Because AmericaBlog’s “Chris in Paris” thinks we need deadly little pinch-boxes over here.
Only 2 super-efficient cars available in US compared to 113 in Europe
Doggone socialists have all of the choices while the free market US economy has only two options. Sounds a lot like the old Soviet days when the Lada offered either with or without a radio. So where are all of the so-called free market Republicans? Oh that’s right, they’ve been on the “let industry dictate policy” bandwagon and made sure they were lending a helping hand with the Soviet-ization of Big Auto, ridding them of any need to offer fuel efficiency. Who could ever forget Reagan starting the removal of fuel efficiency standards and then the Gingrich Congress implementing the final blow to any hope of minimum standards? Once again, witness Republican economics at work and try hard to figure out how it differs with Soviet style economics.
Apparently “Chris in Paris” wouldn’t mind it if we were paying $5 a gallon for fuel over here, which is why the market in Euro-land is demanding 40mpg cars.
From the MSNBC article he quotes:
Adding insult to injury is the fact that nearly two-thirds of the 113 highly fuel-efficient models that are unavailable to American consumers are either made by U.S.-based automobile manufacturers or by foreign manufacturers with substantial U.S. sales operations, such as Nissan and Toyota.
“These cars sold in Europe meet or exceed U.S. safety standards, so there is no reason why they shouldn’t be made available to U.S. consumers,†said CSI President Pam Solo.
“We have to face the unpleasant facts here: America is needlessly losing the race to develop the best fuel-efficient technology and then deliver it to the American consumer,†Solo said. “U.S. consumers say they are willing to buy these cars, so the big U.S. automakers are actually going backwards at a time when it’s possible to make cars that are more fuel efficient.â€
A national poll conducted for CSI shows that millions of Americans would welcome the introduction of the fuel-efficient cars now being sold overseas. Nearly nine out of 10 respondents to the survey thought U.S. consumers should have access to these vehicles.
The initials “CSI” stands for the Civil Society Institute, which is an ultra-left-wing thinktank whose sole purpose is to spread the Man-Made Glogal Warming hysteria via getting top billing in news stroies like this one.
The only poll that their site links to is one taken last month in the state of Michigan and is heavily influneced by nearly half of the respondednts having their “Household Economic Well Being” tied to the auto industry. This has to be the survey they’re talking about in the article, the “national” one, because the results match up. They list two other, actual “national” polls inside of this Michigan one (A Nov. 2005 poll and a Feb. 07 poll), but neither of those poll’s numbers come close to what is said in the article.
The Feb. 07 poll is at 8 out of 10. The Nov. 05 poll percentages also say 8 in 10, but the totals add up to 101%, so it gets tossed out the window.
Do I think that a majority of Americans would like to see these cars being offered for sale in the US?
Yes.
Do I think that 8 in 10 of them would buy these cars?
Not a chance in hell.
Once people are given a choice between folding and stuffing themselves in a sucide machine and buying something they can be comfortable in, they take comfort. If, after the “fold and stuff routine”, they can talk themselves into a test drive, the first F-250 to pass them by will most likely kill the sale.
We’re not talking Honda Civic sized cars here, we’re talking smaller than a Yugo.
OK? The Prius is a Camry compared to these rolling aluminum foil boxes.
Speaking of the Prius, I got quite a kick out of scrolling down to the bottom of the page of this MSNBC stroy to find this story listed under “Related Items”.
But only because it helps prove my point:
Hybrid-car sales growth slowed in 2006
U.S. sales of gas-electric hybrid vehicles rose 28 percent from 2005 to 2006, but the rate of growth is starting to slow, according to a company that analyzes automotive industry data.
The people who want sub-compact cars is diminishing. The people who want something along the lines of a hybrid Toyota Hilander or Camry, something “comfortable”, is staying steady.
Would I buy one of these cars?
As someone who is spending $50 a week in gas just to get to work, I must say that I have already looked into it. Currently, even though I hated the shifter, the Scion Xa is leading in the “Phil Survey”. But in only gets 32-38MPG, so it doesn’t qualify for the 40+ category.
I have tried on all of the other 30+ MPG compacts, but being a 6’4″ and then some sized guy, none of the others passed the “Fold and Stuff” test. I find this quite odd, because I drove MR2’s for a number of years, and Toyota could do it then just like it does it now with the Scion line, but no one else can?
However, I must admit that if they can time the release of it for when I’m a high roller in savings account land, I’d buy a plug-in car that has the Toyota roll & recharge technology in heartbeat.
And I think a large number of Americans would too. But not because of the “eco” reasons, just because it would save them money.
We’re Americans. It is all about the bottom line.
