Buying A Car In Europe For Less £ Than In The UK - Top Gear 1998 

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Oh, how the tables have turned. I'm in the Netherlands, and I was genuinely SHOCKED by UK car prices. So much cheaper!

Can't imagine the EU commission 'reading the riot act' to huge multinational companies on behalf of the British

The Discovery’s MOT expired 25 September 2021. The Audi’s MOT expired 23 March 2022.

Nowadays it's a lot more complicated thanks to Brexit

The cars in Europe were very basic, with no options. We were not being ripped off in the UK. As a result they have put the prices of the parts up, so owners of older cars have suffered.

That would be 'fewer'.

My view is that the UK market was easy pickings because a large percentage were company cars. They sold anyway. Probably the same now overhere when the private lease constructions are starting to take hold. Another point: In 1998 cars in the UK where rather nicely equipped. Sun roofs, radios, electric bits and bops. Overhere (Netherlands) the basic 406 didn't even come with a radio. And the extra taxes made it a expensive proposition anyway..

Poper old Top Gear with Quentin. Great journalism back when they did that.

I miss Top gear in the 90's. In fact I miss the 90's

Car manufacturers "today a typical car should be a bland crossover in the 30,000+ category, sold on finance through us and with a design life of around 10 years with mandatory dealer servicing produced as cheaply as possible". Also car manufacturers "sales have collapsed. The government should subsidise car purchases to help us out".

I remember when this happened. Sad thing is here in Ireland we were and still are paying way more than the UK

How things have changed. When i bought my 2019 E Class was 38% cheaper in U.K. (tax paid list price before discounts) than in Germany - and i still got a 20% discount on top to make is even cheaper.

And now I look at second hand cars, such as Saabs. Compared to The Netherlands, they are so cheap. So cheap that even when imported to here, the right-hand models sell SO MUCH cheaper. And even the road tax of Saabs with 200+ g CO2/km are so much cheaper to tax than The Netherlands. Also, the country with the most expensive petrol in the world today.

That Audi's still going strong! MOT just ran out and given the history, looks like it's been extremely well maintained. My '98 golf mk4 1.4 is still going very strong.

I've got an Opel Vectra CDX which must have been bought in this manner. It isn't full UK spec though, it's missing the electric sunroof which is standard on the Vauxhall version.

Rip off britain as usual 😪

When top gear was an informative show. Not like today's disgrace which is about big boys playing at boy racers

Didn’t realise Job from arrested development was also into cars.

European car prices are more now. Especially from my experience in Ireland and Germany

Peugeot are talking out their arse, I've been in a RHD 206 GTI, purchased from Calais.

So much for taking back control

I wish Automotive Journalism was like this today, instead it's been dumbed down to sales shows and comedy.

When my dad was working in Poland in the 80's he would order RHD Mercs and BMW's straight from the dealers and drive them home. Obviously back then there was no internet so was pretty much word of mouth that the people got to know of this loop hole.

Some 20 years ago I was importing passenger cars from Japan. Recently the strong pound has cut this business off at the knees. At auction here in Japan, s/h cars are much cheaper, better condition, lower distance. The auction house takes care of title/outstanding debt and issues a written condition report. Clocking isn't a issue because distance driven is so low, between 5,000 to 8,000 km a year. Oh, and insurance and petrol/diesel are way cheaper. I take the last owner route; buy at auction (never pay more than 150,000 yen plus auction charges, that's a grand to you), drive for some three years, one Shaken (Japanese MOT which last two years and includes Road Traffic Act insurance), than scrap when the timing belt change falls due. Scrapping is free. So no chance of me returning to Treasure Island. Jack, the Japan Alps Brit

In the States, people in a state like California that want a super car will buy one in a state with no sales tax, like Montana. Donut Media did a video on how that works, and doesn't.

The same game was and is played against car buyers in Germany. Car manufacturers want to prevent German car buyers from buying their brand new car from other, cheaper European countries.

It is abit funny. Now in the Netherlands, cars are (sometimes way) more expensive than in the UK. Maybe it is time to do the opposite now.

Now compare this top gear to this newer one. Like comparing a good book with yellow pages. Car show quality degraded so much since then that it is sad.

There are lots of great cars in Europe and the UK that the US will never see. Thank you.

How it felt back then people got things done. Just don't seem to get this can do attitude now.

Audi Fleischhauer still active today.

My dad did this in 1999, bought a BMW 318 new for my Nan (we lived in Germany at the time)

Interesting video and I remember the actual broadcast. No chance of doing that now due to The Brexit. Import fees would end up in a loss now.

Why does the Volvo V70 around 2:45 not have registration plates for this country yet the Land Rover Discovery and Audi A4 do on this video? 🚗

Arthur Daly was buying cars in Europe to resell in Lomdon .with drugs in the spare wheel .

Same happening today with tools. Why so expensive in the uk. Up to one third of the price abroad

My dad done this with his 3 series bought in Belgium back in 2000.

Cheers Danger Muffin!!! 😊

Disco was still going until September last year

I was expecting to find someone had already asked this (apologies if I'm blind) but was that Volvo going to stay on Dutch regishtrashion platesh?

Ahhh yes. The stupendously slimey Quintin Wilson handing out advice and now in the pockets of the environmentalists. This guy has all the qualities of a politician.

Europen democracy ? Is that like american Democratcy,( rule by oligarch )

I subbed 2 weeks ago, from a Clarckson vid. Since then, crap. I unsubbed.