Re: Re: importing cars
Obadiah Fayth (fayth@ibm.net)
Fri, 31 Jul 1998 10:07:06 -0800
Isn't there also a potential problem with the engines? I think that for a
powerplant to be approved for US import it must meet emissions standards as
well as reliability for the engine and the emission components. I believe
that the emission components are required to last at least 50K mi or so
before failing. This is one reason why many small foreign producers will
choose a less powerful (but certified) engine for US import while keeping
the far more exotic machinery in the home market. One other interesting
fact is that producers who sell very few cars in the US (<50 I think) are
exempt from the crash testing requirement. They do a computer simulation
instead. Morgan is one company that manages to stay in the US because of
this exemption.
-Obie
Obadiah Fayth
Tacoma, Washington
'78 Alfetta GT
'91 Subaru LS AWD