The Love of Gunn 698

Most cars are cheaper in the US than in other countries and hardly anyone pays the list price. Car dealers are usually willing to negotiate and prices may vary considerably from dealer to dealer.

Generally, there aren’t long waiting lists for new cars, although in recent years some new sports and luxury models have been in short supply, in which case instead of obtaining a discount you’re likely to be charged a premium.

Dealerships are usually grouped in one part of a town, which makes comparing cars and prices relatively easy. There are taxes on new and used cars; these vary from state to state and include a sales or use tax. Sales tax is levied on the proceeds of retail sales of tangible personal property, including cars. All but five states have a sales tax which applies to new and second-hand cars (states without sales tax may levy a special car tax).

Some states levy a lower or higher sales tax on cars than on other goods. In most states, sales tax is payable on the balance of a sale after the value of any trade-in has been deducted. A city or county sales tax may be payable in addition to state sales tax. Sales tax on a used car may be levied only if it wasn’t previously registered in the state. Any vehicle sold by a person other than a licensed dealer, manufacturer or dismantler may be subject to a ‘use tax’, which is comparable to the sales tax collected by licensed dealers. Any sales or use tax due must be paid at the time of registration.

All states have ‘lemon’ laws covering new and used cars, which protect buyers from buying a clunker, i.e. a vehicle with major defects.

New Cars
Although comparisons between new car prices in different countries are often difficult to make because of fluctuating exchange rates and the different levels of standard equipment, most new cars are much cheaper in the US than in most other countries. Did you see this? have a huge choice of cars and, in addition to a wide range of US models, most European and Japanese cars are available. Ever since the introduction of the sports utility vehicle (SUV), the average size of American cars has been increasing, which isn’t surprising, given that SUVs are a sort of small truck (often with comparable handling and road-holding abilities).

SUVs now make up a good half of the personal passenger cars on the road. They’ve completely replaced estate cars (station wagons) as the family vehicle of choice, and some Americans are now lusting after a Hummer, derived from the military armoured vehicle, the Humvee. ‘Compact’ (or ‘economy’ or ‘mid-size’) models are around the same size as larger European cars, such as a Jaguar or Mercedes.

‘Sub-compact’ is the name given to small family cars such as the European Ford Focus or VW Golf, open sports cars are called roadsters or convertibles. Traditionally, American cars have had prodigious thirsts, and the current fad for SUVs has certainly brought the US back to those cherished traditions. In the view of many (and not just foreigners), American cars still handle poorly, are too big for many people and consume too much petrol, which is why over 30 per cent of Americans buy imported cars. Petrol consumption is measured as miles per gallon rather than by consumption per a set distance.

American cars
Many American cars (or cars made for the US market) are liberally adorned with ‘idiot’ gadgets and buzzers, for example those informing you that your seat belt isn’t fastened, your lights are on or your keys are in the ignition. Some American cars have combination locks on the doors that can be used to lock or open them when you’ve locked your keys inside the car (provided you haven’t forgotten the combination). Cruise control is fairly common and highly desirable when you’re driving hundreds of miles on a dead-straight road at 55mph or 65mph; it decreases your fuel consumption, h