Ex-pats - urge to buy stuff you can't buy at home?

[jamiebae]

For some reason I've found myself drawn towards cars I couldn't buy back home while shopping for a new family bus. We've brought a Grand Scenic out with us but it needs to go back to the UK and I've ended up ordering a Renault Koleos - a strange Korean/French mix of Nissan bits which was discontinued in the UK in 2010 but in Europe you can buy a mildly facelifted version with lots of toys for very little money.

I also found myself tempted by a Citroen C4 Aircross, for no valid reason whatsoever, just because it was unusual and not available in RHD, even though it's a lightly re-worked Mitsubishi ASX.

So this is the same as what I pick up at the end of the month, for less than £2k more than a Dacia Duster. Am I mad or would someone else out there have done the same thing?

p.s. used cars are silly money here, for this money I'd be in an 8 year old X5/Cayenne and be taking home a £1k tax bill for the privilege

[JimbobVFR]

My Dads the opposite, he's in Vancouver and previously had a Focus Estate, now replaced by a Hyundai i something or other.

He was very annoyed they don't sell the new Focus as an estate in North America.

I suppose the fk off massive Winnebago he has might qualify though :-)

[jamiebae]

My cousin is in Vancouver, as is her husband (obviously) who is from Serbia. They have his & hers mk1 Mazda6's (is that the correct pluralisation of a Mazda?!) How very boring!

[juice]

Oh God no, the cars here are st (and stupid expensive) coupled with a tiny island and a 22mph speed limit means I can't wait to get back to the UK and buy something decent !

[jamiebae]

juice said:

Oh God no, the cars here are st (and stupid expensive) coupled with a tiny island and a 22mph speed limit means I can't wait to get back to the UK and buy something decent !

So do you drive an SJ410 with no doors then

[juice]

jamiebae said:

So do you drive an SJ410 with no doors then

ummm.... a Nissan March (Micra)

Perfect for here though - reliable, seats 4, got A/C and stops you getting wet

Most days though it's on the scooter to work though, the traffic in Hamilton can be a right ball-ache at times.

[jamiebae]

I cycle to the office and the Koleos is an automatic 4x4 with heated seats, a ski hatch, BOSE stereo and sat nav to help me not get lost and most importantly with cruise control and a speed limiter so I don't fall foul of the notoriously strict Swiss Police and their 120kph speed limit!