That VAT is about double the sales tax I would pay in NY, so that is a part of it as well, but in the US, I'll be looking at $70k USD + $5-6K in taxes, so about $76K or so for a 4.8i with 15k worth of options.

I guess I've never given foreign markets/economies sufficient thought, but I'd have to assume most other things (salaries, etc..) somehow balance these things out.