the owner’s arrival. Under this provision, a vehicle that is imported and which does not conform to U.S. emission and safety standards may not be sold in the USA and must be exported within one year. These export requirement have no extension or exemption

I believe another route would be to argue the ‘similar’ rule in that the vehicle is similar to a vehicle that already conforms and is currently sold in the U.S. (in this car the VW Golf).

Now I may of read that wrong or not but worth having a look into if your passion for the car is still there further down the line.

Out of curiosity which one would you take 3 door, 5 door or estate, petrol or diesel?

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Svend 07/29/2015 at 01:27

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Damn. You just made my day right there. And my whole assignment if I can get a Leon back home! I’ll have to do some more research and make some calls just to be sure but that sounds awesome. Which would I get? I'd be partial to the 3 door with a diesel but I wouldn't say no to a 5 door. Probably not the estate just because I've always had bigger cars (with the exception of the Aveo) and now I want something small.

Svend > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? 07/29/2015 at 01:39

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I hope I wasn’t reading the wording wrong but certainly worth checking out. It’s bound to of cropped up with other personnel stationed in Spain, Italy, Germany or the U.K.

I’ve found some sites but can’t recall them off hand but run is by your station officer or base commander or flight commander.

Seat Leon SE 1.6TDi manual 5 door for your time

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Svend 07/29/2015 at 05:15

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Yea. I was also thinking about emailing the NHTSA directly and seeing what my options are. I also need to talk to my base vehicle registration guy and get some things straightened out because he said that we are authorized to import (to Spain) one US spec’d vehicle (my 2010 Explorer) and we are authorized to buy, brand new, one domestic (to Spain) vehicle with US spec’s. So I have to get some clarification if that means that I can buy a Seat and have it converted (if need be) to US spec’s or if that applies to buying a new, already in US spec’s, vehicle. Which I doubt any Seat would be seeing as they are not sold in America.

Svend > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? 07/29/2015 at 05:41

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It’ll be worth looking into if not for killing some down time but to satisfy curiosity and knowing you made every effort into seeing if it was possible to do.

Good luck fella.

Svend > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? 08/05/2015 at 20:42

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Hi fella. I hope you don’t mind but I sent an e-mail to the NHTSA.

My e-mail to NHTSA

To whom it may concern.

May I ask for your help in a matter concerning a member of the U.S. armed forces currently stationed in Spain in that he wishes to purchase prior to his return a vehicle that currently is not on sale in the U.S.

I have heard that it may be possible to import what’s called ‘a once in a lifetime import’ in that the vehicle meets certain necessary requirement s but not all U.S. requirements as long as the vehicle is kept in his/her possession for a nominal amount of time.

The vehicle (a Seat, a company owned by VW) in question has a similar vehicle sold by Volkswagen based on the same chassis, engine and drivetrain however the marque in question as I say isn’t sold in the U.S.

What options, if any are available to import this vehicle into the U.S.?

Thank you in advance for your time, it’s greatly appreciated.

Yours Sven L

Their reply.

That type of “once in a lifetime” import no longer exists.

If a motor vehicle was manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS, and bears a label certifying such compliance that was permanently affixed by its original manufacturer, there is no need for NHTSA approval before the vehicle is imported. However, the manufacturer would have to submit to the agency information identifying it and the products that it manufactures that are subject to our standards no later than 30 days after manufacturing begins. In addition, the manufacturer would have to submit to us information necessary to decipher the VIN that it must assign to each motor vehicle it manufactures for sale in the U.S. If the vehicle manufacturer is not located in the U.S. the manufacturer must also designate a U.S. resident as its agent for service of process.

If the vehicle is less than 25 years old and was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS, and/or was not so certified by its original manufacturer, it cannot be lawfully imported into the U.S. on a permanent basis unless NHTSA determines it eligible for importation. The agency makes those determinations on its own initiative or the basis of a petition from a registered importer. These are business entities that are specifically approved by NHTSA to import nonconforming vehicles and to perform the necessary modifications on those vehicles so that they conform to all applicable FMVSS. The petitions must specify that the vehicle is substantially similar to a vehicle that was certified by its original manufacturer as conforming to all applicable FMVSS and is capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards, or, if there is no substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicle, that the vehicle has safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, the FMVSS based on destructive test information or other evidence the agency deems adequate. Import eligibility decisions are made on a make, model, and model year basis.

An additional requirement for the lawful importation of a nonconforming vehicle is that it be imported by a registered importer (RI) or by an individual who has contracted with an RI to bring the vehicle into conformity with all applicable FMVSS. A bond in an amount equivalent to 150 percent of the declared value of the vehicle must be given at the time of importation to ensure that the necessary modifications are completed within 120 days of entry. A list of RI’s can be found on our web site at http:// www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/ . You might want to contact one or more of the listed RIs to obtain their opinion on the feasibility of conforming the vehicle that you seek to import to the FMVSS, and the costs involved in petitioning the agency to determine that vehicle to be eligible for importation, as well as the costs for conforming the vehicle to the FMVSS.

Import & Certification Division

NHTSA // Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE

West Building, 4 th Floor

Washington, DC 20590

So in short, while the 'once in a lifetime' thing was in fact a thing, it itself is no longer available. Sorry for getting your hopes up but there still maybe other avenues.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Svend 08/06/2015 at 01:29

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Dude, that’s awesome that you did this. It’s been busy over here so I haven’t been able to send an email. My hopes, however, are not crushed. There is still a chance. Hell, worse case scenario, I can still buy an older (25 years older specifically) car and have that imported. Thank you so much for this. You've helped me clarify a lot of questions.

Svend > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? 08/06/2015 at 02:51

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I had high hopes that old obscure rule still applied.

I’m sorry for getting your hopes up but will still rummage around the internet for anything that may be relevant.

Take care fella, all the best.