So many AMG cars in Korea
05-07-2009, 04:38 AM
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997.2 GT3
So many AMG cars in Korea
I'm in Seoul for business this week, and astounded at how popular AMG cars are here. On the drive from the airport alone I saw four C63s and two E63s. Today I must have seen about 10 AMGs in Seoul traffic. Back home in Colorado the only time I see another AMG is when I run into MPRESIV at a car meet.
05-07-2009, 06:57 AM
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E-ZGO 53hp., 1999 E 430 sport, 2004 E 55, 2008 Tahoe LTZ on 24"s
Funny, I see 20 fake AMGs a day in South Florida. Interesting item I was shocked at the number of Porsche Cayennes in Panama City, Panama. Airport to Marina downtown must have seen 20+.
Last edited by Yacht Master; 05-07-2009 at 07:02 AM.
05-07-2009, 04:06 PM
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W211,E90,E66,E39,E38,NSX,Z32-TT
In a lot of Asian countries you have to be rich to be able to afford a car. So if you can buy a car, guess what they're to going to get? When I went to Hong Kong, I was surprised that all the BMW and Mercedes on the road were the 7-series and the S-Class. It'll be hard to find a 5-series or a E-class in HK and the 3-series and the C-class is practically non existing.
In HK, a S-Class will go for about $100k (USD) but the registeration would cost you $300k annually! Yes, you read that right.
In HK, a S-Class will go for about $100k (USD) but the registeration would cost you $300k annually! Yes, you read that right.
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05-07-2009, 04:08 PM
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05-07-2009, 05:53 PM
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In a lot of Asian countries you have to be rich to be able to afford a car. So if you can buy a car, guess what they're to going to get? When I went to Hong Kong, I was surprised that all the BMW and Mercedes on the road were the 7-series and the S-Class. It'll be hard to find a 5-series or a E-class in HK and the 3-series and the C-class is practically non existing.
In HK, a S-Class will go for about $100k (USD) but the registeration would cost you $300k annually! Yes, you read that right.
In HK, a S-Class will go for about $100k (USD) but the registeration would cost you $300k annually! Yes, you read that right.
Furthermore, registration does not cost $300k annually for an S-Class, and it is not $100k to purchase either. The import tariff on cars is very high in HK, and registration is expensive also, but not $300k a year, registration isn't even an annual fee. Registration is a onetime fee and is roughly 40-60%. Licensing is also expensive, but it's very similar to what it is in California.
I don't buy and sell cars everyday in HK, so what I know might have changed, but it's mostly accurate.
-m
Last edited by Marcus Frost; 05-07-2009 at 05:59 PM.
05-07-2009, 06:07 PM
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bone stock E55 AMG
we should do ktown meet!
My friend, don't be disillusioned by one thing costing more than another from country to country. I am not Chinese but spend a lot of time in HK. Income tax there is less than half what it is here, and there are a lot of other forms of tax that aren't the same as it is for us here. Don't just think that all things are equal and that cars just cost many times more therefore everyone in HK is many times wealthier than they are here. It doesn't work like that.
Furthermore, registration does not cost $300k annually for an S-Class, and it is not $100k to purchase either. The import tariff on cars is very high in HK, and registration is expensive also, but not $300k a year, registration isn't even an annual fee. Registration is a onetime fee and is roughly 40-60%. Licensing is also expensive, but it's very similar to what it is in California.
I don't buy and sell cars everyday in HK, so what I know might have changed, but it's mostly accurate.
-m
Furthermore, registration does not cost $300k annually for an S-Class, and it is not $100k to purchase either. The import tariff on cars is very high in HK, and registration is expensive also, but not $300k a year, registration isn't even an annual fee. Registration is a onetime fee and is roughly 40-60%. Licensing is also expensive, but it's very similar to what it is in California.
I don't buy and sell cars everyday in HK, so what I know might have changed, but it's mostly accurate.
-m
05-07-2009, 06:27 PM
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An S-Class is not $100k USD in Hong Kong (which is roughly $700k HKD). That is the price of maybe an E550. Registration is based on the taxable value of the car, and if the car was valued at $700k HKD, a registration fee of $300k is within the margin of reason.
-m
05-07-2009, 06:37 PM
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08 350Z, 09 E63
Yes, Korea has a lot of exotics especially in Seoul..
A website called "Babodream" used to hold weekly drag meets on public roads for a while until recently they all got busted..
Here's a link to the videos:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=...20&view=videos
A website called "Babodream" used to hold weekly drag meets on public roads for a while until recently they all got busted..
Here's a link to the videos:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=...20&view=videos
05-07-2009, 08:06 PM
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997.2 GT3
First, I should correct myself. Cars are not subject to import tariffs in HK. The major tax is the registration tax which like I said before is 40-60%. HK is for the most part a "Free port" and puts ACTUAL tariffs on very few things.
An S-Class is not $100k USD in Hong Kong (which is roughly $700k HKD). That is the price of maybe an E550. Registration is based on the taxable value of the car, and if the car was valued at $700k HKD, a registration fee of $300k is within the margin of reason.
-m
An S-Class is not $100k USD in Hong Kong (which is roughly $700k HKD). That is the price of maybe an E550. Registration is based on the taxable value of the car, and if the car was valued at $700k HKD, a registration fee of $300k is within the margin of reason.
-m
Hong Kong is an expensive place to live if you don't make much income. The housing costs are roughly equivalent to Manhattan costs. There is a cap on income tax of 15% which makes Hong Kong a great place to live if you earn higher income. However, Americans need to pay Uncle Sam internationally so they don't have it quite as good as locals. The government in Hong Kong earns a fairly big chunk of its revenue from property and land sales, so doesn't need to pull as much from income tax.
05-07-2009, 08:49 PM
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2006 E55AMG
Yes, Korea has a lot of exotics especially in Seoul..
A website called "Babodream" used to hold weekly drag meets on public roads for a while until recently they all got busted..
Here's a link to the videos:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=...20&view=videos
A website called "Babodream" used to hold weekly drag meets on public roads for a while until recently they all got busted..
Here's a link to the videos:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=...20&view=videos
05-07-2009, 09:20 PM
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08 350Z, 09 E63
05-07-2009, 09:29 PM
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Yes, Korea has a lot of exotics especially in Seoul..
A website called "Babodream" used to hold weekly drag meets on public roads for a while until recently they all got busted..
Here's a link to the videos:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=...20&view=videos
A website called "Babodream" used to hold weekly drag meets on public roads for a while until recently they all got busted..
Here's a link to the videos:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=...20&view=videos
05-07-2009, 09:37 PM
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05-07-2009, 09:42 PM
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08 350Z, 09 E63
I would personally take off the secondary cats for my taste to be louder but you know I can't do that
05-08-2009, 12:05 AM
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You're right about the high car registration cost, Marcus. I used to live in Hong Kong and owned an Evo IV there way back in 1999.
Hong Kong is an expensive place to live if you don't make much income. The housing costs are roughly equivalent to Manhattan costs. There is a cap on income tax of 15% which makes Hong Kong a great place to live if you earn higher income. However, Americans need to pay Uncle Sam internationally so they don't have it quite as good as locals. The government in Hong Kong earns a fairly big chunk of its revenue from property and land sales, so doesn't need to pull as much from income tax.
Hong Kong is an expensive place to live if you don't make much income. The housing costs are roughly equivalent to Manhattan costs. There is a cap on income tax of 15% which makes Hong Kong a great place to live if you earn higher income. However, Americans need to pay Uncle Sam internationally so they don't have it quite as good as locals. The government in Hong Kong earns a fairly big chunk of its revenue from property and land sales, so doesn't need to pull as much from income tax.
On a side note - I love HK. The culture, atmosphere, cuisine, everything. Being able to use English there is a big plus as well. I always look forward to my trips there. I may be going back in November.
-m
05-08-2009, 01:20 AM
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Last edited by Max.H; 05-08-2009 at 01:24 AM.
05-08-2009, 02:01 PM
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True, I go to Panama every 4 months.... and there are so many Porsche Cayennes..... and in Panama, those car are not cheap in Panama !
05-08-2009, 02:05 PM
#25
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In a lot of Asian countries you have to be rich to be able to afford a car. So if you can buy a car, guess what they're to going to get? When I went to Hong Kong, I was surprised that all the BMW and Mercedes on the road were the 7-series and the S-Class. It'll be hard to find a 5-series or a E-class in HK and the 3-series and the C-class is practically non existing.
In HK, a S-Class will go for about $100k (USD) but the registeration would cost you $300k annually! Yes, you read that right.
In HK, a S-Class will go for about $100k (USD) but the registeration would cost you $300k annually! Yes, you read that right.
The S class in Taiwan is about $150K (S550)
The E class is about $100K
The C class is about $50k +
The import car tax is so high .... sometimes they are just double the USA price !
