I stand correted. The avg US Household income for 2002 was $43,318 (http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/...th/002484.html)

However the this does not change the end result:

Average UK household income:

2002 ?34,197 or $69,714, using today?s conversion rate (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programme...ey/3132575.stm)

Average US household income

2002 $43.318 (http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/...th/002484.html)

So US income is 62.14% of UK income ($43.318/$69,714)

550i - Base no options

UK = ?45,310 or $92,369, using today?s conversion rate

US = $58,500

Or 63.33% of UK cost

So it is STILL more expensive to buy a 550i in the US

 

Wikipedia has a table comparing the median household income for a range of international countries.

It has the UK at $39,000 and the USA at $46,000.

Link is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_inc...e_United_States

Country Median household income national currency units Year PPP rate (OECD) Median household income (PPP)
Switzerland[46] 95,772 CHF 2003 1.76 $54,000
California, US[47] US State $54,000
Ireland ?35,410 EUR 1.00 $47,000
United States $46,000 USD 2006 1.00 $46,000
Canada [48] $53,528 CAD 1.25 $43,000
New Zealand [49] $58,708 NZD 1.47 $40,000
United Kingdom [50] ?24,700 GBP 2004/05 0.631 $39,000
Scotland[51] ?24,128 GBP 2004/05 0.631 $38,000
Australia[52] $46,326 AUD 2006 1.36 $35,000
West Virginia, US[53] US state $33,000
Israel[54] ₪101,412 ILS 2005 3.23 $31,400
Hong Kong[55] $186,000 HKD 2005 5.96 $31,000
Singapore[56] $45,960 SGD 2005 1.55 $30,000

So according to these figures (which are from a single source) you're still getting your 550i pretty cheap...

 

The PPP can be very controversial; however, looking at the data given, the numbers do change (they are not from the same source US=2006 UK=2005), I will concede the point.

We do get a good deal on the 5 series. It must be the Wal-Mart effect, buy more pay less.

 

Well.. i set off from the UK, and went via France, Switzerland and Italy, back into France and then back to the UK over the last 2 weeks.

Problem is, i never got stopped - but i got "flishy-flashed" by speed cameras THREE times whilst driving in France. No warning mind, hidden in the central reservation of the peage and 'fer-lash' right in your eyes... never even got time to smile or make an obscene gesture!

Now.. best thing is - i didn't have the 'GB' on my front plate (just a sticker on the rear boot lid) and my plate is what we call 'cherished' or 'private' - which doesn't follow the conventional number plate system.

Question is - will they chase the fine? Experiences anyone? I wasn't going way way over the limit on any of the occasions (20-30 kph max)

Lee

 

My understanding is that you will not hear anything about it as you weren't in a French rental car and they didn't stop you at the time.

 

Obviously, they will be able to recognize that the car is British. Apart from the very recognisable license plate font, the steering wheel is on the wrong side of the car. On the continent we tend to notice those kind of things

Nevertheless, they may not chase you. I figure that if you get the ticket in the mail, you may expect to get more if you don't pay. it's easy to send you more threatening letters instructing you to pay or else... we would be disappointed

 

I posted on a similar theme last year.

But from a different angle - the relative cost of a BMW in the US compared to mass produced cars v the same in the UK.

Whilst BMW's are less expensive in pure monetary terms in the US, they are costing our US cousins a much higher multiple of the cost of, say a Ford Focus, than us.

That is why E60's are less common in the US than in the UK and Europe. Here they are much closer in price to other cars.

When I bought my E61 it cost about ?13,000 more than a Honda Accord, not a huge amount in the grand scheme of things.

 

EURO: have
good options & accessories,
good fuel options :diesel / gas choice,
better quality ?
more mpg cars
better transportaion alternatives (Trains,Buses)
hybrids, small cars, (MB-Smart,VW beetle, BMW cooper and so on)
more models to choose under same class
less politics in Fuel & alternative fuel Industries (Politicians < CEOs < Lobbies ....)
less greedy & Oil rich Politicians (having control on transportation means, gas/diesel, alternative fuel tech)


IMO:
All people do not need big cars, big HP etc
Most of them need safe , small cars(primary use), durable, good mpg(diesel /gas /electric or alternative fuel)
Come on we need car for transportation, we do not live in cars.......

 

Just to add my little bit. Specs as below LCI 2007 was ?59,800 (?40,500 & US $81884.)

The only thing I can say about speeding in France is ?90 5-10 kph over limit and 2 points, and it goes up dramatically as you go faster. There are mobile and fixed traps everywhere, and more recently drivers are being stopped as well. There are also unmarked automatic traps, so beware hatchbacks parked on the side of roads as well as the Gendarmerie hiding in fields and behind trees etc etc!

I think the Brit cars may get away with it for the moment but it will not belong before points deductions will chase you home. it is certainly happening for drivers from some other EU countries.

 

Thanks for your input guys - it looks like i'm fairly safe then. As i said, i wasn't driving dangerously though as the roads were beautifully clear at the time and i'd say my car is pretty stable at 90mph!

I must compliment the standard of European roads - France especially. I just found the road manners a little peculiar sometimes.. Picture this - i'm doing 100mph in the fast lane (downhill) when a 1.1 Fiat Punto 55 races up behind me indicating to (i assume) move onto the central reservation to get round me, then flashed me to get out of his damn way gnashing and snarling. This i politely did, and as soon as he went screaming past me he slowed down and nonchalantly turned straight off at the next exit some 300 metres ahead.. This happened with alarming regularity throughout Italy, and a fair few times in France.

After a while though, i turned it into a sport. You slow down at the bottom of a hill, then hit the GO pedal as hard as you can and watch the frustrated Punto/106/Ka/Fiesta driver become smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror as the 3.0d Twin Turbo laughs in the face of something as powerful as its alternator.

Lee