I had to share this,

Infiniti is not sold in western Europe. Big deal...
Check out Nissan Ireland....
A nissan 350Z in Ireland costs 56,295 Euros. That is $69,673.00
If Infiniti were sold there, our G35 coupes would be $80,000.

We are so fricken lucky!!!!!!!

 

That is the government at work (taxes).

If our governments taxed chinese goods maybe our economy would improve.

Today I learned that North American made vehicles cannot be sold in Japan. Japanese government doesn't allow it. Can anyone confirm if this is true?

The North American Auto industry indirectly puts food on my table and I drive a Japanese car. I'm assamed of this some times.

People around me (Detriot Area) are lossing jobs and it's really sad. Houses are for sale everywhere.

I wish we could realize the improtance of supporting our own economy. Our government and unions are not making things better.

 

 

^lol

I know Ford is moving into Japan. Or I've heard of Ford selling cars in japan. I could be wrong, but i swear i remember Ford developing right hand drive specific for markets like Japan.

It's not too uncommon for countries to do this, even though the U.S. may import billions from them. Sucks. But it's the demand and market too, U.S. needs the imports or at least wants them, but at the same time it ends up hurting our own economy.

But do you seriously think that most of the cars manufactured by U.S. car makers will be sucessful in Japan? There is a reason Japanese cars have advance so much in the world market. Albeit, i have to give credit to the U.S. car makers for stepping it up in the last 5 to 10 years or so as a whole. But do you think this would have happened if they weren't being kicked left and right by imports? Maybe, maybe not.

I checked it out and Ford does sell in Japan:

http://www.ford.com/en/company/about...ific/japan.htm

The problem may be that the foreign countries put a heavy import tax or tariff as opposed to the U.S. Some countries levy a 100% or more tariff on imports. The countries are still mostly homogeneous and nationalistic (is that a word???).

 

Yup. That is how things are in my home country as well(Korea). Import cars in general cost twice as much if not more. The G Coupe is about $70k in Korea.

 

Yeah... and infiniti is getting hot in Korea. The G and FX are all over the media (tv, movies). Before it was BMW and MBZ, then Audi, now infiniti. Maybe Ford next???

Have you guys checked out the european line of Ford (the ones they sell in Japan as well). WTF, I've never seen a Ford Focus look like that in the states, not even the SVT. Hell, isn't it bad enough that the imports keep the best looking cars at home, while selling toned down versions abroad, especially the U.S., now even the domestic manufacturers are doing the same? If the focus had styling like that in the states, maybe it would do better... that's a thought. And the ST series I guess are like the SVT's here, just looks better. The freakin' Ford Focus ST has 166kW or converted to roughly a tad bit over 222 HP and 320 N.m which converts to ~236lb of torque mated w/ a 6 speed MT. Even the Ford Fiesta looks like a different car over there. Don't look inside, cuz it's also a lot nicer over there.

 

It is the same way with GM as well. Holden, which is Australian division of GM, has some amazing cars. Anyone care for V6 turbo RWD cars? Damn GM for not offering those in states... well, at least they brought over Holden Monaro as Pontiac GTO.

 

I've noticed the same when travelling in europe. Ford makes some cool cars for the european market.

 

if you watch top gear or fifth gear, the prices the quote in euro's and pounds are alway near double what they cost here (no matter where they are made). gas cost $5 to $9 a gallon and you have to pay a fee daily to drive into the city of london. just consider ourselves lucky that we have it relatively cheap to own a car here.


don't feel bad for yourself. it's not your fault that american car companys need a kick in the pants every 20 years or so. if gm and ford want to build gas guzzling suv's and less than bland sedans, let them fall by the wayside. remember in the seventies and eighties when they were pumping out crap, resting on their laurels? it's not so much american cars are taxed out of the market overseas, but rather that people in other countries don't want what we are making here. they tend to lose sight of the next step.

 

BTW.... James Bond will be driving in a FORD !!!!!!!!



.... Ford Mondeo if I am not mistaken

 

That's what I was going to say about the gas prices over there. That's why they offer soo many cars in diesels over in Europe and Japan(Toyota Hilux, etc).

 

People in Detroit are losing their jobs because the white-collar decision makers who run the companies they work for have made the decision to build based on quantity of vehicles to-sell on the lot and not QUALITY OF the vehicles.

This major screw-up has screwed an industry that was once the world's benchmark.

And why is it that Ford/GM have better vehicles IN EUROPE than they do in their homeland??? Have you seen the new Focus equivalent in Europe? GM is finally wising up to the design and quality demands of American consumers by bringing all the Opel/Vauxhall models from Europe over to be badged as SATURNs. Props to The General!!! One step in the right direction. Saturn WILL be the new Pontiac. The Saturn Sky's (a rebadged Opel) design trumps the Solstice in spite of the two cars being on the same chassis.