Stavanger Norway, 3 yr Military Assignment

I was just informed by my sister in law that her and her US Air Force Husband and two elementary age boys will be leaving St. Louis (where they have been for 5 years) for a 3 year assignment to Stavanger Norway. What do you know about Norway?

On the automotive front they are thinking of selling their 2 trucks before they leave. Th Air Force will ship one car. They currently have:
2002 Suburban LT 4wd, 115k miles of just soccer mom service
1995 GMC 1500 Sierra SLE 4wd Ext cab with short box 105k

Their initial reaction is to buy a Volvo XC90 on this side and have it shipped over. What would you buy to take to Norway?

I'd buy a car with the best fuel economy I could get away with sizewise. Gas will cost at least double what it is here and probably more. Even if the PX sells it for less, they won't be able to fill up at the base all the time.

I would sell both and buy a Scandinavian or German car in Norway.

Any chance they could use a "buy here, take delivery there" program?

John Brown wrote: I would sell both and buy a Scandinavian or German car in Norway.

Probably trying to avoid any VAT.

The only thing I've heard about Norway is that everything is 3x more expensive than here (Germany.) Looks like a beautiful place though.

I've only been to Bergen, Norway. It was beautiful, the people were nice. Things were crazy expensive. I would like to go back and see more of the country someday.

I was there in the late 90's and it worked out to about $8 a beer. No idea of the current exchange rate.

Interesting, yes, i know that Volvo (and others) have European delivery programs. I do not know the tax advantages.

Unfortunately my sister in law and her husband (from my wife's side) are not nearly as automobile-savvy as all who attend here. They are the classic McMansion family who feels they need a Suburban with 4wd to head to the local WalMart. Neither truck has ever towed a thing or ventured off road. Being seen driving anything less would be unmanly and mini-vans are the worst thing that anyone could own. To their defense, they are mostly frugal with truly zero debit other than mortgage. They also are the type that will only buy a new car but they do typically keeps their cars for 15 or more years. They are the type who can not be swayed from the idea that they "need" a big car in order to be safe on the road. They consider my Miata to be certain death.
If it were me, I would take the Suburban over to Norway in order to be the crazy american. Or, I would buy a European spec Toyota Hilux with diesel engine along with a classic mini.

I would sell/trade in the current cars, and buy a new Eco-boosted Flex or SHO (or S-H-O...depending)...pay off during the stay and try to sell for heap big wampum before returning.

Is that guy that made the fjords still hanging around? You know, the one Aurther Dent met.

jrw1621 wrote: I was just informed by my sister in law that her and her US Air Force Husband and two elementary age boys will be leaving St. Louis (where they have been for 5 years) for a 3 year assignment to Stavanger Norway. What do you know about Norway? On the automotive front they are thinking of selling their 2 trucks before they leave. Th Air Force will ship one car. They currently have: 2002 Suburban LT 4wd, 115k miles of just soccer mom service 1995 GMC 1500 Sierra SLE 4wd Ext cab with short box 105k Their initial reaction is to buy a Volvo XC90 on this side and have it shipped over. What would you buy to take to Norway?

Why buy an XC90 here and ship it back to where it was made? An ex-USAF friend bought an new XC90 through military sales a few years back and it was very reasonable. If they're looking used I'd buy a used over there.

Dr. Hess wrote: Is that guy that made the fjords still hanging around? You know, the one Aurther Dent met.

Slartibartfast? Had lunch with him just the other day.

Dr. Hess wrote: Is that guy that made the fjords still hanging around?

Didn't Fjord sell Volvo to Geely?

Anywho, might they consider waiting till they get there and see what a departing serviceperson may have to sell?

If I were going to live in Europe (or Norway, or even England) I'd buy something I can't get here. But that's just me.

They really, really don't want to take something as thirsty as a Suburban to Norway unless they get subsidised fuel. If they do and they drive everywhere as they do in the US, the cost of fuel will be the biggest item in the budget. Well, depends on how much beer they drink (that's also rather expensive but I think they can get that at the PX, right?). Keep in mind that due to various exchange rate shenanigans the UK has amongst the cheapest petrol in Europe, and that's $7-8/gallon. The Scandinavian countries tend to be expensive even by UK standards...

Personal choice would be a regular 4WD sedan or station wagon, preferably some sort of turbo diesel as diesel is a lot cheaper than petrol in most European countries.

Oh, and they better take some real warm clothing.

JRW, here's a link to the air base in Stavanger. It gives informations, photos and points of contact for about everything. You don't need a passport if you are a relative to enter Norway.

Using that link you can find any base, any branch anywhere in the world.

Dan

http://apps.mhf.dod.mil/pls/psgprod/f?p=132:CONTENT:639775612409305::NO::P4_INST_ID:10

Cool Dan - Thanks
John

Streetwiseguy wrote:

Dr. Hess wrote: Is that guy that made the fjords still hanging around? You know, the one Aurther Dent met.

Slartibartfast? Had lunch with him just the other day.

Time is an illusion. Lunch time doubly so.