Saturday, September 15, 2007
Another brief rant about the American automotive market
First, I want you all to bear in mind that I want to be a "green" auto owner the next time I buy a car, preferably something full electric or a gasoline-last hybrid (as opposed to the current crop of gas-above-40mph [which is okay but not as numerous as it should be] and stupid electric-only-when-stationary models on the road now). But here are two petroleum or diesel vehicles that I'd like to see more of:
<- The Nissan Micra, also known as the March. It's been in production since the 1980s, can be found in Canada and is a staple in the UK, and gets around 35 miles per gallon. [Wikipedia] [nissan.co.uk] (down right now) [TV ad]
The Škoda Fabia, which is now a part of the Volkswagen Group. It's been in production since the 1990's (and the company itself has been producing cars for over a hundred years), can be found in Central America and all over Europe, and gets between 45 and 65 miles per gallon. [Wikipedia] [skoda-auto.com] [TV ad] ->
So my question... Why the hell aren't these vehicles offered in the United States?! If there's any place in the world that needs fuel-efficient vehicles, it's here. So why aren't they here? Why does America seem to be the only place where personal cars which get less than 20 miles to the gallon (8.5 km/l, or 11.76 l/100km as is the popular measure in Europe) are hyped?
<- The Nissan Micra, also known as the March. It's been in production since the 1980s, can be found in Canada and is a staple in the UK, and gets around 35 miles per gallon. [Wikipedia] [nissan.co.uk] (down right now) [TV ad]
The Škoda Fabia, which is now a part of the Volkswagen Group. It's been in production since the 1990's (and the company itself has been producing cars for over a hundred years), can be found in Central America and all over Europe, and gets between 45 and 65 miles per gallon. [Wikipedia] [skoda-auto.com] [TV ad] ->So my question... Why the hell aren't these vehicles offered in the United States?! If there's any place in the world that needs fuel-efficient vehicles, it's here. So why aren't they here? Why does America seem to be the only place where personal cars which get less than 20 miles to the gallon (8.5 km/l, or 11.76 l/100km as is the popular measure in Europe) are hyped?
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I like the look of the Smart Car, a little small for a family of four, but for $12,000 and 40 miles per gallon, I'm tempted to squeeze everyone in. ;)
Oh hell yeah. I wrote about the Smart Car here:
Rules are made to be broken. -Smart tagline
I don't know if I'd want to take the family of four out in it but for sure it's great for commutes and highway adventures for two. :)
Rules are made to be broken. -Smart tagline
I don't know if I'd want to take the family of four out in it but for sure it's great for commutes and highway adventures for two. :)
That pink car is CUTE!!!!
I dunno why those cars aren't in the US. It would be nice to have the option.
I dunno why those cars aren't in the US. It would be nice to have the option.
as long as they keep finding new nooks and crannies from which to extract oil (my father's retirement plan currently features oil shale), there's no reason for the US to change.
Let the rest of the world beta-test this stuff. And then when it's perfected, we'll still ignore it because we don't go in for those stupid-looking economies.
Let the rest of the world beta-test this stuff. And then when it's perfected, we'll still ignore it because we don't go in for those stupid-looking economies.
If only I had the power to slap silly any advertiser who uses a number lower than thirty when referring to highway gas mileage with any synonym for "fuel efficient"... I'd break my wrists halfway through the process. Then I'd have to switch to kicking the shit out of any advertiser that equates fuel economy (real or imaginary) with an excuse to drive more.
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