  Rb336 Member Username: Rb336 Post Number: 4751 Registered: 02-2007 |
Ok, with the Verve apparently a go, we finally get some ford eurocar action here. things we've missed: Ford Puma Ka euro focus (esp the cabriolet!) Mondeo or the 217 hp fiesta? (Message edited by rb336 on January 28, 2008) | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 4827 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'm sure Camino enthusiasts wish GM would sell this car here.  http://www.holden.com.au/www-h olden/action/vehicleentry?vehi cleid=15 | ||
Kslice Member Username: Kslice Post Number: 270 Registered: 04-2007 |
Funny you should say that Johnlodge. In the Feb. issue of MotorTrend, they announced that that vehicle would be sold here as a Pontiac. The pickup version will be called the G8 ST and there will be a wagon called the G8 SW! Yes we really did miss out on the Focus. The Mondeo was a Contour for many years and now is very much like a Fusion. The Puma was pretty cool but I'd rather have a Cougar. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 4829 Registered: 10-2003 |
No kidding Kslice? Do you think there's a market for it here? Why that over, say, an HHR type vehicle? | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 6522 Registered: 10-2003 |
Rb - from what I understand the new 3 door Verve, is replacing the Fiesta in Europe. However the UK Focus, blows away the NA version. | ||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 6523 Registered: 10-2003 |
Here's the Ford UK Lineup: http://www.ford.co.uk/ie/all_c ars/-/-/-/-/-/- | ||
Kingofdetroit Member Username: Kingofdetroit Post Number: 31 Registered: 10-2006 |
Those Holden cars look good. I want a car with the steering wheel on the right! | ||
Matt_the_deuce Member Username: Matt_the_deuce Post Number: 792 Registered: 10-2003 |
Too bad the Focus has discontinued the hatchback version. Big misstep IMO. Looks like I'll be driving my 03' ZX5 until they bring one back. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 4833 Registered: 10-2003 |
I hear that Matt. I plan on keeping mine until I'm sick of working on it. Good car, enjoyable drive, surprising amount of cargo capacity. I love how the interior of a lot of Ford cars really show they thought about ergonomics to the driver, as opposed to catering equally to both front occupants. Screw the passenger! | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2926 Registered: 10-2003 |
Great cars. Too bad they are far too expensive to sell here. The european 3 door focus starts at $28,000 (£14000). The US version of the focus starts at $14,000 in order to compete in this market. I'm sure they could make the US version just as nice as the european version, if you were willing to pay $28,000. We in the US just aren't willing to pay that kind of price for a tiny little focus. I could buy a Reasonably loaded Escape or Taurus for the the price of that base european Focus. | ||
Transitrider Member Username: Transitrider Post Number: 38 Registered: 01-2007 |
GM has a really cool built-in bike rack that folds in and out of the rear bumper, but it supposedly did not pass US safety tests  http://www.autoblog.com/2006/1 0/04/have-bike-will-travel-the -opel-antaras-hideaway-bike-ra ck/ | ||
Treble484 Member Username: Treble484 Post Number: 44 Registered: 02-2006 |
where can I get one of those rag top Focus's with the steering on the right, way too cool! | ||
Rb336 Member Username: Rb336 Post Number: 4760 Registered: 02-2007 |
Ford Australia has a "falcon ute" i'd like to see as well as what SHOULD have happened to the crown vic | ||
Rb336 Member Username: Rb336 Post Number: 4761 Registered: 02-2007 |
i saw 11K for the euro focus or $22k | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2927 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: OK, so it's 50% more expensive than the US version, Not %100. My point's still valid. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 6210 Registered: 08-2004 |
.... and then there's the Opel Vectra and Astra... I drove them (rentals) back in the 1990's when visiting Germany, and was very impressed with them, even for a small car. Do they still make those? Or how about the Ford Taunus? (a different model from the Taurus) | ||
D_mcc Member Username: D_mcc Post Number: 161 Registered: 12-2007 |
The Astra is coming in march as a saturn. | ||
Spitty Member Username: Spitty Post Number: 661 Registered: 07-2004 |
The Ford Transit should be making it's way over here pretty soon. http://youtube.com/watch?v=cey rnKkMXnY | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 1125 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: The problem with the Australian Falcon is there is not a current production LHD version that can be modded to meet FMVSS/NHTSA regs. Way too much cost involved to create a LHD version for the North American market. The Falcon is a blast to drive,5.4L 4V non smog with a six speed goes pretty quick! | ||
Ro_resident Member Username: Ro_resident Post Number: 293 Registered: 11-2003 |
The Mazda3 and the new Volvo C30 are both based on the European Focus platform. According to one story I read, Ford doesn't want to switch the US Focus to the same platform (yet) because the resulting vehicle would cost roughly the same as the Fusion. Also, Ford would have to rename the Ka in the US, unless they want us all to sound like we're from Boston. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1832 Registered: 07-2004 |
I always wanted a Ford Cortina because of that Clash song "Janie Jones." Then somebody told me it looked like a Fairmont and I was crushed! | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2928 Registered: 10-2003 |
Not quite as ugly as a fairmont. But pretty close. My cousin had a 74 Ford Cortina. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F ord_Cortina | ||
Gravitymachine Member Username: Gravitymachine Post Number: 1939 Registered: 05-2005 |
fyi: the wagon version of the pontiac G8 sourced from holden is a non-starter. http://www.goauto.com.au/mello r/mellor.nsf/story2/59DB1B5AFB 7D4B1ACA2573D10014EB68 | ||
Treelock Member Username: Treelock Post Number: 265 Registered: 03-2005 |
I looked at the new Saturn Astra, a rebadged Opel from GM's European subsidiary, at the auto show and was very impressed. That hatchback (my favorite type of vehicle) has great cargo space, excellent fuel economy and sharp exterior styling. The interior was nothing to brag about, but what do you expect for a car that starts under $16,000. That car deserves to do well here. | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 1833 Registered: 07-2004 |
Thanks, NDavis. Quite right, not as ugly as a Fairmont. Some of the older ones look fun, anyway. Mark I even has a vestigial tailfin. |
