And yet, you still think that the U.S. auto industries, oil companioes and
unions
don't have any financial influence over these commissions?
Yeah....right.....

On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 5:47 PM, Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@gmail.com> wrote:

> Other countries have the same sort of rules.  Do you really think you can
> buy a 2011 Dodge Challenger in the USA, take over to Europe and register it
> at your local DMV equivalent?
>
>
>
> And yes, it is correct what I said about being manufacturers being self
> certified.  I work with the NHTSA on a regular basis and am currently in
> the
> middle of getting a company in Europe set up as a manufacturer.  It's part
> of what I do.
>
>
>
> As for the EPA mileage rating, etc.  There is a formula that is provided by
> the EPA that the manufacturer must use when testing for mileage ratings.
> Generally, they will use an "EPA Certified" laboratory for this testing.
> However, some of the larger manufacturers have their own labs.
>
>
>
> Crash test ratings, etc., are usually provided by the insurance institute.
> Pretty sure that's done so they can charge appropriately.
>
>
>
> Jeff
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Don Hanson [mailto:dhanson928@gmail.com]
> Sent: Friday, January 21, 2011 4:47 PM
> To: Jeff Schwaia
> Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> Subject: Re: Back to. Re: Just like a Vanagon, but modern..
>
>
>
>  You mean all this stuff about 'crash testing'  'side impact'  'certified
> EPA mileage ratings' etc etc etc...that is all left up to the
> manufacturers?
> I don't think that is right, but I could be wrong there...maybe they just
> say 'stuff" and if the Government finds them lying, they get fined?
>
>   But the question I have is if you want to buy an 'un-approved' vehicle
> and drive it and own it in the US, Yes, when the rest of the world finds
> these vehicles quite acceptable........ in fact they often perform in a
> more
> effective and environmentally friendly fashion that the vehicles we are
> legally allowed to own and drive....why should we be Verboten from many
> many
> good vehicles?
>
>  If a Canadian or a Swiss or French couple can come to the US, bringing
> their Toyota HiAce or their Subaru boxer diesel and drive around here,
> polluting less and using less fuel, why should we be Verboten from doing
> the
> same? Why are we forbidden from paying our license and registration fees
> and
> keeping that vehicle here as ours?   Makes no sense.
>  So what if the speedo reads in kilometers and the gas tank in liters...If
> we speed, give us a ticket.  If we run out of fuel, it is because we are
> dumb...  So what if you can't get a part at NAPA, Shucks or a
> dealer...There
> are plenty of vehicles and other pieces of machinery that demand we go to
> the country of origin to get replacement parts...
>
>  If it's not been certified in a 'side-impact test'....would you die any
> more quickly than if you got T-boned on a Harley?
>  I find it ludicrous that because the vehicle is not "approved for
> sale"...however it happens to be mandated in our law....then we aren't
> allowed to use them here in the US while the Rest Of the World is allowed
> to
> use them..no problemo..
>
>  Global Economy....does that concept only work one way?   We can "shop"
> your job around all over the world, hire anywhere we can find someone to
> work for less, but you can't shop around world wide and find the best
> available vehicle to drive?
>
>  Don Hanson
>
> On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 2:14 PM, Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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
>