Buy a New Car in Europe The next time you're ready to buy a new car, look to the showrooms in Europe. In Europe, you can choose from many makes and models (with optional U.S. environmental and safety standards, if you want to sell the car in the United States). These cars are exactly the same as those you'd see at showrooms in your country. But they cost less, and European sales tax (which can run as high as 35%) is not added to cars bought by foreigners. All things considered, you can save enough purchasing your new car in Europe to pay for your trip -- and have money left over. By purchasing the car in Europe, you save more than enough to enjoy a week or two tooling Europe's country roads in your new automobile. And if you do use your new Mercedes as transportation during your European vacation, you'll also save the cost of renting a car. Almost any European car dealership in your country can handle the transaction for you. When you plan your trip, try to arrange to pick up the car and to leave it for delivery to your country in cities specified by the dealer. Volvos, for example, will be shipped free to the United States if you drop the car off in either London or Antwerp. If you intend to resell the car in the United States, Be sure to specify that your car be equipped to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and to U.S. or California emissions regulations. If you get a car that does not meet these standards, modification costs will wipe out any savings you reap. Rest assured that any new car bought in Europe comes with the same manufacturer's warranty as a car bought in your country. We're not talking "grey market" deals here, we're talking about tourist purchase arranged by the car's manufacturer and authorized dealers. The following European dealers handle cars built to U.S. specifications: Shipside Tax Free World on Wheels B.V., Shipside Buildings, Kruisweg 631, P.O. Box 430, 2130 AK Hoofddorp, The Netherlands; (201)818-0400 in the United States. This company operates showrooms and delivery centers at airports in Amsterdam and Brussels. It offers a large selection of makes and models. A free catalog is available upon request. Cars of Copenhagen, Vodroffsvej 55, DK-1900, Copenhagen, Denmark; tel. (45-3) 5-37-7800. Iczovitz Tax-Free Cars, Claridenstrasse 36, CH-8027 Zurich, Switzerland. This company sells the following makes built to U.S. specifications: Audi, Mercedes, Saab, Volvo, and Volkswagen. For a real insider's guide to buying a tax-free car in Europe, the definitive book is available from Scope International Ltd., Forestside House, Forestside, Rowlands Castle, Hants. PO9 6EE, Great Britain. Tell them you want information on the tax-free car report.