New Zealand motorists who buy European brands are unwittingly buying some of the world's least reliable cars, says The Dog & Lemon Guide and the Consumers’ Institute.
Dog & Lemon Guide editor Clive Matthew-Wilson says:
“New Zealand 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.
Consumers’ Institute spokesman Hamish Wilson says:
“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 above-average depreciation."
Matthew-Wilson added:
“Virtually all satisfaction and reliability surveys are consistent: European brands may look cool, but they’re often the pits to own.”
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