Originally Posted By: supton
Fair enough, although the stats I saw indicated the average age, and average miles per year, were lower for European vehicles than for American vehicles. [And presumably much lower for Japanese.] Perhaps Euro cars sit more, but when driven, get driven, which is your point?
My original point, which I didn't state (not sure why I didn't type it), is that Euro drivers probably don't care as much about having high tech. It's not like it's going to get that old. Who cares if the intake plugs shut after 120k--not when the car will be junked by 100k. [The irony for the Japanese is that they too could do likewise, since their cars don't have to go even that far--but they stick with old tech.]
And of course, if you're right, then that hypothetical intake plugging doesn't exist, since with rigorous driving it shouldn't plug up, or to my point, will proceed at a slow enough pace to not matter.
Euro car generally pack much, much more technology under the hood! Granted, Euro cars do not have that sophisticated cup holders, but when it comes to transmissions and engines, they are much more sophisticated then your regular Japanese or American car. Now, my reference to cup holders, I noticed that generally American cars pack a lot of convenience items compare to Euro cars, but I would say technology wise, Euro cars are in century ahead compare to Detroit. Detroit is trying to get that technology to the U.S. market, but it has to be very selective bcs. of expectations.
As for driving cycle, yeah, Europeans are using public transportation a lot (not all) and ditching cars at 100K is not more common then here, I would say people over there keep cars longer. Take into consideration that cars are more expensive there and interest rates are much higher. However, I would say that people over there are much likely to drive 1000 miles then here. Here what I noticed is that anything longer then 300mls, response is: there is SouthWest.
Also, like I said, geography probably makes people drive less miles, but because of size of continent, it is at the same time more conducive for drive. At the same time roads are at much higher standard then in the U.S. which also makes travel easier.
