This morning, I wrote a story about how the United States and Europe are potentially working on a trade deal where both parties might agree to lower trade barriers by accepting each other’s standards. Here’s what the White House said:
With respect to automobiles, the United States and the European Union intend to accept and provide mutual recognition to each other’s standards.
We have no idea how this would play out because, as of publishing, no clarification has been given. But let’s have some fun. Let’s say a scenario happens where you can now import a brand-new European market car without having to convert it to U.S. standards. For the purposes of this exercise, the car has to be new and on sale in Europe right now. For this, we’re assuming the rule would not be retroactive. That means no Renault Avantimes or Smart Roadsters, sorry!
With those rules set, I have a couple of ideas for what I would buy. An obvious enthusiast pick would be the Alpine A110. I got to see one of these at the Lane Motor Museum, and I immediately fell in love. What I really like about the A110 is the fact that it’s not ridiculously overpowered and not bloated with all kinds of weight.
As MotorTrend once wrote, the A110 weighs an entire middleweight motorcycle less than a 2.0-liter Porsche 718 Cayman. It’s a small car that hits 60 mph in the low four-second range, hugs curves, and looks beautiful without all of the sharp creases and jagged edges that so many modern cars have. What’s not to love? Read Adrian Clarke’s review. I highly recommend it! I mean, he says, “It’s Sort Of A French Lotus But Better.”
The A110 is an easy pick, but what about regular cars? Admittedly, if given the chance, I’d probably try one of the new Smart electric crossovers. One of my life’s missions involves owning at least one of every Smart put into production. That means I’ll have to buy these “huge” Smarts, too. But honestly, these SUVs don’t even seem that bad.
Here’s the Smart #5, which I once said looked like a Jeep Renegade. I still think that, today. Now, this crossover thing is about the exact opposite of what a Smart is, but I’m sure I wouldn’t care, given its output of up to 638 HP. It even has nifty 800-volt architecture, 400 kW charging, and LFP batteries.
On the two-wheeled side of things, Europe also gets motorcycles that are apparently too cool for Americans. Let’s say that the proposed rule would include bikes. I would love to try out one of those new BSA Gold Stars and see if they’re just as fun to ride as a modern Royal Enfield.
I would also be more than crazy enough to try out the Italjet Dragster 700 Twin. I mean, who could say no to a sportbike in scooter clothes that has a top speed of 118 mph?
Here’s where I turn things over to you. Let’s say that, tomorrow, the American government says that you can now buy any new European car or motorcycle that you want. But it has to be new. What are you buying?
I’ve rented several cars I liked in Europe. A Peugeot 307 and Fiat Croma (both diesels with sticks) were a lot of fun. We also liked the looks of the Citroen Picasso back then (probably first gen).
Hmmm. Pretty sure I’m still a no on new cars.
Just for fun, I would import a Citroën Berlingo with a manual. The idea of a small, manual, French van appeals to me on so many levels.
I just realized that the VW T-Roc Cabriolet is a thing and it’s too insane to ignore, I would get one of those too.
I really don’t know… if it were possible and I had the means, I’d probably like to get a new daily driver from one of the brands we don’t get in the states: quite possibly something French like a Renault, Citroen, or Peugeot. The Grande Panda or 5 or something like that: a smallish EV crossover w/modest specs, modern safety systems, and some room inside despite a smallish footprint.
The closest thing we have to that here is perhaps the S. Korean Niro/Kona twins, but TBH, though adequate, they don’t have the style and charisma/personality of their French equivalents. The Hyundai Ionic 5 is probably sorta next closest, and I like it a lot (probably my fave current ‘normal’ EV) but it’s bigger and pricier than the French ones. There’s a decent chance that a used/base Ionic 5 will eventually wind up being my first EV at some point.
It’d be great if new French cars were sold here… they really have some decent ones (I love old Citroen DSes also, but am not wealthy/brave enough to buy one). Suzuki also makes some really appealing cars: the Swift and Jimny to name a couple. And of course, I’d buy a new Toyota Hilux Champ this afternoon for cash if it were sold here at anything like the price it goes for in Asia (high teens). I’d take the diesel one in whatever shade of blue or green they offer and sell off my two Volvos and use the Hilux as my daily for the rest of my life. So maybe the diesel Hilux Champ and not a small French EV after all. 😉
I would love a Peugeot 5008 Hybrid, or a DS 9 E-TENSE 4×4 360. The styling just hits me right.
wife just informed me that it would be the new Ford Nugget High Roof camper van.
I’d take a new Hilux diesel, with the 2.8 D4D, 6-speed manual and rear locker.
A lightly used VW Touareg V8 TDI or Alpina D3 Estate. I’d need to drive both to determine which I’d prefer
This is a surprisingly difficult one. Europe as a whole has way more offerings that I want to buy than we have here in the U.S.
If I narrow it to one, I’d have to go with a Golf R Wagon. I would cry tears of happiness if I could have that beauty in my garage to drive to and from work each day. I’d happily settle for a new regular-ole Golf Estate wagon as well.
If they’ve made a 2025 Focus ST Estate, I’ll take one in blue please.
“Let’s say a scenario happens where you can now import a brand-new European market car without having to convert it to U.S. standards. For the purposes of this exercise, the car has to be new and on sale in Europe right now.”
I’m opening a European laundered Chinese car dealership.
VW Golf GTD!
Oh man. When I had my TDI way back when (must have been 2010 or 2011) my long-term goal was to gradually mod it into a GTD, engine and all. Then VW brought the mk6 Golf R to the states and my plans quickly changed.
The only regret I have on not keeping the TDI is that had I kept it into Dieselgate I likely would have been able to move up to the Golf R for a fraction of the cost, or maybe even none at all. But I couldn’t predict the future, and it was long gone by the time anyone had the first hint of emissions-cheating hijinks so I try not to beat myself up about it.
Still have two TDIs in my fleet, newest is a 2015 that still hasn’t quite turned 100K miles.
Cupra Formenter VZ5, though that Alpine is a definite close second.
I don’t have to read the article.
GR Yaris. I love my GRC but the same drivetrain and power in a smaller two-door version? Gimmee. (Like a grown up version of my old 500 Abarth.)
I can only image the absolute riot those must be. One of my best friends owned a 500 Abarth for years, and it was one of the most fun little cars to drive and toss around.
I had my ’13 from new to about 75K mils after 7 years, hardly any issues aside from a front axle and something else up front. Possibly due to 50k coil overs I found used without knowing that was a lot of miles and they needed rebuilding.
Autocross, track days, road rallies, TotD trips, so much fun. I only sold it to try other options while I was still healthy enough to enjoy them.
He bought his very gently used with I think 3 or 4000 miles on it. He just sold it last year, and afaik it was pretty reliable. He had done a few power adding mods, and it never failed to make me giggle like a little kid when I drove it.
Is the Renault Sport Clio or Peugeot 208 GTI still in production with a manual? I’d love few things more than a small, French hot hatch.
So I was watching Jay Leno get streets closed so he could drive his new tank around the block and it got me thinking:
Tanks are road legal in parts of Europe, is this new law loosely worded enough for Americans to enjoy the freedom of driving a tank on the road?
The Alpine A110 is a sweet car. But while it’s certainly no kind of bloated, one might feel differently about the price. Where I am writing this the new ones start at the equivalent of USD 80,000. The cheapest used one is priced at 55,000, and that is a six-year-old car with 50k miles on it. I can fill a lovely two-, probably even three-car garage for that kind of money.l
On the other hand, I saw one the other day in a shade of tomato-orange and it looked fabulous.Definitely one of those cars that looks better in person than in a picture.
Yeah, that is the problem. It is, to me, easily the coolest Euro car we don’t get, but I still would not pay that money. In the past I would have told you to back out VAT, but now we have the Trump VAT.
Jeez, what a back door socialist. One of the largest tax increases in history with the tariffs and one of the largest welfare programs in history with people with shitty attitudes that are too stupid and lazy for private sector jobs getting $100K to “work” as ICE agents.
Alpine A290
I’ve always liked the Honda E, but I think it’s been discontinued. A bigger battery and “Type R” version would have been amazing.
Otherwise an M3 Touring. Did they ever make those in a manual?