Why does the government not permit the tiny cars you see overseas (question gas related)???

[Amused]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: episodic
Why can't we buy the tiny little cars you see overseas and even in Canada here in the USA?

If the reason is for 'crash' safety - then what about motorcycles?

Why do we allow motorcycles at all if we can't drive in a small car?

I'd rather take my chances and save some serious change - honestly. I'd be just as screwed on a motorcycle as I would in a tiny car getting hit. Why is one legal and the other not?

Topic Title: Why does the government not permit the tiny cars you see overseas (question gas related)???

New here? Welcome to the corrupt U.S.

If you're going to say stuff like that, back it up. Please, explain how corruption is keeping small cars out of the US.

i think we've just had a drive-by

I PMed him a link to the thread, no luck. Ah well, we know he has no credibility, he knows he has no credibility, but it's fun to feed the trolls every once in a while.

I was not home for a while, nice try though.

Kept out by many reasons, mostly by the big three and the U.S. Govt.

Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan et al have paid off the required Corporate Execs and Politicians both on Capitol Hill and State level as well.

Cherry Motors (Chineese built cars) has been working hard to land in the U.S. but have not been able to pay off enough of the establishment in the U.S. yet.

Same deal with Smart Cars.

Here is the actual letter when I inquired about opening a Smart Car Dealership shortly after I saw the car in the Davinci code:

Dear David:

Thank you for your recent dealer inquiry regarding smart vehicles. We appreciate your interest in the smart brand.

At the present time, market and dealer selection criteria have not been determined. We will include your information in our dealer inquiry database.

Thank you again and best regards.

Roger S. Penske
Chairman
UnitedAuto Group, Inc.

Dave, look in the mirror repeat after me:

"My miserable failure in life is not due to a conspiracy of the rich, republicans or any other outside entity, but by my own blatant ignorance and inability to take responsibility for my own actions and failures."

You have not one single shred of evidence to back up ANY of your conspiracy claims. What's more, history proves you wrong. The facts are this: Super sub compacts are not sold in the US because there is not nearly a large enough market for them. And it's not for lack of trying... because they have tried and abject failures like Le Car and Yugo have made the public even more weary of them.

That's it. No conspiracy, no master plan and no "man" trying to keep your pathetically stupid ass down. Americans want size and power. Super sub-compacts offer neither of these selling points. Hell, look at ANY car thread on AT. All the posters are horse power whores looking at little else but horse power and 0-60 times.

Wake up Dave. There is still time. You will remain a miserable, bitter failure as long as you keep blaming everything on these unseen conspirators... the very same conditions most racists suffer from: It's called scapegoating to cover for your own shortcomings. But instead of blaming other races for your failures, you blame these unseen conspirators.

 

[JS80]

1) Death
2) No (low) demand

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Amused
The facts are this: Super sub compacts are not sold in the US because there is not nearly a large enough market for them.

I think the market is growing... with gas prices not showing any signs of dropping back to what they used to be. I think if cars like the Fit are successful here, we'll start to see even smaller cars.

 

[thescreensavers]

The main reason why is b/c those small cars are to small. Imaging a infinity Qx56 hitting that thing at 50MPH there would probably be death or serious injury in the small car

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Amused
The facts are this: Super sub compacts are not sold in the US because there is not nearly a large enough market for them.

I think the market is growing... with gas prices not showing any signs of dropping back to what they used to be. I think if cars like the Fit are successful here, we'll start to see even smaller cars.

Oh, no doubt. But car makers take at least two market cycles to catch up to such new demands. Not to mention there is a lot of red tape involved in bring new cars to the US. (And no, it's not a right wing conspiracy, but rather a left wing environmental and safety conspiracy). It takes time for any industry to respond.

And like I said, after the abject failure of sub compacts of the late 70s gas crunch (and perpetual jokes they became), both the public and auto makers are very weary of them.

 

[Aquaman]

I don't think they would give anyone except exisiting "Chrysler/Mercedes" dealerships. In Canada the Smart car is sold out of Mercedes dealerships......... granted we only have one model...... so maybe that is why sincee you can't really have a dedalership that sell only one model.

If they bring the full Smart car line up to the USA........ I can see dealerships. But I think the exisiting dealers would get first bite at the apple.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[knightc2]

There are likely many reasons why these cars have not shown up here in the US.

1) Demand is not great. Sure there is a market for ultracompact cars, but it is low compared to other types of vehicles. Look at all the SUVs, trucks and minivans out there. As gas prices go up, you'll likely see more of these on the road.
2) Safety and emission standards could also be reasons. If company X wants to sell and market their cars in the US they'll have to meet US safety and emission standards. This would cost money and since the market is not going gangbusters why would company X risk all that money? Wait another year and maybe we'll see more of a market open up.
3) Cost and profit margin. An ultracompact car is going to sell for a low price. This means that profit margins won't be as high as they are on a luxury SUV. Unless you can sell a ton of these it is more lucrative to sell your bigger margin vehicles.

Anyway, that's my theory.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: DainBramaged

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: episodic
Why can't we buy the tiny little cars you see overseas and even in Canada here in the USA?

If the reason is for 'crash' safety - then what about motorcycles?

Why do we allow motorcycles at all if we can't drive in a small car?

I'd rather take my chances and save some serious change - honestly. I'd be just as screwed on a motorcycle as I would in a tiny car getting hit. Why is one legal and the other not?

In Canada we can import them......... they just have to be 15 years old

Cheers,
Aquaman

Who cares about canada.

Hey...... when the USA runs out of stuff like water & oil......... you'll care

Cheers,
Aquaman

Running out of oil I've heard.

Running out of WATER? What school of FUD did you steal that from?

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: aswedc
Uh, I don't think they're not allowed. We don't want to buy them.

Thats exactly what I was thinking.

Although to answer the original question, ALL cars have to be approves and that takes time. Some auto companies dont care to jump through all the hoops to get their models sold here. They feel its just not worht the effort.

Same thing with guns in california. Theres a crap-load of models that could be sold there, but the manufacturers dont want to go through the approval process. Kel-Tec is one I think.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: DainBramaged

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: episodic
Why can't we buy the tiny little cars you see overseas and even in Canada here in the USA?

If the reason is for 'crash' safety - then what about motorcycles?

Why do we allow motorcycles at all if we can't drive in a small car?

I'd rather take my chances and save some serious change - honestly. I'd be just as screwed on a motorcycle as I would in a tiny car getting hit. Why is one legal and the other not?

In Canada we can import them......... they just have to be 15 years old

Cheers,
Aquaman

Who cares about canada.

Hey...... when the USA runs out of stuff like water & oil......... you'll care

Cheers,
Aquaman

Running out of oil I've heard.

Running out of WATER? What school of FUD did you steal that from?

Hey ...... Canada has 25% of all the worlds fresh water............ people in the US want to import our water......... so obviously there is a demand. Over 80% of water used in the USA is for Agriculture & Industry........... you guys want to expand you food production & Industry......... you gonna need more water.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Aquaman]

That is unless you guys want to build and operate desalinaztion plants to get your fresh water.

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Tobolo]

we have higer saftey regulations in America

 

[knightc2]

I'll just walk over to Lake Michigan and fill up the ole water bottle...Why are we talking about water here?

 

[Evadman]

the cars don't meet the current safety standards. Motercycles do. Apparently you can kill yourself just fine on a motorcycle, but the government doesn't want you killing yourself in a small car.

 

[episodic]

Originally posted by: thescreensavers
The main reason why is b/c those small cars are to small. Imaging a infinity Qx56 hitting that thing at 50MPH there would probably be death or serious injury in the small car

Imagine a Qx56 hitting a motorcycle at 50MPH. There WOULD be a death. . .

Again - why are motorcycles legal - but small ultracompact cars have been legislated away?

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: episodic
Again - why are motorcycles legal - but small ultracompact cars have been legislated away?

Because the american public as a whole doesn't vote idiots out of congress, and congress is trying to legislate everything, including the permissible ways to kill yourself.

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Evadman
Because the american public as a whole doesn't vote idiots out of congress, and congress is trying to legislate everything, including the permissible ways to kill yourself.

That seems to be the general problem with everything in america today.
I think I know why you're an elite.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Amused
The facts are this: Super sub compacts are not sold in the US because there is not nearly a large enough market for them.

I think the market is growing... with gas prices not showing any signs of dropping back to what they used to be. I think if cars like the Fit are successful here, we'll start to see even smaller cars.

Originally posted by: Amused

you blame these unseen conspirators.

No you won't because of "unseen conspirators", just ask Amused.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: episodic
Why can't we buy the tiny little cars you see overseas and even in Canada here in the USA?

If the reason is for 'crash' safety - then what about motorcycles?

Why do we allow motorcycles at all if we can't drive in a small car?

I'd rather take my chances and save some serious change - honestly. I'd be just as screwed on a motorcycle as I would in a tiny car getting hit. Why is one legal and the other not?

In Canada we can import them......... they just have to be 15 years old

Cheers,
Aquaman

I'd buy this one:
http://www.japanoid.com/cardata.php?carNo=28

Oh, I would totally drive that...that interior is too cool

Minus the automatic, of course ...and who are they fooling with those "rear seats?"

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: episodic
Why can't we buy the tiny little cars you see overseas and even in Canada here in the USA?

If the reason is for 'crash' safety - then what about motorcycles?

Why do we allow motorcycles at all if we can't drive in a small car?

I'd rather take my chances and save some serious change - honestly. I'd be just as screwed on a motorcycle as I would in a tiny car getting hit. Why is one legal and the other not?

In Canada we can import them......... they just have to be 15 years old

Cheers,
Aquaman

I'd buy this one:
http://www.japanoid.com/cardata.php?carNo=28

When I saw that Nissan, I thought of this

Honda S600

And that found a really cool pic gallery at that site while I was looking.

Microcars

Edit - I forgot, Datsun (now Nissan) had a car about the same size. The girl who drove it was hot (no pics - it was the 80's and she always wore form fitting shorts to the dance clubs). Pic and notes on Datsun 2000