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thanks
The hidden costs associated with the Volvo European Delivery program are twofold: insurance... and odd-city pickup/dropoff costs. Temporary insurance over there is mandatory even if you don't drive the car when you're in Europe; this costs hundreds of dollars. Also, as long as you pick up and drop off the car in Gothenburg, Sweden, there are no extra costs. But if you do it in another European city (and Volvo offers to deliver the car almost anywhere, or drop it off at about 15 designated shipping centers) the add-on fees run to many more hundreds of dollars. London, for example, is $235 extra to drop off the car; Barcelona is three or four times as much. Arrange to pick up your S40 in Paris and drive it to Barcelona and you've blown your whole cost advantage.
Volvo does usually offer one free plane ticket to Europe to sweeten the deal (which, if you bought it yourself, would cost you about what the mandatory insurance charge comes to). And if you fly to Sweden, get the car in Sweden, and leave it in Sweden, you still come out ahead. Watch out for the fees though.
"... Temporary insurance over there is mandatory even if you don't drive the car when you're in Europe; this costs hundreds of dollars..."
WILL IT COVER THE CAR DURING SHIPPING TO U.S.?
"... Also, as long as you pick up and drop off the car in Gothenburg, Sweden, there are no extra costs..."
DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THEY CAN ARRANGE SHIPMENT TO THE U.S. (AFTER You've "PICKED UP" THE CAR AND MAYBE DRIVEN IT AROUND EUROPE A BIT). HOW MUCH WILL THEY CHARGE EXTRA FOR OCEAN FREIGHT...?
Any tips will be appreciated! Has anyone actually bought a Volvo this way? Please share your experiences!
the only extras would be your hotel, airfare, food, gas, international drivers lic (get in U.S.) etc....
The key is to find a dealer who is experienced with European deliveries and they will handle all the details and make the trip a lifelong experience...
newheels, the European insurance is completely separate from the marine insurance used to cover your car during transit. It is apparently a Swedish law that requires you to buy a insurance for at least a minimal period of time even if you don't drive the car. I wasn't going to drive my S80 T6 since I was only going to be there for a weekend but since I had to pay for insurance I kept my car over the weekend and bummed a local CD ROM for the navigation system.
Regarding shipment, it is free for pickup and drop-off in Goteborg. You can arrange pickup and or drop-off at one of a couple of dozen major cities in Europe but there is an extra charge that varies with distance from Volvo's shipping ports (typically a few hundred dollars).
By the way, in reference to post #107, Volvo pays for air fare and first night hotel charges with their program for now (they have for the past couple of years but may stop some day).
All program details including charges for European cities should be available with a little digging at http://www.volvocars.com/overseas_new/
Hope this helps.
-rdo
rdollie@home.com
Rich
tom123, I bought a '99 S80 T6 this way as well and do agree with your comments with a couple of exceptions.
If you finance through Volvo you pay for the car 6 days prior to delivery date. If you live East of the Mississippi then delivery should take no more than 3 weeks from port to port. At the time, Volvo was shipping cars for East Coast delivery every Monday. It generally takes 15 days for a car to arrive at the first U.S. port (the FAPS facility in New Jersey). In my case I picked my car up at the port since I was running a project there for a client but depending upon where your dealer is located I could see it taking several additional days to get your car from port to dealer.
All in all, you save quite a bit as you mentioned and you will definitely have to be patient by comparison to running out and buying off a dealer's lot. We bought our '01 V70 T5 off a dealer's lot because we bought it on the West Coast and couldn't wait for a custom order. Hopefully my next car (S60R?) will be met at the factory!
Thanks.
-rdo
rdollie@home.com
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When does Volvo roll to the new model year...? Late summer or early fall? Considering the fact that Volvo requires ED orders to be placed ~3 months in advance, I wonder when will they start accepting orders for 2002 cars...?
Thanks again,
Newheels
sandejx, I bought my Volvo S80 T6 through the European Delivery program and saved thousands (and highly recommend the experience for the savings and free trip to Europe). However, I live in the U.S.
As I recall, you are only supposed to keep your car for up to 6 months in Europe under this program (the limit may be different for military orders though). For program details follow this link:
http://www.volvocars.com/overseas_new/
Good luck.
-rdo
rdollie@home.com
Also, here is a link to the European Delivery section of the Mercedes-Benz Web site Mercedes-Benz European Delivery.
Although it is not exactly a European Delivery program, Porsche has an interesting section on their Web site called the Porsche Travel Club. They have all sorts of interesting European trips that include the use of a Porsche which you can set up through them. Here is a link to that page: Porsche Travel Club.
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kelf, the Euro delivery price is the FACTORY invoice for the car (same price the dealer pays) + MSRP for options (what you normally pay for options at the dealer). The dealer doesn't earn a traditional profit (nor does the salesman get a commission which is why most of these orders are handled by the fleet manager) but does receive a 5% fee from Volvo for the order.
Hope this helps.
-rdo
rdollie@home.com
1) Yes, it's possible to do it. You would need to take European Delivery (if such a program exists), or speak to the Military/Diplomat factory representative (if you fall into these categories) for the respective company.
2) Automobiles in Western Europe tend to be 30% cheaper than they are in the U.S., with the exception of in the U.K.
3) Upon returning to the U.S., you are subject to substantial costs for freight ($2-3,000), duties and fees.
4) Getting a U.S.-spec car registered and insured in Europe does not seem to be a problem, even in the U.K, where the cars have right-hand drive.
5) Expect to pay substantial VAT, as well as U.S. taxes, on U.S. delivery, and you do not get the VAT back. (On a Boxster it runs about $6,500)
In short, it can be done, but the American government is on a different and more legalistic wavelength than is the rest of the world, and doing it would be a time-consuming and expensive headache. Why does this not surprise me?
I'm strongly thinking about picking up my CLK320 through MB's European Delivery program. I'm looking for some recent experiences others have had with the program.
Basically, you're getting 2 free nights, saving on your destination charge ($645), and use of your car in Europe, plus the factory tour. Any hotel recommendations or travel suggestions?? Any must-go places or things to skip??
Thanks
This past summer I bought a new Saab 9-3 using their IDS (European Delivery) program. I had purchased a Saab convertible through the same program and same dealer (Blue Grass Motor Sports, Louisville Kentucky) in 1996, and at that time the total experience was very satisfying. So I decided to do it again.
At the time I placed the order (August) the prices for the 2001 models had not yet been set. So Saab US added $750 to the 2000 price with the stipulation that, if the actual price increase were less than $750, I would be refunded the difference. I agreed and paid the additional sum.
When I returned from Europe in November, I learned that the price increase had been less than $750 and called Saab US to request a refund. I was told that they had sold the car to the dealer at a predetermined price and that any refund would have to come from the dealer.
I contacted Blue Grass and asked about a refund. They agreed it was due me and that it would be mailed to me. This was early November.
In December I was advised by Saab that my car had arrived in the US and had been shipped to the dealer. I called the dealer to let them know and also reminded them that I had still not received the refund due me. I was told that it would be processed immediately.
Three weeks passed and I had received neither a call from the dealer telling me that the car had arrived, nor a refund check. I called Saab USA again and was told that the car had arrived at the dealer some time ago. They called the dealer who then found my car sitting among all the other new 2001 Saabs, but without a window sticker and with 5000 miles on the odometer. They never apologized, but merely explained that someone had taken off the Swedish license plates and they didn't recognize that it wasn't a new car (no window sticker, no plastic seat coverings, etc, that come with the new cars.)
By February I still has not received a refund. So I called again. And again. And again. At first the sales rep said he didn't know what the problem was and he would check. He never called back. This happened several times, and then he suggested I call the sales manager directly. I did this several times also. He was never available to take my calls, nor did he return them as requested.
By mid March my patience had worn thin and I wrote to the sales manager complaining about the treatment I had received and advising that if the refund weren't issued, I would take legal action.
No response. So I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. My check arrived in the mail the day after the Bureau contacted them.
So much for customer relations. I sold both the Saabs and now have a vey nice Volvo S60 T5.
I know dealers and sales reps read these messages. I'd really like to know what would prompt behavior like this. I was a good customer (emphasis on was), had all my service done at their shop, and I thought I had a good working relationship with these people. They knew I was interested in an Audi, which they also sell, yet for five months they showed absolutely no regard for me as a customer or as a person.
As to pricing. All the paperwork indicates that it is a direct sale from the Manufacturer (Saab) to me, unlike domestic sales in which the manufacturer sells to the delaer who then sell to the customer. The car title showed a direct sale from Saab to me. Yet Saab told me that they had "sold" my car to the dealer. What seems to happen is that the dealer charges the "fixed" price but then is required to send less to the manufacturer. I don't know what the actual spread is, but the invoice price from the factory listed on the import papers for duty assessment is almost $2000 less than the European delivery price listed by Saab on their web site. Despite what they tell customers, Saab dealers do make money on these sales.
2--Any idea when the earliest possible date to pick up 2002 models at the Factory under Euro Delivery?
I would appreciate any comments from BMW owners that have gone through the European delivery system. The only downer I see is I personally would not care to take delivery in the snowy season. Top down in the Alps?
You can save big bucks if you have frequent flyer miles to get you to Munich. For instance business class from Los Angeles to Munich roundtrip is 80,000 miles.
I am a Canadian living in the States as a resident (hold a permanent job here). Does my status qualify me for ED? I know they need to see your passport when you place your order through ED. I just don't know if being a resident in the States is enough.
you'll find it.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Krzys
There is a problem. You start paying your lease one month before European pickup.
It might make sense if you are on East Coast but I doubt that paying for 1.5-2 months when your car is in transit to West Coast is good.
Krzys
You can find ED invoice prices on www.roadfly.com (edmunds does not provide pricing info for ED).
What I learned is:
ED vehicles are not coming from dealer inventory/allocation.
You can haggle the price, some dealers might not be willingful to do ED because it involves more paperwork than "normal" sale.
It is better to find a dealership which knows what ED is, what is the process and sells for less than MSRP.
Good luck.
Krzys
PS My ED is still waiting for me in the future (hell, my BMW is still probably not designed yet) - other expenses are more important.
any questions feel free to email me.
Is this website and the service they offer valid and worth the money?
- BMW Owners: European Delivery
- European Delivery
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