RE: F430 Barred from USA?
Tuesday 17th January 2006
Banned in the USA?
F430 Barred from USA?
It's possible...
A respected US website is reporting that Ferrari's F430 may be barred from sale in the USA because its airbags don't protect women and children well enough in certain scenarios.
The website - Inside Line - reports, "the F430 lacks sufficient protection for a small number of female occupants who aren't strapped into the correct position in the event of a crash. The same problem applies to child occupants."
Banned in the USA?
Unless Ferrari can obtain a waiver from the US authorities, delivery of F430 models to dealers will have to cease by September 1st this year.
As a workaround the authorities have suggested to Ferrari that they supply dealers with enough cars by September for them to sell for two years! Ferrari say that this isn't logistically possible as F430 production is flat out already.
Links
Discussion
This is the usual bureaucratic US-nonsense scenario !
As long as the guys over the pond keep their sawsuit-happy attitude I feel that things over there wont change.
For example the US-version of the Lotus Elise ... how long did it take to get this little car US federalized ? ... must have been at least 6 years ! Almost the whole car and drivetrain was changed before they were allowed to export it to the US. Did it get better then ? I dont think so, just heavier, IMHO.
Marcus
As long as the guys over the pond keep their sawsuit-happy attitude I feel that things over there wont change.
For example the US-version of the Lotus Elise ... how long did it take to get this little car US federalized ? ... must have been at least 6 years ! Almost the whole car and drivetrain was changed before they were allowed to export it to the US. Did it get better then ? I dont think so, just heavier, IMHO.
Marcus
but in US they are often primary. This is therefore a wrong but predictable response.
Hold on, chaps. Before you go too far down the path of "silly US bureaucracy," let's remember that WE (yeah, I'm a Yank)weren't the ones who invented the Ministry of Silly Walks! But the common chord that made Monty Python so popular on both sides of the Atlantic was that the excesses bureaucracy are universal.
In this case, the irony is that officials are recommending that cars be imported before the cutoff date. Apparently they're "safe" now, but not next fall, but since they're already in the country, you'll be able to use that silly walk, uh, drive that "unsafe" Ferrari indefinitely.
That said, it should be remembered that the air bag was invented and developed in the U.S., and was required here before anywhere else. It was originally called a passive restraint EVERYWHERE before people learned that alone it could, for instance, propel an unbelted child in the front seat out through the rear window.
We do have different laws in the various states, under the theory of limited power to the central goverment etc etc. And generally--unless liability lawyers intervene--we let people "benefit" from their own stupidity as long as it doesn't harm someone else. Rugged individualism and all that. I oppose mandatory cycle helmet use: it cleans out the shallow end of the gene pool.
Yeah, we may have silly laws and even sillier enforcement...but at least they're OUR laws. And not something from Brussels. ;-)
In this case, the irony is that officials are recommending that cars be imported before the cutoff date. Apparently they're "safe" now, but not next fall, but since they're already in the country, you'll be able to use that silly walk, uh, drive that "unsafe" Ferrari indefinitely.
That said, it should be remembered that the air bag was invented and developed in the U.S., and was required here before anywhere else. It was originally called a passive restraint EVERYWHERE before people learned that alone it could, for instance, propel an unbelted child in the front seat out through the rear window.
We do have different laws in the various states, under the theory of limited power to the central goverment etc etc. And generally--unless liability lawyers intervene--we let people "benefit" from their own stupidity as long as it doesn't harm someone else. Rugged individualism and all that. I oppose mandatory cycle helmet use: it cleans out the shallow end of the gene pool.
Yeah, we may have silly laws and even sillier enforcement...but at least they're OUR laws. And not something from Brussels. ;-)
Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but this looks like a good time for one. I would speculate, given the current market population, that our "big three" (somewhat neutered these days) are probably lobbying to get any vehicles that might compete with the Corvette/Viper/Ford GT barred. Witness the trouble Pagani had getting the Zonda approved. I would also fear what would happen should a company like TVR attempt to gain a foothold in the 'states since their products (current quality issues aside) would be positioned squarely against the us semi-exotics.
Ford and GM are pretty desparate at the moment, and I wouldn't put it past them. Heaven forbid they build cars that don't suck, a pack of school children could better manage those companies.
Ford and GM are pretty desparate at the moment, and I wouldn't put it past them. Heaven forbid they build cars that don't suck, a pack of school children could better manage those companies.
[quote=Paula&Marcus]
For example the US-version of the Lotus Elise ... how long did it take to get this little car US federalized ? ... must have been at least 6 years ! Almost the whole car and drivetrain was changed before they were allowed to export it to the US. Did it get better then ? I dont think so, just heavier, IMHO.
Marcus[/quote]
Yes it got heavier and worse. But on the plus side, it did get a better engine.
However, airbags etc are pointless in an impact with the average US car, which will either destroy an Elise, or go over it
To a great extent, equally true of the F430.
For example the US-version of the Lotus Elise ... how long did it take to get this little car US federalized ? ... must have been at least 6 years ! Almost the whole car and drivetrain was changed before they were allowed to export it to the US. Did it get better then ? I dont think so, just heavier, IMHO.
Marcus[/quote]
Yes it got heavier and worse. But on the plus side, it did get a better engine.
However, airbags etc are pointless in an impact with the average US car, which will either destroy an Elise, or go over it
To a great extent, equally true of the F430.
360boy said:
U.S. Beaurocracy gone mad again.
They will be sticking on those humungus great rubber bumpers that the old MGBs had to fit, soon.
Won't that look nice?
didn't Porsche have to do the same thing...those two big rubber block either side of the licence plate?
and yes i do agree with the lobbying to get any vehicles that might compete with 'home grown cars', or rather controlling.
>> Edited by dean_ratpac on Tuesday 17th January 15:56
wheelman_13 said:
Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but this looks like a good time for one.
Oh, man, you give folks too much credit. 'Tis just some bureaucrat trying to justify his salary.
Anyway, Ford and GM aren't worried about boutique automakers like Ferrari, Lotus or TVR. They're concerned about cars for the great unwashed masses. What they're worried about is the Camry and Accord.
I've driven, btw, the '06 Impala LTZ and it's a worthy competitor. It's roomier inside than its Japanese competition, with the 3.9L engine makes 242hp which will put the Camry in the weeds. Ride and handling are quite good for a family sedan. Fit and finish are excellent. And in LTZ trim, it's well equipped and sells for $27,500 before incentives and negotiating.
Cover the labels on a Cobalt and it could be a Corolla, and the HHR beats the Scion xB hands down.
And no, I don't work for GM or Ford.
Yeah, GM and Ford have both begun to see the light...allegedly. I also understand that they aren't concerned (from a market share standpoint anyway) with Ferrari etc...(though one wonders then why Ford made such a stink about Pagani).
The thing is; while their current vehicles, on paper, are fairly close to their japanese counterparts...The cobalt being the best example, (the HHR will inevitably be a flop because the SUV market is pretty well saturated. it's not in the same class with the scion...though I don't like those either). The problem is what happens after two years or 40k miles of ownership...A) domestic (US) cars depreciate at a horrendous rate B) Many fall apart or have half a dozen recalls on them C) Most just feel cheap when compared to the JM cars, the initial build quality just doesn't stand up (halo cars and limited editions not withstanding). A being a result of B and C. The fact that the domestic dealership networks are, on the whole, pretty shady doesn't help matters.
I don't want to see GM and Ford in the figurative toilet, I think they could both make good vehicles and recover their lost market share, but they're gonna need more than a couple of retro muscle cars and a $10,000 markup on their latest land yacht.
The thing is; while their current vehicles, on paper, are fairly close to their japanese counterparts...The cobalt being the best example, (the HHR will inevitably be a flop because the SUV market is pretty well saturated. it's not in the same class with the scion...though I don't like those either). The problem is what happens after two years or 40k miles of ownership...A) domestic (US) cars depreciate at a horrendous rate B) Many fall apart or have half a dozen recalls on them C) Most just feel cheap when compared to the JM cars, the initial build quality just doesn't stand up (halo cars and limited editions not withstanding). A being a result of B and C. The fact that the domestic dealership networks are, on the whole, pretty shady doesn't help matters.
I don't want to see GM and Ford in the figurative toilet, I think they could both make good vehicles and recover their lost market share, but they're gonna need more than a couple of retro muscle cars and a $10,000 markup on their latest land yacht.
guam said:
Plan B just ban all intersting non boring designs so they do not have to compete
Next Step if that fails find an excuse to Bomb Modena I guess LOL
Cheers
That is just *so* true.
But I doubt our overweight, leaf springs lovin', pushrod huggin' friends will miss Ferrari.
Way too complicated for them. Just put some Japanese plastic on a tractor and NOS it, there you go right there: performance car.
And if Ferrari just lower the price a bit, we can keep take care of the overcapacity here, and everybody's happy. Come on Luca, you know you want to!
errek72 said:
Plan B just ban all intersting non boring designs so they do not have to compete
Next Step if that fails find an excuse to Bomb Modena I guess LOL
Cheers
That is just *so* true.
But I doubt our overweight, leaf springs lovin', pushrod huggin' friends will miss Ferrari.
Way too complicated for them. Just put some Japanese plastic on a tractor and NOS it, there you go right there: performance car.
And if Ferrari just lower the price a bit, we can keep take care of the overcapacity here, and everybody's happy. Come on Luca, you know you want to!
well said mate (us translation: omfg lol u p'ownd that douche bag biatch my homie)
Anyway i await being kidnap ed and sent to some torture camp indefinitely for saying "bad things" about their "Utopian" land!
To all the usa people: wear your goddam seat belt/safety belt(?) then!?!!
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