the Interceptor
I LUV MY PRIUS!!!
For buying cars: yes, for imports: no.I know you guys always convert currency, but it's unrealistic.
I would get a kick out of an american car, and I would buy one. But to be honest, people are still after getting something for their money. Let me present a list I made almost a year ago, comparing the C6 Vette with similar-priced cars on the German market (sorted by price):Like MacGuffin said, its more about market analysis. And the European market isn't the main market for cars like the Corvette, Camaro, Challenger, and Mustang. So any cars they sell there are just for the enthusiast types who get a kick out of that sort of thing.
Audi S4 Sedan (4.2l V8, 344hp): 55,600 Euros
Audi S5 (4.2l V8, 354hp): 55,900 Euros
BMW Z4M Coupe (3.2l I6, 343hp): 57,900 Euros
Mercedes Benz CLS 350 (3.5l V6, 292hp): 59,738 Euros
BMW Z4M Roadster (3.2l I6, 343hp): 59,900 Euros
Porsche Cayman S (3.4l B6, 295hp): 60,065 Euros
BMW 550i (4.8l V8, 367hp): 62,700 Euros
Audi A6 4.2 FSI Quattro (4.2l V8, 350hp): 63,300 Euros
Mercedes Benz E500 (5.5l V8, 388hp): 64,498 Euros
Chevrolet Corvette C6 Coupe (6.0l V8, 400hp): 65,290 Euros
BMW M3 '07 (4.0l V8, 420hp): 66,650 Euros
Mercedes Benz SLK 55 AMG (5.5l V8, 360hp): 67,770 Euros
(...)
Audi RS4 Sedan (4.2l V8, 420hp): 71,700 Euros
Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe (7.0l V8, 500hp): 86,150 Euros
Mercedes Benz CLK 63 AMG (6.2l V8, 388hp): 89,904 Euros
Porsche 911 Carrera S (3.6l B6, 355hp): 90,529 Euros
BMW M5 (5.0l V10, 507hp): 91,600 Euros
Be honest. If you see this list, and you have the money for one of these cars - would you buy the Corvette? You probably would as a diehard Vette nut, but I'm sure you understand that so many people wouldn't. Which brings me to my very point:
People would buy american cars if they were priced in a way - no offense to be taken - their overall quality is represented correctly. GM could sell their cars with the same profit as in the US, which means offering them here much cheaper. Of course, the local market dictates prices, but you can't sort in your cars equal to Germans finest and then expect people to buy them. If sold for US prices, American cars would work on the European market, and I'm sure they would work well. But as long as that doesn't happen, I see no sound fundamentals for such cars.
It would be great if the STS V8 was sold for $59k here. Unfortunately, it is sold for 59k Euros, which equals $93k. And that's where it's not ok. Like I said, the current exchange rates cloak the actual proportions to an extent, but take the 59k Euros and have a look in the above list again. It competes with a range of cars people will much rather buy. And the reason is simple: if there is no advantage in price for the American competitor anymore ... why would I prefer it over a 550i or an A6 4.2 quattro? Would you?If GM sells the STS V8 for $59k in Europe, which is $54k USD in America
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