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Old 10-29-2009, 03:39 PM   #16 (permalink)
rkcarguy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by darcane View Post
The way it was worded hardly sounds like they were consumer "demands"...

Studies may show one thing or another, but what is really telling is sales figures. If consumers truly demanding fuel economy in the 90's, why were big SUVs selling so well and small cars weren't? And, correct me if I'm wrong, but in the 90's GM sold the car with the highest mileage (Metro). Yes, Suzuki made them, but Metros sold far better than Swifts because of the GM name and dealer networks.

The fact is, nearly every manufacturer failed at this, and the reason why is that there was no market for it. Honda and Toyota had K-cars in the Japanese market they could have brought to the states and didn't. VW has small diesels that never got sold here. The list goes on and on.
It goes further than the big 3, it's about corrupt government and stupid EPA regulations that never allowed these vehicles to come to the US. Even now it still continues, Euro versions of some diesel vehicles get 80mpg, yet they will be lucky to see 60mpg here after they saddle them with all the extra BS..and thats IF they can sell them here at all. In the meantime, take it into your own hands and save yourself....
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