Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Smart Shopper European Delivery Experiences, Advice and Info
251 messages, Last post on Jul 13, 2008 at 5:01 PM
You are in the Smart Shopper Forum. Your Hosts are kirstie_h & tidester
|
In the past, I have seen several posts in the Smart Shopper's Conference requesting information on purchasing cars with European Delivery. European Delivery is a neat way to purchase a car if you have the time and are planning to visit Europe. It will save you money on your purchase and you will have a vehicle to drive around when you are on vacation. Recently I came across an interesting article in the New York Times that details current Euro Delivery plans offered by several manufacturers. Here are some of the offers that are currently available: Last year BMW sold 1,256 cars through Euro Delivery. This is by far the most popular program among the manufacturers that offer this option. Customer savings on vehicles ranged from $2,160 on a 318ti to $10,835 for a 720iL. The program includes 30 days insurance and temporary registration. Last year Mercedes-Benz sold 906 cars through European Delivery. To give you some idea of the savings provided through this program, customers saved $1,500 on a C230. As a perk, Mercedes throws in 2 nights in a hotel, 2 weeks insurance and registration, and a free factory tour. Porsche does not offer any savings for purchasing a vehicle through Euro Delivery. In fact, they charge customers a $2,250 fee for the program. Porsche throws in a factory tour, 2 weeks insurance, and 30 day registration. Last year Volvo sold 930 cars through Euro Delivery. The savings varies widely in Volvo's program, from $0 on a C70 Coupe to $4,000 for a V70 R 4WD. As an added bonus, Volvo throws in one round-trip coach airline ticket, and one night in a hotel. Last year Saab sold 129 cars through European Delivery. Savings ranges from $1,825 on a 9-3 three door to $2,625 on a 9-3 Convertible. Through May 31st, Saab is offering two round-trip coach airline tickets, airport pickup, one night in a hotel, dinner, and shuttle to the vehicle delivery center at no extra charge. Last year Jaguar only sold 4 units through European Delivery! Obviously this is not a very popular program. Savings through this program average 2.5% of the car's retail price. However, these savings are offset by customer fees for marine freight, insurance, and customs duties. Jaguar offers a free factory tour to European Delivery customers.
|
|
|
|
|
With marine freight for a solo car in a container running around $2,500 - $3,000 (Bremerhaven to West Coast USA), it seems that the European delivery plan works best for the more expensive cars. Of course, you do get to drive a nice car throughout Europe, so that's also a consideration. I was surprised about cheapskate Porsche, though. Money must still be tight with them. |
|
| A friend just bought a BMW on the European delivery program. BMW pays the freight and provides 30 days of European insurance. The buyer still pays the tarrif, but should come out well ahead given the 10+ percent discount off domestic prices. Basically, for a $40,000 car, it paid for the European vacation. | |
|
|
| Yeah, I think at the $40K level, the European plans do make sense, but in the high $20Ks, I'm not so sure. | |
|
Hey Carman & Mr. Shiftright! jrthomas posted the following in Station Wagons and I knew there would be a more appropriate topic here in Smart Shopper for him! KarenS/Station Wagons Host #0 of 0: (jrthomas) Tue 09 Jun '98 (11:57 AM) Does anyone have experience with overseas delivery of European automobiles ? I'm interested in picking up a Volvo AWD in Europe. The Volvo brochure says that it must be arranged through a dealer, and gives the prices, which are actually lower than Dealer Invoice in the U.S. My question is this: can one bargain with the dealer on the European Delivery price, or is that not negotiable ?
|
|
|
|
| It is my understanding that you cannot bargain with a dealer on the European Delivery Plan, since this is all set up and locked in by the factory, and there are probably set fees to the dealer which he/she isn't going to bargain away...not enough meat on the bone for everyone. | |
|
Shiftright, I'm sure I've seen varying prices on BMW Euro deliveries; certain agressive places advertise prices in a club magazine, the Roundel. I have a question about Euro deliveries; can you arrange it with any dealer in the U.S., regardless of location? Does it matter if you arrange the E.D. with a dealer across the country from where you want the car ultimately shipped? And when the car *is* finally shipped to the U.S., who does it go to? Local dealer? (Always looking for a way to cut those Bay Area BMW dealers out of my business...) |
|
|
A word of warning. Be sure to pay your luxury tax on cars purchased under the European delivery plan. The IRS started issuing subpoenas to get records from the automakers and were successful in at least one case (don't remember which, BMW or Mercedes). Very few people were paying those taxes! I'm curious about the break-in period on such a car. Does the factory do it for you? I can't imagine being able to resist temptation to go fast on the Autobahn (part of the appeal of the program, no?). I had a hard enough time restraining myself to under 65 while breaking in my car. |
|
|
|
|
Dear Bia, One doesn't much have to "break in" modern cars anymore, just exercise some common sense for a few hundred miles...I'd keep it out of the extreme RPM ranges (redline) and I'd vary speeds considerably. But if you're turning 4000 rpm and that translates into 100 mph, that's okay by me...I'd just vary the RPMs a lot for a few days, and give the engine different loads and heat ranges. As for the European delivery questions, I'd ask the Roundel advertisers what they are up to--some of them may have special deals with the factory, I don't know, or come up with their own imaginative promotion deals. My impression has always been that the deals on European delivery were pretty tight...but maybe someone has a different read on that? |
|
| I too am curious about finding information about ED,a VW Eurovan in particular, which dealers, etc. . . . | |
You are here:
Forums
Smart Shopper European Delivery Experiences, Advice and Info
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
