US Spec-ed Vehicles

[crockers]

Tax in the UK certainly plays a significant part in the price differential, to start with there is the “special car tax” levied at 10% to which is added “VAT” at 17.5%, so a minimum of 27.5% of the list price is going straight to the nice people at the treasury. Although I may be wrong but I believe that these taxes are compound so would actually be a higher percentage.
Not to mention the new showroom tax announced in the last rip of round, err sorry budget.

I think you will find that that tax was repealed many years ago...late '80 I think...

But I stand to be corrected...

 

[Rory]

I think you will find that that tax was repealed many years ago...late '80 I think...

But I stand to be corrected...

It was certainly a pretty long time ago that Special Car Tax was repealed - bizarre that people think it's still levied.

 

[Rory]

US comsumers get to pick from a handfull of models, nothing like the choice we get.

I imported a C240 (W203) from America some time ago, leather faced seats instead of leather seats etc.

They really aren't the same cars, and don't forget generally in America you get what you're given (what's in stock on the day and what your monthly payments will stretch to), rather than get what you want.

The choice limit happens for a couple of reasons - they don't have the engine range that we do. Neither MB or BMW will sell 4cyl engines in the US and there are few diesels.

The other thing is that, for mainstream cars, people drive their old car into a dealer and expect to drive out in a new one an hour or two later. Dealers carry huge stock, so limited engines, colours and options make it possible for them to carry many combinations. Premium cars like MB are more typically ordered, but dealers do carry much more stock than a UK dealer would.