Re: Chinese-made cars will not be cheaper than domestics

Actually, it's NHTSA.

nate

And does NHTSA run the administration, congress and the senate?

Because our gov'ts will attempt to protect domestic and jack up the cost of imports.

They do not jack up they jack off

They do not jack up they jack off

----- Funny, my sediments with GM/CAW/UAW/Chrysler/Delco/GMAC exactly.

It's simple economics. If the Chinese build all our cars they will want higher pay, to bring their standard of living up to ours. Add the transportation and the handling charges on top, and give GM (or whoever imports them) their profit, and within a few years it will be cheaper to build CHINESE vehicles in North America than in China, just like it is now cheaper to build Toyota and Honda cars for North American consumption in North America than to build them in Japan.

In that respect the market IS self regulating.

Despite your prejudices the Smart is not "a crap box", even if the AMG version may cost a lot.

DAS

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Actually, not necesarily for the time being. I gather (not from here) that the Nano is still poor for safety, though that may change in future (with its price going up).

Furthermore, my 1993 Merc 190E has a market value of somewhere between zero and scrap, but I bet it's still a safer bet than a Tata Nano.

It is also interesting to note that the export version of the Nano will have more features.

DAS

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Around here if you can find a running car that will pass inspection (both safety and emissions) for less than $4K you're doing all right. I just don't see a whole lot of them for sale.

If you are near DC and your merc has a manual transmixer and will pass inspection, I'd be happy to give you scrap value for it. Maybe even a little more if I'm feeling generous :)

nate

Well, it just failed the UK MoT test, the annual roadworthiness test carried out on cars >3 yr...

However, it's all wear-and-tear items, the rusty silencer section (I think you all them "muffler") being the most expensive. And that had not been renewed for many years. A light knob came off. Costs about a pound... Nothing structural.

Something else I can't remember but will be paying for...

The great think about an old car is that one does not care so much about scratches and bumps. A great advantage when 'in conflict' with newer cars... whose drivers know this...

So, not selling...not yet, anyway.

DAS

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