Norway Does NOT Like Powerful/Fast Cars!

[NordicCrankShaft]

I moved to Bergen in Norway last year and I've finally managed to save up enough cash to buy a second car/weekend toy. Now I'm not a smoker and booze is so expensive here that I'm not really much of a drinker either, don't really have any expensive hobbies so a nice motor has always been my go to in my spare time when living in the UK, but there's only one problem.....I live in Norway, Where the scenery and roads are some of the best in the world but the electric car is king!

I'm not expecting sympathy as I knew what I was getting myself into when I moved here over a year ago, but even still I can't help but feel annoyed at the relative cost of cars here compared to back home in the UK for example (and I will provide links from auto trader and a Norwegian classifieds site as a source, also £1 = 10NOK give or take a small amount either side)

2011 Audi S5 40,000 miles
Used UK price £24,995
Used Norwegian Price 739,000NOK (over £70,000)

http://www.finn.no/finn/car/used/object?finnkode=51353770&searchclickthrough=true

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/audi/s5/postcode/se109ra/radius/1500/keywords/2011/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/maximum-mileage/up_to_40000_miles/sort/default

2002 E39 BMW M5 132,000 miles
Used Uk price £8495
Used Norwegian price 306,535 (£30k)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201407175899763/sort/default/postcode/se109ra/make/bmw/radius/1500/model/m5/page/1/keywords/2002/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/usedcars?logcode=p

http://www.finn.no/finn/car/used/object?finnkode=51328410&searchclickthrough=true

These are two cars that I've been looking at in particular but as you can imagine the pattern is very similar for pretty much every performance car....A brand new Golf R from a dealer? £65k!!!

The only things that seem similar in price to the UK are Ford Escort Cosworths or Ford 69 Mustangs (which for some reason seem a lot cheaper here than the uk!!)

Like I said I'm not looking for sympathy but more of a rant to fellow petrol heads on my current situation in regards to performance car options

Edited by NordicCrankShaft on Sunday 21st September 11:37

[mackie1]

I'm pretty sure the C63 retails for NOK2.5m. Ouch. Even 2.0 TDI stuff costs double.

[McSam]

So, how much does it cost to import and register your own used car in Norway?

[tomjol]

In Denmark tax on new cars can be up to 180% - perhaps the Norwegians do a similar thing?

[LeftmostAardvark]

Is that due to tax issues? If ever there was a compelling argument for a white goods runaround and a fast motorcycle it seems to be those prices.

[NordicCrankShaft]

Yes, Norway will charge you import tax at upto 100% of the Norwegian value of the car, so it works out more expensive as you've also paid for the car in the first place. Trust me I've tried figuring it out already, there is a duty calculator on the Norwegian customs website..............It makes me sad!

[danp]

Must be difficult to splash out if you're used to UK prices!

Nothing else like the Mustang/Cosworth that would suit?

Caterham/Elise? Would something with a relatively low price/co2/weight not be cheaper? (or a classic?)

[mblade123]

Norways tax on cars goes on BHP on a sliding scale.
Yes, it is expensive to own a large car there. But on the other side the wages are higher than uk.
On the other side of the argument though, look at the price and amount of Teslers there are.
Cheap as chips compared to the uk.
Went through Bergan the other week and coudnt move for the buggers.

[XJ Flyer]

That's what happens in a place where the main wealth creation sectors are flogging fish and oil run by car hating socialists.

[NordicCrankShaft]

Caterham don't exist and there's only roughly 6 Lotus Elise for sale in the entire country and whilst a 2002 model with 63,000km would cost £19k, it would worry me at the lack of dealers and non specialist servicers.

[jamiem555]

I've worked in Stavanger for a bit. One of the ex pats there has a Skyline but keeps it unregistered for track use only. I think that works quite well. He also puts temporary plates on so it can be driven on the roads. I've no idea on cost, but I think he shares with a mate.

[ant leigh]

mblade123 said:

Norways tax on cars goes on BHP on a sliding scale.
Yes, it is expensive to own a large car there. But on the other side the wages are higher than uk.
On the other side of the argument though, look at the price and amount of Teslers there are.
Cheap as chips compared to the uk.
Went through Bergan the other week and coudnt move for the buggers.

That's the answer, Tesla Roadster.
Not sure what the charging points are like outside the main towns though?

[NordicCrankShaft]

mblade123 said:

Norways tax on cars goes on BHP on a sliding scale.
Yes, it is expensive to own a large car there. But on the other side the wages are higher than uk.
On the other side of the argument though, look at the price and amount of Teslers there are.
Cheap as chips compared to the uk.
Went through Bergan the other week and coudnt move for the buggers.

Yes, Tesla's everywhere. The electric car is king here because there are charge points, free parking and the ferry to other parts of the country are free for the "El-Bil". Not sure what a Tesla P85 retails for in the UK but new here is £80k and around £65k used.

Wages are higher than the UK yes, but general cost of living is much more expensive! Everyday things like going out for food can for me and the missus cost as much as £70 for standard Harvester type food!

[XJ Flyer]

jamiem555 said:

I've worked in Stavanger for a bit. One of the ex pats there has a Skyline but keeps it unregistered for track use only. I think that works quite well.

Bearing in mind that their speed limits and reputed enforcement are as bad as their car purchase tax regime.

[mblade123]

And don't even mention the cost of a round of drinks.
94 nok in Bergan airport for a large beer.
That's nearly a tenner :-(

[mblade123]

[NordicCrankShaft]

mblade123 said:

And don't even mention the cost of a round of drinks.
94 nok in Bergan airport for a large beer.
That's nearly a tenner :-(

Me and the missus went out into Bergen centre last Saturday and we spent £220 on not many drinks, didn't go out until 10pm and came home sober

From what I understand if you have a car from outside Norway you are allowed to drive it in Norway but after 1 year it has to be registered in Norway, get the registration plates changed and the correct amount of duty paid, otherwise they will jail your ass!

Edited by NordicCrankShaft on Sunday 21st September 11:55

[colonel c]

Why not find a cheaper older car or have the Norwegian's banned those.

[Finlandia]

NordicCrankShaft said:

From what I understand if you have a car from outside Norway you are allowed to drive it in Norway but after 1 year it has to be registered in Norway, get the registration plates changed and the correct amount of duty paid, otherwise they will jail your ass!

Is that true for a Nordic registered car as well? It pretty much was free for Nordic people and their belongings to stay in another Nordic country for as long as they wished in times gone, haven't looked into it for some time now though so it may have changed.

[MitchT]

Are wages similarly spectacular then or do people just live in Norway because they have a desire to be impoverished?