Which is better for driving enthusiasts: America or Europe?

"cuts_off_prius" (cutsoffprius) 08/12/2013 at 16:13 • Filed to: None

0

19

Here's an article with two guys giving their opinion.

https://autos.aol.com/article/us-vs-…

My inexperienced jumble of thoughts (don't take seriously):

I've never been to Europe. But in general I'm thinking America would be more friendly to driving enthusiasts due to the cheaper MSRP for cars, cheaper gas, cheaper insurance, little to no vehicle inspections (no emissions testing in some states), wide open roads, more lenient 5-0, and the 47,000+ miles of Interstate at your disposal that are great for cross country trips, twisty roads (kind of like in Europe) in many states, etc. The speed limits on our highways are slowly rising as well to more reasonable speeds. Watching the Gumball and Bullrun Rally videos, seems like the guys were having a blast while the speeding tickets seemed like slaps on the wrist for them.

Downsides to America:

Degrading infrastructure

Poorly maintained roads - cracked roads full of potholes, faded road lines in most places, patched roads, etc, etc. Things are slowly improving in places though.

Terrible, terrible, inattentive, and distracted drivers

Stop texting, put the phone down, merge properly, keep your distance, get out of the passing lane, etc. Anyone who can breathe can get a license here.

Less car models to choose from than other countries

Due to the high cost of federalizing vehicles, the chicken tax, 25 year import ban. Wagons are rare too :P ... :(

Congestion is bad in and near urban areas of course, but it's also bad in Europe, so I'm not going to mention that.

Now that I've mentioned about which place may be better in general for driving, I think I want to choose Europe as my personal choice. Why? Pretty much counterpoints to America's downsides: Way better drivers, a much larger selection of cars that I love (wagons! hot hatches! wagons! did I say wagons!? - this is more of a car enthusiast thing rather than driving) and also cars (even American models) that you can import, glass smooth roads (compared to America), the German Autobahn and other equivalent standard motorways. The Nurburgring. If I have to pay more to get a license, pay more to buy a car and keep it road-worthy, and deal with strict laws so I can get all these things, then so be it, I guess. I always try to stick to the road laws anyway, except for that ridiculous speed limit of 55 mph on most highways Interstates around here in Illinois. I'll take all of that stuff even if I have to sacrifice things we take granted in America.

But then again, looking at it overall, along with the much lower cost of living and bigger real estate in America. I would hate to live in a small cube near a congested European city and not being able to take epic cross country roads trips like in America, Europe is just the size of a few states. RRRGGHHH. I'm torn.

What say you?

Grab Paddle > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 16:19

2

America. More roads. Cheaper gas.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 16:22

0

Autobahn is the reason why me and my future will move to germany soon and bought a CLK. Sounds perfect!

Nerd-Vol > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 16:22

1

Massive wing.

Corey CC97, MAZDA DPI IS STILL BAE JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV VISIT FLORIDA RACING LIVES FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 16:23

0

'Merica FTW!

feather-throttle-not-hair > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 16:25

0

Whenever i'm jealous of europe, I think about what i'd be driving over there instead of a 350Z, which i wouldn't be able to afford.

I pretty much always come up with something FWD and with about 100 less horsepower.

Z_Stig > feather-throttle-not-hair 08/12/2013 at 16:27

0

That is a very good point

Kjohn > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 16:29

1

I just wish more roads in America were like California or New England. When they started laying down miles of straight asphalt it took the fun out of it and changed America's perception of performance. I'm not saying that the muscle car is a bad idea, just that a balanced car is a lot more interesting.

mr. idk > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 16:33

0

America.

1.) More straight roads= more speed

2.) Cheaper Gas than Europe

cuts_off_prius > Kjohn 08/12/2013 at 16:33

0

More roundabouts too! Intersections are boring. They are being installed in many new suburban developments though.

Joe_Limon > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 16:34

0

If you thought that Porsche had a massive wing, look at this one, it has done buried both the car and road into the ground.

Goshen, formerly Darkcode > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 16:35

1

The ideal would be a combination of both. I'd actually live in the US if I had to, but having to deal with sadistic cops, 25 year import rules, and truck drivers would really suck. Then again, car-related taxes, higher fuel prices, and a generally boring mindset aren't good things to have around either. So cut the nasty bits off each. (tl;dr: they're both more or less in the same level).

cuts_off_prius > Goshen, formerly Darkcode 08/12/2013 at 16:38

0

A combination of both with the nasty bits off. That's exactly how I'm feeling after thinking about it!

desertdog5051 > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 16:40

0

I don't care much for the 55 limit on 2 lanes but in Texas some of them are 70 and everybody goes 75. On a road with curves and driveways, that's too fast.

Klaus Schmoll > mr. idk 08/12/2013 at 16:46

0

"More straight roads = more speed" ?????

This state trooper wants to have a word with you. If he has a good day, he might tell you about a place called the Autobahn. If not... well then you're fucked.

Also no spending a night in jail or having to see a judge for traffic offenses, you simple pay your fine and move on.

More Power!!and also some brakes. > feather-throttle-not-hair 08/12/2013 at 16:50

1

I would be one broke bastard trying to feed my car in Europe.

BATC42 > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 17:01

0

So according to the article you shared, driving in North America is better since you are less risky to get a ticket for speeding or for driving while being drunk... Yeah...

It sucks being a car enthusiast here in France because you can't do anything to your car if it changes something that's written on your car's papers : power, weight, ... Well you dan do it but it's illegal and they may refuse your car at the inspection (every 2 year).

Breakfast Burrito: The True Resident Burrito > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 17:33

0

It's a common "grass is greener" fallacy that Europe is doing things better. To your first point, I'm not educated enough on Europe, but I'd say it depends where you are driving in both locals. Same with your next point about bad drivers. On the whole ours may still be less attentive, but head over to Italy, Greece, or some parts of France and people are pretty laissez-faire about collisions. 'Tis one of the perils of comparing a country to a continent.

To your final criticism of the United States, the difference in choice is actually pretty slim. For one, I don't know about you, but I could never afford the what Audi asks for their RS6 Avant Quattro anyway, and if you were buying it in Europe, you'd have to pay the extra engine displacement taxes and higher fuel prices. Europe may give you the extra freedom of importing whatever you want, but the added taxes and costs of shipping, it doesn't make sense for most cars anyway.

All of that said, Germany does have the Autobahn and the 'Ring, so it's not a total loss.

jimbeb > cuts_off_prius 08/12/2013 at 18:00

0

As a european I envy the apparent abundance of autocross events in the states. I don't think there has ever been held more than one within a 200 mile radius of where I live. Shouldn't things like that factor in?

JasonStern911 > cuts_off_prius 08/13/2013 at 01:42

0

Europe vs. America arguments are so biased and stupid. It's the best pieces of Europe vs. the best pieces of one country. Of course, driving an American car on an American car is going to look less impressive than driving a 3x as expensive German car on some Scandinavian ice road or a 10x as expensive Italian car on some beach laced Spanish road. But for financial mortals without citizenship to 20 countries, it's tough to beat America.