Does anyone have experience with Volvo's overseas delivery option? How does one finally get the vehicle to the U.S.? What are the "gotchas"? Thanks...

For me, the TDS was worthwhile because I wanted a manual transmission and no sunroof. No dealer stocked that configuration, and all wanted top dollar to order one. The TDS savings over the inflated special-order quotes I had seen, was significant. I ordered the car Feb 19th, 1999 and picked it up April 23rd, 1999, but it was ready on April 14th. I only kept the car for a few hours before returning it to the factory for shipping. It arrived in Port Hueneme, CA on June 2nd, and was ready at the dealer on June 9th.

If I had wanted a car that was available from stock, I would agree with Yannis, TDS wouldn't have been worth the trouble, compared with a deal that I could have struck locally.

I got my 2000XC in G'borg last summer. It was a hastle free experience, I would recomend to anyone. The only "problem" was I was there at "Mid-Summer" 21 June, it is a national holiday time. Things moved more like Southern Europe that Northen Europe. My car got to Denver 8 weeks after I dropped it off. I think shipping would move faster at other times of the year. I you want more information e-mail me, I love to tell my own stories, especialy when I have made good choices.

Kele'

If you look into the archives there are plenty of useful posts regarding this topic. But to sum it all up you can order the car through any US Volvo Retailer, typically the orice on any given model is anywhere from $1,800 to $2,500 below of what you would typically have to pay if you picked up the car here in the US. With the current incentives that Volvo has on most models it is not worth it. And if you decided to go to Europe to (just) pick up the car in this way, you wold have to add up insurance costs, a few nights in a hotel, meals, etc. which would cut up your "savings". If you were planning to go on vacation anyway then it may work toward your favor. But, as I said, the current STRONG cash incentives that Volvo is running on cars here in the US make the TDS transaction not a smart one, for the time being.

The car gets shipped to the Retailer of your choice free of charge, it is all in the price that you pay. If you decide to go this way, you have to put up a deposit of $2000 and the balance due (minus any applicable taxes) is due 30 days before you go pick up the car in Europe. Pick and drop off are free of charge in Gothenburg whereas there are various surcharges if you choose certain other European cities.

The current wait period for ordering is anywhere from 12 to 16 weeks, pretty long. Once you drop off the car wherever you choose (in Europe), the estimated time until it gets to your Retaler is 3-4 weeks which you will have to factor in as being without a car after you return from yuor trip.

Yannis