Car Buying in Europe ... Ka Chowwww

When we first arrived in Italy back in March of 2004, we saw a VW Transporter as a vehicle that would be big enough for us and still have a bit more room to carry extra personnel should the need arise. It would be our European version of the Freedombus which was originally acquired for the ALCAN but also served us well in the lower States. We were in a rush back then and along came a deal on a VW Cabriolet owned by Pipo and Francesca.

Now with three little boys, the Cabrio just ain't gonna cut it. To make matters worse, the Cabrio version of the Golf seats only two in back as the roof mechanism takes up additional space. My first inclination was a Passat... too small... a Touran... wait...a Transporter!! Need to research!!!! Yahoo... auto.... Ebay... Google Reviews hummm. One in Modena. Gotta change fan belts every 70k miles... How about a Vito? Humm... A benz... huge repair bills. Reviews in UK. They love them, but they don't run well... MaDE IN sPAIN

So I was ordered by some Italian friends who are a bit technologically challenged to get the local Cerco&Trovo. This is the Italian version of the old Classified Flea Market ... a blast from the past. Fortunately, I also did a diligent search on the internet so I was well armed with market information much to the dismay of THIS would be car salesmen.

I saw an ad for a 2001 Mercedes Vito with air conditioning and was described as metallic... okay. No price.... no color... no mileage or in this case kilometrage. So I give him a call...


Q: what is the price?
A: oh later after you look.
Q: How many Kilometers?
A:150,000km. oh.
Q: Do you smoke?
A: No

We arrange to meet at the McDonald's at 10 am. At 10:40 he arrives. The car itself is in pretty good shape.

Q: Where is the car made?
A: Germany... I went to Düsseldorf to buy it.
Q: Why are you selling it?
A: My 4 Children are grown. I don't need such a big car anymore.
Q: How much?
A: Later

After I get in for a test drive, I notice that we have 160,000 km on the odometer ... not enough of a discrepancy to throw down the gauntlet so I shrug it off. There is a slight smell of smoke, but it is obvious from the cigarette butts in the back that someone had been puffing away.

We drive to Remo's garage in Passagio Di Bettona where his gives it a whirl. He asks me how much? I say I don't know. He warns me to make sure there are no liens, but gives the okay on the car mechanically.

Back at McDonald's we have a quiet lunch, but still no price. Okay

Q: How much?
A: Well back in March I bought it for 15,500 Euros. I can let you have it for 15,500.

Back in March? I thought to myself how much could your children have grown in 8 months? I show him my research from the internet an have the price triangulated to about 10- 11k Euros (about 15 grand plus another 20 percent in taxes). A waste of time... perhaps, but a great story. I don't mind someone going up to Germany and trying to make a quick Euro, but I do not like liars. If he can't keep his story straight, how am I to believe anything he says.

So we find a 9 seat Vito up in Rauenberg near Stuttgart in Southwest Germany. Only 34,000 km. or about 22,000 miles for a 6 year old car and they want 10.990 Euros. I call and ask the requisite questions. I am thinking it is up in Germany so it should be a German made car. Ilkay the salesman says it was made in Stuttgart. (Confirmed by MB) There is another buyer, but his financing falls through. My wire transfer to my Italian bank is complete so with pockets stuffed full of 50 Euro bills I am off on the train to Florence, Milan, Mannheim and Waldorf. Let's see I will leave at 1:51 pm and get to Mannheim at 5 am. But wait! Helen asks what time does my train leave. She cannot resist. She and the kids... including three week old Suby... are coming too.

It turns out that this Vito was owned by a man which according to the paperwork was born in 1939... hmmm.. so he was 60 when he bought it. It was his alternate vehicle.. not a blemish on it. Except it has this stripe!!! Turns out the owner had paid 1100 DM to PUT IT ON!!! I have the receipt to prove it. Ka Chowwwwwww!! 30 plus MPG Ka Chuggaaa!!!
We show up 800 miles from home... whole family... not much bargaining leverage left. Luckily the Vito is exactly as represented. The dealer throws in a new battery (Important for a diesel) and an oil change. We'll take it. Out comes the wad of cash and off to the German DMV to get an export license (a special plate) for two weeks which includes insurance. EFFICIENT.

NOW, I went directly to the ACI (Auto Club Italia) to start the Italian registration. I only have 14 days on the German license. ACI lady says oh it takes a month.... Not bad I think... Slow, but not bad. In fact, if I come back with all my paperwork, they can get started immediately. She says they will call me at the end of two weeks. No call comes and I go back to the ACI. The lady tells me she is friends with some people I know and that we in fact had dinner together a few months back. Her associate Luca tells me that the cost of registration will be 900 Euros as if I would say no. I thought it would be more like 2000. So I crack open the wallet and he says NO... I don't need to pay now.

Well, it is now three months later... Luca never calls and tells me that the engineers in Perugia that approve the registration are on strike. I only half believe him. Time to go back to the ACI and pimp them. I tell Luca ( we are now on a first name basis ) that I am going to Vietnam from Feb 21 though Mar 21 so that there is plenty of time for him to get the registration done. A few days later Luca calls and tell me all is done and to go to the Notaio to sign some papers. I go to the Notaio and she says that Luca will do the rest.

After returning from Vietnam I stop by the ACI where Luca tells me that he needs one more day... two at the most. Hummm The Chins are coming in two weeks! One and a half weeks later and four days before The Chins arrive, I get a call from ACI... actually Luca's mom that the registration is complete. Instead of the 900 Euro registration fee I was quoted, it was 1150 Euros. But I had budgeted 20 percent of 11,000-

I call up good old Geico here in Italy and two hours later, I have all my insurance....