Rookie in the US

As you all know, unfortunatly, I have never been to the US. So this amazing trip will be my first familiarisation with the most powerfull country of the last centuries. I’m really looking forward to this trip, but let me tell you why.

First of all, i drink a lot of Coca Cola every day. You might say i’m pretty addicted. No Coca Cola Light, Lemon, Pepsi or whatever for me. Just regular Coca Cola. I think I have an average usage of 2 liters per day, but when there is a good movie, formula 1 or soccer on tv, it can be much more. Than i’ll drink a 2 litre bottle during a movie

In the Netherlands 2 litres of Coke a day is considered a lot. I know it’s not good for my stumach, but i don’t drink alcohol and i don’t use any kind of drugs, so let me have one bad habbit. Well, two, if possible. I like a cigarette at the time also, but not for long. I’m planning to stop in short while, when i receive the key of my new, beautiful house. So, only because i don’t eat that much, i’m not overweight :-). As i have been told 2 litres is nothing in the US. A medium coke at the McDonalds is a litre

Second of all, i like big cars. The bigger, the better! I drive myself around in a nice 2,5 litre 6 cilinder new BMW Coupe, which i’m very happy with. But, when i used to work as a car salesman for BMW and Mini automobiles, the most beautiful engine i have ever driven is the 4.4 litre V8 engine from the BMW 540i, 740i an X5 4.4i. Not only because of the power it’s producing, but maybe more because of the sound the engine makes. Especially when you start this car. First you will hear a high scream which results in a mighty, low roar. Great

But, unfortunatly, it is almost impossible to drive a V8 Engine in my country. It’s because of the strange, extraordinary, and i might say stupid, high taxes we pay here. Let me summarize the stupidity of the Dutch government about their way of bullying the automobile-lover in the Netherlands.

Let pick a nice normal V8 car: a standerd BMW X5 4.8i. For example, this car will cost € 97.350,– ($ 143.367,–). In the US the same car will cost $ 55.275,– (€ 37.533,–). Most of the differences are caused by the Dutch government. € 40.529,– is the tax you pay to the Dutch government to own this car. If you think you are ready to drive then, you are wrong. You also have to pay roadtax (€ 283,– per month) and an extra income-tax (25% of the bruto sales price of € 97.350 = €24.338 x your income tax-scale about 50% = € 12.338 = more than a € 1.000 a month!!). If you think that’s it, you are mistaken. Because, you have to buy fuel. For a litre we pay € 1,55. In comparising, in the US, i think you pay $ 2,20 per gallon. That means a 58 dollarcent a litre, wich is € 0,39 per litre. So, being able to drive a nice car is much easier in the US.

Those are only two reasons why the United States of America seems pretty perfect to me. The country where everything is big, where you can drive a huge V8 or even bigger engine without being punished by the government. The US has the skyscrapers, bling bling, the biggest movie-s(tars), donuts, the biggest shopping malls, and a very service oriented economy. I like that!

And, what also helps, the Dollar is pretty cheap at the moment in comparising with the Euro…