Car Ownership cost USA v UK
Nov 8th 2017, 11:17 pm
#31
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukie, Oregon
Posts: 9,965
Re: Car Ownership cost USA v UK
I wasn't necessarily suggesting combining journeys, but pointing out there are places where all the locations you listed are short local trips. Therefore journeys in some locations are no longer than in the UK, and the sort of area you live in does make a difference to the mileage you drive here.
Nov 8th 2017, 11:47 pm
#32
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Car Ownership cost USA v UK
I wasn't necessarily suggesting combining journeys, but pointing out there are places where all the locations you listed are short local trips. Therefore journeys in some locations are no longer than in the UK, and the sort of area you live in does make a difference to the mileage you drive here.
To wit, I have a colleague who walks to work, ..... but he has a "cabin" in the mountains and so drives four hours each way to and from the cabin on as many weekends as he can manage.
Nov 8th 2017, 11:58 pm
#33
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,043
Re: Car Ownership cost USA v UK
One difference I can point out from recent experience. Insuring a new teenage driver in the US (in Maine at least) is significantly cheaper than insuring them in the UK.
Our premium for three cars went up in total by $200 a year when my 16 year old daughter passed her test. My friends in the UK are easily paying $1000 a year extra per car for teens.
Our premium for three cars went up in total by $200 a year when my 16 year old daughter passed her test. My friends in the UK are easily paying $1000 a year extra per car for teens.
Nov 9th 2017, 9:44 am
#34
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 197
Re: Car Ownership cost USA v UK
I had an RS3 sportback in the UK very briefly. Fantastic car.
It is worth noting that the GTI, Golf R and S/RS3 are all the same 2 litre 4pot engine just with a different map. My stage one APR map took my GTI to significantly better figures than a Golf R. I would like an RS7 one day though!
It is worth noting that the GTI, Golf R and S/RS3 are all the same 2 litre 4pot engine just with a different map. My stage one APR map took my GTI to significantly better figures than a Golf R. I would like an RS7 one day though!
I loved the engine in my TTRS. I have the 2.0T lump in my wifes S1 (going to miss it) and had it in S3 trim in my TTS last year. Great engine.
Nov 9th 2017, 11:43 am
#35
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2009
Location: Sarasota, Florida
Posts: 229
Re: Car Ownership cost USA v UK
A couple of days ago I saw a guy who lives in our neighbourhood driving a BMW with Munich registration plates on it.
I know that some of the European motor manufacturers (eg. Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo etc.) will sell US spec cars to US residents who go over and inspect the cars over at their European factories. The car manufacturer pays for return flights and a night in an hotel. You then go on a tour of the factory and drive away your new car (can be most places in Europe inc. the UK in most cases) for up to a couple of weeks.
You then fly back to the States and your car is shipped to you free of charge. From what I understand, the car is considered ‘used’ rather than ‘new’ and the import duties are a lot less. I assume the guy in my neighbourhood must have done this with his BMW and would soon be registering the car at our local New Jersey DMV. (Btw; the sea port in Newark is only about 12 miles away, very close to Newark airport).
I think you still purchase these cars via your local dealership but though a special programme (easy to google it eg. BMW European Delivery - BMW USA)
Actually, my Brit friend moved from New Jersey to Switzerland a couple of years ago (when I was still resident in Switzerland) and they moved just around the lake from our place. She decided to import her Toyota RAV4 as it was cheap to ship it....it was nice to see and go out with her in the car with the NJ licence plates on for a few weeks until she re-registered it!
I know that some of the European motor manufacturers (eg. Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo etc.) will sell US spec cars to US residents who go over and inspect the cars over at their European factories. The car manufacturer pays for return flights and a night in an hotel. You then go on a tour of the factory and drive away your new car (can be most places in Europe inc. the UK in most cases) for up to a couple of weeks.
You then fly back to the States and your car is shipped to you free of charge. From what I understand, the car is considered ‘used’ rather than ‘new’ and the import duties are a lot less. I assume the guy in my neighbourhood must have done this with his BMW and would soon be registering the car at our local New Jersey DMV. (Btw; the sea port in Newark is only about 12 miles away, very close to Newark airport).
I think you still purchase these cars via your local dealership but though a special programme (easy to google it eg. BMW European Delivery - BMW USA)
Actually, my Brit friend moved from New Jersey to Switzerland a couple of years ago (when I was still resident in Switzerland) and they moved just around the lake from our place. She decided to import her Toyota RAV4 as it was cheap to ship it....it was nice to see and go out with her in the car with the NJ licence plates on for a few weeks until she re-registered it!
Nov 9th 2017, 12:35 pm
#36
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Car Ownership cost USA v UK
A colleague of mine considered it, when buying a Beemer a few years ago, and came to the same conclusion. You might save a few bucks on the duty (I hadn't heard that was the case), and the flights might be included, but overall, with hotels and dining while touring around for a couple of weeks, it was going to cost him money, not save it, and yes, it was a lot of faffing around.
Nov 9th 2017, 1:00 pm
#37
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Rural Virginia
Posts: 1,076
Re: Car Ownership cost USA v UK
A couple of days ago I saw a guy who lives in our neighbourhood driving a BMW with Munich registration plates on it.
I know that some of the European motor manufacturers (eg. Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo etc.) will sell US spec cars to US residents who go over and inspect the cars over at their European factories. The car manufacturer pays for return flights and a night in an hotel. You then go on a tour of the factory and drive away your new car (can be most places in Europe inc. the UK in most cases) for up to a couple of weeks.
You then fly back to the States and your car is shipped to you free of charge. From what I understand, the car is considered ‘used’ rather than ‘new’ and the import duties are a lot less. I assume the guy in my neighbourhood must have done this with his BMW and would soon be registering the car at our local New Jersey DMV. (Btw; the sea port in Newark is only about 12 miles away, very close to Newark airport).
I think you still purchase these cars via your local dealership but though a special programme (easy to google it eg. BMW European Delivery - BMW USA)
Actually, my Brit friend moved from New Jersey to Switzerland a couple of years ago (when I was still resident in Switzerland) and they moved just around the lake from our place. She decided to import her Toyota RAV4 as it was cheap to ship it....it was nice to see and go out with her in the car with the NJ licence plates on for a few weeks until she re-registered it!
I know that some of the European motor manufacturers (eg. Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo etc.) will sell US spec cars to US residents who go over and inspect the cars over at their European factories. The car manufacturer pays for return flights and a night in an hotel. You then go on a tour of the factory and drive away your new car (can be most places in Europe inc. the UK in most cases) for up to a couple of weeks.
You then fly back to the States and your car is shipped to you free of charge. From what I understand, the car is considered ‘used’ rather than ‘new’ and the import duties are a lot less. I assume the guy in my neighbourhood must have done this with his BMW and would soon be registering the car at our local New Jersey DMV. (Btw; the sea port in Newark is only about 12 miles away, very close to Newark airport).
I think you still purchase these cars via your local dealership but though a special programme (easy to google it eg. BMW European Delivery - BMW USA)
Actually, my Brit friend moved from New Jersey to Switzerland a couple of years ago (when I was still resident in Switzerland) and they moved just around the lake from our place. She decided to import her Toyota RAV4 as it was cheap to ship it....it was nice to see and go out with her in the car with the NJ licence plates on for a few weeks until she re-registered it!
As long as the car has the US spec sticker and you can tick box 2A on the HS7 form it is fine.
Shipping is very cheap right now I just paid 700 euros to ship a 110 Land Rover from Antwerp to Baltimore if it is going with a fleet of cars coming over probably a lot less than that.
In Switzerland we had to convert the speedometers from mph to kph before we could register motorcyles.
Nov 9th 2017, 1:47 pm
#38
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2016
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 189
Re: Car Ownership cost USA v UK
Tires only last longer if you drive like a a Miami resident or like to run on stage coach wheels. If you have "grippy" tire they last the same length of time as they do in the UK. My last set of tires lasted around 40k on both my cars. However I do not have snail mode in my driving resume.
https://www.cars.com/articles/2013/0...do-tires-last/
https://www.cars.com/articles/2013/0...do-tires-last/
Edit: we are managing with one car while I'm not working and between commuting / preK round trips, shopping, leisure and road trips we are certainly eating up the miles. Appreciate this is specific to us and not everyone.
Last edited by Chesten; Nov 9th 2017 at 1:49 pm.
Nov 9th 2017, 2:27 pm
#39
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Car Ownership cost USA v UK
Nov 9th 2017, 2:30 pm
#40
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: CT
Posts: 33,489
Re: Car Ownership cost USA v UK
On tires, I just bought some that are quoting 80K miles and have a guarantee. I wouldn't get remotely close to that back home. I think 20K was what I was getting. I understood tire standards are different and linked to reducing noise in U.K./ Europe which requires different compounds and a less durable tire. Am I misinformed? Anyhow I haven't done the miles here or tested the warranty but my presumption is (good quality) tires will last longer and therefore be better value.
Nov 9th 2017, 2:42 pm
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Car Ownership cost USA v UK
A colleague of mine considered it, when buying a Beemer a few years ago, and came to the same conclusion. You might save a few bucks on the duty (I hadn't heard that was the case), and the flights might be included, but overall, with hotels and dining while touring around for a couple of weeks, it was going to cost him money, not save it, and yes, it was a lot of faffing around.
But I'm hoping my nearly 20 year old BMW is going to last a while yet!
Nov 9th 2017, 4:13 pm
#42
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Portlandia Metro
Posts: 7,425
