US car options

[zpiloto]

Didn't want to get the other topic on CAFE standards to OT but why can't we get the FE car options that are avialible in Europe? I know in reality it's probably profit per car and what they believe will be lack of sales but what is the US car manufactors or government party line. Is it safety standards (and what's different) or emissions or both?


Edit:
Moderator if you need to move this to another forum feel free to.

[omgwtfbyobbq]

Taxes, aka fuel costs.

[VetteOwner]

that and since this an oil run country, less profits = bad idea....even if it is for the good of the country and the world, they dont care...

[Bill in Houston]

The automakers believe that people will not buy them. I think that they have good reason to believe that. The Echo, Tercel, Metro, etc just have not been as popular here as overseas... We (as a buying public) have much different priorities than other places, because our gas is so much cheaper and our average speeds are so much higher.

[VetteOwner]

yea i think in britan or somewhere that the ford focus is selling like mad! yet it sells like crap over here...

[kps]

Originally Posted by VetteOwner

yea i think in britan or somewhere that the ford focus is selling like mad! yet it sells like crap over here...

It's a different car. The Focus in Europe is a recent design that has received good reviews. I believe it shares a platform with the Mazda 3. In North America, Ford has chosen to continue selling the crummy old Focus.

[zpiloto]

Originally Posted by kps

It's a different car. The Focus in Europe is a recent design that has received good reviews. I believe it shares a platform with the Mazda 3. In North America, Ford has chosen to continue selling the crummy old Focus.

That's my point. We can't get the cars that they sell in Europe not even as an option. I think Matt tried with the Fit with the smaller engine and they said no dice. So why not?

[Sludgy]

The real culprits are politicians. They are addicted to gasoline taxes. Now, it's politically difficult to raise gas taxes.... BUT raising consumption is easy..... in effect, by not raising CAFE.

All I needed for proof was back in the '70's or '80's, which was the last time Massachusetts raised the gas tax. The reason cited in the news was declining demand. due to the new crop of fuel efficient cars like the K car, the Chevy Cavlier and the Escort.

I've recently read that Oregon is trying to find some way to tax hybrids. Same reason. Not enough gas tax.

So, no balls to raise gas taxes means no incetive to raise CAFE.

[zpiloto]

Originally Posted by Sludgy

The real culprits are politicians. They are addicted to gasoline taxes. Now, it's politically difficult to raise gas taxes.... BUT raising consumption is easy..... in effect, by not raising CAFE.

All I needed for proof was back in the '70's or '80's, which was the last time Massachusetts raised the gas tax. The reason cited in the news was declining demand. due to the new crop of fuel efficient cars like the K car, the Chevy Cavlier and the Escort.

I've recently read that Oregon is trying to find some way to tax hybrids. Same reason. Not enough gas tax.

So, no balls to raise gas taxes means no incetive to raise CAFE.

Very good points. Excellent

[Matt Timion]

Originally Posted by Bill in Houston

The automakers believe that people will not buy them. I think that they have good reason to believe that. The Echo, Tercel, Metro, etc just have not been as popular here as overseas... We (as a buying public) have much different priorities than other places, because our gas is so much cheaper and our average speeds are so much higher.

This is it exactly.

[rant]
As I've mentioned before, Honda won't even sell the 1.3L version of the Fit in America. You KNOOOOW that it gets better fuel economy. Instead of offering that as an option, Honda splits hairs about weight and safety features.

C'mon Honda! I'm certain you could sell a decent number of them here in the states.

It's all about perceived wants. I bet that no one ever thought that the Prius would be as popular as it is, yet it's selling like crazy. Fuel economy is obviously important to enough people for it to matter.

[/rant]

Oh, and some of the smaller European/Asian cars don't meet the US safety standards, nor do they meet the emissions regulations.

But then vehicles like the Hummer are except from emissions regulations due to their size.