Buick Regal GS revealed... 6-spd MANUAL ONLY

[Monster_Munch]

I'm not arguing FWD vs. AWD vs. RWD. I'm arguing your comment where you think it is ok in the GTI/Civic..but somehow because it is a sedan (I guess), it suddenly becomes unacceptable. I can't see how that logic holds up.

Because the competition for a GTI/Civic is mostly other FWD cars, but the leading sports sedans/saloons are mostly RWD/AWD. They are different classes of car with different benchmarks.

 

[PricklyPete]

Because the competition for a GTI/Civic is mostly other FWD cars, but the leading sports sedans/saloons are mostly RWD/AWD. They are different classes of car with different benchmarks.

The Regals competition is still FWD. Passat/Accord/Mazda 6. This car starts at 26K...nothing at 26K is RWD. The only AWD competitor at that price range is the Legacy...and it is an oddball.

 

[Monster_Munch]

The version of it they sell here as the Vauxhall Insignia VXR has a more powerful engine, all wheel drive and LSD as standard. It does cost £33k though, so probably around $35k-$40k in US dollars.

 

[mb]

The version of it they sell here as the Vauxhall Insignia VXR has a more powerful engine, all wheel drive and LSD as standard. It does cost £33k though, so probably around $35k-$40k in US dollars.

Hmm not unless your price has a huge amount of taxes baked in and more features that won't be offered here...

33,000.00 GBP = 53,506.29 USD

Holy crap it must have a ton of taxes in that price. So maybe you're right. I knew there was a difference but I didn't expect it to be so much.
BMW M3 coupe in UK = £53,275
53,275.00 GBP = 86,353.13 USD
BMW M3 coupe in US = $58,400

 

[Monster_Munch]

We pay 17.5% value added tax in the UK compared to about 8% or something sales tax in the US so you can't do a straight currency conversion. The end result is stuff generally costs more in the UK.

 

[mb]

True I didn't realize it was already in the pricing until now. When we visit a car website it shows us the MSRP before taxes. Your prices include them.

But even if I back out that 17.5% that leaves a base price of roughly £28,000 for the VXR which is 45,411.46 USD. But I understand your point.

 

[Monster_Munch]

I think they can afford to charge less in the US because it's a larger market so they're selling much more cars. Economies of scale etc.

 

[PricklyPete]

We pay 17.5% value added tax in the UK compared to about 8% or something sales tax in the US so you can't do a straight currency conversion. The end result is stuff generally costs more in the UK.

But in some ways it evens out with the fact that you don't have to pay for health insurance and such. Still things are freak'n expensive over there. In the great state of SC you never pay more than $300 on sales tax for a car...although you pay a yearly personal property tax on the car.