Ok... one more time:

---THE MANUFACTURERS DO NOT HAVE TO GET ANY OF THEIR VEHICLES CERTIFIED---

All manufacturers are considered "self certifying" by the NHTSA & EPA.  Sure, if they get caught in an error, they will be fined... heavily.

As for why they don't allow non-US models to be imported...  the manufacturers themselves had that provision put in the rules.  Why?  So that 3rd parties could not go around the manufacturers and start selling vehicles without them getting their cut.

You have to realize all the hidden costs associated with introducing a new model into the US market.  Per US law, the manufacturer must offer replacement parts for a minimum of 10 years for any model they sell.  Think about the costs associated with adding a completely new parts line to dealer inventories as well as their distribution network.  Additionally, don't forget about all the training required for service work.

So... simply put, complain to the manufacturers, not the guvmint.

Cheers, 

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Dave Mcneely
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2011 12:46 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Back to. Re: Just like a Vanagon, but modern..

---- Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
>   Now my gummint rap:  Why shouldn't a vehicle that is safe and clean and
> green enough for our Canadian neighbors be OK for us to own and use in the
> US?  It seems like the Federal standards are a bunch of hooie!
and a lot of other stuff ........ .

Don, neither you nor most of the rest of us knows the particulars about why a given vehicle is not marketed in the U.S.  Since the manufacturers found it reasonable to get some vehicles certified, it seems likely that they would do so with others, if they thought it was in their interests to do so.

In a perfect world, things would be perfect.   I get frustrated with lots of things too, and sound off about them sometimes.  But ........... .

mcneely