"cuts_off_prius" (cutsoffprius)
06/24/2014 at 00:47 • Filed to: None
0
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"cuts_off_prius" (cutsoffprius)
06/24/2014 at 00:47 • Filed to: None | 0
| 5 |
Complete with French plates and such. Cool read. Learn something new everyday...
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Sixteen miles off the coast of Newfoundland and just 800 miles from Boston lie the tiny islands of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , the last vestiges of the colonial empire of New France. Though these islands are 3,000 miles from Paris, they're French in every way. Residents celebrate Bastille Day, vote in French elections and pay for everything in Euros.
And, of course, drive French cars. That makes the Territorial Collectivity of St. Pierre and Miquelon, which has just 70 miles of paved road, the only place north of the Rio Grande River where you can still find Peugeot and Renault dealers.
"There are always new French cars on the islands," Marc Cormier of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! told Wired.com. "One of the reasons being the state and government offices only buy French cars."
That means all of the cars driven by such agencies as the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! are sent over from France. Did we mention they all have !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ?
That doesn't mean residents of the island can only buy French cars. Four dealerships offer everything from Hondas and Hyundais to Fords and Chryslers. General Motors products are well represented, and there's even an Opel outpost.
That's not a bad selection considering there are just 6,000 people there. If you visit – and the island is but a ferry ride away from Newfoundland – feel free to leave !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! at home. The locals are happy to give directions, but they tend to use the homes of their friends and relatives as reference points. And be prepared to take some ribbing if you're a lousy driver. Or seaman.
"Locals are quicker to mock your driving and boating abilities than your personal life or shortcomings," Cormier said.
Just as the import-versus-domestic war rages in the United States, a similar dynamic is in play on St. Pierre and Miquelon.
"French cars are more popular with established families, or citizens from France who are currently working locally," Cormier told Wired.com. "Sometimes, its really just personal preference, period."
Luckily, most garages are just as good at popping the hood of a Peugeot as they are fixing a Ford. "All local garages are !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in the sense they can work with any type of vehicle, European or American. Parts are aplenty and people sometimes buy two models of a second hand car, one for parts."
Those sales add up to more than fifty new cars a year for !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , the marque's only dealer north of Mexico and the Caribbean. Our French is abysmal, but an employee of the dealership was patient enough to tell us business is brisk, thank you very much.
"We have been an importer for over 60 years and we are proud to represent Renault in North America," Jean-Marc Pannier told us. "We do not encounter difficulties in selling Renault in Saint Pierre and Miquelon."
Hmmm. Wonder if we could bring back a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! …
Anyone have any more pics of this area WITH the forbidden cars?
captain_spleen
> cuts_off_prius
06/24/2014 at 01:04 |
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You can actually drive from the US to France by taking your car on a ferry to these islands.
EDIT: Apparently not. From what I can see, none of the ferries carry cars.
Svend
> cuts_off_prius
06/24/2014 at 02:10 |
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Oh my god, that's a blast from the past. A Peugeot 309, our local CID (Police detectives aka 'where police officers go when their brain cells die') used these as unmarked cars.
AM3R
> cuts_off_prius
06/24/2014 at 02:18 |
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Wow, I wanna go on vacation there now.
Flavien Vidal
> cuts_off_prius
06/24/2014 at 08:47 |
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I'm not sure a Clio Sport 197 would be importable in the US, but a Clio V6 Phase 2 under the show and display rule should definitly be doable I think...
Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif
> cuts_off_prius
06/24/2014 at 10:10 |
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I went there as a kid when I was visiting the maritimes for a wedding. Was not very Jalop at the time, but will try and find some pictures!