Memo to GM big wigs.....I would buy a Cruze station wagon here in the states....funny how GM big wigs have to ponder such sales to Americans but can sell the wagons quickly to Europeans.....
The market for station wagons is a lot bigger in Europe. In the US, the market for wagons is much smaller; too many people who want the room still choose some sort of SUV, instead. So, the big wigs assume that the few companies that do sell wagons in the US are filling that niche.
If the wagons are going made for Europe then they have right hand drive.
Mr. Rowlands - I know your last post is a simple statement but I am sorry to say I don't understand it. Are you some how implying that they are made for the United Kingdom ONLY ??? since that is the only country in Europe that has right hand driving 8) or are you saying something that I don't get :-\
So why would GM just brush off consumers who do like wagons? Why would GM allow somebody to buy say a Honda wagon, enjoy the vehicle...and then be more inclined to buy more Hondas for the rest of his life and family?
I thought that my statement would be self explanatory, but apparently not. It takes a bit of engineering work and the production of different parts to build vehicles with steering wheels on the other side. So if GM through their market research has found that a certain model would not be very popular in one market but would be popular in another, they may decide to build that model for only the one market. If it was simply a marketing decision then perhaps a few of the cars could be diverted by special order, but if the vehicle is not set up for operation in the US, they may decide not to offer it here at all.
It may cost a quarter million dollars just to make the mold to make the plastic dashboard for the Cruze. A RH drive version would need its own mold, among other parts. GM's market research people have determined that there are not enough Dennis' out there willing to buy LH drive wagons to justify making them.
I still don't understand what that has to do with EUROPE and left hand driving since the United Kindom is the ONLY country in Europe that has left hand driving. Great Britian is just a very small part of the European Market - the rest is right hand driving and so there would be no need to change sides for steering purposes for the European Market. IMHO either you are saying something I do not understand at all about Europe and left hand driving or you think all of Europe has left handed driving ??? I certainly hope it is the former and not the latter statement and you can enlighten me on what I am missing. :laugh: Thanks ;)
Oh by the way you are talking to a retired Letter Carrier and a person who had been quite accustomed to left hand drive vehicles in a right hand world - just think about passing up a big truck :laugh: One of the first Postal Vehicles I drove was a left handed Nash Rambler Ambassador
Station Wagon ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D for the loooooongest time I would go to the passingers side to drive my own personal vehicle :o ;D It was really funny. ;D
My first car was a 1980 International Scout. Right hand drive.
This thread simply is not important enough to do all the legwork to satisfy your queries. Just do what I do and learn a simple six letter word. GOOGLE.
While most of Europe does have LHD like we do, they also have different safety standards. A wagon model might not be designed for our stricter standards, and would be cost-prohibitive (at least for the perceived size of the market) to make the small changes necessary for sale in the US.
Westsider hit it on the money. Many guys who bought European cars and wanted to ship them home at the end of their tours found that they were looking at conversions that cost as much as $3000 before they were permitted to ship them. I had a BMW over there that I thought about shipping back, but just didn't have the cash to pay for conversion...
Thanks for the replies. Like I said, I would have an interest in a Cruze Wagon....otherwise, I have no interest in the Cruze sedan. Since I currently own a late model Escort wagon, looks like I'll be buying a
foreign wagon sometime down the line.....
Thanks for the replies sfc_oliver and westsider makes sence to little old me. :laugh: And welllllll you too Mr. Rolands - your reply was extreemly informative and goes well beyond Europe and left hand driving ::) Many Thanks ! ! ! :-* and God Bless !!!