After six days in the world's most glorious city, assisted by two spotters (my 18 year old son and his best friend), we saw not a single S2000. Nada, nowhere. On the other hand, all manner of Porsches, BMWs, Audis, Mercedes (and of course Puegots, Citreons, and Renaults) were spotted every day, everywhere.

In Paris, Hondas and all other Japanese makes are not abundant. You see some, but not many, which leads me to conclude that there's a heavy import duty on Japanese cars.

Aside from that, it's a great city for spotting cars never seen in the US -- Smartcars, Minis, and lots of other small urban vehicles, as well as models of the famous European brands that never see these shores (a mini Mercedes, for example, about the size of a Smartcar).

In Paris and I suspect all of France, the S2000 seems to be a very rare car indeed.

I'm catching up today with all of your email, so please be patient with me. It will take about a day (over 125 messages in my inbox).

 

I talked to a good friend and coworker of mine in Amsterdam. It's pretty expensive to get on over there... it's close to $50k to obtain one. Plus they have cool things like the lotus elise.

-Shing

 

Hell, Rick, I figured they'd have a Jerry Lewis Special Edition Stook in France!

 

Rick, when I was in Paris back in January, I saw 2 s2k's in one week. Well, one of them belonged to le car who so kindly picked me up from my hotel and showed me around town. Both cars were silver/black I think. You should have enjoyed the abundance of late model Ferrari's, Porsches, Aston Martins, and Lotuses that we don't have here.

 

Rick perhaps france has a high tax on Japanese imports in order to boost the French automakers sales since they've pulled out of the US market....that's my guess

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by shingles
[B]I talked to a good friend and coworker of mine in Amsterdam.

 

Hi there,

I live in the north of France and i've seen 2 stooks in 1 years!!!! 1 black and 1 silver.

I'm still waiting for my stook (delivery delayed in may!). I've ordered it in december and from december till now, when people asking me what car i've ordered, they always said :

- S2000 what ???? :-)
- Honda ? aahhhh you've baught a bike :-)
- a japanese car, are you nuts, just buy a peugeot, citroen, a good french car :-))))

Honda France has sold 200 stooks for 300 allowed in 2000, 200 stooks for 60,000,000 of frenchies, it's a rare car!

I've baught mine in belgium, for the price, i've negociated 10% on the MRSP which is around 33,000$

Japanese car are not famous in france, a bit more famous in belgium and germany but that's all!! no big monster SUPRA, NSX or CIVIC supercharged...

The exception, Subaru Impreza Turbo is a bit more famous in france now, that's the only japanese car well known in over here!

 

Well actually the Yen is quite expensive and the French are
quite chauvinistic. I think about 80% of the cars are made
in France. Japanese carmanufacturers have factories in
Europe nowadays. What's more striking is that you see
hardly any American build cars in Europe. I won't give you
the reasons, I'd hate to make enemies here ;-) But I think
everybody is sensible enough to take a well educated guess!

Ronald

 

Yes, we certainly miss out on a lot of sharp, class cars in the U.S., compared to Europe. When I see some of the ugly "boats" we have on the roads here, (Buicks, Cadillacs, Lincolns), it makes you wonder what the big auto makers are thinking! No wonder the car business is in a shambles, and the Japanese have taken over. Just imagine what it would be like if the Europeans could sell all their car models here at reasonable prices.

BTW Rick. I think American cars in Paris are probably rarer than the S2K.

 

I don't think you will make many ememies with that statement. My father owned two american cars... after the caddilac, he said NEVER again. Constant problems... had to replace the altinator 3 times in one year... not that fun.

Also I think another reason american cars aren't popular is the size. Try to part a Pontiac Grand Prix in the streets of Paris, HA! Also I think the taxes will kill the usual american car. Weight and engine size tax will probably render some of the most powerful US cars way out of reach for many. I asked my frind once about a Mustang GT while I was there... saw it on the freeway but AMS airport. He told me it was pretty expensive to buy and to own due to taxes each year and such...

-Shing