reza0@ihlpl.UUCP (r. zarafshar) (05/04/85)
Has anyone out there either tried or knows about buying a Volvo in Europe and shipping it here. I am thinking about doing that later on this summer. Any pointers, help etc will be appreciated. Since I don't read this newsgroup, please send me mail, will summarize to the net if there is interest. Reza Zarafshar (312)979-5235 ihnp4!ihlpl!reza0
peterk@rtech.ARPA (Peter Kreps) (05/13/85)
> > Has anyone out there either tried or knows about buying > a Volvo in Europe and shipping it here. I am thinking about doing > that later on this summer. > > Reza Zarafshar I recently had a somewhat disappointing experience ordering a Volvo 245DL wagon for European delivery in London (thru a Volvo dealer in Berkeley.) The car was ordered about 10 weeks prior to scheduled arrival in London (you usually need 8-10 weeks lead time). Everything was hunky-dory: we're getting this car at a discount of about $2000 below the price here plus we'll have a nice car to drive around in Europe and save on car rental. Three weeks later we get a telegram from Volvo of America telling us that there are no more American-model 1985 245DL's available for European delivery!! Sorry, it said, hope we can do business in the future, etc. Thanks alot! Of course now it was too late to do anything else about a car delivery in Europe. The dealer here was willing to make somewhat good on the deal by offering us a car here for $600 more than our European price. Small (and costly) compensation, not to mention the added cost of transportation in Europe, the hassle of storing a brand new car while we're gone, etc. Sorry to flame on but I just had to tell someone! ANy suggestions for redress would be welcome. As I understand it other models are also either unavailable already or in very short supply. The moral is: if you want a 1985 Volvo in Europe this year you should do something about it immediately. (You may already be out of luck.) Insist that they confirm the order (preferably by phone), and don't count on it until you have a written confirmation. Unfortunately, the written-up order you place with the agent or dealer generally does not constitute a confirmation or contract (read the fine print) even if you put down a deposit. All they are obligated to do is return your deposit if they can't deliver a car. Incidently, does anyone out there have any experience with buying a European-market car and arranging the conversion for US/California yourself? Is it feasible/worth the hassle? -Peter Kreps {decvax, ucbvax}!mtxinu \ inhp4!pegasus - !rtech!peterk {amdahl, sun} /
dwl10@amdahl.UUCP (Dave Lowrey) (05/14/85)
> Incidently, does anyone out there have any experience with buying a > European-market car and arranging the conversion for US/California yourself? > Is it feasible/worth the hassle? > It is very feasable. On the East coast, there are brokers who will find you a car (new or used), arrange shipment, and take care of the US conversions/registrations. Some will even find financing! They charge according to the price of the car, and you still save $2000-$5000 off the price of a $20,000 car! I personally havn't done this. But I have several friends who have. They suggest you get references from a broker before dealing with them. If they won't give references, then don't deal with them. Good Luck -- ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dave Lowrey "To vacillate or not to vacillate, that is the question.... ....or is it?" ...!(<sun,cbosgd,ihnp4}!amdahl!dwl10 [ The opinions expressed <may> be those of the author and not necessarily those of his most eminent employer. ]
klein@ucbcad.UUCP (Mike Klein) (05/17/85)
> > Has anyone out there either tried or knows about buying > a Volvo in Europe and shipping it here. I am thinking about doing > that later on this summer. > > Reza Zarafshar Before you consider this route seriously, think about the following: How much can you *really* get the car for here? BUY REMAR SUTTON'S BOOK: "DON'T GET TAKEN EVERY TIME -- HOW TO BUY YOUR NEXT CAR" You will probably be surprised at how effectively you can deal with a local car dealer once you understand their tricks. 10% off factory sticker price is a starting point! Do you really want to wait the 3-6 weeks after your trip before the car gets back here? Would you go on this exact trip if you were not buying a car? Or are you possibly wasting very valuable vacation time to pick up the car? Certainly if these don't apply, or you don't care, then you should do it. But try dealing tough here first and see just how well you can do! Buy Sutton's book (I can't stress this nearly enough). -- -Mike Klein ...!ucbvax!ucbmerlin:klein (UUCP) klein%ucbmerlin@berkeley (ARPA)
2141smh@rduxb.UUCP (henning) (05/18/85)
> > Has anyone out there either tried or knows about buying > > a Volvo in Europe and shipping it here. I am thinking about doing > > that later on this summer. > > The car was ordered about 10 weeks prior to scheduled arrival in London > (you usually need 8-10 weeks lead time). Everything was hunky-dory: > Three weeks later we get a telegram from Volvo of America telling us > that there are no more American-model 1985 245DL's available for European > delivery!! Sorry, it said, hope we can do business in the future, etc. **** **** From the keys of Steve Henning, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, PA rduxb!2141smh The previous point is well taken. I have puchased 3 Volvos through the Volvo European delivery plan and have been very happy all three times. The secret is the dealer. He must know the timing and get everything in on time. You have to arrange title, insurance, customs info for the free home delivery, and of coarse get the order confirmed well ahead of time. We usually start 4 months ahead of time. It is very little work for us. We just have to sign the order, insurance forms, home delivery forms, show our passport, and pay our money. The dealer has to get all the forms and make sure they are sent in on a timely basis. Do notice that the passport must be shown for the title forms. Also, the factory shutdown usually is in July so their inventory goes down hill from then until they get started again.
2141smh@rduxb.UUCP (henning) (05/28/85)
> Before you consider this route seriously, think about the following: > How much can you *really* get the car for here? This point is well taken. On the three Volvo's I bought in Europe I really only saved enough to pay my plane fare for my wife and myself. > Do you really want to wait the 3-6 weeks after your trip before the > car gets back here? 6 weeks is more typical for Baltimore where we picked all 3 up. > Would you go on this exact trip if you were not buying a car? Or > are you possibly wasting very valuable vacation time to > pick up the car? Here is the tricky part. When we toured Scotland, we used a rental car and didn't have to pay too terrible a sum of money, but we drove the British equivalent of a Ford intermediate size car which was like driving a tank on the narrow single lane ( single track ) Scottish roads and was a real gas hog. They gave it to us for a cheap rate since no one else would touch it. However when we tour on the continent we love Scandinavia and the alps and usually tour both regions. In this case, the European delivery really pays big dividends. Your transportation cost is only for the gas & oil. We usually drive about 4,000 miles and really appreciate driving our car and not paying huge rental fees.