Australian motorists who buy European brands are unwittingly buying some of the world's worst cars, says the car buyers' bible, The Dog & Lemon Guide.
Editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:
“Australian motorists think they are buying an upmarket vehicle when they buy a European brand. However, European vehicles are often poorly built, unreliable and expensive to fix.”
Matthew-Wilson quoted a recent survey by Germany’s largest automotive club – ADAC, which rated Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen among the eight worst brands for customer satisfaction. Almost all the top ratings went to Japanese vehicles, with most European makes in the bottom third.
Matthew-Wilson added:
“Because many European models are available with super-efficient diesels, customers are buying these cars believing that they'll save money. In fact the opposite is likely to be the case: the money they save on fuel is likely to be a drop in the ocean compared to the high cost of servicing and repairs, coupled with a shocking depreciation."
“Virtually all satisfaction and reliability surveys are consistent: European brands may look cool, but they’re the pits to own.”
“Next to their house, a car is most people's most expensive purchase, yet the majority of car buyers purchase their vehicles without the faintest idea of what they are getting themselves into. If the Australians who buy European cars knew the track record of these so-called prestige brands, they'd probably never buy them.”
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Release ends. For further information please contact:
- Clive Matthew-Wilson clive@dogandlemon.com
