Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site gcc-opus.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!wjh12!talcott!harvard!gcc-opus!alien From: alien@gcc-opus.ARPA (Alien Wells) Newsgroups: net.auto,net.consumers Subject: Re: cars in Europe Message-ID: <151@gcc-opus.ARPA> Date: Thu, 29-Nov-84 11:35:58 EST Article-I.D.: gcc-opus.151 Posted: Thu Nov 29 11:35:58 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 1-Dec-84 19:18:12 EST References: <133@ur-cvsvax.UUCP> Reply-To: alien@gcc-opus.UUCP (Alien Wells) Distribution: net Organization: General Computer Company, Cambridge Ma (creators of Ms. Pacman) Lines: 63 Xref: genrad net.auto:5365 net.consumers:1537 Summary: In article <133@ur-cvsvax.UUCP> gary@ur-cvsvax.UUCP (Gary Sclar) writes: >A friend of mine just returned from Europe and had nothing but praise for >the rental car she rode around in. These cars are apparently smaller & >cheaper then those sold in the U.S., but sturdier, economical to run, and >very sound mechanically. Is all of this true, can these models be had in >the U.S. (or is the installation of emissions control equipment too costly) >and what are the most popular small cars in Europe and their >characteristics. When I lived in Germany, I noticed the same thing, there were many very good cars there that I had never seen (some with the label Ford!). There are a number of things that have to be done to a car to sell it in the US: - meet US emission standards - meet US safety standards - meet US random regulations (lights, tires, etc, etc, etc) - get approval from US regulatory agencies - pay US import taxes I think you can easily see that a company is not likely to do all this unless they plan to see a lot of units of that particular model. Furthermore, the car isn't the same after all the redesign that is necessary. For example, look at the performance difference between an American Rabbit GTI and the European version. I don't have the stats, but there is something like a 50% horsepower increase in the European version. Another example, when I was in Germany one of the more popular cars is something I call the Citroen Bug. Despite its reputation as a sport car company, their low end entry looked like a VW bug with all the seams on the outside. The car wasn't much to look at, and it performed like shit, but it was CHEAP! Why didn't it come into the US? Well, the fact that it had tires half the width of normal cars that fell off at the slightest excuse might have had something to do with it. The lack of emission controls might also have been a factor. By the time it got to the US, it wouldn't have been cheap any more. Another interesting factor is image. For instance, Mercedes does not have the image in Europe that it does here, it is sort of seen as more of a GM. They sell all sorts of cars and trucks, most of them pretty down-scale. Will they ever import the low end cars to the US? Hardly! How many people would spend outrageous bucks for a Mercedes if they were also competing with VW and Chevy? By the way, most Japanese cars do not make it to the US either. I was in Bermuda on my honeymoon in September, and it was amazing how many Japanese cars I saw there. Also note that these were all the British 'wrong-side' cars too! If the Japanese are willing to go to the effort to make special cars for England, they would certainly be willing to do it for the US! Of course, there are those import quotas and regulations ... Some of the cars I saw in Bermuda: Minivans by: Nissan Mitsubishi (one was at least 5 years old!) Daihitsu Pick-ups and Flat Beds by every major Japanese manufacturer except Honda More small cars models I haven't seen than you could shake a stick at An interesting note is that the most popular car maker in Bermuda seemed to be Mitsubishi. Even the police cars were Mitsubishis (in a model called the Lancer!). Oh, well. Enough for now. Alien