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Europe Loves The Mustang



 
 
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  #11  
Old June 16th 05, 03:51 PM
Joel Jacobs
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"the guvnor" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 22:54:12 +1000, Kenshlock de la Fehrêtte
> <slapsableschubbyface@forever> wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 12:40:41 GMT, the guvnor
> wrote:
>>
>>>On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 07:34:51 -0500, "Joel Jacobs" >
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>> Ever wondered why so few American built cars are sold around the
>>>>> world?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Well, SIZE is one reason. Not offering right hand drive in many models
>>>>is
>>>>another. And those awful, bloody, import and engine-size taxes are a
>>>>killer.
>>>
>>>10% import duty??

>>
>>Those socialist amerikaners have a funny slant on things, don't they.

>
> Note how Europeans are free to import any car (not that anyone does)
> but Americans cannot import any car they choose...


Who the hell in his/her right mind would import most US cars into Europe?
I've lived in Europe off an on for the past 25 years, so you "ain't" talking
with the "average" Yank.

There are many Euro cars we don't import here into the US. Getting spares
for a Renault, TVR, Peugeot, even Fiats do not make it sensible to do so.
And then, finding a tech to work on them is another story entirely as well.

In Europe I found ONE guy who could do the diagnostics on a Corvette while
living in Southern Italy and he had the equipment to work on them because he
owned both a ZR-1, and a convertible.


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  #12  
Old June 16th 05, 03:59 PM
the guvnor
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Posts: n/a
Default

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 09:51:32 -0500, "Joel Jacobs" >
wrote:

>>>>10% import duty??
>>>
>>>Those socialist amerikaners have a funny slant on things, don't they.

>>
>> Note how Europeans are free to import any car (not that anyone does)
>> but Americans cannot import any car they choose...

>
>Who the hell in his/her right mind would import most US cars into Europe?


It's a choice thing.

>I've lived in Europe off an on for the past 25 years, so you "ain't" talking
>with the "average" Yank.


Fair enough.

>There are many Euro cars we don't import here into the US. Getting spares
>for a Renault, TVR, Peugeot, even Fiats do not make it sensible to do so.
>And then, finding a tech to work on them is another story entirely as well.


The differance is that you *can't* import them, at least not for road
use.

>In Europe I found ONE guy who could do the diagnostics on a Corvette while
>living in Southern Italy and he had the equipment to work on them because he
>owned both a ZR-1, and a convertible.


People in Europe have long forggoten how pushrod engines work?

  #13  
Old June 16th 05, 05:14 PM
Joel Jacobs
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Posts: n/a
Default


"the guvnor" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 09:51:32 -0500, "Joel Jacobs" >
> wrote:
>
>>>>>10% import duty??
>>>>
>>>>Those socialist amerikaners have a funny slant on things, don't they.
>>>
>>> Note how Europeans are free to import any car (not that anyone does)
>>> but Americans cannot import any car they choose...

>>
>>Who the hell in his/her right mind would import most US cars into Europe?

>
> It's a choice thing.
>
>>I've lived in Europe off an on for the past 25 years, so you "ain't"
>>talking
>>with the "average" Yank.

>
> Fair enough.
>
>>There are many Euro cars we don't import here into the US. Getting spares
>>for a Renault, TVR, Peugeot, even Fiats do not make it sensible to do so.
>>And then, finding a tech to work on them is another story entirely as
>>well.

>
> The differance is that you *can't* import them, at least not for road
> use.
>
>>In Europe I found ONE guy who could do the diagnostics on a Corvette while
>>living in Southern Italy and he had the equipment to work on them because
>>he
>>owned both a ZR-1, and a convertible.

>
> People in Europe have long forggoten how pushrod engines work?


If this weren't so silly it would be laughable.

Multi-overhead camshaft cars have inherent problems as well, so it's a
matter of choice and construction. Each has some inherent problems, each has
some distinct advantages. One advantage of a push-rod engine is getting
very high performance for a very low cost.

I've owned Jags, MGs, MBs, BMWs, Porsches, Audis, Minis, etc. so I'm
familiar with both systems.

My lanky old push-rod-driven C4 Corvette with 124,000 miles on the clock
will still nudge the 165 mph mark, cut 0-60 in 5.2 seconds, and gives me
better than 25mpg cruising at 75mph with the AC on. And everything on the
car works! which is far more than one can say about the normal British cars.

UK build quality has a horrid reputation here in the US, has had for years -
and the reputation was/is well deserved. Even those of us who loved your
cars grew to detest them because of the faulty carbs, electricals, and poor
workmanship. I'm very much a fan of the UK, having spent a great deal of
time there for both business and pleasure. And, to be sure you have some
cars that I still love. Do us all a favor, don't be an ass and alienate
those of us who are fond of both you and your country, as well as your
cars - faults and all.




  #14  
Old June 16th 05, 05:28 PM
Larry J.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
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Waiving the right to remain silent, the guvnor
> said:

> Ever wondered why so few American built cars are sold around the
> world?


Because you double the price with import taxes. Yurop has never
played fair with auto imports from the US.

--
Larry J. - Remove spamtrap in ALLCAPS to e-mail

The United States is the greatest country in the world..!
Twenty-five million illegal aliens can't be wrong.
  #15  
Old June 16th 05, 07:07 PM
the guvnor
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On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 16:28:32 GMT, "Larry J."
> wrote:

>Waiving the right to remain silent, the guvnor
> said:
>
>> Ever wondered why so few American built cars are sold around the
>> world?

>
>Because you double the price with import taxes.


Import duty is 10%

>Yurop has never played fair with auto imports from the US.


Note how the US car market is closed to true competition due to your
fedralisation rules.


  #16  
Old June 16th 05, 07:24 PM
Joel Jacobs
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Default


"the guvnor" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 16:28:32 GMT, "Larry J."
> > wrote:
>
>>Waiving the right to remain silent, the guvnor
> said:
>>
>>> Ever wondered why so few American built cars are sold around the
>>> world?

>>
>>Because you double the price with import taxes.

>
> Import duty is 10%
>
>>Yurop has never played fair with auto imports from the US.

>
> Note how the US car market is closed to true competition due to your
> fedralisation rules.
>


Improve your friggin' build quality on cars other than the Rolls, and
Americans might well buy your cars - IF you build them to world standards of
crash worthiness. I loved Rover, but Rovers - other than the old Land
Rovers - were pieces of crap. AND, your cars are expensive! Parts were
expensive, a decent mechanic was hardly ever to be found.

I don't think you realize just how large this country is. All the countries
of the UK are smaller than the single state of Oregon.




  #17  
Old June 16th 05, 08:09 PM
the guvnor
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 13:24:31 -0500, "Joel Jacobs" >
wrote:

>>>Yurop has never played fair with auto imports from the US.

>>
>> Note how the US car market is closed to true competition due to your
>> fedralisation rules.
>>

>
>Improve your friggin' build quality on cars other than the Rolls, and
>Americans might well buy your cars - IF you build them to world standards of
>crash worthiness. I loved Rover, but Rovers - other than the old Land
>Rovers - were pieces of crap. AND, your cars are expensive! Parts were
>expensive, a decent mechanic was hardly ever to be found.


An American crying about car build quality???

>I don't think you realize just how large this country is.


Smaller than Russia, Canada and China.

Note how you never hear people from those larger countries banging on
about how big they are...

>All the countries of the UK are smaller than the single state of Oregon.


So what?
  #18  
Old June 16th 05, 10:34 PM
Joel Jacobs
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"the guvnor" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 13:24:31 -0500, "Joel Jacobs" >
> wrote:
>
>>>>Yurop has never played fair with auto imports from the US.
>>>
>>> Note how the US car market is closed to true competition due to your
>>> fedralisation rules.
>>>

>>
>>Improve your friggin' build quality on cars other than the Rolls, and
>>Americans might well buy your cars - IF you build them to world standards
>>of
>>crash worthiness. I loved Rover, but Rovers - other than the old Land
>>Rovers - were pieces of crap. AND, your cars are expensive! Parts were
>>expensive, a decent mechanic was hardly ever to be found.

>
> An American crying about car build quality???
>
>>I don't think you realize just how large this country is.

>
> Smaller than Russia, Canada and China.
>
> Note how you never hear people from those larger countries banging on
> about how big they are...
>
>>All the countries of the UK are smaller than the single state of Oregon.

>
> So what?


I actually thought we might make some headway. As I said earlier, I'm one
of the guys that LIKES you guys.

I don't know your age, so it may well be that you don't remember how horrid
the build quality of British motorcars was back in the 1960s and 1970s.
Unfortunately the people my age do remember how bad those cars were - the
same was true of French and most Italian cars - and as such people have
shunned, in many ways, the purchase of European cars other than the German
cars which held up to long-distance driving - and cars that went fast. And
back in those days few Americans could actually afford a Jag and certainly
could not afford a machine such as an Aston Martin.

Most of the small underpowered cars that were shipped over here by most
European builders were ill-suited to American use. It's not uncommon for an
American to climb into an automobile and take a multi-thousand mile trip -
THAT's why I mention the size of the United States vs. the United Kingdom.

I bought another Corvette 3 years ago. I purchased it in California - I live
in Texas - flew out, got the car and drove it home via Colorado - that's
more than 2,400 miles. I put new shocks on it, repaired the radio antenna
(the car was used) and promptly took a 7,000 mile trip around the United
States. American cars do this easily. They're large enough for comfort.
Economical enough to warrant a trip such as that, and manage the trip with
aplomb.

In July I'm leaving the Dallas area driving to visit friends in Tennessee,
West Virginia, Virginia, and New York, a trip of more than 4,000 miles.
This will be my 5th such trip - in excess of 2,000 miles per trip.

American build quality used to be almost as bad as British build quality,
but the Japanese spanked us so thoroughly that we had no choice but to begin
building better cars, and we do. Those American cars are ill-suited for use
in the UK for the reasons stated earlier.

I drove Porsches and BMWs for years, but when I moved back to the United
States and small-town America (70 miles from the nearest BMW or Porsche
parts and diagnostics centers) I went back to driving something I could get
repaired here - population 9,500. For a performance two-seater the obvious
choice was Corvette. I can get a Corvette repaired at any of the 4,500+
Chevy dealers in towns scattered across America.

Joel


  #19  
Old June 16th 05, 10:36 PM
Tom in Missouri
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I normally avoid these ****ing contests, but the fact remains that Americans
buy cars normally that they can drive wherever they feel like going, which
may be to the corner store or 3000 miles away.

Unfortunately, many British cars would fail at the second. An American car
typically gets its oil changed at 5000 miles, if the owner remembers. It
will go 150,000 miles before any major work and quite often will get 200,000
miles on before it is scrapped out.

However, in my share of British cars, 5000 miles on an oil change was like
Russian roulette and usually would never make 150,000 miles. Part of that
was you traded them after a half dozen rain storms because you bought a car
to drive, not sit on the side of the road waiting for it to dry out.

Been there, done that, spent my time in Europe. Loved it, had fun, but
don't compare cars when they are built for two very different environments.



"the guvnor" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 13:24:31 -0500, "Joel Jacobs" >
> wrote:
>
> >>>Yurop has never played fair with auto imports from the US.
> >>
> >> Note how the US car market is closed to true competition due to your
> >> fedralisation rules.
> >>

> >
> >Improve your friggin' build quality on cars other than the Rolls, and
> >Americans might well buy your cars - IF you build them to world standards

of
> >crash worthiness. I loved Rover, but Rovers - other than the old Land
> >Rovers - were pieces of crap. AND, your cars are expensive! Parts were
> >expensive, a decent mechanic was hardly ever to be found.

>
> An American crying about car build quality???
>
> >I don't think you realize just how large this country is.

>
> Smaller than Russia, Canada and China.
>
> Note how you never hear people from those larger countries banging on
> about how big they are...
>
> >All the countries of the UK are smaller than the single state of Oregon.

>
> So what?



  #20  
Old June 16th 05, 11:24 PM
Tom in Missouri
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I should add that I took a 1500 mile trip once in England. Ran from East
Anglia up to Liverpool into Scotland and back down. Most people in England
could not grasp the idea, and when they did, they thought I was absolutely
nuts to attempt such a "LONG" trip over a long weekend.

Yet here in America a few years back, I frequently made trips between
Missouri and South Florida, roughly 1200 miles one way, on weekends. So my
2400 mile trips dwarf that 1500 mile trip in England. I have been known to
commute 100 miles one way to work daily.

BTW, the fine English car broke, not once, but twice. I also had a
wonderful leak of water pouring through the windscreen. It fortunately did
not stall in the rain. It waited a few weeks to do that later on the A45
east of Cambridge.

I had a roommate who had a Rover 3500. Fast car, compared to other British
cars. Yet the thing had all the quality of a '52 Plymouth. Handled about as
well.

Unlike Russia, Canada, and China, the vast majority of our people have cars
and actually drive them long distance. It isn't (and wasn't) uncommon for a
family to drive from coast to coast. Such a trip in Russia would be beyond
what most could do. Many parts of Canada does not have roads, or at least
not in some months of the year. China?


"the guvnor" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 16 Jun 2005 13:24:31 -0500, "Joel Jacobs" >
> wrote:
>
> >>>Yurop has never played fair with auto imports from the US.
> >>
> >> Note how the US car market is closed to true competition due to your
> >> fedralisation rules.
> >>

> >
> >Improve your friggin' build quality on cars other than the Rolls, and
> >Americans might well buy your cars - IF you build them to world standards

of
> >crash worthiness. I loved Rover, but Rovers - other than the old Land
> >Rovers - were pieces of crap. AND, your cars are expensive! Parts were
> >expensive, a decent mechanic was hardly ever to be found.

>
> An American crying about car build quality???
>
> >I don't think you realize just how large this country is.

>
> Smaller than Russia, Canada and China.
>
> Note how you never hear people from those larger countries banging on
> about how big they are...
>
> >All the countries of the UK are smaller than the single state of Oregon.

>
> So what?



 




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