American cars in Europe

[The Bean]

I see a lot of trucks, 3 a day, but half of them are new Hemi Dodges (1500), and the other half are those '50s pickups. I have seen maybe 5 F150s, but zero Silverados. I have seen one Escelade pickup, but never a normal one

I also saw my first 2 Camaros a couple days ago, they're even rarer than McLarens and Ferraris (I've seen 4 maybe).

I also barely ever see any Chevrolets.

I have only ever seen 1honda accord

Why do I see a lot of some american cars, (ram) but others rarely (F150), even though they're basically the same type of car.

 

[JvG]

My neighbour has a "Chevrolet"

 

[The Bean]

Your typical "grandpa car"

 

[419RC]

To say a Ram is the same as a F150 could possibly cause a hate crime. It really comes down to marketing and demand. They simply probably wont sell there. I lived in Japan for a while and it was not uncommon to see a Toyota called one thing and called something entirely different in America, maybe with a different bumper kits.

We have Alfa Romeo here but they're few and far between. They look similar to a few other cars in American and no one buys them. Alfa vs Miata.

 

[LibertyMKiii]

That is interesting about the Ford vehicles. I always got the impression they were fairly popular in Europe.
You guys got the good models like the older Escort Cosworth RS.

We bought our first Ford last month which has the 3.5L twin turbo motor. Very impressed so far although I don't think American designers pay enough attention to ergonomics/driving position/visibility. That is where most Japanese and Euro cars do well.

 

[jeepnut]

@The Bean There's a large importer (AEC Europe) that has had an agreement to import FCA (now Stellantis) vehicles since 2011. Importers for Chevy and Ford aren't as big or well-established. Also, Ford sells the Ranger in Europe. Ram has no small pickup to worry about taking marketshare from with an import agreement.

That is interesting about the Ford vehicles. I always got the impression they were fairly popular in Europe.
You guys got the good models like the older Escort Cosworth RS.

We bought our first Ford last month which has the 3.5L twin turbo motor. Very impressed so far although I don't think American designers pay enough attention to ergonomics/driving position/visibility. That is where most Japanese and Euro cars do well.

I disagree. Maybe it's because I'm 6'4", but I can't stand the way Japanese cars are laid out. I fit much better in American cars. I don't really have experience with Euro cars to compare, so maybe I would like those better than Japanese cars.

 

[LibertyMKiii]

There's a large importer (AEC Europe) that has had an agreement to import FCA (now Stellantis) vehicles since 2011. Importers for Chevy and Ford aren't as big or well-established. Also, Ford sells the Ranger in Europe. Ram has no small pickup to worry about taking marketshare from with an import agreement.

I disagree. Maybe it's because I'm 6'4", but I can't stand the way Japanese cars are laid out. I fit much better in American cars. I don't really have experience with Euro cars to compare, so maybe I would like those better than Japanese cars.

Out of curiosity which Japanese cars? (wondering if you are talking about compact economy models?)
I absolutely loved my Toyota 4Runner and Honda Pilot

 

[FlipSide]

I once saw a Mustang in Munich. That was clashing a bit around the Audi, BMWs and Porsches. I saw a couple Corvettes as well.

 

[jeepnut]

Out of curiosity which Japanese cars? (wondering if you are talking about compact economy models?)
I absolutely loved my Toyota 4Runner and Honda Pilot

My experience is limited, but pretty much every one I've ever sat in. The seat just never goes back far enough for me, either driver or passenger. Not a fan of the dash layouts that I've encountered either. Of course, I also hate the way Ford and GM do their dashes. I'm really just a Mopar guy.

 

[LibertyMKiii]

My experience is limited, but pretty much every one I've ever sat in. The seat just never goes back far enough for me, either driver or passenger. Not a fan of the dash layouts that I've encountered either. Of course, I also hate the way Ford and GM do their dashes. I'm really just a Mopar guy.

I'm not quite as tall as you at 6'1" but have some bad back issues from 2 motor cycle accidents.
The only seat that was good for me was a 96' grand Cherokee.

I think for all manufacturers they have really improved their interiors significantly in the last 5 years. This is likely part of why the cars cost 25-50% more than ever.

 

[The Bean]

I've only seen old corvettes (C4 and 5)

I know the F150 and ram. 1500 aren't the same, but their both the same size pickups --> close enough

 

[Boggs3010]

Went to buy a Rav 4 last year myself and wife. Intended for her. We got in for the test drive, I am only 6 feet even, and on the passenger side my head hit the roof. The seat did not go any lower or have a way to lower it. Go out and went to Kia her 2nd choice.

I thought American sports car will be a little more plentiful. And vintage Cadilacs.

 

[The Bean]

The most cars you see here in the Netherlands are those smaller japanese hatchbacks (like the Hyundai i10 and i20), about the size of a VW polo.

You also see a lot of crossovers (Mazda CX-3 and CX-5), and station wagons, like the Skoda Superb

Some people buy real SUV's, like land cruisers, though most of the time only for heavy towing

 

[Monster Dork]

I'll tell you from experience, American sports cars on the Autobahn are a joke. High end Corvettes can hold their ground, but all those NASCAR-inspired "muscle" cars are basically Tauruses, Crown Victorias and Caprices with a face-lift.

 

[3x9rtse]

Not to derail the thread , but as much as they claim Ford trucks are number one , if you actually pay attention , you ( or at least I ) see way more Rams running around vs. F150's or Silverados , and yes , I am a Mopar guy .

 

[The Bean]

I just realized that for some reason I never see Lamborghinis, only mclarens, Ferraris, jags etc

Not to derail the thread , but as much as they claim Ford trucks are number one , if you actually pay attention , you ( or at least I ) see way more Rams running around vs. F150's or Silverados , and yes , I am a Mopar guy .

And every single F150 I've ever seen in Europe is a Harley Davidson edition for some reason

 

[LibertyMKiii]

Not to derail the thread , but as much as they claim Ford trucks are number one , if you actually pay attention , you ( or at least I ) see way more Rams running around vs. F150's or Silverados , and yes , I am a Mopar guy .

I am in Texas which is a big truck state.
Most are status symbols these days and not used as trucks. With that said I like to pay attention to the old trucks on the road. Other than the diesel Cummins Dodge 2500's I don't see many older dodge trucks on the road. (pre-hemi years).

I have heard from too many Dodge 1500 owners that the Hemi motor is good and the rest just falls apart as typical Chrysler issues. I cannot really verify those things, but has always stuck with me.

Usually if I see an older truck on the road pushing over 300k miles its a Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra with the 5.3L. Probably has a little to do with the 6.0L trucks were doing more of the towing duties than the 5.3L and 4.8L optioned.

Each brand has its strong point. The GM LS motor series is solid and so cheap to maintain. Ford has a good transmission (other than the Allison in the GM Diesels). Dodge has a good looking truck and interior (I imagine their later trucks with the 6+ speed trans are better reliability in the transmission section)

The Tundra never really caught on as a working mans truck. Same with the Nissan Titan. I was really thinking when they released the Cummins powered Titan that would catch on, but it didn't. Probably just domestic brand loyalty in most cases...

 

[Outcastblxnut]

My local high school is a car show.
google earth. Lake norman, nc. Trump national golf course

 

[Monster Dork]

You wouldn't want to own a big 'merican truck in Europe- you're too far from a dealer to address all those warranty issues in the first two years!

 

[Outcastblxnut]

I am in Texas which is a big truck state.
Most are status symbols these days and not used as trucks. With that said I like to pay attention to the old trucks on the road. Other than the diesel Cummins Dodge 2500's I don't see many older dodge trucks on the road. (pre-hemi years).

I have heard from too many Dodge 1500 owners that the Hemi motor is good and the rest just falls apart as typical Chrysler issues. I cannot really verify those things, but has always stuck with me.

Usually if I see an older truck on the road pushing over 300k miles its a Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra with the 5.3L. Probably has a little to do with the 6.0L trucks were doing more of the towing duties than the 5.3L and 4.8L optioned.

Each brand has its strong point. The GM LS motor series is solid and so cheap to maintain. Ford has a good transmission (other than the Allison in the GM Diesels). Dodge has a good looking truck and interior (I imagine their later trucks with the 6+ speed trans are better reliability in the transmission section)

The Tundra never really caught on as a working mans truck. Same with the Nissan Titan. I was really thinking when they released the Cummins powered Titan that would catch on, but it didn't. Probably just domestic brand loyalty in most cases...

Nissan 4wd is superior. My boss had a tricked out tundra trd. I can’t count the times I pulled him out with the ole titan.