Trying to get rid of a non registrable car

"Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction" (rustholes-are-weight-reduction)
02/25/2017 at 01:57 • Filed to: MEGANE RS

A few weeks ago, I bought a Megane RS which had been exported from France to Germany after a crash, repaired, driven for 5 years in Germany. Since the repairs have not been followed by a French expert at the time, it is now impossible to register it. I called different experts who all told me the same: try to bring it back to the dealer.

I called the dealer on monday, but he wasn’t really receptive to my offer to switch the car for something else. So today I’ll go there and ruin his business day should he still not take it back.

Now the question is: what car should I take?
Here are the options I consider:

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=238972080

A Fiesta ST for about the same price

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=235272591

A Focus ST for 3000€ more

http://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=239316993

And a GT86 for 5000€ more

Here’s all the dealer has:

https://home.mobile.de/AUTOHAUSAUESTRAUTOMOBILE#ses

So what do you think, what car should I take?

[edit] On my way back from the dealer, in the backseat of my parents car. I gave the car back, took less money than I paid. Taking another car wouldn’t have changed a thing, so I haven’t.

That was an expensive rent. But at least I am hassle free. He promised to call me back when he sold it to give me a share of the benefit, but I don’t really believe it. We’ll see.

Fuck administration.

DISCUSSION (25)

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
02/25/2017 at 02:08

Did the seller tell you about the accident and if so, is it explicitly written down in the contract? Commercial dealers in Germany are obliged to giving private buyers one year guarantee.

How did you find out about the damages on your car?

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
02/25/2017 at 02:20

He told me about a minor accident, and he didn’t mention that it happened when the car was French, or that it had been imported for that matter.

Since it’s an export, there’s no warranty, and in the end, the car itself is not damaged, it’s just the paperwork that’s not clean.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
02/25/2017 at 02:52

FoST

Birddog > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
02/25/2017 at 03:00

How are you planning on trading an “impossible to register” car for the options you posted?

Birddog > pip bip - choose Corrour
02/25/2017 at 03:02

Always the answer in Dreamland.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
02/25/2017 at 03:04

I suggest the RCZ:

https://home.mobile.de/AUTOHAUSAUESTRAUTOMOBILE#des_237660410

Though from your list I’d probably choose either the Fiesta or Focus ST, depending on your capacity needs. Or the GT86, though I’m not too sure about all those red details on the inside.

Also, good luck dealing with the guy, I hope he takes it back in the first place.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > Birddog
02/25/2017 at 03:06

I bought it from them, it is ok in Germany, but not in France

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
02/25/2017 at 03:18

Hm, ..

Is he willing to take the car back for the full price though? Because it’s basically worthless in France as you previously said. Did the car have any structural damage or was it just cosmetically?

Either way, I’d probably get the Focus ST.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
02/25/2017 at 03:55

Isn’t the warranty an EU-wide rule though? Seem to recall something like that from when I was looking for an MR2.

Cé hé sin > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
02/25/2017 at 05:47

I’ve heard stories about the RCZ and they weren’t all good.

Fiesta or Focus. Nothing wrong with the GT86 except that nobody buys them and so the resale value might be poor.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
02/25/2017 at 06:02

He took it back, I lost money, it’s over at least. Didn’t get a car.

I don’t have any details on the damage, but it must have been at least the suspension, if it’s only cosmetic they don’t block the cars. They are stupid, but not that much.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
02/25/2017 at 06:03

Some sellers propose it, but generally it’s inland sales only.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
02/25/2017 at 06:06

Wait, you lost money? Didn’t he give you the full price back? What an asshole. Probably better than weeks or months worth of hassle for money.

What car will you bring to Europpo Meet then?

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
02/25/2017 at 06:34

Yes, but better than paying a lawyer to get the full price back after a year.

I don’t know yet, but I have several options to choose from. Won’t probably be as worthy of the ‘ring though.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
02/25/2017 at 06:46

Sad but true. Give a bad review on mobile.de though, as childish as that might be. Also too bad that the French law is so restrictive regarding repaired cars.

You would have crushed all of us with the RS.

Out, but with a W - has found the answer > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
02/25/2017 at 07:59

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

This will depend on what the dealer told you about the car when you bought it, and what the problem is.

Under EU law, the quality and performance of goods must be satisfactory. Even if you buy a second-hand product, the seller must deliver you the product in conformity with the contract of sale. The product must comply with the description given by the seller and be fit for your particular purpose. The product must comply with the conditions you accepted at the time of conclusion of the contract.

The seller is not liable for defects you already knew at the time of purchase and for those resulting from the usual deterioration of the car.

If the car has a major defect which you were unaware of when you bought it, you may well be entitled to a remedy. Under EU law, you have two years to invoke guarantee if the product you purchased turns out to be faulty or not as advertised. The guarantee period may be reduced to one year for a used vehicle. This should be made clear to you at the time of purchase.

If the defect appears within the first 6 months of use, it is presumed that it existed at the time of the delivery and only became apparent later.

After 6 months, you can still invoke the guarantee but, if the dealer contests that the defect existed from the start, you may have to prove it, probably by involving a technical expert.

When you discover a technical problem, you are required to notify the seller as soon as possible but not later than two months.

You should contact the seller first to check that they agree to your taking the car to a local garage for repairs. This is generally not a problem for new cars, but can be for second-hand cars.

From http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/vehicles/cars/buying-a-car-abroad/faq/index_en.htm

Sounds like you should’ve been covered either way. I won’t blame you for taking a hit and getting out of there as quickly as possible, rather than lawyering up, though, would’ve probably done the same.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Cé hé sin
02/25/2017 at 08:30

GT86s go for about ~17.500€ with slightly under 100k kms.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
02/25/2017 at 09:41

Thanks for the info! Yeah, I that’s the price of a quick exit, better luck next time

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
02/25/2017 at 09:52

(Edit: I read the post wrong)

duurtlang > Cé hé sin
02/25/2017 at 10:47

My brother in law bought one (a BRZ) and according to him after the first year or so of depreciation they depreciate <€1k a year. It sounds a bit optimistic but makes sense. They’re not huge sellers when new but wanted used.

See the one offered here. €19k for a 4.5 year old car with average to high kms for the age and type of car that was less than €30k when new. Not bad.

BlurpleToyotaDishwasher > Out, but with a W - has found the answer
02/25/2017 at 14:57

Not exactly; there has to be some protection, but it varies.

Jobjoris > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
02/27/2017 at 08:24

But... Isn’t it a EU-rule that if a car is eligible anywhere in the EU it is supposed for the entire EU? That’s why my F150 went (on paper) “through” Germany as it is easiest to register it there when I imported it. Damned!

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > Jobjoris
02/27/2017 at 09:58

Yes, in theory any car eligible in Germany should be in France. But that is independant of accident history. The issue was that the car was registred in France, had an accident, was branded as damaged in France, but no actions were done to undo that branding, and now it is not possible anymore. It’s just stupid administration

Jobjoris > Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction
02/27/2017 at 11:25

And there’s no way some re-inspection can be done at the DREAL or something? That’s some bureaucracy you got there, damned!

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > Jobjoris
02/27/2017 at 13:48

You’d have to get someone to accept a DREAL inspection, but French bureaucracy is inflexible. If paper A is required, you have to have paper A, even if paper B contains the same info. It’s not about logic, it’s about precision.