No, I didn't author that quote, so how can that possibly be my opinion?Originally Posted by Guibo
I've never believed the GT to be a "cynical rip-off", I've never "hated the idea", been "sceptical" or thought it "half-baked" and a "tacky pastiche".
I agree that it lacks imagination.
Why does it matter if it is per capita or not?Originally Posted by Guibo
1000 cars sold in the USA is 1000 cars sold, even if it is 0.000295% of the American population.
If, per capita, the people of Lichtenstein buy more, say 1%, that's only 30 cars.
The argument makes no sense!
Enough people paid a lot for a "lowly" Ford badge, and people pay a lot for a Saleen badge, which has even less cache than one of the big companies, so your argument about American badges lacking prestige doesn't really convince.Originally Posted by Guibo
I also find your notion that all of these wealthy American collectors would baulk at an American car rather strange.
Certainly I'll wager some collect expensive American classics - why not "moderns" as well?
Yes, I do agree.Originally Posted by Guibo
However there is the "Halo" effect.
If a fairly profitable venture, i.e. it generated enough profit to pay for itself, was there to show that "Big-Motor-Corp" could beat the best of Europe, maybe that would convince people that their more mainstream cars were that good as well.
You just have a very defeatist attitude, that's all.Originally Posted by Guibo
TVR was bought for £15 million ($27 million).
Are you really telling me that no one in the USA has $27 million going spare?
Not any of these super-rich, Mclaren F1-owning, car collectors?
As for engines;
Farboud are getting their engines from Ford as their original tuned-Audi ones were too expensive.
Marcos seem to have gotten Chevy to supply them without going bankrupt.
Ultima get their Chevy-based engines from "American Speed" - their most powerful being a 454ci unit with 650bhp for only $13,125...
The Mosler and Saleen seem to have managed it...Originally Posted by Guibo
Quite a few companies like Ariel and Noble also seem to have managed to create excellent chassis fairly cheaply.
Lets say we do.Originally Posted by Guibo
Lets say only 1% of votes would be for more sports cars.
That's still 2.95 million people, and I'd guess there'd be most of those wealthy McLaren-owning car-nuts on that list too...
From your fairly strong arguments against, I feel that you wouldn't actually like to see more American sports cars at all.
Very sad to see that no one actually thinks it would be a great idea.