Buying a car up to 73% more expensive in Britain |
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Sun, 13 Mar 2005 01:00
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Thinking of buying a car in Britain? Only if you are prepared to pay more than other motorists in the union, warns a latest European Union report. The report brings out an astonishing difference in the price of cars in Britain as compared to some other countries in the European Union (yes still!).
A Citroen C3, is 73% dearer here than in Malta. Add to that the Ford Focus, Land Rover, Alfa Romeo 147, Fiat Punto and the British-built Rover 75, all of which are costlier in Britain than anywhere else in Europe.
| A comparison of the prices of various models provides food for thought The C3 costs £7,934 in Britain and £4,572 in Malta, which is the cheapest EU market for that model. The commission’s report further says that an Alfa Romeo 147 costs 34.7% more in the UK than in Denmark, while the Rover 75, produced in Britain, costs 33% more than in Greece. A Sunderland-built Nissan Primera costs £12,597 in Britain compared to £9,503 in Denmark - a difference of £3,095 or 32%.
Germany is now the pot of gold for most cars. A Vauxhall Astra costs 50% more in Germany, where it is made, than in Denmark. The German buyer can avail pre-tax savings of about £2,600 if he goes to a Danish dealer.
However, for the Audi A4, A8, and TT models, BMW's mini and X5 and 735i models, Mercedes E220 and Volvo S40 and S60, the UK's pre-tax prices are the lowest of the 25 EU countries.
Car manufacturers argue that the differences are so apparent due to skewed tax rates across the European Union. And also due to the fact that consumers pay the tax in the country into which they import the car rather than the country where they buy it.
The car heist has brought into sharp focus of the fact that British consumers pay more than the rest of the union. Earlier, Thomson holidays, Disneyworld and Eurostar have all been accused of the same double standard.
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