Just a small note for PIs and not meaning to flame them: this article was just on New Paper
Lesson to learn: make doubly sure before you sign on the dotted line or collect your vehicle
ANGRY CAR OWNERS NOW DEMAND ANSWERS http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,166400,00.html?THEY bought their new cars from a parallel importer because they thought they were getting a better deal.
Parallel-import Cyber Cars sell premium marques like Porsches, Ferarris, BMW's and this blue Volkswagen Golf R32 which cost about $160,000. TNP Picture: DESMOND NG
But it seems the lower prices have come with a price for at least some Volkswagen owners.
They paid more than $100,000 for their Golf GTIs and Touareg SUVs last year, only to learn recently that the cars are older than they thought.
They were told by parallel importer Cyber Cars that the vehicles were manufactured in 2006.
A quick check on the OneMotoring website also showed that the year of manufacture registered with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) was 2006.
So, imagine the surprise of some owners when they were told that their cars had been manufactured a year earlier in 2005.
The New Paper was tipped off about this discrepancy by a reader, who declined to be identified.
He gave us the details of six cars - four Golf GTIs and two Touaregs - with the year of manufacture listed as 2006.
The New Paper contacted Volkswagen Group Singapore with the vehicles' details, such as their chassis and engine numbers.
The group checked with Germany's Volkswagen Group, which manufactured these cars. It confirmed these cars were produced in 2005.
LOOKING INTO CASE
When contacted, the LTA said that it is looking into one case and will follow up on the other cases.
When told of the discrepancy by The New Paper, one car owner, who is in his 50s, was hopping mad.
The pilot, who wanted to be known only as Mr Teo, paid about $106,000 for his Golf GTI from Cyber Cars last year.
He was taken aback when we told him his car was manufactured a year earlier than stated.
He said: 'When I bought the car, they (the company) showed me the registration card and there was no reason to doubt them.
'I am very upset now. We agreed to a price based on the car being manufactured in 2006. And now, I find out that it's a year older.'
He feels that the price should have been lower if the car was older.
Mr Teo said he suspected that something was amiss after he bought the car and saw that the tyres were manufactured in 2005.
He said that the manufacture date of the tyres usually correspond with the car's.
He did not pursue the matter because he thought the company had used older tyres.
But now, he wants an explanation from the company.
He said: 'Before this purchase, I've never bought a car from a parallel importer because of credibility issues. But I took a chance this time partly because the price was lower compared to the dealer's.
'I need an explanation from the company. You give me the specifications and I agree on the price. This is not right. LTA should also take action against them.'
The reactions of other car owners we spoke to was the same - surprise followed by anger.
Banking executive Chow King Loong paid about $170,000 for his Touareg last year.
He had all along assumed his car was manufactured in 2006.
He said: 'I wasn't told of the difference. If I knew that the car was already a year old, then I don't think I would have bought it.'
The mileage on his new car wasn't high enough to arouse his suspicions.
He said that his car cost him a few thousand dollars cheaper than the authorised dealer's price.
'I am not sure what to do now,' Mr Chow said. 'I don't know if I am going to pursue the case because it's almost a year since I bought the car.'
Another car owner said her father bought a Golf GTI for about $100,000 from the company, also thinking that it had been manufactured in 2006.
She said they have since sold the car and won't be pursuing the matter.
When contacted, a Cyber Cars spokesman said the discrepancy on one of the six cars was not known to the company until last year, when a customer brought it to their attention.
The matter was referred to its supplier, who said it was a typographical error, the spokesman said.
In that particular case, the car had been manufactured in 2005, but was wrongly computed as 2006.
The spokesman said Cyber Cars believed that the customer was satisfied with the explanation and the matter was resolved.
'There was no monetary loss to any of the parties involved as all the parties acknowledge that it was an honest mistake,' she said.
The company is checking with its suppliers on the other vehicles in dispute.
If there is a similar discrepancy on the year of manufacture, Cyber Cars will inform the owners and resolve the matter with the owners, she said.
The company did not respond to The New Paper's queries on whether it knew of the discrepancies for the other five cars before we called them.
Cyber Cars is a parallel importer for premium marques such as Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen.
We saw a handful of spanking new Porsche Caymans, BMW 335 cabriolets and a sporty Volkswagen R32 on display in the showroom at Holiday Inn Atrium.
A business search revealed that the company was registered two years ago.
LTA, when contacted, said it recently received feedback on one of the six vehicles and is looking into the matter.
As for the other five cars, LTA said it will also follow up on them.
The public can call the LTA hotline at 1800-CALL LTA to report such incidents.
The authority said that under Section 129(1)(a) of the Road Traffic Act, it is an offence to make, or cause to be made, in relation to an application for the registration of a vehicle, any statement or declaration which is false or any material that is misleading.
The penalty is a fine of up to $5,000, or up to 12 months in jail or both.
LTA said it had not dealt with similar cases by parallel importers or car dealers in the past five years.
Volkswagen Group Singapore's managing director, Dr Olaf Duebel, advised customers to always buy direct from Volkswagen Centre Singapore.
'This is because we have 100 per cent accountability,' he said. 'It is our responsibility to take care of our cars when it has to be serviced because we are both manufacturer and dealer.
'Buying from a parallel importer may have unexpected complications after the sale.'
