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Originally Posted by engineer
I agree with you about better car's being offered on other continents. In my opinion, Australia has the best cars any auto company offers. I'm partial to Holden’s, but the Ford's and Toyota's they get are fantastic as well (by their looks and content listing, anyways).
Now, the next logical question is, Why? Crash testing standards, Emissions Standards, American taste (or lack there of), Cost Cutting, or Complacency? I say it's a combination of all of these things, but I believe in a free market, the "average" customer gets exactly what they want (within reason). Car company caters to the "average" customer, and throw in just enough extra's (whether that's Nav, diesels, power, manual transmissions, or sporty ride) to satisfy the car nuts, like you and I. These are low volume, niche vehicles that bring in relatively little money compared to the Camry’s, Accord’s, Impala’s, and 500’s. . . .
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Yeah, damn prisoner-state always gets better cars (j/king
) And the Holden Monaro and Ford Falcon are by far the two of my favorites Aussie/American effort. I wish NASCAR is more like the Australian V8 Touring Car Championship series, but that ain't gonna happen
In terms of your logical question, you're absolutely correct that it's pretty much all of the above
Sometimes, to be able to either A) bring/import a car over here, or B) manufacturer/assemble the same type car here, we'll certainly see a whole lot of compromises. Plus, nowadays whichever cars that get made or not are solely dependent on the marketing people, not so much the designers and engineers. Which IMO isn't good in a sense that, bottomline we as consumers may have less choices due to whatever decisions these marketing people made (due to their research or "intuitions"). Nonetheless there really isn't too much we as consumers could do, other than speaking with our wallets. Let's hope all the manufacturers' effort to globalize platforms and engineering/design would surely make tomorrow's consumer market a better place
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Originally Posted by engineer
On a side note, the new GTO's are everything the old one's used to be: A bland looking car with a big motor. The new one's failed because GM put a retro name (with a loyal following) on a bland car, while competing with Ford's retro bodystyled Mustang. That and the new GTO was (is) a $33,000 car. . . . albeit a very well equiped car. Independent Rear Suspension, full leather seats (front and back), 10 speaker Blaplunkt (sp) sound system, 400hp/400ft-lb, 6-speed manual, Dual piston PBR (Australia's equivalent of Brembo) front brakes, and a fantastic Holden chassis and interior. It runs low 13's in the 1/4, knocks down 26-28mpg highway, and 17-20 mixed driving. I guess I have a soft spot for it though. . . . I bought one about 3 weeks ago. . . .and have been smiling ever since. . . . 
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Smart buy
It's a great car, period. I still wouldn't have called it the GTO if I were the chief of marketing or whatever, so they definitely made a mistake marketing the Monaro as a GTO. Nevertheless the Monaro is great value for money, and a competent package to boot. I'm sure I'll have a big grin on my face too if I were to own and drive one
Besides, the Monaro is "donut" friendly, which means it's a cop-magnet
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