My son and I had a discussion about this fairly recently. My position is that Americans do not want an affordable vehicle. In Europe, there is a large market for cheap to own and cheap to operate little tiny cars. I don't believe they would sell here even if Big Brother wasn't watching out for our best interests. Cars are status symbols to Americans. We identify ourselves with what we drive; be it a Honda Accord or a Ford F-350 with dual rear wheels.The last vehicle that was available to us which fit into that category was that marvel of Serbo-Croatian engineering, the Yugo, and we all know what your friends and neighbors thought of you if you drove a Yugo! I used to drive a '59 Ford Ranch Wagon, which I bought from a friend's dad. He apologized when I was looking at it, saying that the only option he had purchased with the car was the heater. Can you imagine a heater being an options in today's market? I, for one, would love to see more affordable, but well built cars on the road, but I really don't believe that it is something that's likely to happen, unless we go into a steep recession AND gas prices go through the roof. Karl Wolz ----- Original Message ----- From: "Terry Kay" <CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 9:53 AM Subject: Re: New Microbus Website
> Steve, > Here's a question for you. > What do you deem affordable? > I really can't think of anything affordable lately! > I think, the "peoples car" is basically on the lower end of the scale, > for an reasonably priced vehicle. > It just eludes my mind, to even think of a reasonable car in today's rip > off market! > Have you heard, or does anyone know what the new bus is going to cost? > > ______________ > |[ ] [ ] [ ]\ > | | | | > ||-(())----(())-| > > Terry 85 GL > |
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