Anyway.....

Luxembourg?

Note to self:

 

start new thread within suitable location of Briskoda - "Is UK an amazing country?"

I can't remember who it was that said that he didn't mind paying taxes as it bought him civilisation but he was dead right. Ever lived anywhere where the tax take is low - these places are brutal.

 

To back this point up quite nicely, Norwegians are an extremely happy nation on the whole, with a good standard of living. I dont think the tax take in Norway needs to be mentioned.

 

The UK certainly isnt perfect by any stretch, but its far from bad. Not many other places in the world which are overall a better place to live. A lot of places have individual things which are better, but overall?

As for Dubai. Sorry, but sweating your arse off just standing outside (and yes it does happen) is too much. Thats before you get into everything else.

As an absolute amount yes, GBP 24k for a 5-door DSG Golf R sounds like a sweet deal.

 

Here this version of the Golf starts from EUR 36k, which is approx. GBP 28k.

 

I don't think you can follow a trend here, because apart from taxes and currency rates, these prices also include the dealer discount - which is different for every country. Also have in mind that we here get the full 300bhp version of the Golf R. I am also sure that many options are different among countries. This is the reason for many re-export sales - there are for example German, Greek, Romanian, Dutch, Macedonian (as far as I know) dealerships that buy cars imported by Bulgarian dealers (depending on the brand of course, who has negotiated a better import price).

 

So a direct comparison may not be appropriate, but otherwise GBP 24k even for detuned Golf R DSG is very good.

Coming back the original post...

 

That is a good price.  But with new cars so cheap I bet the actual depreciation losses over the first two/three years isn't a huge difference to UK costs.

Plus with an online broker in the UK I bet you can close that price gap quite a bit anyway.

 

In terms of the "...makes me sick as a pig", I'd say that's a bit harsh.  As pointed out go and buy one in some of the other countries where cars are really expensive.

 

 

 

Group hug?

£24k might be cheap for a car such as that but there are a lot of other cost associated with living in the UAE.  Property rental and purchase prices are very high, don't forget insurance for healthcare, also schooling isn't free either.

 

Having said that the standard of living for expats on a decent salary out there is high - think villa style house with a pool and probably a gardener and a cleaner.  Education standards are very high.  But the weather is unbearable for half the year.

Coming back the original post...

That is a good price. But with new cars so cheap I bet the actual depreciation losses over the first two/three years isn't a huge difference to UK costs.

Plus with an online broker in the UK I bet you can close that price gap quite a bit anyway.

In terms of the "...makes me sick as a pig", I'd say that's a bit harsh. As pointed out go and buy one in some of the other countries where cars are really expensive.

Group hug?

Hi Boss,

Fair points. My topic title was much in jest to be honest.....I paid practically the same for my excellent (but dull as dishwater) O3 2.0 TDi Elegance estate and goes to show the premiums we pay on cars, mainly due to VAT.

I would argue however that most countries where such cars are super expensive (take the Norway £73k example) they typically have the incomes to match. A full time cleaners average salary in Norway is the equivalent of £30k/year for example....expect most in the UK are earning half that if their lucky. Law of averages....someone over here earning 40k/year could v well be earning the equivalent of 80k/year there? Just food for thought.

And anyway (not directed at you Boss but the masses)there was no need for this thread to become so heated. Like most countries the UK has its issues, but ive spent my 33 years here and likely to spend another 33 if Im lucky to live that long.

I also wish Alex Salmond all the best in going solo should it happen. I know alot of scots want to remain in the UK so think the outcome of the referendum will be interesting.

£24k might be cheap for a car such as that but there are a lot of other cost associated with living in the UAE. Property rental and purchase prices are very high, don't forget insurance for healthcare, also schooling isn't free either.

Having said that the standard of living for expats on a decent salary out there is high - think villa style house with a pool and probably a gardener and a cleaner. Education standards are very high. But the weather is unbearable for half the year.

To enjoy a Golf R you need to be somewhere better than the UAE, somewhere like this perhaps:

There's another thing often overlooked with regard to the OP's post. Yes you can buy a golf R for a few grand less but would you really want to drive it on sand covered straight roads. Take a drive through a few B roads in Derbyshire or Yorkshire countryside, The roads from Chesterfield to Manchester for example is awesome on a sunny day with little traffic. It makes driving worth while and enjoyable rather than a chore or a commute. Wales has some stunning roads im sure for me personally a few grand extra is a price worth paying and I am contemplating the Golf R for my next car unless Skoda bring out a 4x4 VRS in the next year. Perhaps if you live in urban areas then its not so great.

To enjoy a Golf R you need to be somewhere better than the UAE, somewhere like this perhaps:

 

 

Damn you beat me too it I was just typing as you posted

Sorry whilst they dont have the abundance of B roads like we do here I am sure there are places in Dubai or the wider UAE where such cars can be enjoyed.

I also suppose if you've no aversion to a personal lease and do low miles that its quite affordable to get into a Golf R here also. A spin I didnt put on this originally.

That said if you do lots of miles in one the 25p/mile average excess on a personal lease could result in quite a financial haemorage.

Edited 28 July, 201411 yr by pipsyp

Just spent my paltry half hour lunch break tidying this thread.

Keep it on topic only, lay off the insults especially and avoid trying to bypass the swear filter...

Otherwise, we have to then start locking threads and issuing warnings (something we try to avoid unless absolutely necessary)

Come on guys, play nice and dont let me have spent half an hour of my own time cleaning this up for nothing

Just spent my paltry half hour lunch break tidying this thread.

Keep it on topic only, lay off the insults especially and avoid trying to bypass the swear filter...

Otherwise, we have to then start locking threads and issuing warnings (something we try to avoid unless absolutely necessary)

Come on guys, play nice and dont let me have spent half an hour of my own time cleaning this up for nothing

 

Lol its not trying to bypass the filter its my appalling spelling.

 

Sorry for my part in this I was just annoyed that another thread got hijacked with someone jumping in and turning the thread into another Scottish referendum debate. Im sick of hearing about it. I think im more exited to see this thing put to bed than the average scot.

Scribbler, on 28 Jul 2014 - 13:15, said:

Lol its not trying to bypass the filter its my appalling spelling.

 

Sorry for my part in this I was just annoyed that another thread got hijacked with someone jumping in and turning the thread into another Scottish referendum debate. Im sick of hearing about it. I think im more exited to see this thing put to bed than the average scot.

I believe you referred to me as "a retard" when I merely pointed out that the UK isn't that great a place to live.

 

Nothing to do with a Scottish referendum.

 

Be thankful I'm from a generation brought up on the mantra of "sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me"......otherwise you may have had a visit from Plod (I'm sure I read recently that 70% of police calls these days relate to "offensive" comments posted on the internet FFS).

 

Keep smiling

Just spent my paltry half hour lunch break tidying this thread.

Keep it on topic only, lay off the insults especially and avoid trying to bypass the swear filter...

Otherwise, we have to then start locking threads and issuing warnings (something we try to avoid unless absolutely necessary)

Come on guys, play nice and dont let me have spent half an hour of my own time cleaning this up for nothing

 

Great sentiments but unfortunately this thread proves that many people are simply incapable of communicating in a civil manner. As the culprits appear to be the same over time, regardless of moderators comments it's hard to see how this softly softly approach works. Some people will only respond to warnings and in my opinion, some of the rot posted on here is too arrogant, rude and disrespectful to be dealt with any other way.

As the MOD heading up this section I am pretty appalled at the keyboard warrior posts and the total disregard for the rules. We don't like handing out warnings or banning people hence why we offer "words of advice".

 

I will review with the team.

 

For now please familiarise yourselves with the forum rules.