Overseas Vehicle Delivery program...anyone done it?

[Soups]

Curious if anyone has taken advantage of an overseas vehicle delivery program, specifically Volvo's. I'm starting to think about getting a new ride and this sounds like a fun deal.

Order the car through the program at a US dealer. Volvo covers two round trip tickets to Sweden and your first night at a hotel. Then you pick up your Volvo the next day at the factory and have your car to drive around Europe as long as you want. Once your trip is done you drop it back off and wait for it to get shipped to you in the states. Shipping is covered by Volvo.

Is it truly that simple? Worth it? Hidden extra fees/taxes?

I assume it takes a couple months or so for your car to show up but other than that any downsides? Sounds like a fun way to buy a new car.

[iceman]

My parents did it with Volvo about 20 years ago and at that point it was simple. The only issue was not being able to read Swedish and putting a couple gallons of diesel in the car before an attendant ran out and stopped them. It survived with no lasting damage. They got it pumped out and refilled it with gas and drove away. Can't remember how long it took to get it to the States but I don't think it was months.

[hutash]

I haven't done but at least with MB it is that simple from people I have talked to. They give you a list of seven ports to drop the car at. Sipping is pretty quick, usually a week or two, but a lot depends on when and where you drop the car. With MB and Audi, you get a pretty cool tour of the factory.

[BmillsSkier]

Had a couple we know get their last 2 XC60s this way, they absolutely love it and swear it's a no hassle deal

[galibier_numero_un]

I assume all of these deals have standard US warranties, recall procedures, etc. since they're coordinated by the US importer?

...Thom

[Soups]

Yeah, sounds like it's an all day thing your first day. Tour of the factory, lunch, car pick up, Volvo employee goes over every inch of the car with you, etc. They have a list of a dozen or so ports to drop it off at but only the Gothenburg one is free, the others range from something like $500 - $1,500 extra all over Europe.

Going to seriously consider it. Sounds awesome.

[BmillsSkier]

Hopefully getting the new V90 wagon?

[iceman]

I assume all of these deals have standard US warranties, recall procedures, etc. since they're coordinated by the US importer?

...Thom

Yeah you order it though a local dealer and they're essentially the seller. They're US-spec cars and all warrantees etc. are in effect just as if you bought it here.

[Soups]

Hopefully getting the new V90 wagon?

Gonna wait for the V90 Polestar in a manual!

Probably an XC60, but have no idea. Haven't gotten that far yet

[Mofro261]

Yeah, my wife did this a few years ago for our xc90, and after the incentives, it was definitely cheaper than picking one up straight from the dealer. She and my daughter flew to Sweden on the free tickets, got put up a night at a hotel nearby, then toured the factory the next day and drove it around the test track. They could have but didn't drive it around Europe though, as the wife bought 2 rt tickets to fly to the UK for her uncle's 80th birthday and see friends and she didn't want to be driving a left hand drive on right hand driving roads. Flew back home on out of Sweden on return.

I think it was more like 6 weeks to take delivery for us, but then it's a longer trek to to get from Yurp to Seattle than just about any other US destination.

[Timberridge]

Friends did it w their Volvo a few yrs ago...loved it and no hassle other than you have to wait for your car to cross the ocean once you get home.

[Soups]

Yeah, my wife did this a few years ago for our xc90, and after the incentives, it was definitely cheaper than picking one up straight from the dealer. She and my daughter flew to Sweden on the free tickets, got put up a night at a hotel nearby, then toured the factory the next day and drove it around the test track. They could have but didn't drive it around Europe though, as the wife bought 2 rt tickets to fly to the UK for her uncle's 80th birthday and see friends and she didn't want to be driving a left hand drive on right hand driving roads. Flew back home on out of Sweden on return.

I think it was more like 6 weeks to take delivery for us, but then it's a longer trek to to get from Yurp to Seattle than just about any other US destination.

Even though she didn't drive it around Europe do you know if insurance was included? Or do you have to personally get Euro insurance for the time you're over there?

[powpig]

Had a buddy do it several years ago with a BMW. I think he had to put a minimum # of miles on it before he could drop it off at the port, like 800 or something. This was back in the 90s so probably different now.

[Svengali]

Don't you know that in the padded-room you're only supposed to get an Audi wagon? and drive the Nurburgring?
All depends which model you decide on, and why would you go to Sweden to pick up a car maybe built in Sweden, but likely China, Malaysia, Thailand, Belgium, and in 2018, South Carolina? When purchased(2010) from Ford by a Chinese Conglomerate, they changed their motto from "Made in Sweden" to "Made by Sweden"

[Mofro261]

Even though she didn't drive it around Europe do you know if insurance was included? Or do you have to personally get Euro insurance for the time you're over there?

I don't remember if there were any issues with insurance, but my guess is that insurance would covered by the driver.

[PNWbrit]

Do Hyundai do a similar buy your Sonata in Seoul deal?

[AdironRider]

Typically you can save some money as well as its easy money for the dealer and doesn't come out of the allocation. On an XC60 probably not a big deal, but on a Polestar or harder to find model it can circumvent dealer markup.

[warthog]

Do Hyundai do a similar buy your Sonata in Seoul deal?

You get a tour of Montgomery,AL.
Kinda like another country.

[Shredhead]

I looked into it with Audi last year, wish I had. It was about 5% cheaper with a six week delivery, depending on when and where you dropped it off.
Would have been curious how it would have worked, when they stopped importing the TDI's. Free trip!

[Timberridge]

Do Hyundai do a similar buy your Sonata in Seoul deal?

duck the wrong ropes over there and shit can get ugly in a hurry

[muted]

FIL went into a MB dealership last year and asked if they could match the Euro deal and they said yes. Worth a shot, the worst they can do is say no. Sounds like Volvo works differently though, US salesmen get a cut? Honestly don't know.

[guroo270]

I thought people only did that for Bimmers and Porsches so zey could drive vay too Fast on Zee Audobon. Then I read Volvo. Volvo? Just buy one. It's like a loaf of bread.

[plugboots]

My last 2 BMW's I got in Munich. All the programs are essentially the same.
Car doesn't come out of allocation, so there is a separate lower cost.
Bargain from that lower cost. Go to some Volvo forum to get it. Dealers want to bargain these cars since they just do paperwork.
No mileage minimum. Many people like mofro just drive the car around the block to the ship out location.
The only downside is yer paying for a car that you're not driving, and it takes 5 weeks minimum to ship to your port, and you are special ordering a car so there's ~4 weeks for that.
If you're trading in your car, it gets traded when you make the deal, so you're without that car until you get the new one. My friends just did their Volvo, and all these things were the same.

You don't need to do the tour, have them go over the car or anything if you want. When it shows up at the pick up, sign the papers and go.
That said they treat you like a king, free lunch, free or cheap hotel, free gift, free or cheap airfare, wit companion ticket sometimes, free tour if you want, as much time as you want while an expert loads all your destinations into your navigation, etc.

[liv2ski]

Hopefully getting the new V90 wagon?

Man, love that cars interior and it looks bigger than my V70R, so I really want one, BUT I am terrified of a $60k price for a nice one.
Picking one up in Sweden and driving to St Petersburg through Finland would be pretty sweet. Get me a couple of Finnish Lapphund's as a bonus.

[Soups]

I thought people only did that for Bimmers and Porsches so zey could drive vay too Fast on Zee Audobon. Then I read Volvo. Volvo? Just buy one. It's like a loaf of bread.

Um. Yeah. I plan on doing that and getting a free trip to Yurp.