That generation of Micra has been replaced by a Renault-based one, which was a huge step up.

Yes, but we also live in a place that GM has retreated from. How many new vehicles did GM sell in your market in the whole of 2019?

I do hope I don’t need to explain the historical context and the connection to the Mission Accomplished picture.

When you buy a new Peugeot van today, the profit goes to PSA. When you buy a Fiat van, the profit goes to FCA. So, PSA will do its best to make you buy the PSA badged van, and FCA will strive to make you pay the FCA badged van. The profit made from the sale will go to a different company. Even when the vans are…

A commercial vehicle in Europe equals van. Pickup trucks are extremely rare; a niche vehicle.

Or countries where they tax carbon emissions, because that 2.0 is more efficient than the 6. Especially when you take the reduced weight into consideration as well.

I see your point. However, new sporty ICE cars feel fake and anachronistic as well. Fake sounds, a steering wheel that is not connected to the wheels, a brake pedal that is not connected to the brakes, ‘manual’ control over an automatic gearbox. Everything is simulated already. The step from a car like that to an…

Nah. It’s protectionism that is keeping this out of the US market. The chicken tax and gargantuan federalization costs are designed to stifle free trade and keep outsiders out.

Now drive them back to back. The G30 is boring to drive, especially as a 520d. It's a sterile luxury boat without driver involvement. This E34 is very different.

I’ve seen them in Europe... on grey market imports from the US market.

Those things are mostly about torque anyway. No one runs these at the RPM where it reaches max hp.

Sure, but ChaosphereIX’s point stands that the US car market lineup is narrow and lacks the choice and freedom of other markets.

You can buy every single USDM vehicle in Europe. Every. Single. One. Grey market import, but it’s very doable and affordable. Legal too. You see them often.

That VW needs to pay unimaginable fines is deserved, to some extent. It does have to end somewhere. It’s starting to look a bit frivolous. Had VW been an American company it would have gotten off with a slap on the wrist. Maybe a strong slap on the wrist, but not much more.

True, but even in this niche a car like a Suzuki Jimny is an objectively better pick.

Which ones? You have the Italians; Maserati, Lancia and Alfa Romeo, but Lancia is dead and the others are more ‘sporty’ than ‘luxury’. Chrysler is a joke.

Not really. I realize it’s geographically relatively close, but Norway ‘feels’ closer to Italy than Germany is to Kaliningrad.

Rationally speaking, the Niva made no sense any more. It’s very basic and crude and it’s objectively a bad car in every metric. The exception is off road capability at this price point. It is just objectively bad on road, comfortability, fuel economy, emissions, and on and on. So, you buy it for off road duty or some…

Geographically, you are correct. From a perception perspective however, Russia is as close to Germany as Cuba is to Canada.