Buying 991 from Germany - extra delivery charge ??

[Kananga]

I've just finished a purchase from a German dealer, and had a query for anyone else who has purchased a car in Germany before.

We had agreed a price with the German dealer for the car, over email.

The car is ready for collection and the dealer has added €1,000 to the price, claiming that this is a separate charge relating to the cost of delivery from the factory to the dealership.

It wasn't mentioned to me before at any stage.

I'm planning to start a battle on this, as I don't see why I should be paying an extra cost that wasn't disclosed to me at the time we agreed the price.

Anyone had similar experiences ? Is this fairly typical in Germany ??

Any advice appreciated.

[Mad March Taffy]

Been a long time since I bought a car from Germany (a BMW) but I did not get any such additional charges

[LF11]

Is this a new car? Not sure about whether this is normal but even in UK e.g. BMW add some GBP700 for delivery of new vehicle. Would have expected this to be highlighted in the final price to be paid.

[Adam B]

Sounds like their equivalent of OTR price, which in UK includes IIRC delivery, plates and year 1 tax, no excuse for not telling you this beforehand though

[GT3-RS]

Kananga said:

I've just finished a purchase from a German dealer, and had a query for anyone else who has purchased a car in Germany before.

We had agreed a price with the German dealer for the car, over email.

The car is ready for collection and the dealer has added €1,000 to the price, claiming that this is a separate charge relating to the cost of delivery from the factory to the dealership.

It wasn't mentioned to me before at any stage.

I'm planning to start a battle on this, as I don't see why I should be paying an extra cost that wasn't disclosed to me at the time we agreed the price.

Anyone had similar experiences ? Is this fairly typical in Germany ??

Any advice appreciated.

if you don't mind me asking who was the dealer in Germany that you dealt with? as I'm just about to pull the pin on a new 991 Targa 4 GTS car here is £117k but a quick looksee on the Porsche Zentrum Stuttgart configurator and the same spec car is £8k cheaper although I haven't made contact with Porsche Zentrum to see what the additional charge will be for a C16 UK RHD spec car but I'll be collecting from the Porsche factory with the tour etc

[Mad March Taffy]

Interesting to see that with the Euro exchange rate importing from Europe is getting financially attractive again....

[wilkos]

GT3-RS said:

if you don't mind me asking who was the dealer in Germany that you dealt with? as I'm just about to pull the pin on a new 991 Targa 4 GTS car here is £117k but a quick looksee on the Porsche Zentrum Stuttgart configurator and the same spec car is £8k cheaper although I haven't made contact with Porsche Zentrum to see what the additional charge will be for a C16 UK RHD spec car but I'll be collecting from the Porsche factory with the tour etc

Don't forget that the UK price includes 1st year road tax, registration fee, and third year warranty. (Around2k) +the UK tracker + 1/2 day at silverstone, Which coupled with fetching the car from Germany will eat into the 8k saving that should be achievable here with a bit of gentle negociation.
I also get the feeling that any dealer goodwill you would get on a new purchase would be worth a bit come any future problems.

[Kananga]

Thanks to all for the feedback.

@GT3-RS: will give you more feedback by phone.

Seems like everyone agrees that the dealer should have been upfront about the extra €1k.

Will start the battle with them, but I must admit I feel a bit lost taking up a consumer-rights battle abroad!

[berty37]

GTRS - interested to know here mate..I thought you were not allowed to buy a C16 RHD car from an OPC on the continent? A few chaps tried to get GT4's that way and were told by the dealers no I would lose the franchise if I sold a UK car here...very interested to hear what they say though!!

[Richie200]

I have a 991GT3RS on order and the invoice shows:

Zulassungskosten, Nummernschilder (Registration and plates) €109.24EURO
Überführungskosten (Transportation charges) €768.91EURO

VAT will also be added

[GT3-RS]

berty37 said:

GTRS - interested to know here mate..I thought you were not allowed to buy a C16 RHD car from an OPC on the continent? A few chaps tried to get GT4's that way and were told by the dealers no I would lose the franchise if I sold a UK car here...very interested to hear what they say though!!

if that's the case then it sounds like a cartel to me I should be able to buy a car in any spec I like LH or RHD from anywhere in world shouldn't I.....I bought a Mercedes AMG from a Bremeshaven Mercedes dealer UK Spec and no one gave a hoot

[thegoose]

GT3-RS said:

if that's the case then it sounds like a cartel to me I should be able to buy a car in any spec I like LH or RHD from anywhere in world shouldn't I.....I bought a Mercedes AMG from a Bremeshaven Mercedes dealer UK Spec and no one gave a hoot

Yes you should and EU law dictates that you must be able to AFAIK but finding a dealer who will actually take the order will be rather challenging as they won't want to rock the boat with the manufacturer who has the power to alter/cancel their franchise agreement.

[GT3-RS]

thegoose said:

Yes you should and EU law dictates that you must be able to AFAIK but finding a dealer who will actually take the order will be rather challenging as they won't want to rock the boat with the manufacturer who has the power to alter/cancel their franchise agreement.

so WTF do Porsche care they're getting the money either way oh wait what you mean is Stupid English F'ck lets mug him for another £8k the difference in price is more than likely the exchange rate other than anything else which is quite good at the moment anyways I'll kick up a right guffaw about it if it is the case.....GRrrrr!!!

[Kananga]

For those considering ordering a C16/RHD car from the continent, I couldn't find a single dealer willing/able to do it.

Tried a few different countries. Closest was a dealer in Sweden who tried v hard but ultimately failed as the domestic importer said Porshe wouldn't do it. Maybe it is specific to model, but that was my experience for what it's worth.

[Kananga]

thegoose said:

Yes you should and EU law dictates that you must be able to AFAIK but finding a dealer who will actually take the order will be rather challenging as they won't want to rock the boat with the manufacturer who has the power to alter/cancel their franchise agreement.

I'm hoping EU law will at least get me back the €1k that they are overcharging me!

[Magic919]

GT3-RS said:

I'll kick up a right guffaw about it if it is the case.

That'll be a laugh.

[Penguinracer]

O/T - If neither the dealer or Porsche will allow you to order C16 car - then ask them to explain this is in writing - whilst recording the conversation.

Take this to your solicitor & he can initiate the process for lodging the complaint through the appropriate EU channels. A couple of forms an Affidavit with the letter or transcript attached & Bob's your uncle!

Nothing will change unless we make it!

[peteresser]

in Germany delivery charge comes always as a separate line item.

[Kananga]

peteresser said:

in Germany delivery charge comes always as a separate line item.

Thanks - was a line item on the hardcopy invoice i received from the dealer. The amount was "0" though.

Have raised with them, telling them i don't think its acceptable to add it at the 11th hour.

Let's see what happens... will raise with Porsche AG and contact a German lawyer if they do not agree to drop it.

[worldwidewebs]

I bought a new C16-spec Boxster from Porsche Zentrum Hamburg back in 2001. There was an additional charge for delivery to the dealer, but the flip-side was that there wasn't a 'factory collection' charge like we have in the UK. Obviously, I collected from the factory