Screw America?
- Thread starter zx2man
- Start date
oaklandopen
Member
because not all of the heavy-ass car with a big v8 ppl have died yet in this country. get those boomers outa here and you'll be happy
Ford left the Probe GT under powered for the same reason so as not to show up the Stang. The KLDE US version was 165 HP and the KLZE J-spec was 200 HP.
I miss my probe. Only the SE but it was my first car ever and I loved it.
Oh and **** mustangs... seriously... except the classics they are nice.
Yeah When I test drove cars, clearly i thought th ms3 was the creme de la creme, but I didn't even look at any american cars. They had nothing that even came close the the MS3.
And I don't want to hear "Well actually the srt 4...." blah blah blah. **** that car too.
what about the 2008+ cobalt ss? turbo'd ones?
Thats true Dimitrios.......But discussing our wants and needs as a american car enthusiast to bring attention from the Japanese and European markets along with the American ones too, "might" help in bringing some really nice rides into this country...prabaly not..but doesnt hurt.
*edit*
Someone mentioned the Focus RS500...yeah..umm..It is pretty hot!
http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/29/...onto-the-internet-ahead-of-schedule/#comments
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BillTheCat
Member
- :
- 2009 Mazdaspeed3 Sport
Fact is, sport compact cars have always been a niche market in the US. Probably always will be. Americans' mindset does not associate small with sporty. We either want huge V8 powered land yachts with floaty suspension, 12 cupholders, 4 DVD screens, an espresso dispenser in each armrest, and a turret mounted missile launcher on the roof, or we want a matchbox that gets 63.2 mpg in the city.
This is partially due to the difference in our city layouts. Remember, European and Asian cities were largely designed before the advent of the automobile. A large percentage of their urban roadways are far too narrow for the aircraft carriers we commonly drive here. So European and Asian car culture has never embraced the oversized, straight-line speed machine. They need small & nimble, for practical purposes. And since their cars have always been small & nimble compared to ours, they have a far less myopic view of small cars- they accept that small cars can be fun & performance oriented, and often demand as much.
Here in this country, where we would rather blast a mountain flat than build a road along its curves, and our interstates often stretch for hundreds of miles with oversized lanes & barely a gentle sweeping curve, the average American sees no need for a small, nimble, sporty car.
We who appreciate these cars are certainly a devoted bunch, but we are small in number compared to the general population. So as a corporate entity whose mission is to profit, you cater to the largest demographic, and that demographic wants a Star Destroyer, not an X-Wing.
This is partially due to the difference in our city layouts. Remember, European and Asian cities were largely designed before the advent of the automobile. A large percentage of their urban roadways are far too narrow for the aircraft carriers we commonly drive here. So European and Asian car culture has never embraced the oversized, straight-line speed machine. They need small & nimble, for practical purposes. And since their cars have always been small & nimble compared to ours, they have a far less myopic view of small cars- they accept that small cars can be fun & performance oriented, and often demand as much.
Here in this country, where we would rather blast a mountain flat than build a road along its curves, and our interstates often stretch for hundreds of miles with oversized lanes & barely a gentle sweeping curve, the average American sees no need for a small, nimble, sporty car.
We who appreciate these cars are certainly a devoted bunch, but we are small in number compared to the general population. So as a corporate entity whose mission is to profit, you cater to the largest demographic, and that demographic wants a Star Destroyer, not an X-Wing.
its also because Americans are generally selfish, and are not willing to make compromises. They need the best. This mentality has gotten us to the place where we are now. This is good and bad. People here also need to be open the idea of diesel technology. I mean for Christ's sake, (this is a pricey example, but it still works) the new BMW 335d has a twin turbo diesel that makes like 270 hp and 465 lb/ft of torque. Hello!, that is a s*** ton of power, and it still manages like 30 mpg. Also, you have the Jetta TDi. This thing is not fast, lol, but it gets like 50 mpg, and it certainly has more power than a Prius, and even though its a Jetta, its not nearly as gay a Prius.
bradboyd80
Member
- :
- '12 Velocity Red MS3
(omg) That's a badass car.
bradboyd80
Member
- :
- '12 Velocity Red MS3
There is also a focus that has great styling, is a deisel, and manages over 40mpg in Europe....but of course they won't bring it here. I seriously don't understand how Ford doesn't think bringing either Focus over here would NOT be profitable. Only bad thing I see getting in the way is emissions. I assume they would have to seriously detune the RS500 in order to pass emissions.
Yeah... and I suppose the stingrays,.... oh and don't forget this guy...
The Saleen S7. That mofo will go 0-60 faster then my nervous system can send a signal from my nuts to my brain letting me know they itch. HOT DAMN!
gogogomoveit
Member
In a nutshell, Its all about making money. Unfortunately US consumers are,in general, less well-informed and less picky about what they are buying, and years of import protectionism doesnt help much with introducing healthy levels of competitions required for continuous improvement of US-made products.
so true. European cars and Japanese cars are clearly better(for the most part), and this is probably why. Americans just don't spend enough time caring about attention to detail. The whole American idea is profit. This is why the economy is so ****** up. In Europe, they care more about the small stuff, and they don't cut corners. They are not nearly as concerned as simply making money, because not all countries are raised with the idea of competition being the main motivation.
Was reading the last few posts...all VERY GOOD points..and made me laugh too...Billthecat was on the money on how we were just kinda stubborn and want bigger and bigger...bigdaddy huge point on diesil..which is awesome..and I think the only reason why its expensive NOW,other than typical gas **** market..is the war going on in middle east..supply n demand..but yeah..diesil makes mad power..alot of good comments, and I agree..we as a country are just narrow minded and not open to change or takes a while to change us...BillTheCat just cracked me the heck up..driving our aircraft carriers with expresso machines...lol awesome!
It drives me nuts that every time a company that isn't German says they are going to bring over a diesel car, they lose their balls and turn into a seeping vagina before it ever happens.
Until we get a Honda diesel, oil burners will never, ever take off in this country. It has to be Honda, a big-volume seller. The domestic brands are not going to do it ever; at least they won't be first. I know Mazda is "strongly considering" bringing over the diesel 2, but just wait and see it not happen. "We don't really see a market, blah blah seeping vagina..." Nobody sees a market, but for some reason VW never has a problem moving TDI's off the lot. If the 2 does make it here as a diesel, it'll still be a niche car because Mazda doesn't move the volume that Honda does. Maybe it'll produce a diesel-powered Fit to retaliate. Maybe.
Toyota will never do it because their "63.2 mpg matchbox" is the current fad with the "go green" crowd. Those idiots would s*** if they went by their nearest VW dealer and drove a Golf TDI, and saw that they could have their cake (mileage) and eat it too (stupid mad torque).
Until we get a Honda diesel, oil burners will never, ever take off in this country. It has to be Honda, a big-volume seller. The domestic brands are not going to do it ever; at least they won't be first. I know Mazda is "strongly considering" bringing over the diesel 2, but just wait and see it not happen. "We don't really see a market, blah blah seeping vagina..." Nobody sees a market, but for some reason VW never has a problem moving TDI's off the lot. If the 2 does make it here as a diesel, it'll still be a niche car because Mazda doesn't move the volume that Honda does. Maybe it'll produce a diesel-powered Fit to retaliate. Maybe.
Toyota will never do it because their "63.2 mpg matchbox" is the current fad with the "go green" crowd. Those idiots would s*** if they went by their nearest VW dealer and drove a Golf TDI, and saw that they could have their cake (mileage) and eat it too (stupid mad torque).
RUMBLEFISH
Member
Europe pays on average about 12 bucks a gallon for gas. They may get the nice cars but they sure dont drive them as much as we do.
The ManLaw
The Manlaw of Want
- :
- 15cx5 soon 20cx9
pretty much just the chevy v8's (LS1, LT1, etc1) are the only american made thing that europeans and japanees could drool over. the number of 240sx's, rx7's, even 350x's with big ole chevy v8's are growing every day. and they will even go as far as to admit that 350hp on NA power will pown 350 of turbo power from a 4 banger. its pretty much undesputed when you look at torque charts. verdict? we need a "global" car. Japan's handling capabilities, american v8, and european looks and braking parts. yeah it might not get all that great gas milage, but i think it would be the right mixture to make something that cant be disputed.
