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From: peterk@rtech.ARPA (Peter Kreps)
Newsgroups: net.travel,net.wanted
Subject: Re: Buying a Volvo in Europe
Message-ID: <393@rtech.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 13-May-85 14:58:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: rtech.393
Posted: Mon May 13 14:58:58 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 16-May-85 20:13:44 EDT
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> 
> 	Has anyone out there either tried or knows about buying
> a Volvo in Europe and shipping it here.  I am thinking about doing
> that later on this summer.
> 
> Reza Zarafshar

I recently had a somewhat disappointing experience ordering a Volvo 245DL
wagon for European delivery in London (thru a Volvo dealer in Berkeley.)
The car was ordered about 10 weeks prior to scheduled arrival in London
(you usually need 8-10 weeks lead time).  Everything was hunky-dory:
we're getting this car at a discount of about $2000 below the price here
plus we'll have a nice car to drive around in Europe and save on car rental.
Three weeks later we get a telegram from Volvo of America telling us
that there are no more American-model 1985 245DL's available for European
delivery!!  Sorry, it said, hope we can do business in the future, etc.
Thanks alot! Of course now it was too late to do anything else about a car
delivery in Europe.  The dealer here was willing to make somewhat good
on the deal by offering us a car here for $600 more than our European
price.  Small (and costly) compensation, not to mention the added cost
of transportation in Europe, the hassle of storing a brand new car while
we're gone, etc.  Sorry to flame on but I just had to tell someone!
ANy suggestions for redress would be welcome.

As I understand it other models are also either unavailable already or in very
short supply.  The moral is: if you want a 1985 Volvo in Europe this
year you should do something about it immediately.  (You may already
be out of luck.)  Insist that they confirm the order (preferably by phone),
and don't count on it until you have a written confirmation.
Unfortunately, the written-up order you place with the agent or dealer
generally does not constitute a confirmation or contract (read the fine print)
even if you put down a deposit.  All they are obligated to do is return
your deposit if they can't deliver a car.

Incidently, does anyone out there have any experience with buying a
European-market car and arranging the conversion for US/California yourself?
Is it feasible/worth the hassle?

	-Peter Kreps		{decvax, ucbvax}!mtxinu	\
					  inhp4!pegasus - !rtech!peterk
					  {amdahl, sun}	/