[ZURICH]

I have noticed many of you guys bitching and moaning about the price of cars and spares, labour costs etc, so I thought it would be worth checking on who actually gets their nuts twisted the most.

so to keep a level playinfield and as I have one thought we would use the "Touring" "Wagon* call it what you will as a base line, so here we go.

In Switzerland we pay the following for a basic model.

CHF inkl. 8% MwSt.
318i 48 500.–
320i 51 700.–
325i 60 100.–
325i xDrive 63 900.–
330i 66 500.–
330i xDrive 70 300.–
335i 70 200.–
335i xDrive 74 000.–
318d 52 600.–
320d BMW Efficient-Dynamics Edition 52 300.–
320d 56,900. = 61,875.20 USD
320d xDrive 60 300.–
325d 61 800.–
330d 67 700.–
330d xDrive 71 500.–
335d 71,100. = 77,316.90 USD

1.00 CHF = 0.687352 GBP
1.00 CHF = 1.08739 USD
1.00 CHF = 0.828986 EUR

So who thinks their Bimmers are expensive?

Bring it on

[F1Senna]

Originally Posted by ZURICH

I have noticed many of you guys bitching and moaning about the price of cars and spares, labour costs etc, so I thought it would be worth checking on who actually gets their nuts twisted the most.

so to keep a level playinfield and as I have one thought we would use the "Touring" "Wagon* call it what you will as a base line, so here we go.

In Switzerland we pay the following for a basic model.

CHF inkl. 8% MwSt.
318i 48 500.–
320i 51 700.–
325i 60 100.–
325i xDrive 63 900.–
330i 66 500.–
330i xDrive 70 300.–
335i 70 200.–
335i xDrive 74 000.–
318d 52 600.–
320d BMW Efficient-Dynamics Edition 52 300.–
320d 56,900. = 61,875.20 USD
320d xDrive 60 300.–
325d 61 800.–
330d 67 700.–
330d xDrive 71 500.–
335d 71,100. = 77,316.90 USD

1.00 CHF = 0.687352 GBP
1.00 CHF = 1.08739 USD
1.00 CHF = 0.828986 EUR

So who thinks their Bimmers are expensive?

Bring it on

Ouch. Isn't the used car market cheap for you guys though? In puerto Rico a new 328 is around usd 50,000 IIRC. The deals in the US are amazing, a used 3 series for low-mid 20s? :drool

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by F1Senna

Ouch. Isn't the used car market cheap for you guys though? In puerto Rico a new 328 is around usd 50,000 IIRC. The deals in the US are amazing, a used 3 series for low-mid 20s? :drool

Used cars are crazy prices herea 2 year old 320d x drive will cost you about 45,000 CHF

[RWD Jan]

Prices in Denmark [USD]:
318i 79 300.–
320i 84 500.–
330i 130 100.–
335i 140 000.–
318d 85 500.–
320d BMW Efficient-Dynamics Edition 91 600.–
320d 91 600.–
330d 133 900.–

Note that all models except 330/335 i/d is sold with MAJOR discounts right now (discounted prices shown)

[ZURICH]

Holy crap Jan, they are some big numbers and I thought we had it bad.

[RWD Jan]

25% VAT, 105% tax of the first $14k and 180% of the rest...

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by RWD Jan

25% VAT, 105% tax of the first $14k and 180% of the rest...

That is one big tax burden, perhaps you are one of the few people who could come here and think "Wow" Switzerland is sooo cheap.

[Dark_Knight_335]

More and more a 2012 335 coupe looks to be in my future.

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by SDeFranco1

More and more a 2012 335 coupe looks to be in my future.

Wish I could see one in mine

[apc3libras]

I know this sounds really stupid, but why are these cars so expensive there? Seems like it would be cheaper since they are manufactured there (around there). Is it just the taxes or are there other fees?

A few things I have heard, not sure how accurate:
-The cars in Europe use higher quality parts than those sent to the US
-Huge Taxes
-Cars that consume more fuel are more $ to make consumers shy away from them
-Currency conversion rates?

[ZURICH]

Originally Posted by apc3libras

I know this sounds really stupid, but why are these cars so expensive there? Seems like it would be cheaper since they are manufactured there (around there). Is it just the taxes or are there other fees?

A few things I have heard, not sure how accurate:
-The cars in Europe use higher quality parts than those sent to the US
-Huge Taxes
-Cars that consume more fuel are more $ to make consumers shy away from them
-Currency conversion rates?

As for the parts issue, I know quite a few parts are different due to things like emissions and interior styling etc but think the quality is allways there.
Import tax and general taxes are also ok in Switzerland, but Luxury goods attract a much higher rate, hense bloody expensive bimmers.
Using more fuel just makes them more expensive to own, thus eliminating people who can't afford high cost of ownership and making them even more exclusive.

[Wires]

Originally Posted by apc3libras

I know this sounds really stupid, but why are these cars so expensive there? Seems like it would be cheaper since they are manufactured there (around there). Is it just the taxes or are there other fees?

A few things I have heard, not sure how accurate:
-The cars in Europe use higher quality parts than those sent to the US
-Huge Taxes
-Cars that consume more fuel are more $ to make consumers shy away from them
-Currency conversion rates?

Sometimes it's just the car company's screwing you. That's what happens up in Canada. US and Canada get the cars from the same place, CND=USD, yet our price is 20%+ more than the US. Just because they can. It ain't right, but nothing you can do about it.

Heck, BRP (located and mfr's in Canada) who makes the Can-Am and Ski-doo powersport brands were selling their Cam-AM 800 for $16k CAD, and around $9kUS. They actually implement policy that would cancel US dealers if they sold to Canadian customers.

[krhodes1]

One thing to keep in mind for those on both sides of the big pond, prices in the US almost NEVER include any kind of taxes or registration fees. Which are usually cheaper than in Europe by a ton, but still add to the price.

And of course, in return for those taxes and fees you guys in Europe do get little things like decent public transportation and healthcare. I would rather pay more for my car and know that a heart attack would not put me into bankruptcy.

But for a US counterpoint, I also have a Touring - here is what it cost, full on the road with everything I can think of (round numbers as I am away from home):

2011 328i Touring, Value Pkg, Premium Pkg, Cold Weather Pkg, HK, Sat Radio, Comfort Access and Roof rails.

US - MSRP $45,000
Euro Delivery MSRP $42,000
Discount negotiated from the dealer $2,500
Savings from European Delivery $3,000
Total $39500

Destination (delivery) charge $875
State Sales tax (Maine 5%) $2018
First year local Excise tax (2.5%) $1072
Registration $75

Total on the road $43540

Maine is a little wierd on the taxes, sales tax is on negotiated price + destination charge, but Excise Tax is on full MSRP + destination charge. Because technically the European Delivery price is a lower MSRP, not a Discount, I did not have to pay excise tax on that $3000. But excise tax is every year forever, based on MSRP. It goes down every year for the first 7 years, it will bottom out around $300/yr for this car.

We do get a GREAT deal on BMW Welt delivery though - my understanding is that Europeans generally have to pay to do that, we get a bunch of money off!

[Bob Shiftright]

Originally Posted by ZURICH

That is one big tax burden, perhaps you are one of the few people who could come here and think "Wow" Switzerland is sooo cheap.

However, capital gains on private property (such as profits from the sale of shares) are tax-free, except where the cantons levy a tax on real estate capital gains.

I'd be more than happy to trade ya -- your investment tax rates for our BMW prices!

[DDS2015]

Originally Posted by Wires

Sometimes it's just the car company's screwing you. That's what happens up in Canada. US and Canada get the cars from the same place, CND=USD, yet our price is 20%+ more than the US. Just because they can. It ain't right, but nothing you can do about it.

Heck, BRP (located and mfr's in Canada) who makes the Can-Am and Ski-doo powersport brands were selling their Cam-AM 800 for $16k CAD, and around $9kUS. They actually implement policy that would cancel US dealers if they sold to Canadian customers.

Actually, it's also the import tax that makes these cars more expensive in Canada. IIRC its 6.5% and then theres another 1-2% for fluctuating currency. so that's the biggest discrepancy between Canadian and US pricing. However, the British PM and Harper are working together on a free trade agreement between the EU and Canada which would help make that 6.5% duty disappear.

One other thing for us vs. the US is that our destination and handling is like triple what theirs is. For my car IIRC it was something close to 3k, whereas in the US its like $875. That aggravates me more than the duty because the same cars are being loaded onto the same boats and are being unloaded closer to the originating port than our American counterparts.