What Car Do You wish You Could Get?

"Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?" (o51r15)
09/17/2014 at 13:11 • Filed to: It's Not Fair!

I was chatting it up with some of my friends across the pond (England) and the conversation of cars came up.

It started out with us arguing about how British cars can corner better than American cars. It then escalated to which is better, Hennessey Venom GT or Bugatti Veyron. It finally ended up at the cars that they have that I wish I could have even the option to go to the dealer and drool over. For instance, Ford Focus RS. Rumor has it it's coming to the states but that doesn't change the fact that I can't get other cars I want. So here's my question to you, the opponaut who has put up with my rambling: which cars can we get in America, that you can't get in Europe? And, not to leave you guys out either, Australia?

DISCUSSION (43)

EL_ULY > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:15

most are from American brands lol

Bytemite > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:23

Cars we can get in America but not in Europe?

Useless, jacked up, low-mpg, pseudo off-road SUVs that soccer moms use to go get groceries.

MonkeePuzzle > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:25

For instance, Ford Focus RS. Rumor has it it's coming to the states

say wha? like half of Oppo have a Focus RS

mcseanerson > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:28

From my understanding the Z/28 is not sold across the pond yet.

promoted by the color red > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:29

Hellcats. Here's one doing what God intended it to do.

Kinja'd!!!

Textured Soy Protein > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:29

My car: a BMW 135is

Kinja'd!!!

It's since been replaced by the M235i, but the 135is was only available in North America, in the 2013 model year.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > MonkeePuzzle
09/17/2014 at 13:45

From my understanding, half of Oppo has an ST. As far as I know, we can't get the RS just yet.

Svend > mcseanerson
09/17/2014 at 13:45

Would that be the Camaro Z28 (sorry I don't know that many U.S. cars but I was looking at some Z28 s on carsandclassic.co.uk).

They weren't sold in the U.K. but they could still be bought and imported without any real legal issue.

1972

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C498959

1995

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C480208

There's a 93 Indy Pace car and a 97.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > EL_ULY
09/17/2014 at 13:45

Now, why is that? Just different emission standards between the countries?

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Textured Soy Protein
09/17/2014 at 13:45

I did not know that the 1 series was a North America only car.

MonkeePuzzle > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:46

oh indeed, right yes, carry on

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > promoted by the color red
09/17/2014 at 13:46

Oh damn I want this car so bad. And yes, God definitely intended it to do this.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Bytemite
09/17/2014 at 13:47

So, the Explorer/Traverse/Durango?

Svend > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:47

To clarify. Is this for cars that aren't officially for sale or U.S. style not available because because of import restrictions. As I just said in another post, though the Z28 wasn't officially imported, they can be legally had by an individual importing one themselves.

Textured Soy Protein > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:48

It's not. The 135is was a North America-only 1-series model.

It's basically the 135i with the M-sport package standard, along with different wheels, some badges, and the normally dealer-installed option M Performance exhaust & power kit (ECU reflash + extra oil cooler) as standard.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > mcseanerson
09/17/2014 at 13:48

Keyword: yet. I'm fairly certain the Z/28 was always planned for a multi-national release but, just like with video games, it takes longer for them to get out to the other countries.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Textured Soy Protein
09/17/2014 at 13:49

Damn. I do very much love the 1 series. Now I can get the same in a 2 series?

Tripper > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:50

Kinja'd!!!

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Svend
09/17/2014 at 13:51

Basically cars that can't be bought or imported. Like the Focus RS that can be bought in Europe but not America and we'd have to wait 25 years before we could import one.

Textured Soy Protein > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:51

The M235i has the same basic goodies as the 135is, same power level, but the exhaust is much quieter and instead you have that Sound Symposer crap playing fake engine noise thru the speakers. Oh and it's got the 8-speed ZF auto instead of the 7-speed DCT.

Bytemite > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:51

Yep. And more of the same. Stupid Americans always buying stupidly big cars they can climb their fat asses into without hurting their knees.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Bytemite
09/17/2014 at 13:53

Damn. Now I know what you think of the Explorer and myself! Ha ha. Honestly, I bought it just to be able to transport two kids/two dogs/two adults through Alaska in winter and wherever else we get stationed at.

Sam > Bytemite
09/17/2014 at 13:53

And the Mustang. Up until 2015, at least. Also, most full sized vehicles with gas engines. Also, pickup trucks.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Textured Soy Protein
09/17/2014 at 13:53

Damn. I hate the whole "let's quiet down the engine but pump engine noise through the speakers" shit. Can it be had in a manual?

Bytemite > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:56

That is a proper reason to get an SUV I guess. Even then, a wagon could have served the same purpose. Unless you are going off-road, you don't need a 6 inch lift kit on an otherwise fine car platform. Especially when the car is FWD, like all these crossovers that are selling like hotcakes.

Klaus Schmoll > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:57

This question gets asked a from time to time, and the answer is always the same. We CAN get all the American cars we might want. Tons of grey importers around who will even save you the hassle of dealing with the paperwork and stuff. In Germany they aren't even subject to some CO2 penalty tax or other nonsense that makes them overly expensive.

So to answer your question "Which American cars do I want that I can't get here?". None!

Sam > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 13:58

I can tell you that the American vehicles that don't go to Europe are usually too big for the roads.

Bytemite > Sam
09/17/2014 at 13:59

Yeah while Europe gets all the best hot hatches, sports cars, and superminis. All we Americans get is a 400 lb heavier and ruined version of a great sports car. 4C...

Textured Soy Protein > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 14:01

Yeah, both the 135is and M235i can be had in manual. Just mentioning the different type of automatics available. Mine is a DCT. I'd have to try out an 8-speed ZF to see which shifts faster. Probably the DCT.

I should point out that the 135is exhaust is a lot louder than the regular 135i exhaust. Like I had a slow leak in one of my tires, and when I took it to the tire shop to have it patched. I had to start the car to get the odometer reading and the tire guy goes, "whoa, that's not stock."

mcseanerson > Svend
09/17/2014 at 14:01

I'm talking about the new one.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Klaus Schmoll
09/17/2014 at 14:08

Damn. I'm really hating that 25 year import law more and more each day.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Bytemite
09/17/2014 at 14:10

Well my Explorer is still built on an F150 platform, and the reason we went with that over a wagon was for the feet of snow that we get weekly here starting in the next few weeks. Also, I hate that the SUV's are starting to go either FWD for a 70/30 split AWD with the majority going to the front. That makes no sense to me.

Svend > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 14:11

Okay. In the U.K. we can get virtually anything as long as the engine can be made to meet certain emissions (within reason) using available fuel on sale in the U.K. and that a rear fog light is fitted and if a LHD vehicle that the beam of the headlights is altered to suit U.K. RHD lighting regs.

You guys in the States have incredibly strict regs.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Bytemite
09/17/2014 at 14:12

Yea. We got pretty screwed when it came to the 4C but hey! At least we're getting Alfa's back! It's only a matter of time before they either ruin them completely or we get a proper Alfa.

Osiris - I can haz Euro spec? > Svend
09/17/2014 at 14:13

Yea. I'm getting that. I can't believe...no...I really can believe all this vehicle restriction crap we have here. Someone just paid off people probably.

Svend > mcseanerson
09/17/2014 at 14:13

Okay. I posted the OP to clarify if it was cars officially imported or cars that can't be had at all due to restrictions.

EL_ULY > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 14:20

i've asked higher up at the dealers i've worked for and kept getting same answer. "Those vehicles are not supported in this market" But WHY!!!!?!?!?!?!

3vil-Monkey > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 14:34

There are many, I'll take any one of the below

Any Cosworth Ford

Nissan Skyline R34

Lancia Delta HF Integrale

Lotus Carlton

A Gen 2 Renault 5 GT turbo

Fiat Uno I.E Turbo

KirkyV > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 14:35

If I keep to the strict letter of your post, there isn't anything; we can import basically any car we want, with little-to-moderate hassle. Still, it's not as convenient as buying locally, so, if you were to ask 'Which cars do you wish you could buy without having to deal with the fuss of importation?', I'd probably pick the manual M5.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 14:37

Emissions is usually a pretty small part of it. The bigger reason is safety standards and market tastes. Changing tuning or adding a cat to the exhaust it is pretty easy to meet differing emissions regulations. Safety regulations are harder to meet because the car may need structural changes to meet differing crash regulations.

The U.S. has generally had stricter front impact standards than Europe and Japan. For example with the Impreza you can purchase JDM front bumper beams that are much lighter than the USDM bumper beams. They do carry the caveat that they are for off road use only as the JDM front bumper beam will not allow the Impreza to pass the U.S. crash test. Europe also moved to protect pedestrians a few years ago. A car that passes U.S. pedestrian safety standards may not pass the European standard. To make a car pass the different standard would require changing the structure of the car which is expensive.

Now manufacturers are harmonizing their platforms. Even though it is more expensive to design one platform to meet all the safety standards than to meet one standard, it is still cheaper than designing multiple platforms to meet each safety standard separately. The other side of this is that the manufacturers are lobbying regulatory authorities to harmonize the regulations between different countries/regions.

Svend > Osiris - I can haz Euro spec?
09/17/2014 at 14:41

It's painful when I see some images posted of old U.S. cars that have got legal tags when literally the whole car has been botched together to keep it on the road while brand new cars that have passed so many regs in the rest of the world can't even be imported legally by an individual. By all means have lighting, emissions, etc... regs but seriously 'you can't have it till it's 25 years old'. That sucks massively.

Legal

Kinja'd!!!

Not legal

Kinja'd!!!

Svend > MonkeePuzzle
09/17/2014 at 14:47

But not the early ones like the green one posted by the OP.

promoted by the color red > Bytemite
09/17/2014 at 17:16

I'm pretty sure you can buy a BMW X3/X5 or Porsche Cayenne in Europe.