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why can't the UK have nice retro cars like the US

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Old 26-01-2011 | 02:01 AM
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Default why can't the UK have nice retro cars like the US

the UK gets RS focus as the fast ford US gets Mustang shelby supercharged 5.4 32v v8




GM in the uk at least you get the minaro or did, but its not good looking really, US gets Camero and from 2012 the new Trans am like the old smokey and the bandit.




Chrysler sell crap in the uk, in US you get RT8 in just about every model.



I guess with fuel prices like they are, we won't be getting any of these soon.
Old 26-01-2011 | 04:36 AM
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Its what the people want.. We get the commadore clubsport, maloo r8 ute, ford falcon xr8, f6 etc which are all big hp but not any quicker than a good stage 3 cos so why would you want a big heavy car that drinks petrol.. Obviously you havent driven a focus rs?
Old 26-01-2011 | 05:28 AM
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Would rather have the focus rs than the yank cars
Old 26-01-2011 | 06:19 AM
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i dont see the complaint about the focus rs tbh, american cars are good on american roads. i.e straight . as someone said its all about what sells and what people want
Old 26-01-2011 | 06:25 AM
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Would love a new Camaro!!!!

Think as said above its down to the roads and fuel prices etc in the UK, any of those yank beasts would cost a fortune to run over here, plus I dont think they made them with the steering wheel on the correct, sorry right side!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Old 26-01-2011 | 07:12 AM
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I would have a focus RS over any of that rubbish!!!!
Old 26-01-2011 | 10:51 AM
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I'd sooner own a V8 than an RS etc.

Although I wouldnt be driving a LHD.

The big problem in the UK, is a car that costs say Ł20k in the US, suddenly jumps to about Ł50k by the time it's approved for sale in the UK, and it's still LHD.

Although oddly the same doesnt happen in reverse. We only get robbed in the UK

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Old 26-01-2011 | 11:00 AM
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Maybe is because you yanks need a massive car for your big lard arses and you need a big boot(trunk!) for a the crackwhore you just murdered and your machine guns
Old 26-01-2011 | 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by RETRO_AL_
Maybe is because you yanks need a massive car for your big lard arses and you need a big boot(trunk!) for a the crackwhore you just murdered and your machine guns
Obviously not trying to be stereotypical at all of course!
Old 26-01-2011 | 11:21 AM
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I would rather have a mustang or a charger than a focus RS anyday tbh
Old 26-01-2011 | 11:24 AM
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I'd sooner have the Focus.

Some of the American stuff is nice looking, but most of it is tacky, tasteless and made out of shit materials to keep costs down.

Fuel prices make cars like that impossible here for most people, and they just don't work very well on our roads.

A worrying amount of US cars are till messing about with live axles or leaf springs, which is technology we left in the 1970s.
Old 26-01-2011 | 11:37 AM
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Is this thread for real
Old 26-01-2011 | 11:48 AM
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Are British/European rally cars and American muscle cars not supposed to be different things altogether, I dont see why you would compare a mustang to a FRS they are each different and each great cars.
Old 26-01-2011 | 11:58 AM
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There not retro cars.

There brand new cars wearing same badge as it's predecessors from the 60's & 70's
Old 26-01-2011 | 02:01 PM
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Originally Posted by massivewangers
I'd sooner have the Focus.

Some of the American stuff is nice looking, but most of it is tacky, tasteless and made out of shit materials to keep costs down.

Fuel prices make cars like that impossible here for most people, and they just don't work very well on our roads.

A worrying amount of US cars are till messing about with live axles or leaf springs, which is technology we left in the 1970s.
the reason for the live axle is becasue the americas either drive a car to look good and thats it, or drive it for drag racing, and drag racing with the power they get out of their cars is only any good with a live axle, Ford went to an IRS and the customer complained it wasn't strong enough and kept breaking, so the new mustang went back to live, the Americans don't do track days like the brits, if you want to do track stuff you buy a seleen how ever its spelt
Old 26-01-2011 | 02:08 PM
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If we had massive wide roads and cheap fuel then the Yank tanks would make sense. But over here you'd be a nutcase/masochist to chose one over a Focus RS IMO!
Old 26-01-2011 | 02:27 PM
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all the cars i showed at the top are available in v6 and the charger is even available in a diesel, and are not as bad on fuel these days as people think, maybe not as good as a diesel golf or focus, i was just showing that the americans have nice looking cars, not euro boxes like we get in the UK, most people don't want an out and out race car, and if you do, and you still want one of the above cars there are aftermarket people making the race car version, with chevy if you want a race car for track use u go with the vette, and vette has been one of the fastest cars round the top gear track, so not all american cars handle like a sack of shit, i hate front drive, so i would have to choose one of the American cars as they look so much better looking than a BMW or Merc, although the BMW or Merc would be a far better car, i guess there is always a few jap rear drive cars available, but i like the retro look, think it makes a refeshing change from the wind tounnel cars we normally get.
Old 26-01-2011 | 02:50 PM
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for the people that think the yank tanks are crap on fuel

The v6 mustang has 300hp from factory and lists an mpg of 31mpg, thats 31mpg for a US gallon which is 3.78 ltrs, that means in the UK it would be 37mpg, so not as crap as people think, the yank tanks arn't as bad now as the stereo type people think.

540hp mustang on a UK gallon list motorway mpg as 26+, not bad from a 5.4 v8 with 540hp,
Old 26-01-2011 | 03:05 PM
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Talking about yank tanks, i really need to stop looking at this http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=762
Old 26-01-2011 | 03:09 PM
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the focus is more suitable to our roads, and our requirements. get one of those big yank boats to chase a Focus RS down some british country lanes, and see how close it gets, regardless of how cool they look, how many cylinders it has, or how much power, there just not really suitable for british roads/requirements.

cool, yes, sensible/practicle, no.
Old 26-01-2011 | 05:13 PM
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to the op
what do you mean we dont get good retro cars
we got the new ford gt (gt 40) didnt we?
Old 26-01-2011 | 05:40 PM
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Right, if I am to interpret the OP's point correctly;

If he means 'modern' interpretations of old classic's, then at the moment, only one manufacturer has tried & that is VW with the re introduction of the 'modern' Beetle.

Therefore, i agree that it would be good if some manufacturers, for example, brought back some models in limited numbers, for the UK EG how about a 21st century interpretation of:

The Ford Capri
The Ford Lotus Cortina

The Jaguar E type
Aston Martin DB5

MG B GT

The Jag E Type for example is a classic, just imagine that glorious body with 21st century brakes, engine, suspension etc.....

Ford hasn't really succeeded in replacing the Capri, they tried with the Probe & Cougar, but really it didn't succeed......

I'm surprised they haven't decided to reprise some of the classic names of the 70's.
There is a whole market there to sell to, people who were kids in the 70's/80's who'd love something retro to remind them of their childhoods!!

Last edited by Magnum PI; 26-01-2011 at 05:41 PM.
Old 26-01-2011 | 05:43 PM
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I have always liked american cars even though people say they handle like shit.
Old 26-01-2011 | 05:46 PM
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We do get some of the newer stuff. Look on pistonheads. GRanted they are all imports but if you want one over here you can have one but not a UK spec.

We do get Mustangs (Shelby, Roush). Camaros, Corvettes, Challengers.

I'd love one personally. On paper might be total bollocks and not be as quick or good to drive as our Euro or Jap cars but I'd have one for the presence and coolness alone.
Old 26-01-2011 | 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Magnum PI
Right, if I am to interpret the OP's point correctly;

If he means 'modern' interpretations of old classic's, then at the moment, only one manufacturer has tried & that is VW with the re introduction of the 'modern' Beetle.
And Fiat with the 500
And BMW with the MINI.

.
Old 26-01-2011 | 05:54 PM
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Focus V8,

oh yeah, i forgot about those. Doh!!
Old 26-01-2011 | 06:03 PM
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having had a dodge charger hire car over there, i fell in love with big american cars. the camaro and mustang are absolutely beautiful, i'd love one.
Old 26-01-2011 | 06:10 PM
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Ford never stopped making the Fiesta, been going since 1975 IIRC? Does it count as a classic?
Old 26-01-2011 | 08:16 PM
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Don't most of those cars mentioned above still have leaf springs?

Enough said!
Old 26-01-2011 | 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by RichieST
Don't most of those cars mentioned above still have leaf springs?

Enough said!
You've been watching too much Clarkson..and co.

Mustang lost it's leaf springs in 1979.

.

Last edited by focusv8; 26-01-2011 at 08:29 PM.
Old 26-01-2011 | 08:40 PM
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http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2435066.htm

450BHP Supercharged V8 'Stang for Ł25k

Can get low mileage ~10-30k miles Challengers and Camaros for about Ł30k too. V8 muscle and proper cool cars for Ł30k ain't half bad. Euro box might be better but there are plenty of supercharged Mustangs for the same money.
Old 26-01-2011 | 09:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Magnum PI
Right, if I am to interpret the OP's point correctly;

If he means 'modern' interpretations of old classic's, then at the moment, only one manufacturer has tried & that is VW with the re introduction of the 'modern' Beetle.

Therefore, i agree that it would be good if some manufacturers, for example, brought back some models in limited numbers, for the UK EG how about a 21st century interpretation of:

The Ford Capri
The Ford Lotus Cortina

The Jaguar E type
Aston Martin DB5

MG B GT

The Jag E Type for example is a classic, just imagine that glorious body with 21st century brakes, engine, suspension etc.....

Ford hasn't really succeeded in replacing the Capri, they tried with the Probe & Cougar, but really it didn't succeed......

I'm surprised they haven't decided to reprise some of the classic names of the 70's.
There is a whole market there to sell to, people who were kids in the 70's/80's who'd love something retro to remind them of their childhoods!!
think there was a company based in the uk that you can have an e type modernised, people said it lost its charms
its back to that old thing . your first car memories are great memories but were shit at the time i.e shonky old escorts etc that always broke down ...
classics should remain classic
Old 26-01-2011 | 10:18 PM
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Originally Posted by RichieST
Don't most of those cars mentioned above still have leaf springs?

Enough said!
the mustang lost them in 99, but got them back in 05, the customers that bought them with IRS kept braking the axles drag racing, so Ford put live axle back on, as most people don't care about the suspension as the car just looks cool and they only drive around at slow speeds anyway,

camaro is based on an vauxhall Omega so has got IRS, not sure about the dodges but think they are independent all round
Old 26-01-2011 | 10:20 PM
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Here's a random one!

I watched Transformers 2 the other night (Megan Fox, phwoar ) and there was a scene where they were in an Astra (05-10) shape. What's that sold as over in the states?!
Old 26-01-2011 | 10:21 PM
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Nowt wrong with a live axles, irs are for shopping cars
Old 26-01-2011 | 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Magnum PI
Focus V8,

oh yeah, i forgot about those. Doh!!
and the ford gt as i posted right above you post lol
Old 26-01-2011 | 10:48 PM
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why on earth would u want one of them ugly looking yank nails most of them still have horse and cart suspention lol over here we get much better cars like amg mercs m3s or porsche just to name a few! european cars are light years ahead!
Old 26-01-2011 | 10:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Magnum PI
Right, if I am to interpret the OP's point correctly;

If he means 'modern' interpretations of old classic's, then at the moment, only one manufacturer has tried & that is VW with the re introduction of the 'modern' Beetle.

Therefore, i agree that it would be good if some manufacturers, for example, brought back some models in limited numbers, for the UK EG how about a 21st century interpretation of:

The Ford Capri
The Ford Lotus Cortina

The Jaguar E type
Aston Martin DB5

MG B GT


Ford hasn't really succeeded in replacing the Capri, they tried with the Probe & Cougar, but really it didn't succeed......

I'm surprised they haven't decided to reprise some of the classic names of the 70's.
There is a whole market there to sell to, people who were kids in the 70's/80's who'd love something retro to remind them of their childhoods!!
i think you will find the Capri will be making a come back soon
Old 26-01-2011 | 11:05 PM
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Originally Posted by massivewangers
Here's a random one!

I watched Transformers 2 the other night (Megan Fox, phwoar ) and there was a scene where they were in an Astra (05-10) shape. What's that sold as over in the states?!
Same as here "a pikey piece of tin and cheap plastic shite"
Old 26-01-2011 | 11:12 PM
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my old man is waiting for convertable production on the camaro and he will be 1 of the 1st on the list
they are doing after market chops on them but he wants factory


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