Snoopy Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 Been on the USA forums again i know i should not as i just get upset at how much we pay to sub them. Afterall theres are made in Germany too and have Custom low production ie more expensive to produce parts. (bumpers, side repeaters, seats, wheels, suspension) then theres the extra shipping costs to over there, there extra warrenty etc etc. Its about time UK residents as well as guys in Europe stood upto these companys like the American public do. As a prime example of what gets me. http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6848 $26000 = £13,761.61 not fare is it., Vented now, So Rant over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMB Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 The USA market is very tough, but, you also need to spec up the USA car to UK spec to compare, also don't forget to add VAT and car tax. USA car doesn't get dual climate control, cheaper seats as std ( VW just buy them in so , they will be cheaper), Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eldiablorubino Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 [ QUOTE ] The USA market is very tough, but, you also need to spec up the USA car to UK spec to compare, also don't forget to add VAT and car tax. USA car doesn't get dual climate control, cheaper seats as std ( VW just buy them in so , they will be cheaper), [/ QUOTE ] yeah but the US also get Xenons as standard (£725 extra here)... RCD500 as standard... and they also have a much larger choice of options too (bodykit (fully colour coded), chrome mirror caps, different wheel designs, Dual DVD screens, choice of valve caps... and more!... whichever way you look at it we're not getting a fair deal.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxfordlad Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 VW suck in the US market, they make their cars cheaper over there to increase appeal to get a firmer grip. Huge potential market for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMB Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 £13761 = £16169 if you include sales tax ( ie VAT) then add first registration fee etc. I'm not saying we aren't ripped off, but the £13.7k figure isn't comparable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_d Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 [ QUOTE ] £13761 = £16169 if you include sales tax ( ie VAT) then add first registration fee etc. I'm not saying we aren't ripped off, but the £13.7k figure isn't comparable [/ QUOTE ] It all depends where you purchase your vehicle, as each state has a different level of sales tax. Also remember that you can generally barter a lot more over there. We have friends who walked in and got 25% off a Ford Expedition, just by saying "we're getting this spec and paying this price". The dealer nearly ripped their arms off. However, it is swings and roundabouts. A lot of states have huge utility bills, we pay several times more for utilities over there than we do here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingSizeNZ Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Been on the USA forums again i know i should not as i just get upset at how much we pay to sub them. As a prime example of what gets me. $26000 = £13,761.61 not fare is it., [/ QUOTE ] Its not as straightforward as that. You also need to look at things like earning potential of the different countries (do a remuneration comparison). You could also compare the cost of cars vs. the cost of property which would give you an idea of relative values. Ultimately its a swings and roundabouts game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yahoo Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Its not as straightforward as that. You also need to look at things like earning potential of the different countries (do a remuneration comparison). You could also compare the cost of cars vs. the cost of property which would give you an idea of relative values. Ultimately its a swings and roundabouts game [/ QUOTE ] It is as simple as that. I don't care about the earning potential of a bloke in America and his ability to purchase the same car as me. I do care that VW are making an additional £2000 - £4000 from me just because I live in England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainy Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 Do you REALLY care though ? It it REALLY enough to stop you going out and buying a new GTI ? I doubt it and VW know it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMB Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 another item to consider is the currency for raw materials and exchange rates. a lot of the base components have a raw material cost in dollars, so these no concerns over exchange rates to sell in USA, whereas europe and UK have either euro or £ and that relationship changes over time, yet VW don't change their sales price. Every manufacturer has a level of hedging added into theier prices for such an issue. You used a $1.88 exchange rate to the pound, a year ago , that was nearer $1.70, which made the car £15,291 before tax, or £17970 afterwards, now the gap doesn't look as big, does it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJno1 Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 If you goto vw.com, you can configure a US spec GTI. Adding Sports Seats, leather, Monza 18s (They don't call them Monzas though) is still just under $27,000. Seeing as I paid nearly £25,000 for a similar spec does rub it in a little. Though she is worth every penny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMB Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 add climate too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petsy Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] add climate too [/ QUOTE ] well it is warmer in Florida... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 Do I get upset if someone pays less and/or gets more than me? - OF COURSE NOT!!! What difference does it make to me? Or you? Btw, I don't like some of the USA spec - Horrible wheels, yuk ride height, yuk mudflaps. All IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simonl Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Btw, I don't like some of the USA spec - Horrible wheels, yuk ride height, yuk mudflaps. All IMO. [/ QUOTE ] I saw some GTI's out in LA, 2 of which had the 18" Monzas on. The ride height makes a huge difference to the asthetics of the car though, painfully bad IMO. I know it's a weird thing to say and I can already hear the counter arguments... but the GTI's out in California just didn't look like they were worth £25k! The problem is that they don't have anywhere near the same sort of road presence that they have in the UK. Everything just so darn big out there! I know it's exactly the same car (give or take a few options) but market acceptance, culture and climate can really determine what a car is worth to that particular market. How many F150's do ford sell in the UK??? Even though it has been the biggest selling car in the world up till recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted September 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Its not as straightforward as that. You also need to look at things like earning potential of the different countries (do a remuneration comparison). You could also compare the cost of cars vs. the cost of property which would give you an idea of relative values. Ultimately its a swings and roundabouts game [/ QUOTE ] My counterpart in the states same job, same company we speak regular mostly daily due to been an american world wide company earns over £15K more than me a year, his house is huge, huge rooms, swimming pool etc etc cost less than £100K mine valued at ~£300K half the size of his and prob add a 1 to the front of that if i lived in the south. Foods more expensive here, everything else seems expensive here (from been on buisness trips to the states) Basically we just take it were as the US public would do something about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoopy Posted September 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I don't like some of the USA spec - Horrible wheels, yuk ride height, yuk mudflaps. All IMO. [/ QUOTE ] Robin Only standard wheels are different think belgium gets the same ones as theres, Monza 18s are option. Ride height come on Koni combo and its cheaper than here too Mudflaps what mudflaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 ....Mudflaps are on the car in your link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
althepal400 Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 Regardless of the price difference, it still doesn't compensate for the fact that you actually have to live over there. Pretty much everything's cheaper there (compared to Scandinavia) but that's just about the only reason I'd ever move to USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy_Driver Posted September 21, 2006 Report Share Posted September 21, 2006 Jayzus lads... ye get depressed looking at how much cheaper cars are in the US and how bad ye have it in the UK... I say one small thing "Come to Ireland" We get pasted on new cars - pay VAT @ 21%, VRT at ~25% (Vehicle Registration Tax) and then have to pay annual road tax on a GTI of ~€560. Ok, so our petrol is far cheaper than the UK... but hey, can't all be bad. Accept that US is cheaper for practically everything, but you do only get 10 days holidays and about 3 national holidays... and just for the ladies, they expect you to leave your desk only when you are 6cm dilated... Daddies will understand - then come back in a few weeks later. Regards Paddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingSizeNZ Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Its not as straightforward as that. You also need to look at things like earning potential of the different countries (do a remuneration comparison). You could also compare the cost of cars vs. the cost of property which would give you an idea of relative values. Ultimately its a swings and roundabouts game [/ QUOTE ] My counterpart in the states same job, same company we speak regular mostly daily due to been an american world wide company earns over £15K more than me a year, his house is huge, huge rooms, swimming pool etc etc cost less than £100K mine valued at ~£300K half the size of his and prob add a 1 to the front of that if i lived in the south. Foods more expensive here, everything else seems expensive here (from been on buisness trips to the states) Basically we just take it were as the US public would do something about it. [/ QUOTE ] Actually that's my point, sorry if it wasn't clearer. You need to look at how much a GTI costs in the USA relative to the price of property in the USA and then look at how much a GTI costs in the UK relative to the price of property in the UK. Where I live a GTI costs about 10-15% of the price of an average house (depending on which city you live in). The US market is massive and as a result of economies of scale prices on everything will be cheaper. I live in New Zealand and you can imagine the price of things here simply because we are so small! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingSizeNZ Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Its not as straightforward as that. You also need to look at things like earning potential of the different countries (do a remuneration comparison). You could also compare the cost of cars vs. the cost of property which would give you an idea of relative values. Ultimately its a swings and roundabouts game [/ QUOTE ] It is as simple as that. I don't care about the earning potential of a bloke in America and his ability to purchase the same car as me. I do care that VW are making an additional £2000 - £4000 from me just because I live in England. [/ QUOTE ] How do you know that that is additional profit? There are other business costs that need to be taken into account in addition to the actual cost of the car (taxes/duties/rent/wages/power etc.) Perhaps it is simply more expensive to do business in the UK? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted September 22, 2006 Report Share Posted September 22, 2006 High taxes/duties/rent/wages/power etc contribute hugely imo to making it simply more expensive to do business in the UK. In places like NZ, costs of imports are higher simply because of transport costs to a more out of the way location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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