American cars or American sedans

whiteboy

Ok I'm not that into motors or do I know a lot about cars but I'm really intrigued as to know why you can't find American made cars in Ireland.

I think we have some really terrible looking cars over here, when I see so many people driving micras and the new fiesta (even the older one looks better, why make it bigger?) I think why can't we have that classic 90's style car over here.





Take the bmw 30i for example, I know they were available here back in the day but why not anymore, they look much cooler than modern day bmws.

ShadowHearth

Are you new in ireland?

Bmw 318 is called a nig engined car...

coylemj

Most American cars would be considered ugly because they're too big and brash. A lot of them have very big engines because they're manufactured for a market where petrol is a fraction of the price it is here.

Take the case of the Toyota Camry which at some stage not too long ago was the biggest selling car in the US, the smallest engine you can get is 2.2 litres so it only appealed to a tiny section of the market here and almost all of them ended up as taxis because they're too big and thirsty for most secondhand car buyers.

Older cars like that BMW aren't around anymore because cars here eventually fall apart due to the sh1te state of the roads.

pcardin

whiteboy wrote: »

I'm really intrigued as to know why you can't find American made cars in Ireland?

Check this out : https://www.motortax.ie/OMT/menu.do?page=motortaxrates

a lot of american cars start with 3 point something engines

and they are sh1te anyway with some exceptions. :cool:

pcardin

altought I allways loved this one...

AugustusMinimus

pcardin wrote: »

altought I allways loved this one...

Very nice looking car. Could easily be an Audi.

whiteboy

That's what I mean, it's how a car should look!

whiteboy

whiteboy wrote: »

Take the bmw 30i for example, I know they were available here back in the day but why not anymore, they look much cooler than modern day bmws.

They are e30s

AugustusMinimus

whiteboy wrote: »

I think why can't we have that classic 90's style car over here.

Classic 90's American cars you say. Even most Americans would admit that Detroit was producing **** boxes during the 1990s.

whiteboy

There are some exceptions!
If I could find this on the Irish market I'd probably pick it up

[Embedded Image Removed]

pcardin

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Classic 90's American cars you say. Even most Americans would admit that Detroit was producing **** boxes during the 1990s.

some of them were classy though

scoobymunster

Even though it's not the nicest nor best sports cars around, I'd still buy a Dodge Viper if I had the money. Other than that, none of the American market would really appeal to me. It's too subjective over what is good and what is crap American made cars.

fonecrusher1

Sometimes they get it right.^

whiteboy

RoverJames wrote: »

They are e30s

Can you find them anywhere these days?

coylemj

They were made between 83 and 91, search the online sites for BMW 318, 320 or 325 and you'll find a few, this is a decent looking 320.....

http://www.cbg.ie/car_detail.aspx?ID=4209197

I was going to spare you this one but you just have to look at it to see the seats, yuck!

http://www.cbg.ie/car_detail.aspx?ID=4209163

325 example....

http://www.cbg.ie/car_detail.aspx?ID=4170572

Most that have survived are now lovingly cared for by enthusiasts.

funkyouup

pcardin wrote: »

some of them were classy though

Ya got any pics of the classy ones you mentioned:D

colm_mcm

whiteboy wrote: »

There are some exceptions!
If I could find this on the Irish market I'd probably pick it up

[Embedded Image Removed]

Isn't that a corolla?

pcardin

funkyouup wrote: »

Ya got any pics of the classy ones you mentioned:D

They are classy you just don't know that

bobdole968

i own a few janktanks the main reason you dont see em on the road is because of the high road tax, standard engines in the late 80s were v6 3.8 ltrs.mid and early 80s you had v8 5ltrs. you might see the odd older American car but thats because its availing of the 30 year old cheaper road tax rule. i have 4 oldsmobiles put in storage all 80s cars waiting for them to become 30 years old.

pburns

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

Very nice looking car. Could easily be an Audi.

Have to smile at the hint of fanboyism inherent in that statement:D! Is that the highest compliment you can muster? That it looks like a friggin' Audi?:)

That Caddy looks nothing like an Audi BTW, which is neither praise nor condemnation. It's actually very American but with with European-like proportions. I think that's what they were aiming for, they were trying to lower the age profile of Caddy buyers and fight their Euro competitors...

AugustusMinimus

pburns wrote: »

Have to smile at the hint of fanboyism inherent in that statement:D! Is that the highest compliment you can muster? That it looks like a friggin' Audi?:)

That Caddy looks nothing like an Audi BTW, which is neither praise nor condemnation. It's actually very American but with with European-like proportions. I think that's what they were aiming for, they were trying to lower the age profile of Caddy buyers and fight their Euro competitors...

It has almost the exact same proportions as an Audi 80. Drop the front bumper a bit, put a Cadillac badge on the grille and remove the trim on the doors and you'd hardly notice the difference.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Audi_80_B4_front_20071206.jpg

The only American styling I can see are the wrap around front light cluster which wouldn't be as elongated on European cars.

whiteboy

colm_mcm wrote: »

Isn't that a corolla?

Looks similar but it's a Chevrolet Prizm, I don't think they make them any more.

Terrontress

What I always find interesting is when European cars are modified for the US and look different. Some times it is due to the lights, some times the bumpers. It's due to the different legislation in some cases, market tastes in others. I find it most visible on older Volvos.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Volvo244turbous.png

You also get little oddities like the current VW Golf has red rear indicators on US models. Fair enough, it's not the only car to do so but red rear indicators are not compulsory and they will have had to re-engineer the rear lights and manufacture the different clusters.

Eric Cartman

A Ford F-350 and a cadillac Escalade - dont know why we dont sell such wonderful machines here

MetzgerMeister

Eric Cartman wrote: »

A Ford F-350 and a cadillac Escalade - dont know why we dont sell such wonderful machines here

2 reasons:

1. They probably wouldn't fit on our roads.

2. Tax.

Eric Cartman

einheisserschre wrote: »

2 reasons:

1. They probably wouldn't fit on our roads.

2. Tax.

1. perhaps, but Id still love one

2. both would be brought in as commercial

coylemj

Eric Cartman wrote: »

A Ford F-350 and a cadillac Escalade - dont know why we dont sell such wonderful machines here

1. We don't own enough guns to fill the rifle rack that probably comes as standard in that pickup

2. Can't see what's wrong with a Q7 vs. an Escalade

Eric Cartman

coylemj wrote: »

1. We don't own enough guns to fill the rifle rack that probably comes as standard in that pickup

2. Can't see what's wrong with a Q7 vs. an Escalade

1. I think the guns come with the truck as standard.

2. the Q7 is big, but the escalade is bigger , also I cant look like a crack dealer in a Q7 , thats for coke dealers and property developers wives

coylemj

Eric Cartman wrote: »

1. I think the guns come with the truck as standard.

2. the Q7 is big, but the escalade is bigger , also I cant look like a crack dealer in a Q7 , thats for coke dealers and property developers wives

1. :cool:

2. You'd also do well with an Escalade the week of any glitzy media event, I think every Escalade in L.A. must have been in use shuttling celebs to the Oscars last week.

Guy:Incognito

bobdole968 wrote: »

i own a few janktanks the main reason you dont see em on the road is because of the high road tax, .

If motor tax was the reason then why are they not all over the UK and other European countries with lower levels of tax than us?

Big Nasty

I love American cars but most of the stuff from the 90's on was gick looking with the recent exceptions of the retro 'Stang, Camaro and Challenger. An Escalade is a big ass machine but just not practical here. There's a chap in Cork with one, another chap in the midlands has an F350 just like the one Eric posted. I also know a lad with a Dodge Ram with a V10 Viper engine in it (mental piece of kit altogether). All are weekend cars!

PaulKK

whiteboy wrote: »

Can you find them anywhere these days?

There are loads of E30s around. They are quite popular actually, you would pay a nice bit for a good one now.


Wouldn't mind a nice 325i sport myself for the weekends :cool:

Big Nasty

Forgot to say there was a multi franchise dealer down Limerick direction (I think) that was afilliated with OHM and used to sell Caddy's.

THall04

If you saw a Ford F350 on an Irish road , you’d think there was a monster truck show in town….they are a truly ridiculous machine……but I’d love to have one.

I lived in the US for just over a year in the early noughties.
During that time I had 2 Chevy Cavaliers , 2 Oldsmobile Aleros ,1 Chevy Impala ,1 Ford Focus and 1 Ford Mustang (company lease cars & short term rentals).

As has often been said about American cars ,they had very cheap n’ nasty interiors(Focus was ok) and were useless going ‘round a corner
But you get a lotta car for your money.
The 3.4L V6 Chevy Impala ( about the same size as a Merc E-Class) I had , cost about the same as my 1.5L Almera I had back in Ireland.
In 2002 it only cost $17 to fill the Impala’s gas tank (went up to $24 after bush invaded Iraq)……Drove 700miles one day in that car…..no problem…comfiest thing ever.

The 2003 Mustang 3.8L V6 , I had the displeasure of driving for 2 weeks, was an absolute piece of sh1t….. had a hopeless slow changing/clunky automatic gearbox…but it looked good.
Most of the American lads I worked with had at least 3 cars……the everyday runabout (Ford Taurus/Chevy Impala) the “Truck” (Dodge Ram/ Ford F series) and the old classic that was only taken out during the summer (old Mustang /Challenger ). When I used to tell them about my big 1.5L Nissan back home , they’d fall about laughing……

Eric Cartman

THall04 wrote: »

If you saw a Ford F350 on an Irish road , you’d cream yourself instantly with excitment….they are a truly ridiculous machine……but everyone cool would love to have one.

fixed your post

Big Nasty

THall04 wrote: »

If you saw a Ford F350 on an Irish road , you’d think there was a monster truck show in town….they are a truly ridiculous machine……but I’d love to have one.

I lived in the US for just over a year in the early noughties.
During that time I had 2 Chevy Cavaliers , 2 Oldsmobile Aleros ,1 Chevy Impala ,1 Ford Focus and 1 Ford Mustang (company lease cars & short term rentals).

As has often been said about American cars ,they had very cheap n’ nasty interiors(Focus was ok) and were useless going ‘round a corner
But you get a lotta car for your money.
The 3.4L V6 Chevy Impala ( about the same size as a Merc E-Class) I had , cost about the same as my 1.5L Almera I had back in Ireland.
In 2002 it only cost $17 to fill the Impala’s gas tank (went up to $24 after bush invaded Iraq)……Drove 700miles one day in that car…..no problem…comfiest thing ever.

The 2003 Mustang 3.8L V6 , I had the displeasure of driving for 2 weeks, was an absolute piece of sh1t….. had a hopeless slow changing/clunky automatic gearbox…but it looked good.
Most of the American lads I worked with had at least 3 cars……the everyday runabout (Ford Taurus/Chevy Impala) the “Truck” (Dodge Ram/ Ford F series) and the old classic that was only taken out during the summer (old Mustang /Challenger ). When I used to tell them about my big 1.5L Nissan back home , they’d fall about laughing……

Pretty much all Mustangs from '74-'04 were dirt. The 5th Gen is a nice looking car and good in the GT 4.6 V8, better in the Saleen and Roush.

S Line

Here’s a real smarty pants reply
The OP used the term ‘American made cars’ well they are loads on Irish roads
Mercedes MLs are made in Alabama
BMW X5s and Z4s are made in South Carolina
So there you have it – plenty!!!!
Ironically existing ‘American’ cars for sale in Ireland 300c’s and Jeeps are made in Austria
Joking aside, in know what you mean about some of the late model yank cars, Camaro Mustang Chargers etc, are pretty cool. I would love an Escalade (and a company fuel card!!)
Although Detroit was not on such a role they made some right buckets in the 80s/90s

firefly08

The 2003 Mustang 3.8L V6 , I had the displeasure of driving for 2 weeks, was an absolute piece of sh1t….. had a hopeless slow changing/clunky automatic gearbox…but it looked good.

I haven't driven that one, but I'm happy to announce that the 2005+ Mustangs are a lot better, going by that description. The V6 is still slow...but somehow it's a lot of fun to drive. It looks and feels special!

The Escalade...seriously lads it's a Chevy Suburban with loads of bling stuck on. Absolute sh1te. It's for people like Turtle from Entourage. There is nothing cool about that car.

Eric Cartman

firefly08 wrote: »

The Escalade...seriously lads it's a Chevy Suburban with loads of bling stuck on. Absolute sh1te. It's for people like Turtle from Entourage. There is nothing cool about that car.

If I bought a suburban and blinged it up youd still complain , the world will always need a car to make you look like a crack dealer , ghetto pimp or gang affiliated rapper, the escalade does just that