[Garrett]

Originally Posted by dxk

Man, I think you should move over here (USA). Things are cheap here, with possible exception of housing in Boston/NY/CA area, but most folks live outside of those areas (hence Bush keeps winning the elections.) And especially, if you're in the mood for Chinese made merchandise, well, you're really in luck - dirt cheap. Additionally, we have plenty of high-paying jobs, although not as many as before (outsourcing is big here), still evidently more jobs than in France.
And we hardly pay any taxes here, especially if you're very rich, maybe with some luck, we'll be paying even less. Of course it's not that easy to come here (legally I mean, especially from Europe), still, it's easier than from some Arab counties (it's a recent change).
Yes, buy a BMW, German economy needs a lift and as Germany goes, so goes Europe

You have an extremely skewed vision of the U.S. economy and global markets.

Germany surpassed the U.S. as an exporting nation. The United States is falling on hard times and our manufactoring sector is crumbling. As that widdles away so will every job in america.... because they are all tied to manufacturing.

The Euro buys more Dollars now, so Europe can easily afford anything from the states.

[Garrett]

Originally Posted by mikpap

Well if you say so let's talk about 2-3 things that are very important. For instance with a 18000 Euros annual income you have to pay for medical insurance (about 2000 Euros/year for a family of 4), education (about 4000 Euros/year), etc. If you want to buy an appartment (about 90 square metres) you have to spend about 200.000 Euros. The petrol cost us about 1.00 Euro per litre. These are some examples of what a greek citizen has to pay every year. Have you anything to say?

Interesting.

US:
Most people pay about $1,500/year for healthcare.

Gasoline cost about $2.90 a gallon for premium.

Can of Red Bull is $2.05

2004 330ci $40,000

City taxes are expensive depending on where you live. In Michigan public school are free (not really) but I went to private schools most my life... thats cost $$. But I pay $4,200/year in city taxes.

[Garrett]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

The way it was worked out for a company I know here is a specialist company looked how long it would take a person in s similar company with a similar job to make the money a specific class of house cost and a specific model car

The result were roughly

SA : 3 years salary
UK : 2 years salary
USA : 1,5 years salary

They did indepth studies of costs of all types of goods and services and came up with the same averge numbers

Yeah, but American salaries are tied to a 40+ hour work week. I work 60+ hours a week.

In other countries they only work 38 hours a week and also have longer vacation and more vacation time. If I could find a job in Germany I'd pack up me and my car and sell everything and move there. I'd work 40% less with a 10% paycut.

But then again the Nurburgring is there so it's a moot point. I need to move to Germany...lol

[dxk]

Originally Posted by Garrett

You have an extremely skewed vision of the U.S. economy and global markets.

Germany surpassed the U.S. as an exporting nation. The United States is falling on hard times and our manufactoring sector is crumbling. As that widdles away so will every job in america.... because they are all tied to manufacturing.

The Euro buys more Dollars now, so Europe can easily afford anything from the states.

HAHA, my answer was obviously a joke. The only truth in it was the statment about European countries which base their economy on the Franch-German model - they are in big trouble, since they are not competitive with Anglo-Saxon or Asian models. I do not intend to argue world economy on this board though

[BMW0]

Originally Posted by HRC

I would buy a Porshe!

Danny

I'd buy a 911 Porsche in the US too

[needashower]

I agree with Garrett, when General Motors goes bankrupt, every American will feel the squeeze, make no mistake. The domino effect will be huge to its suppliers all over the world. The US economy is in a world of hurt for the next 20 years. History has proven the effects of post-war depression. Spend wisely.

[luckystrike]

i only have a1,200 euro salary here in austria got my 318d for 25,000 euro (diplomatic sales), our insurance here is free but we pay monthly rate of 500 for our apartment., it seems living here in europe cost a lot more and to think those bimmers are made just in our backyard (germany) grrrrrr.

[ase2dais]

Its would really be cost prohibitive for me to invest 70k for a M3. Im guessing it would start at Mid-50s, like it is now and as you add it, the closier you'll be at the sky!

Id get me an 03-m3 and a 06-G35 for that price!

[Bora20]

Originally Posted by 325IAT

Average income is around $45000
25% taxes on everything we buy
Average salary tax is 40%

A pack of 20 cigarettes is $10
A Coke can is $2
A CD is $25

My 320DAT is $80000

You ARE lucky!

C

So you live in Canada?

[SapphireBlackG01]

Originally Posted by Bimmerista

Completely misleading - it is relative to the standard of living of the buyers in each country.

Exchange rate per se are not indicative of relative standard of living as much as an approximation of relative GDP strenght.

I will bet relative to what it costs as a percentage of average income to service the acquisition of that car (which of course cannot be compared bcs we niet have diesels) there is not much difference.


Someone in Sweden pays much more because of consumption taxes, luxury taxes, but then again that person has no individual medical insurance to worry about, and UI benefits are more genreous, and he does not have to (perhaps) save as much as we do because state pension exists and is relatively generous and he/she may live in an appartment cooperative etc. that is rent controlled et. etc.

DING DING DING!

We have a winner!

[cntlaw]

fully loaded 330i + M-Sport is 85K here. I have not seen such one on the road yet.

[SapphireBlackG01]

Originally Posted by mikpap

Well if you say so let's talk about 2-3 things that are very important. For instance with a 18000 Euros annual income you have to pay for medical insurance (about 2000 Euros/year for a family of 4), education (about 4000 Euros/year), etc. If you want to buy an appartment (about 90 square metres) you have to spend about 200.000 Euros. The petrol cost us about 1.00 Euro per litre. These are some examples of what a greek citizen has to pay every year. Have you anything to say?

All I have to say is that I *WISH* you could find a nice apartment here for $200,000.

[Dr Noelle]

Hi, I don't why you are complaining..The Pound is strong against the USD.

Generally, everything in the UK is expensive including petrol/gas, but nevertheless you see E46 M3 (More than in California), Subaru Imprezas, AMG and Range Rovers every couple seconds.... The UK (for its size) is BMW's most important market outside Germany and the US....

[STE92VE]

Originally Posted by Bimmerista

Executives make perhaps relatively less cash than here, but they have wopping S classes paid for them, appartments rented for them, and if you are a VW member of the Workers Council hookers paid for them

Please forward job application at once!

[Pretender]

Originally Posted by 325IAT

Average income is around $45000
25% taxes on everything we buy
Average salary tax is 40%

A pack of 20 cigarettes is $10
A Coke can is $2
A CD is $25

My 320DAT is $80000

You ARE lucky!

C

Average income in the US is around $36000.
8% average selling tax.
Average salary tax is 28%

A pack of 20 cigarettes is $4
A Coke can is $0.20
A CD is $10

My 330i is $42000.

I love America.

And also gas is cheaper and roads are bigger...

[ward]

if you only make 36 grand there's no chance you're paying 28% tax........

[Pretender]

Originally Posted by ward

if you only make 36 grand there's no chance you're paying 28% tax........

Ward, my calculation is for CA + Fed. My bad...the Fed tax is only 25%.
BTW, I don't think anyone can afford a 330i with $36k/year salary when that person lives in Bay Area.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by Pretender

A Coke can is $0.20

Are we talking about soda? Lol, usually cans are around 75 cents to $1.25.

[ward]

Originally Posted by Pretender

Ward, my calculation is for CA + Fed. My bad...the Fed tax is only 25%.
BTW, I don't think anyone can afford a 330i with $36k/year salary when that person lives in Bay Area.

unless they live in a van down by the river!!


yeah if you only make 36 a year in the bay you're homeless

[Asiann]

Originally Posted by 325IAT

So you think $73000 is much?

In Norway that car costs $130000!!!

C

Sounds like the Germans are making out on other countries lower price or higher.

[Eiso]

Originally Posted by sirees01

Would you guys in the US pay $73,000 for a nearly fully loaded E90 330d M Sport ?

Going by today ex rate of 1.74 this is what my E91 would cost you if bought here in the UK.

Would you guys over the pond pull the trigger on our crazy prices or not.

Is the car really worth that much in your eyes ?

thats what we pay in hong kong too...