The next time you're ready to buy a new car,
look to the showrooms in Europe. In Europe, you
can choose from many makes and models (with
optional U.S. environmental and safety standards,
if you want to sell the car in the United States).
These cars are exactly the same as those you'd see
at showrooms in your country. But they cost less,
and European sales tax (which can run as high as
35%) is not added to cars bought by foreigners.
All things considered, you can save enough
purchasing your new car in Europe to pay for your
trip -- and have money left over. By purchasing
the car in Europe, you save more than enough to
enjoy a week or two tooling Europe's country roads
in your new automobile. And if you do use your new
Mercedes as transportation during your European
vacation, you'll also save the cost of renting a
car.
Almost any European car dealership in your
country can handle the transaction for you. When
you plan your trip, try to arrange to pick up the
car and to leave it for delivery to your country in
cities specified by the dealer. Volvos, for
example, will be shipped free to the United States
if you drop the car off in either London or
Antwerp.
If you intend to resell the car in the United
States, Be sure to specify that your car be
equipped to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards and to U.S. or California emissions
regulations. If you get a car that does not meet
these standards, modification costs will wipe out
any savings you reap.
Rest assured that any new car bought in Europe
comes with the same manufacturer's warranty as a
car bought in your country. We're not talking
"grey market" deals here, we're talking about
tourist purchase arranged by the car's manufacturer
and authorized dealers.
The following European dealers handle cars
built to U.S. specifications:
Shipside Tax Free World on Wheels B.V.,
Shipside Buildings, Kruisweg 631, P.O. Box 430,
2130 AK Hoofddorp, The Netherlands; (201)818-0400
in the United States. This company operates
showrooms and delivery centers at airports in
Amsterdam and Brussels. It offers a large selection
of makes and models. A free catalog is available
upon request.
Cars of Copenhagen, Vodroffsvej 55, DK-1900,
Copenhagen, Denmark; tel. (45-3)5-37-7800.
Iczovitz Tax-Free Cars, Claridenstrasse 36,
CH-8027 Zurich, Switzerland. This company sells the
following makes built to U.S. specifications: Audi,
Mercedes, Saab, Volvo, and Volkswagen.
For a real insider's guide to buying a tax-free
car in Europe, the definitive book is available for $135
including airmail postage from Scope International Ltd.,
62 Murray Road, Waterlooville, Hants. PO8 9JL, Great
Britain. Tell them you want the tax free car report.
