American cars in the UK - USAF bases?
Discussion
Something I've always wondered but can't find the answer to; why is there an abundance of USDM cars near to USAF operating air bases?
Well, this is the only connection I can figure anyway? Particularly notice it in Norfolk around the various bases the USAF operate from.
Part of me thinks this must make financial sense for the officers using them, because most of them had been fairly desirable cars or pick-up trucks. However, you also see really bland stuff like Camrys and big Hondas that we don't get in the UK market. Where's the sense in bringing something like that over?
Just a boring Sunday evening observation and a curiosity really. Surely it would be easier to buy a RHD car better suited to UK roads?! Seems mad.
Well, this is the only connection I can figure anyway? Particularly notice it in Norfolk around the various bases the USAF operate from.
Part of me thinks this must make financial sense for the officers using them, because most of them had been fairly desirable cars or pick-up trucks. However, you also see really bland stuff like Camrys and big Hondas that we don't get in the UK market. Where's the sense in bringing something like that over?
Just a boring Sunday evening observation and a curiosity really. Surely it would be easier to buy a RHD car better suited to UK roads?! Seems mad.
See a fair few in Yorkshire, it's weird seeing the reg plates! Recently seen in ilkley, Harrogate and a Christmas loads in grassington. A tiny dales village. It was hilarious watching them trying to park stonking great suvs in a tiny place with cobbled roads.
Bet our fuel costs are a shock to them !
Bet our fuel costs are a shock to them !
I used to deliver them back in the 90's , they would arrive at Felixstowe in 20 or 40 foot containers, be transported to a depot in Ipswich and off loaded there where they would be fuelled up, paperwork done and released to the owners. Sending them out was a reversal, basically they were chocked into the floor of the box, tied down on the lashing points and de fuelled. We had a very nice little number going with the excess fuel, as the vehicles had to be emptied for shipping.
There used to be a thriving secondhand car market near the bases in Suffolk with returning servicemen off loading their second cars very cheap at the last minute.
There used to be a thriving secondhand car market near the bases in Suffolk with returning servicemen off loading their second cars very cheap at the last minute.
austinsmirk said:
See a fair few in Yorkshire, it's weird seeing the reg plates! Recently seen in ilkley, Harrogate and a Christmas loads in grassington. A tiny dales village. It was hilarious watching them trying to park stonking great suvs in a tiny place with cobbled roads.
Bet our fuel costs are a shock to them !
Menwith Hill, near Harrogate. Bet our fuel costs are a shock to them !
austinsmirk said:
See a fair few in Yorkshire, it's weird seeing the reg plates! Recently seen in ilkley, Harrogate and a Christmas loads in grassington. A tiny dales village. It was hilarious watching them trying to park stonking great suvs in a tiny place with cobbled roads.
Bet our fuel costs are a shock to them !
A while back now, but I was at a mates party and there was USAF bloke there. I seem to remember something about fuel being sold on base (US sovereign territory) at US prices?Bet our fuel costs are a shock to them !
eltax91 said:
A while back now, but I was at a mates party and there was USAF bloke there. I seem to remember something about fuel being sold on base (US sovereign territory) at US prices?
This is true. Well, the US prices bit, not the sovereign territory bit. UK service personnel get a similar-(ish) deal, rather less generous in fairness, when they serve in tax-free SOFA locations.
They get to bring them over as part of their posting to the UK. There's no actual reasonable argument to make them have to buy a local market vehicle. They also have access to buy US spec cars at preferential and tax free rates. Fuel can be purchased on base tax free, although it's likely UK tax free prices (as it will be from a U.K. refinery), which equates to similar to average US domestic fuel prices. As the cars are not UK registered they are not subject to MOT requirements. However they will be subject to their own equivalent inspections that the military require.
It's virtually an identical setup to what the UK forces have in Germany for example. Plenty of RHD UK market cars over there associated with the British Forces. Vauxhall for example.
Although in Germany they can buy petrol at tax free prices at the big petrol station chains anywhere with pre-purchased petrol coupons.
It's virtually an identical setup to what the UK forces have in Germany for example. Plenty of RHD UK market cars over there associated with the British Forces. Vauxhall for example.
Although in Germany they can buy petrol at tax free prices at the big petrol station chains anywhere with pre-purchased petrol coupons.
dvs_dave said:
Fuel can be purchased on base tax free, although it's likely UK tax free prices (as it will be from a U.K. refinery), which equates to similar to average US domestic fuel prices. As the cars are not UK registered they are not subject to MOT requirements.
Visiting forces have to MOT and register their vehicles once in the UK. Gas is cheap on base. Quite a lot of people put gas in jerrycans for their lawnmowers
dvs_dave said:
They get to bring them over as part of their posting to the UK. There's no actual reasonable argument to make them have to buy a local market vehicle. They also have access to buy US spec cars at preferential and tax free rates. Fuel can be purchased on base tax free, although it's likely UK tax free prices (as it will be from a U.K. refinery), which equates to similar to average US domestic fuel prices. As the cars are not UK registered they are not subject to MOT requirements. However they will be subject to their own equivalent inspections that the military require.
It's virtually an identical setup to what the UK forces have in Germany for example. Plenty of RHD UK market cars over there associated with the British Forces. Vauxhall for example.
Although in Germany they can buy petrol at tax free prices at the big petrol station chains anywhere with pre-purchased petrol coupons.
Petrol coupons in Germany for U.K. Forces stopped about 2 years ago. Tax is taken off at the pumps using a card in Aral stations. It's virtually an identical setup to what the UK forces have in Germany for example. Plenty of RHD UK market cars over there associated with the British Forces. Vauxhall for example.
Although in Germany they can buy petrol at tax free prices at the big petrol station chains anywhere with pre-purchased petrol coupons.
https://bfgnet.de/fuelcard/aral-fuel-card-bfg.html
Edited by Opel-GT on Sunday 12th March 21:21
austinsmirk said:
See a fair few in Yorkshire, it's weird seeing the reg plates! Recently seen in ilkley, Harrogate and a Christmas loads in grassington. A tiny dales village. It was hilarious watching them trying to park stonking great suvs in a tiny place with cobbled roads.
Bet our fuel costs are a shock to them !
Cough, Menwith Hill, cough.Bet our fuel costs are a shock to them !
I think they get fuel on base as well, IIRC.
Now only Aral, and no coupons, interesting. I suppose there's hardly any U.K. Forces over there compared to before so they've scaled things back to suit. I grew up in that setup in the 80's-00's. In my day it was Shell, BP, Esso, Aral, and Fanal stations you could use them.
Always remembered going to the US bases for the PX's and buying loads of cheap stuff. They were always so much better than the Naafi. Natex in Geikenkirchen was good too!
Good times, but a lifetime ago now and it's weird to think that the places and communities I grew up in no longer exist. (JHQ etc.)
Always remembered going to the US bases for the PX's and buying loads of cheap stuff. They were always so much better than the Naafi. Natex in Geikenkirchen was good too!
Good times, but a lifetime ago now and it's weird to think that the places and communities I grew up in no longer exist. (JHQ etc.)
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