Want Great Cars in US NOW from US Car Makers? Adopt EU Car standards NOW!

[Ioo]

All of the big 3, as well as some great cars you do not see anymore are on the road AS WE SPEAK in the UK, France and the across the rest of the EU.

The fact is if the United States would just say "If it is good enoght for Europe, it is fine in the US!" then the BIG 3 could bring to market in WEEKS not years very cool, fuel sipping cars.

The EU standards are not as high for cars as the US is, but they are really good... people do 108 MPH in a Ford Focus like car in Germany everyday...

IF YOU WANT GREAT CARS IN THE US, ALLOW CARS THAT PASS THE EU STANDARDS TO BE SHIPPED TO THE USA NOW!!!!

HUGE MONEY SAVINGS BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE CARS IN 2 MARKETS AT ONCE... US AUTO MAKERS STOPPED MAKING CARS FOR U.S. YEARS AGO

Ever see a Focus Convert? They have them in the UK
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Focus ST
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C-MAX from Ford
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Mondeo
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Chevy Matzi


Chevy Lacetti


Chevy Epica

[Ian David]

1. And...

[monktonman]

2. EU standards not as good as US?

why would I want those cars here?
So I can drive 108mph?

Or maybe I could lose my job?
I work in the industry.

Your post is dumb at best.

[Ioo]

6. They are diffrent... not the same... US Autos can make same cars in both places

At this rate, you are going to loose it anyway... because the US Auto makers only make crap... sorry to rain on your parade, but they make crap for the US Market...

Ford and GM are both doing okay in EU. Not US...

The standards in the EU are diffrent, and in the US if you do not comply with US Standards you can not sell cars here period..

so what happens... Ford and GM make money in EU and not US...

If we allowed EU cars here, them ONE Design, BOTH Markets... ONE SET OF CRASH TESTS, ONE SET OF RULES...

I am looking to save them by finding ways they can sell cars people want...

[DJ13]

9. If we allowed EU cars here...........

.......millions of Americans (you remember, the people who actually LIVE here?) would be out of good paying jobs.

Im fine with unified designs, but we need to continue manufacturing cars here in the US.

[Ioo]

11. Sure we do! How's that working out for us? IT IS NOT... One Design, Two Markets

It is that simple...

We can make them over here, and sometimes we do, and we put them on a boat and send them to the EU, because we are not allowed to sell them here.

[tammywammy]

12. No, the OP is proposing that we lower the US EPA/Safety standards

So that what they make for Europe could be sold here. They could still be manufactured here.

[monktonman]

17. Dude, I make crap 500 times a night.

I wouldnt buy a Cobalt either.
But I sure as hell enjoy the paycheck that comes with
building this shitty little car.

I'm in line for a big lay-off just before christmas.
I dont want to hear one more fucking word from any DUer
on any post telling me to suck it up.
I've got two kids and bills and bullshit, etc.
just like anyone else, so I just cant sit by
and suck it up. I've got people who depend on
that paycheck.

I'm sorry, I'm just scared and really pissed off
and not sure what I'm gonna do.
Still havent told my wife about the lay-off.
Even though its not my fault, I'm still ashamed.

[Ioo]

19. I feel for you, this would save jobs, able to make cars people would buy...

You did not design the Cobalt, so it is not your fault... If this was adopted good cars that people want to buy could be made started next week... HUGE cost savings...

[tech3149]

20. Let's stick to the facts

From the Bosh Automotive Handbook 3rd edition, ISBN 3-1-419116-x page 485

Emission limits under USA-FED and California FTP 75 test cycle

Model Year Region CO HC NOx Evaporation
g/mile g/mile g/mile g/test
1982 FED 3.41 0.41 1.0 2.0
CAL 7.0 0.41 0.4 2.0
1993 CAL 3.4 0.25 0.4 2.0
1994 FED 3.4 0.25 0.4 2.0

Emission limits in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Mexico, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland FTP 75 test cycle
CO HC NOx Evaporation
g/km g/km g/km g/test
Switzerland 2.1 0.25 0.62 2.0
Austria 2.1 0.25 0.62 2.0
Sweden 2.1 0.25 0.62 2.0
Norway 2.1 0.25 0.62 2.0
Finland 2.1 0.25 0.62 2.0
Mexico 7.0 0.7 1.4 2.0
Brazil 24.0 2.1 2.0 -
Australia 9.3 0.9 1.9 2.0
Canada 3.4 0.41 1.0 2.0
South Korea 3.4 0.41 1.0 2.0

Even considering the conversion factor of 1.609 km/Mi, emission standards of European countries are not significantly different from ours. If the US auto industry can't argue the difficulty of developing fuel-efficient vehicles without resorting to easily disproved facts, why should I believe anything they say?

[Ioo]

28. Agreed, and 2/07 they adoped more standards, Remember Kyoto, they signed it

[lapfog_1]

3. How much is the Chevy Matzi?

Price? MPG? other stats?

I'd buy one if offered here and if I find employment again.

[Ioo]

8. £7,055.00 Top of the link - 40.9 City 54.3 Highway

[LanternWaste]

4. When I lived in MX, I drove a Chevrolet Chevy...

Other than protectionist trade regulations (the major excuse being headlights of all things!), I simply can not understand why America has never signed onto the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations.

:shrug:

When I lived in MX, I drove a Chevrolet Chevy and fell in love with it. I'd be the first in line to purchase one here in the states, but alas...

[tammywammy]

5. Good luck with that

Telling the government (and since it has it's own standards, California) to lessen EPA standards and safety regulations.

LOL! :rofl:

[Ioo]

13. Not lessen... diffrent, that is the point... Cars are very safe in EU

Just not the same regs as here.

[tammywammy]

14. Safety wise, sure but there are also the EPA standards

Europe's emission standards are quite different than the US.

[Ioo]

15. You are right, They also have CARS getting 50 MPG as a norm - I am okay with that...

[flvegan]

7. They should bring some of their styling cues over here.

Presenting the Vauxhall (a GM company) Astra VXR. If this were an option here, I might have chosen it over my Mazdaspeed3.

[Ioo]

10. Why, w/ US Standards the car under the skin would have to be total redo...

NOT WORTH IT TO THEM

[flvegan]

16. Same Delta platform as the Chevy Cobalt.

Not such a reach.

[Ioo]

18. Still reqs 2 different cars to be made... One EU one US... NO COST SAVINGS

Same frame, same skin... all the lights are not the same, bumpers not the same, breaks not the same, tires, Air Bags and on and on...

the fact is they are NOT the same car, they need 2 different cars under the skin

[JVS]

21. The firebird and camaro had lots of differences, but they still saved money platform-sharing

[jakefrep]

26. I think that's called a Saturn over here.

[FarCenter]

22. Did the auto manufacturers ever switch over to metric units?

US is the only country in the world that uses "English" units.

[baldguy]

23. Bingo

I've heard loads of politicians & pundits say over & over that the auto makers have to build cars Americans want.

I say BULLSHIT!

They have to make cars that the world wants! Until that becomes their mindset, they will always fail - always, always, always.

[Xithras]

24. Not only no, but hell no.

EU standards for particulate emissions are much lower than those in the US, and are practically nonexistent when compared to a stricter standard like California's. No Euro-spec car has even a remote chance of passing the California Check 2 standard. In particular, Europes particulate emissions standards are abysmal when compared to the standards we enjoy. Higher particulate emissions have been linked to everything from higher lung cancer rates to bird dieoffs and increasing incidents of birth defects. Paris France, with a population smaller than Los Angeles and a much smaller number of cars, has smog issues that rival Los Angeles much of the time.

I will not support the economy or the auto industry at the expense of the environment. Nor would I ever again vote for any Democrat who chose to do so.

[Ioo]

27. This is not the case as of the end of this year

[jakefrep]

25. Short answer: YES! Long Answer: HELL FUCKING YES!

The regulations should be standardized between the EU and the USA.

(though I think the EU Chevys are pretty dodgy - give me the Opels & Vauxhalls instead)