Why we don't get the really good cars.

The other day I was watching an episode of Top Gear that a colleague of mine had downloaded and copied to CD for me, (what do you mean it's illegal?), and I began to wonder: why don't we get those awesome Bugattis, Koenigsiggs; Morgans; Pagani Zondas; Audi RS6, Ascari A10; Gumpert Appollo; KTM RC8; Jaguar XJ220; TVRs;, featured in the JohnTravolta movie Swordfish, and until recently, the Ariel Atom. Why are these incredible high-performance vehicles reserved only for those who live in the 'old world'? Why aren't they here for all of us to enjoy the 'see-it-once-in-your-lifetime' experience? Is it the dollar? Nope. No matter the price, there will always be someone who has the money and is willing to pay top-dollar for the right to own something that no one else has, (just look at the Barrett-Jackson auction of two years ago and the CNN Hummer!). Is it government legislation? Not really, not for those of us who live in the snow-belt. Then why aren't we allowed the right to complain that they're here but there's no roads good enough to drive them on?

Well, stupidly enough, it's because we don't count. Canada's population is too small to count as a large enough demographic in which car makers are willing to invest in modifying their cars adequately enough to accommodate our legislation. So, is that why they're not sold here? Nope, again.

It's because of the US market, mostly because of California's emissions laws and the federal laws governing bumpers, impact velocities, etc. That's right, our automotive future is decided by the laws and policies of another land! Now, you ask, how does that make sense and why doesn't a population of 33 million and a few thousand millionaires justify bringing these cars overseas?

Well, aside from the US' governance, you would assume, it's because of the climate. After all, can you envisage an Ascari or an Enzo on the roads in the winter? Nope? Well, oddly enough, Ferrari did sell Enzos in Canada, so why not the Ascari? In this case, it's money, plain and simple. (Look for these cars on YouTube, using Top Gear as a header).

As limited a production as the Enzo was, (349 units, three 'test mules'), it was still sold here and despite being listed in the millions of dollars, they were ALL sold. So, again, why not those cars with the weird names listed above?!

Well, those specialty cars are VERY limited, numbering less than 200 probably for each. And they're hand-built. Wow, says you! if you had the money...

But this isn't reserved to legendary super cars. Today's blog is about all cars. We don't get Daihatsu; most Mitsubishis or Nissans; Renaults, (don't knock it, they made more than just the Renault 5 and the Encore; they're one of Europe's best 'people cars'). What about the Peugeots; the Citroens; even Skodas! Have you seen what a Honda Civic Si looks like in Europe vs. the lumbering snoozer we get here?! (Don't get me wrong, the new Civic Coupe is damn good looking, it's just that what's offered in Europe is BETTER.)

Heck, even the one brand I truly detest, F*rd, is far better than what's served up on the automotive platter in North America.

What about Opel and Vauxhall... again, some of the best 'people cars'. But why don't we see them on our roads?!

Well, it all comes down to conditioning. When you compare the European and North American markets, they're so much more open to new things, to advances in technology and designs. But we North Americans are soo conservative. Well, we're not I say. I say 'Enough, let the genie out of the bottle!' We have some nice cars to choose from but really look at them. Buicks; Oldsmobiles; Crown Victorias; Impalas; etc. We're conditioned to take things very slowly. Why do we have such huge, lumbering chrome-laddened machines? As much as I love the Chrysler 300C, it's another car that fits the North American ideal. When Top Gear reviewed a prototype of the 300C, they were astonished by it's design, (it IS damn handsome) but more by its sheer size. The only vehicles larger in Europe are Rolls Royces and Maybachs.

I say we're ready for variety. I say we want all flavors. We want radical styling. We want cars that look like they belong in the 21st century, not 1962! We want flash red interiors with Sat-Nav that speaks like the butler on 'The Nanny`. We`re ready for George Jetson`s car! We`re ready to accept something different than our North American cousins to the South of our borders.

I say, as practical as they are, we don`t need 15 cup-holders. Drink your Timmy`s in the dining area! Cars are for more than just go to work; groceries; in-laws; Ikea. Cars have been with us for over a century now and although they`re not flying yet, I say we should fly in the face of North American... (or American for that matter), conformity and open our land to those other great automakers from `across the pond`.

Now, if we could only get those brands to see us for what.. or who, we`re not.