Hi! This is my first post to BeamNG forums, yay! I am from Finland, and I do like american cars. But most cars we define stereotypical american cars aren't so practical here because of the four seasons and hars driving contitions. Many times in Finland in winter the temperature drops below -30C and we may have a half metre of snow on the roads. So a big american v8 car (that comes in our mind at first when we think of an stereotypical american car) is in trouble in those weathers. But some basic american cars, like ford focus and such, are popular around here. My dream car is a Ford Focus RS It's practical all around car but also very sporty. Of course I also want a rwd car for winter drifting ^^
so the fuel economy thing So you've got an American SUV with a big V8 thats all big and heavy I would be surprised to see one of them getting more than 20MPG But get a European big car (we used to have a Renault Grand Espace) that has a 3 litre V6 or something alike and you will get between 20-40MPG and you will probably have the horsepower that matches the V8 (the only thing that you can't dis for American cars is the V8 sound)
Focus was designed by fords European groups so is really a euro car not american. 3rd gen RS is due to be unveiled soon.
We've gotten far better at mpg (2014 expedition has a 5.4l v8 and manages 20MPG highway) Also, american suvs tend to be bigger then European suvs, so american suvs also have more vehicle to move, not really a fair comparison IMO Sent from the 3rd galaxy via the talks of tapping
Watch from 05.50 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHDlJSSZYjg Jeremy Clarkson driving a Ford f150, i qoute, 'this car doesn't work in britain, because we are just to sofisticated'. Even better Jeremy Clarkson bashing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mep9AbSlArE Those two videos explains what europeans think I have a hate love relationship with American cars, i mean the everyday cars such as Chevrolet Neon or Dodge Avenger or what ever, those cars are really boring nonsence to mee. Usually cheap plastic interior and just boring cars, the cars i love is 50s-mid 80s (Chevrolet Caprice, Impala, , Dodge Charger, Ford Fairline, Cadillac, Bel air) Those cars are used on 'Raggarträff' in Sweden, we have the biggest American car meet in the world, and we are n.1 country in the world to import old American cars. People meet up, fill the cars with 4-5-6 people, 1 driver and the rest drink beer. There are a few newer Corvette, Viper, Charger, big trucks like Dodge ram 3500 and such, those are ok and also welcome to the meetings, and most people, especially the younger generation, also like these cars. But it's not for the quality, or miles per galon, the only thing these people like is the fact that it has loud v8's, the look of the cars, the boaty feeling when cruising around town with the car full of people in slow speeds. The cars that have something special to offer are welcome, but everyday American cheap driver car is the most boring ever. In Sweden we have bunch of German cars, Japanese/Korean cars, A bunch of US Trucks and then the rest of Europe's cars.
Jeremy Clarkson != all of europe Besides, its top gear, its more of a comedy show then a factual show (for example, they made up the tesla roadster breaking down and all that, it never actually did any of that, and worked perfectly fine) Sent from the 3rd galaxy via the talks of tapping
This is gonna be a bit off topic now. Sorry for this, but... I've seen quite a few 2015 Mustangs IRL where I live, and they aren't as bad as I though. However, I still think the 2014 is better.
Irrelevant since the most common use of the Yanks' XXL SUVs is carrying air. Nobody forces them to make them so big and heavy, they just like them that way.
Well, us Europeans are also getting better at fuel economy too. I bring to you, The Citroen C4 Cactus. 91 Miles per gallon (that's the combined figure), it even not awful at 0-60 coming in at 10.7 seconds (on the 91mpg model). As far as i can tell its the modern equivalent to the citrons of old. Its practical (unless you want to tow stuff). The plastic bits on the side prevent damage from people opening their door onto your car etc. Its pretty impressive they got it down to 965kg as well (1070kg on the most economical diesel model). But i think its a bit of a fail that the rear windows don't open properly, they are on a latch like system where they can pop open a bit. Apparently they did this so they didn't have to fit them into the door. The 4x4 concept version looks pretty neat too: I am just happy to see Citroen making interesting cars again, its what they are best at doing.
As ive said many times, some people NEED all that space (my family for example, we have a 2003 ford expedition as its one of the very few vehicles that can actually fit my entire family with luggage) sadly many people get them just as a status symbol, and never uses it for its purpose Sent from the 3rd galaxy via the talks of tapping
Hi. I work for Mercedes, and i'm a german. Honestly, i would not consider myself overly patriotic at beeing german (or european, for that matter) but i belive that german cars simply are the best cars you can get world-wide. I do realise this is merely a question of taste, and i am certainly not unbiased, given the fact that i work for mercedes. I have driven a vast amount of vehicles, including americans, japanese, korean, scandinavian, british, etc, and i felt the most comfortable, most safe and most sport-y while steering a Mercedes-Benz. Obviously, one can not compare the brands itself, but one needs to compare single vehicle models. A S-Class Sedan wouldn't be sporty-er than any kind of Nissan 350, but a SL may be. Regarding American cars, i do definitely not hate them. I admire the classic design, and i am in love with the sound of an old carburettor-driven V8 block. However, common sense tells me, that such a car would be impractical (in germany) since it burns through fuel, will have difficulties finding a parking spot, fitting in a garage, and most older models are somehwat unsafe. Also, i am driving on the Autobahn regularily, and i am a bit irritated by the fact that some big, bulky american cars with 250 or 350HP struggle to archieve 160+ kph, while a 150hp C-Class goes all the way up to 240. So, hate, definitely not. Feeling these cars are impractical, maybe. Also, i'd prefer a more sporty susension setup over leaflet feathering. At the very least, i dislike Asian cars more that Americans. With american vehicles, i'm in a love-hate-relationship between "Awesome engine" and "You're going to cry at the Gas station, between "Classy Design" and "You won't fit in any garage with that", between "Compy, soft, cool" and "turns like a boat". For Asiatic Vehicles, i simply do not like most Designs, and i'm worried about safety and luxury concerns. And don't take me wrong, i'm not a boring driver. For some reason, i think it is a good idea to grab a Mercedes Sedan, fit a V12 with 630HP inside and print "AMG" on the back. In the very same time, i'm complaining about fuel consuption rates of an old Ford. So, it really seems to be a question of taste, i belive.
Im very interested to hear about your safety concerns with Asian vehicles. Is that just concerning some of the new Chinese vehicles that are often clones of other cars or is that concerning more well known asian brands such as honda,nissan and toyota etc?
Hi, one thing i'd like to say before i ask my question, is i really love your guys vehicles (my #1 favorite from you guys is the E350 4Matic) (and you guys are #2 favorite of all brands for me, absolutley amazing vehicles) as for the question though, you seem to talk a lot about older american vehicles, what are your thoughts on the more modern ones? also curious about what your concerns with asian vehicles are? (as it seems aljowen is)
I'm an European and I love american cars, my favourite are Shelby Cobra, Cuda, Challenger, Charger, Viper (especially the new one). I hate the fact that most of current car manufacturers downsize their engines, kill quality and driving pleasure while disregarding legacy and tradition.
Hi aljowen, hi logoster firstoff, great to hear you like Mercedes, the E-Class (and the derived CLS-Class) is one of my favorites, too. Indeed, i was talking about older american vehicles, mostly. Although, at least the size of the vehicles tends to be bigger than what is considered normal in Europe (then again, look whos' talking, a Mercedes ain't exactly small either). A difference in Engine Design is, that in europe, cars tend to become turbocharged, so, smaller displacement for better fuel economy, and a turbocharger to hold the horsepower constant. While i'm not exactly happy with this approach, it seems the fuel-saveing-turbocharger isn't such a big thing in the US, at least from what i've heard. My security concern about asian models is, on the one hand, you have all these small companies copying bigger brands in lower quality. But also better known Brands tend to construct smaller, lighter, and thus less reliable and safe cars. The Body is usually made out of less-robust materials, and the technology isn't as advanced as in european models. Although, again, it could be i'm just used to extremely high standarts, and that these cars are actually "normal" - so i don't mean to offend anyone. Any bigger brand nowadays builds modern, safe and somewhat sophisticated automobiles, and i wouldn't be fearing for my life if i was to set foot in e.g. a Toyota. But if i had the choice between one, and a compareable european one. But there will always be exceptions from the Rule, as i do not like certain french models too much, but meanwhile the european-oriented Ford models are quite cool, and i'd take a Chevy Sedan over a renault megane/laguna any time of the day.
There is a pattern I've noticed as being far more prevalent than europeans hating american cars, actually its one that makes the entire theme of the thread hypocritical. That is americans hating european cars.
I hate most european cars. Not because they're european, but because they're little econoboxes with no soul or passion. Just boring. If a european company makes a cool car, then I'll like it, has nothing to do with who makes it, it has to do with the car itself.
