“They say” – things people say that maybe you just roll your eyes at. For instance, “they say” staying in state for college and avoiding hefty loans is good idea (right, mom and dad??? I didn’t listen to this advice either 😬).

For Europe, “they say” bringing a huge American beast car is a bad idea. What I gathered from that is that roads are narrow, parking garages are small, gas is expensive. Ok, I hear you, but we’re bringing it anyway. We’ll deal with gas prices (since we always have), we’ll spend an inordinate amount of time finding garages that are taller than 2.05m, we’ll use caution on the narrow roads.

There’s also the concern about the terrible roads and flat tires. Well, these are off-road tires, they’ll be fine.

What about mechanic work? Well, it’s a newer car and we had it thoroughly inspected and had all ailments fixed before shipping.

All set, shipped our American beast so early it was there when we got here! Amazing! First few days driving around and we’re like, “this is cake”. And it felt super great to have a piece of yourself/home with you. I instantly felt comfortable when I got in my car (though driving it certainly creates a lot of stares).

We felt like we totally made the right decision for at least a year, with the exception of one small parking garage incident (Justin). Psh…”they say” don’t bring it. Winning!

But then it started to go downhill (I’ve written a little about this before). In the summer, it was one of the few reprieves from the heat since our house doesn’t have A/C and neither do most stores. It was great to have it blast in the car. But then, it stopped.

Assuming and hoping it was just Freon, we replaced it and it worked for a week or so. Justin did exhaustive research and watched repair videos and determined it was the whole system. By then it was August and we just decided to wait until we got back to the states the next year. (Wrong).

Next, we get a nail in our tire. Unfixable. Need 2 new tires as they must match per axle. We decided to get all 4 tires just in case. Of course they don’t have the tires here and even if they did, they’d be super expensive. So we ordered from US.

“They say” that the company Tire Rack ships over here and it only takes a few days and it’s free shipping! Sweet, unless your car is so big that the tires are too heavy and have to go by boat…and then it takes 6 weeks and IS NOT free to ship.

But, as I wrote in another blog, this was actually a blessing in disguise as it forced us to rent a car instead of driving ours on a long road trip, where it ultimately would’ve have died.

It’s now November and cold, who needs A/C? Tires are all fixed, we’re good. Then the motor in the front window dies (and we roll down to go through security 8 times a day 😐). We take that to a mechanic to lock shut while we order the part from the US. Once we get the part (weeks later, of course) they replace the window motor and we ask them to take a look at the A/C system as well. It’s bad. Un-drivable bad.

It was more than the A/C. It was the whole system. A/C compressor, serpentine belt, a whole host of other things. It was close to snapping. Early December. Car down.

January arrives, our parts are in from US finally. We have it replaced (compressor, belts, some other stuff) at a local mechanic with the knowledge that it might not work since it’s supposed to be completed in a vacuum. But they can’t fill the Freon because the car is too big. Then we try to have the Freon filled at a special place but they can’t because it’s all electronic and they don’t even have big American Beast car in their database 😐.

Well, it didn’t matter anyway, because the whole thing failed again. The car seized and sputtered and basically gave up. Took to a Ford dealer for our appointment (which takes weeks to schedule) and they can fix it after ordering parts from US for like €3700 😳, and there is NO WARRANTY on the work once it leaves Europe. Hard pass.

THEN, the fuel gauge dies!?!?! Turns out we have to fix this to be able to ship this piece back to the states because they have to know how much gas is in it (must be 1/8 tank or less). Another month of waiting for part (must pay up front!), then waiting for an appointment.

At some point in February, after 4 rental cars and 6 months of struggling with only a 5 seater car (there are 6 of us and none old enough to be left alone), we decide to buy another car to fit us all. Luckily purchasing a car that is US spec (to send back), that is physically present in Europe just 4 hours away, takes FIVE weeks. FIVE MORE weeks without a car.

By early April, it had been a solid 5 months without a car big enough for the whole family. We struggled with carpooling, using the bus, staying home, renting cars. Then we finally get the new car. Whew.

The American Beast car is still functionally dead. It starts and drives but is really just waiting for its spot on the boat back. Hopefully we’ll get back, pick it up and have the 8 month drama all fixed in just few hours!

So, what have we learned? “They say” bringing a large American car isn’t the best idea – and they’re *probably* right 😂. If only one of these things had happened, I probably wouldn’t have been convinced that it was a bad idea, but the whole comedy of errors? I’m sold. Europe definitely wasn’t ready for my beast 😂.