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IanC
Heavy Crude
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Joined: Jun 05, 2005
Posts: 363
Location: Portland Oregon, USA
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 Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:51 am Post subject: Importing Efficient European cars |
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I read recently that the European equivalent of CAFE standards currently stands at 40 mpg and will soon increase to 44 mpg. This is about 16-20mpg higher than CAFE standards in the US.
Europe must make a lot of cars that are small, efficient, but still cool (ie. NOT the Ford Focus).
Does anyone have any experience with trying to import one of these small cars? How much would shipping cost? Are there any established brokers? Is it worth the hassle?
Thanks in advance!
-IanC |
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Gerben
Heavy Crude
Joined: Mar 07, 2007
Posts: 385
Location: Holland, Belgica Foederata (Republic of the Seven United Netherlands)
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:21 am Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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Plz. keep your hands of our cars. We want them ourselves. You have your SUVs. 
And a Ford Focus isn't small. |
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Toyota
Coal
Joined: Jun 26, 2008
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:00 pm Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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Toyota is you friend 
Prius ore maybe Yaris  |
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emersonbiggins
Moderator
Joined: Jul 10, 2005
Posts: 5169
Location: Dallas
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:01 pm Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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/Peugeot FTW!
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"It's called the American Dream because you'd have to be asleep to believe it."
George Carlin |
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IanC
Heavy Crude
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Joined: Jun 05, 2005
Posts: 363
Location: Portland Oregon, USA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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Thanks, Emerson - that's what I'm talking about. Cool, dignified cars that get good milage. Does anyone really think GM has the brains to make cars like this?
I've considered a Fit or a Versa, but I just want to explore my options...okay, yeah, and have a unique car.
-IanC |
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GASMON
Intermediate Crude
Joined: Mar 29, 2008
Posts: 814
Location: England
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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| IanC wrote: | | Cool, dignified cars that get good milage. Does anyone really think GM has the brains to make cars like this? |
GM in England are named Vauxhall.
This is the GM / Vauxhall Astra coupe. Lovely car.
How come not availiable state-side ?.
Gasmon
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misterno
Heavy Crude
Joined: Mar 07, 2007
Posts: 309
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:22 pm Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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Below are the most owned cars in Turkey
Hyundai Getz
Hyundai accent
Fiat Uno
Honda Jazz (fit)
Opel Corsa
Ford Focus
Ford Escort
Dacia
Lada
Citroen
Peugeot
various Chinese Brands
Skoda
Renault
variuos Indian mades
They all have small engines like 1.0 - 1.3 and all stick shift and as a result they achieve around 40mpg.
Of course none of these cars can pass the crash tests in the US and that is why none of these cars are sold in the US.
6 years ago I happened to sit on the front hood (where the engine is located) of a Skoda (made in Czech rep but very popular in Turkey), I think we were chatting with friends on a vacation resort. All of a sudden I felt like I was crushing the metal. I immediately stood up and realized that the metal curved back to its original shape. People were laughing at me because it was nothing to be concerned.
The metal of the car is soo light, it is unbelievable, and no way it can pass the crash test in the US. Same story applies to most cars in Turkey. I heard cars made in China are worse and now selling in Turkey like hot cakes.
Literally, if you smack the door with all your power, you can damage the doors or front side easily. Imagine what happens in an accident. |
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newbonic
Tar Sands
Joined: May 17, 2008
Posts: 53
Location: UK, Yorkshire
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:57 pm Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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| misterno wrote: | Below are the most owned cars in Turkey
They all have small engines like 1.0 - 1.3 and all stick shift and as a result they achieve around 40mpg.
Of course none of these cars can pass the crash tests in the US and that is why none of these cars are sold in the US.
6 years ago I happened to sit on the front hood (where the engine is located) of a Skoda (made in Czech rep but very popular in Turkey), I think we were chatting with friends on a vacation resort. All of a sudden I felt like I was crushing the metal. I immediately stood up and realized that the metal curved back to its original shape. People were laughing at me because it was nothing to be concerned.
The metal of the car is soo light, it is unbelievable, and no way it can pass the crash test in the US. Same story applies to most cars in Turkey. I heard cars made in China are worse and now selling in Turkey like hot cakes.
Literally, if you smack the door with all your power, you can damage the doors or front side easily. Imagine what happens in an accident. |
Turkey, of course is mostly not in Europe (and is 100% not in the EU).
The Skoda your butt crushed may have been one of the pre VAG (VW Audi group) models? The ones I've seen are as solid as any of the VW models they are based on.
If you want to know the details of the EU crash test standards (similar to US ones I believe) then visit Euro ncap tests.
Most EU cars are gear shift though; much more fuel efficient, but the average engine size for cars like the Focus is 1.6-1.8 litre, and larger engine sizes are available/common,on many of the others in your list. |
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heroineworshipper
Intermediate Crude
Joined: Jul 14, 2006
Posts: 723
Location: Calif*
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| Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:47 pm Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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Europeans R loaded. U don't want to have to feed those BMW 599's they race around the autobahn in at 200mph. Stick to your hamster mobiles.
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There will be enslavement, cannibalism, & zombie invasions. |
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graham
Tar Sands
Joined: Jun 20, 2008
Posts: 53
Location: U.K.
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 5:25 am Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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| GASMON wrote: | | IanC wrote: | | Cool, dignified cars that get good milage. Does anyone really think GM has the brains to make cars like this? |
GM in England are named Vauxhall.
This is the GM / Vauxhall Astra coupe. Lovely car.
How come not availiable state-side ?.
Gasmon |
Isn't it called the Saturn Astra in the states? |
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misterno
Heavy Crude
Joined: Mar 07, 2007
Posts: 309
Location: Houston, TX
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| Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 7:55 am Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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All I am saying is there is no way a car can have high MPG and pass the US crash tests. This is impposible
That is why there is only 2 cars in the US that has smaller engines than 1.6 (1600cc)/ One is Honda Fit 1500cc and the other is Mercedes Smart Car 1000cc
No idea how these two passed the crash tests with that light body. It does not make sense to me. |
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graham
Tar Sands
Joined: Jun 20, 2008
Posts: 53
Location: U.K.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 6:26 am Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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| Don't U.S. cars have huge engines (3 litre v6 and up), yet only have low horsepower figures equivalent to european cars - usually around 200bhp? |
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The_Toecutter
Light Sweet Crude
Joined: Jun 18, 2005
Posts: 1736
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 12:32 pm Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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| Quote: | | All I am saying is there is no way a car can have high MPG and pass the US crash tests. This is impposible |
Research the PNGV cars developed during the 1990s. 80 mpg midsize cars that accelerate like the ones today and meet all crash standards, and have a cost penalty similar to that of today's hybrids, is more than doable.
The will among the automakers just isn't there.
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lper100km
Heavy Crude
Joined: Jun 05, 2006
Posts: 236
Location: Over the tracks, left under the overpass, right, third boxcar on the left, ask for Jack
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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| misterno wrote: | All I am saying is there is no way a car can have high MPG and pass the US crash tests. This is impposible
That is why there is only 2 cars in the US that has smaller engines than 1.6 (1600cc)/ One is Honda Fit 1500cc and the other is Mercedes Smart Car 1000cc
No idea how these two passed the crash tests with that light body. It does not make sense to me. |
Reduce hiway speeds to 50 mph and the crash tests go away. |
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cube
Fusion
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Joined: Mar 12, 2005
Posts: 3776
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| Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject: Re: Importing Efficient European cars |
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| misterno wrote: | All I am saying is there is no way a car can have high MPG and pass the US crash tests. This is impposible
That is why there is only 2 cars in the US that has smaller engines than 1.6 (1600cc)/ One is Honda Fit 1500cc and the other is Mercedes Smart Car 1000cc
No idea how these two passed the crash tests with that light body. It does not make sense to me. |
wow I think you've just contradicted yourself!
In your first sentence you said a high MPG can NOT pass US crash tests.
and then...
In you last sentence you mentioned the smart car.
Perhaps there is more to crash standards then vehicle weight? |
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