car comparisons: family sized hatchbacks in the UK.

[stamar]

I have a question for you uk drivers

Do you see a lot of left hand drive vehicles on the road?

I mean here in america a right hand drive vehicle is a once a year thing. Theres no place near that sells them I mean people buy them direct from the far east sometimes.

But you are so close to mainland europe Im thinking people do that a lot more often. Just go buy a porsche in france and drive back.

Am I right?

Because the selection of vehicles in mainland europe is way more appealing.

Im sorry if I put down your choices of vehicles drunkmonkey but they are not appealing to my american sensibilities. I would be greatly interested in like the bmw 1 or many cars that are euro market that are excellent.

Even the smart or renault commercial vans or etc, I mean there are some cool things in europe we dont see here.

[crayzayjay]

Originally Posted by stamar

But you are so close to mainland europe Im thinking people do that a lot more often. Just go buy a porsche in france and drive back.

Am I right?

No.

There are numerous problems with buying a LHD car: insurance is more expensive, resale is more difficult, theft is more likely, overtaking can be a bitch; these are but to name but a few. I mean, give us a little credit. If it didn't have any downsides, you'd think we'd be on it already... Besides:

Originally Posted by stamar

Because the selection of vehicles in mainland europe is way more appealing.

is an absolute load of rubbish...

So, Mr know-it-all, why don't you tell me what is available from continental europe that isn't in the UK. Apart from Lancia's, that is, which I doubt would appeal to your "american sensibilities" anyway

[Jimster]

But Jay, we get Chrysler Sebrings, Chevrolet Tahoes and Cadillac SUV's in Europe y'all!


Honsestly, the UK has a much better selection that us. Thier being RHD means they get Skyline GTRs, S15 Silvias, Integra Type R's, JDM 3000GT's, Evo's and STi's etc. Oh and the Vauxhall Monaro...

[drunken monkey]

i find it amusing that he "put down" cars that are not available in the US market and hence, cars that he knows nothing about.

[stamar]

Well I will have to reference something for you on vehicle models available in europe and the uk for you.

You are saying to the best of your knowledge that as many or almost as many models are available in the uk as in mainland europe.

I can say to the best of my knowledge many more models are available in mainland europe. And it only makes sense as well.

But I will call it unknown until I look it up.

You will have to use a certain amount of logic here. What percentage of the cars sold are lhd? What about RHD? So, if there are more models of cars made for one than the other, which one do you think it is? I mean forget the world, how many of the european cars sold each year are rhd? 10%?
Now, japan is a RHD country so, versions unique to jdm have a better chance of making it to the uk. That is true

Im not trying to put down a car that is not available in the US. Im not trying to put down a car, what does the car care lol. I value a vehicles reliability index but then, I buy used cars. Everyone has different values.

Im trying to communicate clearly I dont want to argue with anyone. Actually only interested in helping anyone who wants help.

[Moppie]

Originally Posted by stamar

You are saying to the best of your knowledge that as many or almost as many models are available in the uk as in mainland europe.

As has already been mentioned the UK is RHD, which opens them to the Japanese market as well, as the RHD share of the European market, and thier own domestic market.
Access to the Japanese used market means they have access to cars you will have never heard of, and unless you are able to search Japanese used auction sites, or have a Japanese language option on your PC (and you can read it) then you will NEVER hear about them.

The UK have pretty much the single biggest collection of new and used cars to choose from in the world.
If it was made in RHD anywhere in the world in the last 10 years you can own it in the UK (same here for that matter).

[Moppie]

Iv given you a vote for the Alfa.
I hate VW's, Iv never driven an exciting or enjoyable one.
And while the Focus is good, the Mazda 3/familia made better use of the same Chassis

[Jimster]

You really think that Moppie? (On the Ford/Mazda thing), there's not really a sporting equivalent of the ST170 for the 3 (Except the MPS one that is coming out and is expensive) and as a result I have found the standard 3 2.0 Sport a little roly-poly compared to the ST170.

[Moppie]

To be honest, Iv never driven the ST170, but my understanding is its a little two hard.
There was a hot focus sold here, around the sametime, which Im pretty sure used the ST170 spec suspension, with a different engine (it might have been the ST170?) and it was a flop. They simply didn't sell because they were to hard, and bounced more than drove down the road. The Jap Spec Mazda SP20 from the same generation chassis has however started to prove a very popular import here, its not as fast, but a hell of a lot more useable.

[crayzayjay]

Originally Posted by stamar

You will have to use a certain amount of logic here.

Way to be patronising. And your logic is completely flawed.

Originally Posted by Jimster

Honsestly, the UK has a much better selection that us

He lives in continental europe, and works in the auto industry. But hey, what do we know

[Jimster]

Originally Posted by Moppie

To be honest, Iv never driven the ST170, but my understanding is its a little two hard.
There was a hot focus sold here, around the sametime, which Im pretty sure used the ST170 spec suspension, with a different engine (it might have been the ST170?) and it was a flop. They simply didn't sell because they were to hard, and bounced more than drove down the road. The Jap Spec Mazda SP20 from the same generation chassis has however started to prove a very popular import here, its not as fast, but a hell of a lot more useable.

Yeah, they've put a new one out, basically it's a very sporty Volvo S40 T5 AWD with a Focus body plonked on top. It's a very nice car, not quite as hard as the last one, but certainly fast and it needs to be with the looming threat of the Mazda3 MPS.

Not as nice as the Golf R32, but not nearly as expensive either.

[stamar]

Originally Posted by crayzayjay

Way to be patronising. And your logic is completely flawed.


He lives in continental europe, and works in the auto industry. But hey, what do we know

Like I said I will look it up. I could be wrong. I definitely dont think I am.

The whole reason I asked was just to have a better picture for myself how available the lhd vehicles are to the uk driver.
Now I am not referring to just us made vehicles, because I dont like any of them usually, but german scandinavian vehicles as well. There are models of those that are never made in rhd. And yes even japanese vehicles.

I do suppose I am thinking of new vehicles not used jdm vehicles. Because those are actually sold here in the us as well. Probably much more popular in the UK Im certain though.
Mostly because the orignal poster is asking about new vehicles.

I would say, its common knowledge that many more vehicle models are available to the european market than the uk one. I would say that but I still havent looked it up so we will have to see.

I think this fiat is now sold in the us under the name suzuki Reno. If its not this one its one of similar size. Well, the suzuki reno is made by fiat and it might be this one is what Im saying.

[drunken monkey]

communication has not been poor; it has only been your comprehension of what has been said that has been poor. A simple (albeit rhetorical) question had been asked by crazyayajay that you have thus far avoded.

Originally Posted by crazayjay

why don't you tell me what is available from continental europe that isn't in the UK. Apart from Lancia's, that is, which I doubt would appeal to your "american sensibilities" anyway

incidentally, logic has not a lot to do with what cars are available in the UK; market forces do not run on the logic that is based on looking at absolute numbers. You can't look at things like the size of the UK compared to the rest of Europe (and hence number of potential customers of both) and use this as a base for the logic behind the availability of some/certain cars to the UK.

Originally Posted by stamar

I think this fiat is now sold in the us under the name suzuki Reno. If its not this one its one of similar size. Well, the suzuki reno is made by fiat and it might be this one is what Im saying.

no it is not the same car.
what has a similarity in size got to do with anything?
isn't the suzuki reno a rebadged chevy/woo?

Originally Posted by stamar

I would say, its common knowledge that many more vehicle models are available to the european market than the uk one. I would say that but I still havent looked it up so we will have to see.

you would think that those of us who live in UK and Europe who have been responding here know what cars are available to us (or not).
so far, you have been repeating that you do not actually know if what you stipulate is true or not. How about you go and find out before repeating this thing that is supposed to be "common knowledge" (but not something that you know is true or not) is true?

[Jimster]

Just had another thought, if you want a really cheap family sized hatch, how about the Civic VTi (1996 or 7-2000), it's a 1.8 VTEC, which may or may not make it a B18c, I really don't know, old Civic's aren't exactly the easiest car to come by here.

Should be able to have one for about 2-3k and should be a reliable little weapon, if you are able to stomach Hondas lifeless power steering (Honestly they make cars that handle brilliantly then put the worlds most limp wristed power steering in them)

Also look at a Phase III Peugeot 306 GTi-6, the phase 3 has most of the bugs of the previous model ironed out, while being one of the best hot hatches ever made.

[stamar]

the suzuki reno is made by fiat.

many of the suzukis for sale in NA as new are made by daewoo though.

Im not sure if it has a fiat version. I have no reason to think its that one. Just a remote possibility is why I mentioned it. Its possible that fiat is sold in america because there is a fiat car coming to the na market.

As far as car models ok, well theres no comprehensive list of all car models for sale that I know of a click away on the internet.

What I did was look at BMW and mercedes. I found more models in lhd for the european market than are for sale in the uk based on the manufactures sites. There are more bmws for sale in the uk than the us though. Is this the information you are looking for?

Its actually the only information I was looking for I was wondering how popular it is to go to mainland europe to pick up a bmw model that is not sold in the uk. Im just wondering for future reference.

I assume that its the same case for the french and italian makes. Some models are not made for rhd. There surely are no rhd only models from any of these manufacturers.

If I am incorrect Id love to hear why or see evidence. Particularly interested in jimsters opinion, am I correct in that you are of uk descent living in europe mainland

obviously mostly interested in the facts, or only jimsters opinions.