Forbes lists 10 cars that require a passport to buy
In Ten Cars You Can't Buy in the US, Forbes offers a sampling of tasty metal that US buyers just aren't good enough to put money down on. However, the real title should be Ten Cars You Can't Buy in the US Yet, or Any More, or That You Wouldn't Buy Even if You Could. The article focuses mainly on the Italians and the French, and reaffirms the French makers' intent not to return to the US any time soon. The slide show, though, includes the the Mitsubishi Evo (Forbes shows the Evo X, which we are getting), Smart (again, we're getting the new one), Vanquish S, and Skyline (available here as the G35). The article then goes on to suggest the Infiniti G35 as an alternative to the Skyline, its JDM twin. G35 coupes fully rebadged to replicate their JDM Skyline twins are nothing new, so Forbes isn't exactly offering revolutionary advice here.
[Source: Forbes.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bart 11:51AM (7/15/2007)
So Forbes establishes again, they know nothing about cars. Why is crap like this tolerated? Why is noone criticizing them?
I mean, even the Europeans hate Citroens in general, and the Peugeot 4007.
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Barney 12:26PM (7/15/2007)
You may want to read the article.
Bart 1:45PM (7/15/2007)
I ment on a more serious level. Not some autoblog.
Don 4:37PM (7/16/2007)
Europeans do not "hate" Citroen...
Petey 11:58AM (7/15/2007)
No Euro Focus? Everyone is begging for that.
You can buy the Smart 2-4 in Canada.. i see them everywhere, here in Ottawa.
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500 12:01PM (7/15/2007)
The article obviously confuses the Skyline Coupe, which you can buy in the US rebadged as the Infiniti G35/G37, with the much hotter Skyline GT-R, which you can't buy here (yet.)
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snazzum 12:12PM (7/15/2007)
And the Peugeot 4007 (shown above) is a rebadged Mitsu Outlander:
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/09/attack-of-the-clones-ii-peugeot-4007-press-shots/
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nagmashot 12:24PM (7/15/2007)
The Audi A3 is avaible as 3 or 5 door and only the A3 5 door sportback looks like a wagon.
They miss many much hotter europen cars not avaible in the US..
Renault Megane R26 Sport
Renault Clio RS Sport
Seat Leon Cupra R
VW Polo GTI Cup
etc etc.
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Lee 12:45PM (7/15/2007)
This list is weak sauce. There are lots of interesting cars that the U.S. doesn't get, but instead the author mostly chooses to name cars that simply haven't arrived yet. Lazy.
The 1-series is another anomaly, which the article even points out to itself. The author seems to think that it still fits because the U.S. market isn't getting the hatch, even though the rest of the car is the same.
What about the Ford Mondeo, European Focus, and the Aussie Falcon? Nissan Teana (better than the U.S. Maxima), and Mitsubishi 380 (better than the Galant)... thats just for starters.
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Imp 1:16PM (7/15/2007)
Petey, if you're trying to be funny, you've failed miserably ... it's a Smart ForTwo.
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praetorian 2:21PM (7/15/2007)
There are only two I care about:
http://tinyurl.com/ys89m8
and
http://www.toyota.com.au/landcruiser-70-series
It's a damned shame that these two true 4x4's can't be sold in the U.S., leaving only the increasingly-plastic-and-underpowered wrangler available.
It's a great time to buy a car or truck if you are into plastic space-eggs though.
Cheers,
prat
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... 6:06PM (7/15/2007)
I'm not sure, but i think toyota's fj cruiser is supposed to compete with the wrangler, but it looks more hummer-sized to me(too big). I've heard its suspension is quite capable though.
Gerard 2:49PM (7/15/2007)
Forbes's knowledge of cars is about as high as Playboy's. Could they hire some car people, please?
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Colin Smith 5:54PM (7/15/2007)
Someone said that 'the above' was a Peugeot. It's a Citroen. But Peugeot does an identical version, for Europeans who wouldn't be seen dead in a Citroen. They're the people who wouldn't be seen dead in a Peugeot...
But it really doesn't matter. Because it's a re-badged Mitsubishi - or a Nissan or something else Japanese really. Who knows what's-what anymore?
I keep seeing Chrysler 300s, which are the same as Dodge somethigorothers - or the other way around, 'cos they're all sorta old Merc E Classes too aren't they? So everywhere is the same. Hey-ho:(
But the public suspends its disbelief.
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oZ 6:24PM (7/15/2007)
Yeah, the Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum, and Dodge Charger are all on the same platform. They share a copy of a transmission as well as the steering rack from the Mercedes E Class. That's about it.
Jared 8:18PM (7/15/2007)
Forbes should stop putting out stuff on cars. Not only do they incorrectly describe cars but only the C6 and Fiat 500 have no confirmed plans of coming to NA.
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Jaymez 10:07PM (7/15/2007)
What? No Holdens? Bullshit list without Holdens.
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