Car preferences: Europe v UK
Discussion
Just got back from a road trip to Dresden, out via France and back via the Netherlands, Belgium and France; total 1,800 miles. I was struck by what our European friends choose to travel around in compared with us Brits.
SUVs and pseudo-SUVs/crossovers pretty rare over there. Our roads are teeming with them.
Hardly any electric cars bar the odd Tesla.
Sports cars as rare as hen’s teeth. Don’t remember seeing an Audi TT, though they’re almost two a penny here; no wonder Audi is ceasing production, demand is low. Didn’t see another 911 (I was in a 991 Carrera T), and the only Boxster I saw was my mate’s – we were loosely in convoy.
The continentals appear to love conventional saloons and estates, and I reckon the estate versions of the Golf and Focus are least as popular as the hatchbacks; Golf estates are poor sellers over here.
And some asides… Lane discipline is exemplary. With very few exceptions, road surfaces are much less noisy than over here; making rapid but serene progress in a 911 – who’d have thought it?
SUVs and pseudo-SUVs/crossovers pretty rare over there. Our roads are teeming with them.
Hardly any electric cars bar the odd Tesla.
Sports cars as rare as hen’s teeth. Don’t remember seeing an Audi TT, though they’re almost two a penny here; no wonder Audi is ceasing production, demand is low. Didn’t see another 911 (I was in a 991 Carrera T), and the only Boxster I saw was my mate’s – we were loosely in convoy.
The continentals appear to love conventional saloons and estates, and I reckon the estate versions of the Golf and Focus are least as popular as the hatchbacks; Golf estates are poor sellers over here.
And some asides… Lane discipline is exemplary. With very few exceptions, road surfaces are much less noisy than over here; making rapid but serene progress in a 911 – who’d have thought it?
Seems to me the European view is there's a stronger tendency to regard cars simply as everyday utility transport rather than a demonstration of wealth or statement of fashion as rather too many do in the UK.
I believe Europeans tend to keep their cars for longer too and several I've encountered who're clearly not short of a Euro or two seem perfectly content with nothing more ostentatious than a modest hatchback or saloon.
All quite sensible and refreshing really.
I believe Europeans tend to keep their cars for longer too and several I've encountered who're clearly not short of a Euro or two seem perfectly content with nothing more ostentatious than a modest hatchback or saloon.
All quite sensible and refreshing really.
Cars have historically always been much, much more expensive in most of Europe.
In the UK, we may not pay too much attention to something as 'mainstream' as a lowly Porsche Boxster, Audi TT or a nice BMW M-something... Theres one on every street here.
In much of Europe these cars are still very rare, very special, high end cars.
In the UK, we may not pay too much attention to something as 'mainstream' as a lowly Porsche Boxster, Audi TT or a nice BMW M-something... Theres one on every street here.
In much of Europe these cars are still very rare, very special, high end cars.
Debaser said:
During my first driving trips into Europe I noticed they seem to prefer the less sporty models in a range, but drive them pretty fast. In comparison England seemed full of the sportiest variants, driven rather slowly.
It's quite rare in France to see something exotic or even a sporty version of a normal car (e.g. a genuine AMG or M-car) outside of a major city. Part of it is that speedbumps in France can be more like speed hillocks. Also if your experience of driving in France extends beyond autoroutes and cite d'europe then you come across potholes that require serious planning to traverse in a car that has the sporty wheels, suspension and bodykit, so Jean-Pierre would rather drive something he can bounce across with ease.I suspect tax comes into it too.
SturdyHSV said:
Don't know if it's still the case, but as I understand it, for quite some time the UK bought more convertibles than anywhere else in Europe 
Because outside of early Spring and later Autumn, southern Europe is too damn hot for convertibles. I've tried roof down on 35C+ days and it's horrendous when stationary. snotrag said:
Cars have historically always been much, much more expensive in most of Europe.
In the UK, we may not pay too much attention to something as 'mainstream' as a lowly Porsche Boxster, Audi TT or a nice BMW M-something... Theres one on every street here.
In much of Europe these cars are still very rare, very special, high end cars.
Really,In the UK, we may not pay too much attention to something as 'mainstream' as a lowly Porsche Boxster, Audi TT or a nice BMW M-something... Theres one on every street here.
In much of Europe these cars are still very rare, very special, high end cars.
Why was there a very thriving import business for new RHD cars from European suppliers many years ago? The savings were very substantial.
BTW i live in Tallinn part time and see many high end exotic cars. It's not a wealthy country but has a very wealthy and relatively young bunch of entrepreneurs.
I used to work for a company with offices in most major European cities, and I was always amazed that the Country MD’s (or equivalent) often rocked up in a Clio or a fairly ordinary Fiat. Our German MD had an S Class, but most of the others had something very ordinary. We had one big meeting where the Spanish MD turned up on a bright yellow scooter and nobody batted an eyelid.
I started to wonder if here in the UK we have some sort of inferiority complex that makes us buy “statement” cars, whereas the Europeans just get on with their lives.
I started to wonder if here in the UK we have some sort of inferiority complex that makes us buy “statement” cars, whereas the Europeans just get on with their lives.
Debaser said:
During my first driving trips into Europe I noticed they seem to prefer the less sporty models in a range, but drive them pretty fast. In comparison England seemed full of the sportiest variants, driven rather slowly.
I'd agree with that. And up with the fastest on the autobahns are the VW Transporter and Merc Sprinter (etc) vans. 100 mph de rigeur...snotrag said:
Cars have historically always been much, much more expensive in most of Europe.
In the UK, we may not pay too much attention to something as 'mainstream' as a lowly Porsche Boxster, Audi TT or a nice BMW M-something... Theres one on every street here.
In much of Europe these cars are still very rare, very special, high end cars.
Yes, especially in the Nordics and Portugal where cars are generally more expensive and anything larger than 2.0 is taxed to stupidity. In the UK, we may not pay too much attention to something as 'mainstream' as a lowly Porsche Boxster, Audi TT or a nice BMW M-something... Theres one on every street here.
In much of Europe these cars are still very rare, very special, high end cars.
My ex-wife's Mini Countryman SE brand new in 2018 cost 55k euros!
Basic 911 Carrera is £97k here and at current exchange £133k there.
Re EV's though, plenty in Portugal of all places - they really are taking off among new car sales there. From just 3.2% in 2019 to 11.4% in 2022.
In the UK we've been pretty spoilt in terms of new and, especially 2nd hand, prices compared to many Nations in Europe.
Edited by PastelNata on Thursday 20th April 18:33
FlyingPanda said:
I started to wonder if here in the UK we have some sort of inferiority complex that makes us buy “statement” cars, whereas the Europeans just get on with their lives.
I guess the taxation bit comes into it too, but you see plenty of Audis, BMWs and Mercs, so not inexpensive... but very sensible saloons and estates (see FP's comment above).
FlyingPanda said:
I used to work for a company with offices in most major European cities, and I was always amazed that the Country MD’s (or equivalent) often rocked up in a Clio or a fairly ordinary Fiat. Our German MD had an S Class, but most of the others had something very ordinary. We had one big meeting where the Spanish MD turned up on a bright yellow scooter and nobody batted an eyelid.
I started to wonder if here in the UK we have some sort of inferiority complex that makes us buy “statement” cars, whereas the Europeans just get on with their lives.
My experience is that the UK has a larger problem with 'status' via house and/or car than in much of Europe. Sure, it exists there too but to a far lesser extent. I started to wonder if here in the UK we have some sort of inferiority complex that makes us buy “statement” cars, whereas the Europeans just get on with their lives.
There is too much focus upon what the neighbours have here vs the rest of Europe. It's actually wonderfully liberating to live in a society where people - and I'm including high-earners - don't drive flash cars or live in mansions just to show off. People just enjoy their lives with what makes them happy and is sufficient for what they need rather than as a constant competition.
Nomme de Plum said:
Really,
Why was there a very thriving import business for new RHD cars from European suppliers many years ago? The savings were very substantial.
BTW i live in Tallinn part time and see many high end exotic cars. It's not a wealthy country but has a very wealthy and relatively young bunch of entrepreneurs.
Because we have (or had) a very modest new-car tax regime manufacturers could take more margin in the UK whilst still remaining affordable. In places like Holland they had to keep their pencil razor sharp if they were going to shift any sort of volume.Why was there a very thriving import business for new RHD cars from European suppliers many years ago? The savings were very substantial.
BTW i live in Tallinn part time and see many high end exotic cars. It's not a wealthy country but has a very wealthy and relatively young bunch of entrepreneurs.
(Don't ask how the manufacturers settled on that inter-market strategy - why not sack off the tax-happy Dutch and make loads more sales in the UK? - but clearly they had some idea re. exclusivity, market presence, etc.)
Baldchap said:
SturdyHSV said:
Don't know if it's still the case, but as I understand it, for quite some time the UK bought more convertibles than anywhere else in Europe
When you only get three sunny days a year you have to make the most of it.Live in London or the south east, and you might only have about 2/3 days where it rains, a month.
Convertibles are rubbish in southern Europe, it's just too hot.
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