Prices in Europe!!!

[akjustin]

I have moved to Greece for the next couple of years. While packing up to leave I decided to sell my beloved 2003 EC 300 with the intention of buying a true EC here in europe. I had not considered the possibility that prices here in Europe would be unbelievably more expensive than in the US. I went out and priced a 08 EC 300 yesterday and it was 7680 euro. That works out to well over 10,000 us dollars. This makes no sense with how weak the dollar is today. Thinking this may be isolated to gasgas I priced the orange competition. OMG! They are asking 8660 euro for a 300 EXC. Thats 12,903 us dollars at todays exchange rate. What's the deal, it sure can't be shipping. Oh and all these prices are before the 19% tax. Any dealers out there willing to ship to Europe or arrange a european delivery from Spain? I am already suffuring moto withdrawl.

 

[thelonius]

Wow! What are you doing in Greece? I have been a couple of times, may go again this year. The terrain looks unbelieveable for off-road riding there! If you are in Athens have you noticed how crazy motorcycle riders drive on the streets?

 

[GMP]

A tariff on foreign vehicles perhaps?

 

[jeffd]

FYI - the isde is in greece next year...

jeff

 

[roostafish]

! Is there lots of rocks? Just got a handful of screws out of my ankle last week. I already feel the difference. Maybe I should give it another go.

 

[akjustin]

I am over here for work for the next 2-5 years. It has been an amazing experience thus far. Indeed the motorcycle and scooter riders are absolutly insane. I have alrady schedualed vacation time for all six days of ISDE. Waayy excited! Thelonius if you make it back p.m and we will see about hooking up for a ride. Cheers, Justin

 

[tprnottp]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Socialism. As you may already know, Greece has a socialist government, which means, it firmly believes in high taxation to, in part, redistribute wealth.
What you're seeing price-wise, are the effects of hefty taxation on what may possibly be considered by the Greek government as a luxury item; and, if I'm not mistaken, the Greek government uses the "value-added" (aka "Flat Tax") tax rate system.
I'm curious, have you tried exploring the used bike market in Greece? If their tax structure is similar to a recently proposed US tax makeover--known as the "Fair Tax Act"--sales of used items could possibly be tax-free, or at least at a reduced tax rate. If you're lucky, you might find that the "used" market is the way to go. And, since you're only going to be in Greece for a couple of years--why not buy used???

Good luck,

TP
'03 EC 300

 

[thelonius]

Where exactly are you in Greece?

 

[Link]

If you want to make Greece a bargin...go to England first.. The US dollar sucks just about evey where right now from Canada to the land down under were weak. I've been traveling off & on for about 30 years & I can't remember ever seeing the dollar so friggen low. Be careful you'll get used to seing the Euro prices & forget the rate & start using the plastic & when the bill comes it's heart attack time. Take a trip to Spain you moght get lucky.
Have fun over there!!

 

[barkeater]

Social engineering through taxation. Dirt bikes are bad for the environment, you know. Plus, you might hurt yourself and use more than your fair share of the universal healthcare system. Really, when you think about it, they're doing you a favor by pricing them out of your reach.

Enough politics... back to motorsickles...

 

[skid jackson]

Welcome to the wonderful world of Socialism. As the Greek government uses the "value-added" (aka "Flat Tax") tax rate system.

TP
'03 EC 300

No! No! No!

The Valued added tax is nothing but a sales tax. When ever somebody adds value to something ity gets taxed. You own land and decide to cut a tree down and sell it to a sawmill you pay a tax on the sale of that tree because you added value to it by making it something a mill could use. The saw mill makes it into 2x4's and sell them to a builder. The mill pays a tax on the sale because of the 2x4's because they added value to the log by cutting it up. The builder builds a house and sell it to you .... he pays a tax on hte sale of hte house because he added value to a bunch of lumber and so and so and so on. Value added taxes in theory are suppose to curb consumers appettites for spending. Tax spending not earnings and savings i.e dividends. Make lots of money but live a modest life and you don't have to pay too much taxes. In theory this sounds kind of inticing however in reality it becomes a hidden tax and the government milks it, and you, for all it's worth!!

A Flat tax is one income tax rate for everyone. If it is 10%, everyone pays 10% of their earnings. You make 20K you pay $2k, make 200K you pay 20K. The lefties don't like it because they say it is harder on the lower classes than the upper classes. No shit life is always harder on the lower classes.... thats the motivation for trying to work your way up to the upper classes!!!

I like the theory of the value added but in reality would take the flat tax.

 

[tprnottp]

Skid:

You're right. It's my "bad" for adding the "aka Flat Tax" to my post, since the two tax structures are different from one another.

Either way, the high prices are possibly due to taxation, as well as, the exchange rate of the Greek currency when compared to the Euro (Spain's currency). (I know Greece is "affected" by the Euro, however, I do not believe that they've "adopted" the Euro, to date.)

TP

 

[akjustin]

The prices I have listed are pre tax prices. They will have 19% tax added onto the 7000+ euro.
Thelonius I am on Crete at Hania.

 

[Link]

If your interested there's a dealer in the UK that sells GG parts & bikes & they are selling an 07 EC 250 & an EC300 demo bike for 3,350.00 lbs. so that would be prob. around 6,700 US (I think) Which sounds like a bargin compared to Greece.

 

[Leon_gasgas]

Hi!

I am greek living in Finland... As far as I know, this price includes any taxes and the bike is able to get a license plate and be used on the streets... My advice is to go for a long weekend to Athens and find a slighty used 07 250/300 model. Call the main distributor and ask him for some used 07. If he doesn't have one, then he should know of some other shop selling one. You will save more than 2000 euros this way.

And if you have problems with ordering parts, www.gasgas-online.de supplies everything within two weeks. I have used it to get parts to Finland. They reply emails back in english.

Good luck!

 

[tds2277]

Here is a TM Dealer in Greece, Possibly check with him as he might have a Used GAS GAS or a USED TM, Both Reliable bikes, BTW, what is the price for a TM over there anyway, Just Curious, of the same model

Polychronos Vassilis
El Alamein 55, 14231 N. Ionia Athens
Konstantina
telefono: 0030 - 210 - 2711026
fax: 0030 - 210 - 2711027
email: info@polychronos.gr
web: www.tmracing.gr

 

[bobbygas]

prices in europe

I´m English but live in Sevilla, Spain. The prices in spain for any bike or car are outrageous, here you pay for a ec300 7000euro plus 16% purchase tax plus another 12% if you want it on the road and for Enduro it has to be road legal.much cheaper in England. 6000euros on the road. as seen today on Ebay.co.uk

 

[hal2]

I'm in greece 2. Closest town Lamia. We have the highest penalty fom the EU in not keeping in line with the rest of europes taxing criteria. If ew buy 2nd hand outside greece, then we have to pay 19% of the existing price as tax - of what the authorities suggest is the recommended selling price for such a vehicle. Buying new is the only option, as I think its 9% tax, plus plates, extra that you have to pay is you buy outside greece.
Theres all the hassle of transporting, and the price too.
What is possible is to keep the plates of the country you buy it from, and then take the bike out of the country, across any border, to get its documentation stamped. But with that, I have not found an insurer who will take on such a deal, and then they want an address to send documentation too. With this method, its a question of keeping up with it, and having someone or two who will front for you.

 

[savage sausage]

Greece for the next 2-5 years good luck !!
their economy has been flushed down the toilet.

It's swings and roundabouts really it really depends on which country your buying, and how much tax they charge.

 

[wasp4banger]

I have moved to Greece for the next couple of years. While packing up to leave I decided to sell my beloved 2003 EC 300 with the intention of buying a true EC here in europe. I had not considered the possibility that prices here in Europe would be unbelievably more expensive than in the US. I went out and priced a 08 EC 300 yesterday and it was 7680 euro. That works out to well over 10,000 us dollars. This makes no sense with how weak the dollar is today. Thinking this may be isolated to gasgas I priced the orange competition. OMG! They are asking 8660 euro for a 300 EXC. Thats 12,903 us dollars at todays exchange rate. What's the deal, it sure can't be shipping. Oh and all these prices are before the 19% tax. Any dealers out there willing to ship to Europe or arrange a european delivery from Spain? I am already suffuring moto withdrawl.

You'd get the same in UK for about 3000 euros?