Phillip:
I agree with your assessment of the "arrogant", for the most part...but
=
its something us Americans won't readily admit to. The day-to-day =
technological things you mention are more due to our not-so-beloved =
government (i.e., the FCC on up) than to the fact that we don't, can't =
or won't have them. Digital technology happens to be a specialty with =
smaller American companies here, but Congress, and the Big Corporations, =
well...we may have started the ball rolling with democracy, but we =
certainly haven't perfected it.=20
To expand your horizons on American motorbikes, check out the Buell =
company, a subsidiary of H-D, at http://www.buell.com. That is, if you =
don't know about them already. I'm no motorcycle freak, but they look =
pretty cool! Problem is, they can't make enough to meet the demand!
As for cars, my greatest childhood trauma was shivering at 5 A.M. on =
I-95 in N. Carolina in a brand-new '79 Chevy Impala with a cracked block =
due to a failed oil pump...brrrr. I owned a CRX and a BMW, now I own a =
'96 Chevy Tahoe 4x4, (K-5 Blazer to Americans) and its been a joy to =
drive! But I was scared sh**less of owning an American car for quite a =
while.=20
Now I want an LBC, cuz they're fun to drive, I LIKE to get my hands =
dirty, and they're STILL inexpensive as fun sports cars go! (not to =
mention all the nuances of life that they represent) :)
Dan=20
Ft. Knox, KY
and one of these days a nice MGB that needs a good home
----------
From: Philip Raby
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 1997 5:31 AM
To: MG digest submit; David Knowles
Subject: Re: TR7 - Good or Bad?
.
Now hang on, an American calling the British arrogant?? :-)
I've seen far more Japanese cars in the US than in Britain or Europe. =
The=20
US car industry was a joke until a couple of years ago, when it pulled=20
its socks up and started trying to catch up with foreign imports.
In fact, I looked at some US offerings at the London Motor Show and was=20
disappointed at the poor quality engineering and materials. Just compare =
a 98 Corvette with a 98 Jaguar and you'll see what I mean.
And you mention motorcycles: Take a look at a modern all-British Triumph =
and compare it with an argricultural Harley Davidson. :-)
Some British car companies may be owned by foreign investors, but at=20
least they produce decent products.
There's nothing unusual in this foreign investment - British companies=20
are very good at buying US companies. Look at Burger King - owned by=20
Britain, but still very much American.
There seems to be an arrogance among some Americans that makes them =
think=20
that they are the most technologically advanced country on earth. But =
the=20
USA is about the only part of the world where you can't use a GSM =
digital=20
phone - you're still struggling with analogue, your car radios don't=20
boast RDS, and you're not adopting digital radio broadcasting next year. =
Ummm, glad I live in good ol' Blightly.
Having said all this, you're a good bunch generally, so don't take this=20
badly! ;-)
Philip Raby
Editor, MG World
PO Box 163, Bicester OX6 3YS, UK
Tel: 01869 340061 Fax: 01869 340063 Mobile 0467 767361
www.chp.ltd.uk
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