How does MB manage to do it?

George Litwinski
"daytripper" > wrote in message
...
> On 28 Nov 2004 03:46:30 -0800, (Andrew
> Thomas) wrote:
>
> >"GRL" > wrote in message
>...
> >> Let's be serious. There are things BMW can do, and there are things
they
> >> can't.
> >>
> >...
> >
> >> They cannot build and sell a sedan in the mid- $20K range
> >> that people will buy.
> >
> >BMW is quite capable of doing that (although with the US dollar at
> >record lows, $25,000 might be a bit tight these days). The problem is
> >at this price level the car would have a smaller engine and less
> >grunt, and American consumers don't like anything less than 200 bhp (I
> >guess they need it for all those derestricted interstates ).
> >
> >> They can't bring themselves to sell a diesel in the
> >> U.S.
> >
> >Yup. It's partly an image thing (remarkable, really, the differences
> >across the pond - BMW's image on this side has if anything been
> >improved by the good standing of its diesel models), but also diesel
> >grade. Apparently BMW is waiting for lower sulphur levels to be
> >mandated in the diesel available at North American pumps; then it will
> >likely bring in its SUVs with one or two diesel engines (which are far
> >better suited to this application than the petrols).
>
> They may also be waiting for state legislation to ease enough to actually
sell
> diesel *cars* in the USA. I don't believe CA and MA, for two, make it easy
if
> even possible to sell diesel automobiles (as opposed to trucks)...