Two P-heads meet--New York and Copenhagen

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Went to Denmark last week to spend five days driving around in a Cayenne S for my Conde Nast Traveler "Great Drives" column, and I took the opportunity to get together with "Mikkel"--Mikkel Gertner, who lives south of Copenhagen. We'd never met, of course, but he ran up to the city in his lovely '84 Carrera to have lunch with my wife and me and to give us some local driving tips. We had a great time, and he's a delightful guy.

One interesting thing he told us, just so you can feel better about our aftermarket possibilities: In Denmark, you pay a huge tax on the purchase of any car, new or used, and if you do anything to substantially update it--which can even include putting '98 wheels on an '84 car--you pay the tax all over again because you have "changed the identity" of the car. (Mikkel, correct me if I'm wrong...) So the idea of putting a whaletail, or a slantnose or Turbo look or whatever on an existing car is financially impossible. About the only real mods allowed are some engine stuff you can maybe get away with if you have a smart mechanic, or interior stuff.

Incidentally, for any 'heads who are recreational shooters, Mikkel is one of the very few Danes who has a pistol permit and is seriously into recreational shooting. Owning pistols in Denmark is apparently about as customary as owning a tank is here.

Funny driving a Cayenne in Denmark, since a lot of Europeans--even Porsche owners--have no idea they exist. Was next to one 911 in Copenhagen traffic and the driver did an enormous double-take when he saw the hood badge, obviously wondering what moron had put the Stuttgart shield on a truck.

Stephan

[Zendalar]

You should have visited Finland or Sweden while you were that near

We have those tax thingies too, if one imports a car one can only change 30% of the parts (every part has certain %) one has to pay the tax all over again. If one buys a car from Finland, one has to keep below 50%. They have done this to prevent people putting new technique on an old car (this way nobody can't go around the huge tax we have on new cars).

[Joeaksa]

Stephan,

Mikkel is correct or at least it was this way when I lived in Denmark and Germany and doubt it has changed in the last 4 years. Every car or motorcycle has a Brief (a small registration book carried with the car) and listed there is everything about the car. From the wheel size and type, tires, any spoiler and so on is listed.

If you get stopped for any reason and the brief does not match the exact condition of the car, you are in hot water. Also if you were to be in an accident, even if it were not your fault but the car has any mods that were not entered in the brief, they will not pay.

We here in America do not realize how good we have it until seeing how other parts of the world work things...

Joe

Stephan

I hadn't seen your post. You're almost right on the tax issue. We can replace our wheels and spoilers with those from other models but we always need to balance things or else......

I'm glad you had a nice time here in tiny Denmark. Just too bad that the weather didn't behave. You should see our weather now. Almost perfect sunny and 20-25 degree C.


Joeaksa


What you descripe sounds more like Germany's Fahrzeugbrief & Fahrzeugschein where modifications have to be "eingetragen". In Denmark you don't have a similar list of mods, but you will eventually run into problems at the mandatory safety/pollution checkover every 2 years.

I know about a 911S 2,4 which was rebuilt to look like a 964 inside and outside. Only suspension and drivetrain was stock 2,4. That was considered an identity change by authorities thus new tax had to be paid. Crazy and unfair.

[Paul Franssen]

Arghhhh... just join the "Southern" part of Europe (the proper end) and you won't have all those problems...

[pwd72s]

Nice tale. The Pelican brotherhood is an international one!

pwd72s

Yup. That's why I like Pelicanparts 911BBS so much. It's not just Porsche talk it's also nice people.

Paul

I know, but then I would have other problems, parce que mon francais est tres tres miserable

[Paul Franssen]

Aw, come on Mikkel: one can learn (but - I'll admit to you - and all the rest on the board - that my attack was a bit too low under that belt).
So, no flames out of my exhaust, Mikkel

[Neilk]

Watch out Mikkel, in some parts of Belgium they might run you off the road if they hear you speak French. Oh wait, that's all the Belge (fr) drivers.

[Paco Anton]

You are all invited to Spain where you are not required to speak French at all and taxes and regulations are not that strict...

[Joeaksa]

How about we all meet in Monaco on the 1 June to watch a small race around some beautiful city roads? Going to miss it this year but planning on making it next year...

Joe