Originally Posted By trekkeruss <a href="http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060725/AUTO01/607250362/1148/rss25" target="_blank">http://www.detnews.com/apps/pb cs.dll/article?AID=/20060725/AUTO01/607250362/1148/rss25</a>
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I'm not crying the blues for the US much at the mo. Many ignore me here, but we are paying nearly $8 a gallon. I wondered how car prices were fairing, but I noticed a link off of Russ's says the Dodge Caliber sells for $13,985 in the states. It is considered a relatively cheap car here (I am considering buying one) at $22,999. I know exchange rates impact, but my god, what a difference. For the record, a Ford Focus is about $28 - $35k here.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 it's not only exchange ratees, it's all the import taxes - to and from the US -- the import taxes on a BMW for instance keep it priced away from any similar American models
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo The Focus for the UK is manufactored here, therefore the cost is different. Here are some example of British Car Rates: Dodge Caliber - $22,999 Ford Focus (UK Manufacture) $28 - $35k Land Rover (UK) - $40k - 100k Vauxhall Astra (GM = to Focus) $22 - 30k Toyota Prius top of the range - $42k Volkswagon Golf - $30 - 50k I sense we are paying more for our vehicles by far. Add in $600 a year road tax. Insurance is about $125 a month fully comp. How does that measure up with the US currently?
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>I might add that it is really difficult to compare today with yesterday. Yesterday was when we were a little less cynical generally. Everything was new and shiny to us and we were so enamored by the creativity and detail that we didn't really take the time to notice the "bad" things. Familiarity breeds contempt! Now that we have the time to look everyplace else, and not though childlike eyes things start to get tainted. Even a beautiful flower has ugly roots. There IS a good chance that a lot of these things existed before but we were so busy absorbing the blossom that we failed to notice the roots.<< And that's a good point to keep in mind. It is true to an extent. The problem is that point has been abused and overused as an easy justification on why no one should have a right to compare today and then. Why anyone who points out valid criticisms just doesn't understand reality. Often people pointing it out, not you Goofy, are people who were never even around in the past to make the comparison. I was. And as Disney improved on MANY things from the past, even down to the quality of the counter dining areas or bathrooms, it has let many things go.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Sorry, but it doesn't make much of a difference. Toyotas, Hondas, most common foreign cars are manufactured right here in the U.S. by U.S. labor.<< This is true, but in many cases the bulk of the content is still foreign made. So of the 30K tha tyou are paying for that Camry, perhaps 20K is leaving the country. But to be fair, "American" cars have an increasing amount of foreign content.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>The Focus for the UK is manufactored here, therefore the cost is different.<< I read somewhere that the American Focus and the Euro Focus are currently different cars. >>I noticed a link off of Russ's says the Dodge Caliber sells for $13,985 in the states. It is considered a relatively cheap car here (I am considering buying one) at $22,999.<< Its probably a stripper. I'll bet once its well equipped the price is closer to 20K. You won't find too many cars on any US lot for under 20K these days.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Volkswagon Golf - $30 - 50k<< Those run 20-30K over here. Are yours made in Mexico?
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Might as well go with who's offering the best product for the best price. Foreign owned company or American.<< Do it while you can. As the trade deficit approaches 1 trillion per year the day of reckoning will soon be upon us.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<How does that measure up with the US currently?>> I haven't checked the net for exact ranges, but approximate would be: Dodge Caliber - $14 - $23K Ford Focus (UK Manufacture) $15 - $25k Land Rover (UK) - $40k - 100k Vauxhall Astra (GM = to Focus) Not Available Toyota Prius top of the range - $25 - $35K Volkswagon Golf - $18 - 30k Those are list prices. Non U.S. brands are not discounted much; U.S. brands are.
Originally Posted By fkurucz >>Dodge Caliber - $22,999 Ford Focus (UK Manufacture) $28 - $35k Land Rover (UK) - $40k - 100k Vauxhall Astra (GM = to Focus) $22 - 30k Toyota Prius top of the range - $42k Volkswagon Golf - $30 - 50k<< I was going to say, how does anyone over there afford a car? At those prices I would be riding the bus.
Originally Posted By fkurucz ^^^To answer my own question: I recall from my business trips that my Euro colleagues all had company cars. Here in the US the IRS has pretty much killed the company car (they made it a taxable benefit).
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost And this has something to do with Disney at $67.00 per day???? Or it's value?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well one of my staff took the train from Manchester to London today (230 miles) and the ticket was $420. Crazy? Yes company cars are very common here. Or a car user allowance for execs. Typically this is $1000 per month, but once the 40% tax is levied, there's not alot left. And gas reimbursement runs at about 30 cents a mile.
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1 >>Many ignore me here, but we are paying nearly $8 a gallon<< Oh my, If I had to fill my truck on $8 a gallon I would be at $350.00 with a 44 gallon tank.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "And this has something to do with Disney at $67.00 per day???? Or it's value?" Like all conversations, this one has meandered to cost of living. The rise in ticket prices at WDW is not unlike the cost of living increase elsewhere. In the grand scheme - a day at WDW = a 3 hour concert, or maybe 3 DVD's. The value for what you are getting is fantastic. However, I am not happy about the slipping standards. I am in favour of price hikes if the quality is good. But the quality does not seem to be what it once was.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Coachbagfanatic, I put about $100 of gas in my car a day. Thank god the company pays a lot of this back to me. It would be ok if public transport were cheap, but my ticket to London today (60 mile journey) on the train was $60. And folks, remember the salaries in the UK is $50k for a Social worker/school teacher $60k for skilled professionals Min wage is $6.70 an hour here.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Other comparisons: Can of coke $1 Candy bar 90 cents Loaf of bread $1.20 Ave cell phone tairiff is $60 per month basic Houses run $200,000 for a 450 sq foot appartment. $380,000 for a 950 sq foot three bedroom house. Tax is at 22% - 44% on earnings, plus social medicine contribution, sales tax is 17.5%, Tax on savings is about 1.9%
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Sorry if I have derailed this topic, but I am very interested in discussing cost of living differentials.
