[ladtx]

But tell us about the taxes in Germany - how was all this municipal perfection financed?

The taxes were horrific, for the Germans. But because of the SOFA American service members were not required to pay the VAT, plus the exchange rate was great. I bought a new (1985) BMW 528e just before I left and paid $18,000, then priced the same car when I got back stateside, the sticker was $31,000.

[OldFriend]

My son bought a brand new BMW in Germany before he came home and sold it four years later in the US for more than he paid in Germany.

This was early 2000.