Roadsters, other sports cars and convertibles are now 131 per cent more expensive than in 1988. Autoprice MD Dieter Kahl says the offer is profitable for his firm, because the models featured are 30 per cent cheaper to buy outside Germany. The firm's next offer may combine an Audi A6 Avant 1.8T and a Lupo or Arrosa. Autoprice has been selling cars on line for nearly two years, and claims to make 250 retail sales a month, and 150-350 a month to trade customers. It has a dozen supplying dealers in Northern and Central Europe, and around 80 trade customers, and expects to achieve around 6,000 total sales in Germany this year.
Available stock includes ex-fleet and rental cars, all supplied with European warranty cover.
Online buyers are required to pay a credit card deposit of 250, later deducted from the eventual purchase price of their car. Personal documents required of the buyer before delivery are collected by courier, and vehicles are delivered in Germany within eight days of order receipt, to the buyer's address or via a dealer, according to preference. In the UK, DaimlerChrysler has announced it will start selling used Mercedes cars online from 1st September.