LeftCoast

Just got back from Stuttgart, Germany and I didn't see one Nissan during the entire trip. It was curious to me because I only assumed Germany would be a major import country from Japan.

At any rate, I rented a VW Golf....a turbo diesel, 6-speed. I was a little disappointed when I found out I was getting a Golf, but that car is unbelieveable. It didn't have a lot of kick to start with but at higher RPMS it was really quick. I was doing 210 KPH (about 130 MPH)for 60 miles and the handling was absolutely solid. Thumbs up to German engineering.

-Left

NickStam

iTrader: (3)

i'm sure the 3 liter engines aren't that popular in europe for the mass population.

mb1

iTrader: (2)

Thats why japan maximas come in 2.5, and 2.0(?) litter.

LeftCoast

Good point. Gas was about 4 american dollars per gallon.

SteVTEC

Yep, gas prices dictate engine sizes over there. We're lucky in the US, because over in the UK and Europe, anything 2.0L or over is considered "big"

Only having 2.0L will darn near get you run off the road in the US!

Myrv

The VW TDIs are incredible engines. I almost ended up with a TDI Jetta instead of my Maxima. With some modding (mostly chips) I've seen the North American 1.9 TDI reach over 115 HP with an astounding 260+ ft-lbs of torque. And this is a small engine compared to larger versions available in Europe.

syc

I guess the tax for large volume car is extremely high. Insurance play an important role also. That's why golf (and civic) are popular among the young people (in all contries other than US) , and thus, lead to cheaper performance parts. 3000 c.c. Maxima, where's my $300 AGX?

pjalst

that's why there were no Maximas

davis4005

I went to Germany over spring break, and the cars are completely different. I think I saw one or two Nissans, there were a few Hondas and Toyotas, but the majority were Peugot and Mercedes. Almost all the cars are diesel but you don't smell burnt diesel anywhere, they're very effecient. If you drove there in a Ford Excursion they would think you were nuts. There is also a lot of those "Smart" cars that are like a golf cart. Some cars there are so small that they cannot be sold here because of all the trucks and SUV's. We visited the Porsche museum and Factory in Stuggart, and BMW in Munich. It's so cool to see so many Mercedes and BMW's as Taxi's and Ambulances.

Freedog

When I got stationed in England, I brought my wifes '87 Maxima SE. When the Brits asked me about the car and I told them it had a 3 liter V-6, it would totally blow their minds. It was pretty funny actually. They have a big car scene over there but they mostly build Ford Escorts, Vauxhall (European GM) Cavaliers, and Mini's of course.

NickStam

iTrader: (3)

Isn't Opel popular over there too?

LeftCoast

Yeah. I saw lots of Opel. Even saw that new Porshe SUV a few times. (UGLY!!)

vw1xvWL6

I'm in Kaiserslautern, Germany(K-town), most Maximas over here are owned by Americans in the military. Were you around any military installations? I see the Nissan's that the Germans do drive are the smaller cars like the Sunny(Sentra) & Micra(sm 2 dr hatchback).

desertmaxima

iTrader: (5)

yea cool im in bamberg. i saw a maxima out here that was a QX model have ya seen em it looked like an infinity I30 though but had nissan maxima on it. Ill see if I can find it again he was US also. looked kinda weird. But yea they do drive the small stuff how bout those smart cars. Yea I love being army here cause them fools get raped for gas

AznWontonboy

Funny how you guys say over there in germany they consider anything over 2.0 big.. when a BMW m5 has easily over 4.4 litres..

LeftCoast

I guess if you can afford a M5, then gas prices won't be a big deal..

desertmaxima

iTrader: (5)

Yes but not too many of them germans drive em out here they try and get rid of anyting 5 series and higher cause gas is ****ing expensive, but then there are the high rollers rolling porsches and ****.

got rice?

iTrader: (2)

I'm sure those who can afford the high price cars can afford the gasoline prices.

EuroMaxima99SE

iTrader: (1)

I actually went to a 3 weeks trips to Europe last yr, and I saw one or two max's but I also saw some V12 Mercedes & BMW's as well...

Also it was really suprising to us, up in Austrian Alps, in the mountains w/ lots of snow, close to Czech Rep, we saw a Ford Explorer with TX license plates. What a small world!

ORBRIT

I lived in England until about 3 years ago - I was in the RAF and stationed at Honnington, near Mildenhall and Lakenheath. It was interesting to see the imported cars the US guys brought over. It's true about anything over 2.0L is a luxury over there - that's why you can pick up an old Jaguar XJ12 for a bargain price!
However, the Nissan Skyline GTR was availble in England. I worked on the Nissan Motor GB IT support team when I first left the RAF, and they had a Skyline GTR parked on a rotating pedestal outside the HQ building. It was gorgeous.

I owned a Toyota MR2, (2.0L) a Citroen Saxo VTR( 1.6L) and a TVR S3 (2.9L) while I was in England. On a typical weekend driving 180 miles each way to see my girlfriend, I'd spend 60 pounds (90 USD) in gas in the MR2. The TVR would cost about 80 pounds (120 USD)

Matticus

This is sort of a OT question. But the Military people stationed in Europe, mainly England, you seem to fairly easily, although, I don't have any idea how hard it is, get your American cars overseas to have. Now how hard would it be to buy a Skyline from a dealer there, serve your time and bring the Skyline back with you, possible? I think it certainly would be cheaper than going through MotoreX or whatever they call themselves as far as getting the acclaimed Skyline into the US. Granted, it would be far from street legal, but hey just don't get pulled over.

Skyline

Easier said than done, getting pulled over part. Sooner or later you will get caught and that will cost you big time. You will lose the car and end up paying heavy fines. Not worth it.

Matticus

Yes, I wouldn't advise driving it on the street. But it would be one heck of a racer. Trailer it! Maybe outfitting it with a fake VIN number off a similar Nissan, say it is a super sport model 300ZX, custom done to appear stright from Japan. LOL. All but the most sports car knowledgable cops would be fooled. j/k.

Zam

I think I've seen your car. I've got the lowered white 96 on chrome 17s. I just arrived at Ramstein last month. I've actually seen a couple rimmed up Maximas, but wasn't sure if they're "enthusiasts". We gotta get together.

As far as big engined cars go, you see many nice cars but with either 2.0 4 bangers or diesels. The local ripoff dealer has a bunch of 2001 C class benzes for like $15-$20k, but with a 1.8 liter engine. The best car I've seen here so far was a new ferrari parked on base. Now what military joe can afford that???

Zam

Y2KMaxGXE-R

iTrader: (4)

I went to Germany 3 yrs ago and saw a pearl-white 3rd gen on the street. Likely it was the car imported from the US as I really took few minutes to walk around it and check it out.

BTW European Max's come with 2.0L V6 (yes, 6 cylinder) and 3.0L V6. Werent there some european members here on .org? Lets ask them.

max95q

iTrader: (10)

My Family was stationed in Kaiserslautern when I was 3 for 3 yrs and Frankfurt when I was 7 for 3 yrs. Ive been to Stuttgart, Weisbaden, Mannheim, I believe Geisenburg? its called Im not sure. Germany is a fun place, Loved every bit of it.

Freedog

The only cars that you can bring into the US are cars that have a US VIN or cars that are considered a classic. A Skyline would not apply in either case. You can also bring it in if you agree to have the car converted to US specs, which in the case of the Skyline, would be hard to do and expensive. You also need to leave a substantial deposit with customs in case you never get the conversion done so they can send the car beck to where it came from. Of course, this is all in reference to military personal shipping cars into the US. So no, their would not be any price break worth mentioning. Otherwise we would all be driving Skylines and watching all of you drool. By the way, Skylines are very expensive in the UK also. In 4 years of living in England, I think I saw 4.