Subarus and other AWDs in Europe

[lekmedm]

I just recently returned from a trip around Europe with some observations and questions about the state of automotive preferences in the Old World. My trip started out in Denmark. I remember that our forum has one member from there and had him in mind as I looked around at how many Subies I could find on the roads. Sadly, I only found 1 OBW the whole time I was there and no other models. I did quite a bit of driving while I was there (your highways are great doing 160 - 180 kph!) so I would have had a good chance of spotting some Subes while I checked out other cars as well. I had a chance to drive over a bit in Sweden as well and didn't see any Subarus at all. Touring around in Scandinavia, I was also surprised that I only saw 1 Volvo XC, and that was a taxi cab. So, was this just strange luck for me that I didn't see more AWD wagons while I was there? In an area of the world that gets its fair share of snow, I would think there would be a few more out there. I was surprised to see more SUVs on the roads than I expected considering that gasoline is more expensive there than in the US. In fact, most of those SUVs were of the Korean variety! How do those of you over there rate those trucks? ...and what the hell is this SSangYong doo-dad...??? I actually saw more of those SUVs than Subies.

 

I also spent a week in Spain's Costa del Sol. There are also a lot of trucks there, but with the mountainous terrain, I'm not surprised. I did actually see one Outback there as well but that's it. Is there anyone here from Spain who can elaborate on the popularity of Subaru over there? Or for that matter, perhaps anyone from there respective countries might want to chime in on Subies in those countries. I can say that here in New Jersey I can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Subaru of one kind or another, that's how popular they are.

[ericem]

But it snows there right? That weird.

[nipper]

In the UK a outback is almost 50,000 pounds sterling, hence its a rare car. In the UK a car can be had for 10,000 pounds. Look and see how much they are in spain, which is a euro country, they are cheaper then the UK.

 

nipper

[ericem]

In the UK a outback is almost 50,000 pounds sterling, hence its a rare car. In the UK a car can be had for 10,000 pounds. Look and see how much they are in spain, which is a euro country, they are cheaper then the UK.

 

nipper

 

WHAT!! thats 100,000CDN!!! WOW!! im travelling soon.

[subiefan]

According to the handy dandy Google Calculator, that's $94,535 (US). Ouch! Is this due to importation taxes?

[nipper]

According to the handy dandy Google Calculator, that's $94,535 (US). Ouch! Is this due to importation taxes?

 

my fault i got the conversions screwed up

 

http://www.subaru.co.uk/IMGGB/WWW/Subaru_co_uk.nsf/NULL/58B0A0D97E381DAF8025706500316B64?Opendocument

 

which is 50,000 dollars US

 

but once again, that considered a high price for the UK, where deisels are available, and cars as low as 10,000 British money thingies

 

Outback is considered very upscale in the UK

 

nipper

[jon38iowa]

my fault i got the conversions screwed up

 

http://www.subaru.co.uk/IMGGB/WWW/Subaru_co_uk.nsf/NULL/58B0A0D97E381DAF8025706500316B64?Opendocument

 

which is 50,000 dollars US

 

but once again, that considered a high price for the UK, where deisels are available, and cars as low as 10,000 British money thingies

 

Outback is considered very upscale in the UK

 

nipper

I have a friend from Africa; he tells me Subarus are very popular with those who afford them; they are built so well they can survive the terrible roads. Late model American made cars there, are rare.

John

[waimaks]

Late model American made cars there, are rare.

I thought any model american cars were rare anywhere out of the US?

 

And yes Ssangyongs... Gotta ring to it don't it?

*spews*

http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/7706036481524560.JPG?0.6671570394871691

http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/motorshows/frankfurt2005/off-roaders/03-large/ssangyong-kyron-r.jpg

I'm sure they are great cars..

[keltik]

In Wales i remember Subaru's being rather rare. In fact all i remember seeing were Vauxhalls and Fords and maybe the occasional Fiat. Rover was also a popular choice and most of the cars were FWD.

 

However here in New Zealand they've got more Subarus than you can shake a stick at. Stood outside work a few months ago i counted 14 Subaru Legacys parked in line of sight, and two Brats. Here the car market is FAR more diverse, Holden, Mazda, Toyota, Honda, Ford, BMW, Mercedes etc i could go on but basically anything that isnt American (except for that one d*ck with a LHD Cutlass).

 

Edit: Oops, yes i know Ford is American and Holden is basially GM but you get the point.:-p

[Setright]

Denmark? And you didn't give me advance notice???

 

Thanks to me, there are two parked on the road we live on

 

 

The main reason Subaru's aren't plentiful here is the price of cars in general. We face 180% registration fee, and THEN 25% VAT on top af that!!! (Socialist rule has brought this upon us.)

 

AWD costs more, but doesn't shine through at the showroom, and Mr. and Mrs. Average don't see why they should spend the extra money.

 

We're also very conservative and brand image driven. Subaru is obscure and no Dane dares take a chance and be the black sheep. Really, they are worried they'll get "bullied" if the decision turns out to be a bad one. Of course, those people I do meet with Subes are all convinced.

 

Easier to get a Toyota like the Joneses, or perhaps an Audi <- Which has an unreasonably good following.

 

 

Subaru IS the fastest growing brand in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, but it'll take a while before it replaces all those old Volvos. Besides, you'll need to be north of Stockholm to see the new Subes. Plenty up there.

 

 

Oh, and last year they changed the laws on speeding, yet again. Used to put your license in danger at 186kph, now that's only 160kph. So, you were risking a VERY big fine.

 

 

Oh, and why the plethora of SUV's?? Did you notice that most of them were on yellow license plates? With the back seats out and rebuilt as vans? Depending on weight that can reduce the registration fee to 110%, 90% or even as low as 30%.

 

That last catagory is reserved for the really heavy gas guzzlers. Yep, they cost a bomb to fuel, but the up front price of the car is very much reduced. It's a bit of a loophole, and ultimately, it's aimed at businesses who need space for craftmans/artisans tools in the back.

But as long as you pay the 25% VAT, you can run one privately.

[rverdoold]

Subaru's are just rare in Europe, the most i have seen them are in Swiss and south Germany. In holland only 225 OBW were sold last year (for about 40.000 Euro and that is a lot of money (45% is tax)). Only the impreza's are very populair but for young people racing on the street and the forresters for caravan pulling.

[lekmedm]

Denmark? And you didn't give me advance notice???

 

You know, I would have loved to met up with you. We had a vacation home up in the Pandrup area, but didn't really end up getting a lot of use out of it since we travelled around quite a bit. Legoland in Billund was fun!

 

 

The main reason Subaru's aren't plentiful here is the price of cars in general. We face 180% registration fee, and THEN 25% VAT on top af that!!! (Socialist rule has brought this upon us.)

 

Wow! I knew the taxes were high in many European countries, but some of those costs would make me think you'd see more people on bicycles!

 

 

Easier to get a Toyota like the Joneses, or perhaps an Audi <- Which has an unreasonably good following.

 

Our rental car was a Peugeot 307 wagon. It was really nice and had a lot of spirit in it.

 

 

Subaru IS the fastest growing brand in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, but it'll take a while before it replaces all those old Volvos. Besides, you'll need to be north of Stockholm to see the new Subes. Plenty up there.

 

I guess Santa Claus is driving a Sube up in Lapland!

 

 

Oh, and last year they changed the laws on speeding, yet again. Used to put your license in danger at 186kph, now that's only 160kph. So, you were risking a VERY big fine.

 

I was just following the pack...

 

 

Oh, and why the plethora of SUV's?? Did you notice that most of them were on yellow license plates? With the back seats out and rebuilt as vans? Depending on weight that can reduce the registration fee to 110%, 90% or even as low as 30%.

 

That last catagory is reserved for the really heavy gas guzzlers. Yep, they cost a bomb to fuel, but the up front price of the car is very much reduced. It's a bit of a loophole, and ultimately, it's aimed at businesses who need space for craftmans/artisans tools in the back.

But as long as you pay the 25% VAT, you can run one privately.

 

I've seen tricks like that before. In Poland up until recently, you could take a wagon and install a barrier for the back (looks like a dog barrier) and register the car as a "truck" so that you can get the VAT back. I think the got rid of that loophole a year or two ago. It's kind of funny when you see a Fiat Cinquecento that's registered as a "truck"!!

[unobtainium]

Near my house in the Minervois (southwestern France, not that far from the Pyrenees) there are very, very few Subarus and those are generally STis. There are quite a few more Jeeps and MBz SUVs than Subies, and the need for awd doesn't seem to be as acute as it is here in the US. If I lived in France enough to warrant owning a car (vs. leasing) it would be a Peugeot 206 or Opel Astra, both small diesel cars that fit through all the small streets.