Posted on 01/10/2008 2:14:32 PM PST by WesternCulture
It might not come as a surprise to learn that the cars Britons own are smaller than the cars Americans drive or that Swedes favour safe, politically correct SAAB's and Volvo's.
But there's more to be said.
To begin with:
WHO'S RICH, WHO'S NOT?
- Swedes claim they enjoy the highest standard of living in the world and they also say poverty, in absolute terms, is extinct in their country. The income distribution is known for being extremely even.
If this really is true, how is it reflected in Swedish car consumption?
Furthermore, for the first time since the 19th century, Britons are now richer than Americans according to recent (nominal GDP/capita) statistics. Is this mirrored by British car sales?
Let's have a look at the 10 best selling cars in these three countries and classify each of them as either an "Economy", a "Standard", a "Premium" or a "Luxury" vehicle.
Quite arbitrarily, I decided on this categorization:
$0-15 000 = Economy, $15-25 000 = Standard, $25 000-35 000 = Premium, $35 000 and above = Luxury
(Some cars sold in Europe are not marketed in the US, but I've used the VW Rabbit/Golf, a car sold on both continents which just makes it into the "standard" category in the US, as a reference and checked how cars like the Vauxhall/Opel Astra are priced in the UK and Sweden compared to the Rabbit)
Top 10 best selling cars in Britain 2007:
1. Ford Focus (Economy), 2. Vauxhall Astra (Economy), 3. Ford Fiesta (Economy), 4. Vauxhall Corsa (Economy), 5. Volkswagen Golf (Standard), 6. Peugeot 207 (Economy), 7. BMW 3-Series (Premium), 8. Renault Megane (Standard), 9. Renault Clio (Economy), 10. Vauxhall Vectra (Standard)
Top 10 best selling cars in USA 2007:
1. Ford F-Series (Standard), 2. Chevrolet Silverado (Standard), 3. Toyota Camry (Standard), 4. Honda Accord (Standard), 5. Toyota Corolla/Matrix (Economy), 6. Honda Civic (Economy), 7. Chevrolet Impala (Standard), 8. Nissan Altima (Standard), 9. Dodge Ram (Standard), 10. Honda CR-V (Standard),
Top 10 best selling cars in Sweden 2007
1 Volvo V70 (Luxury) 2 SAAB 9−3 (Premium) 3 Volvo V50 (Premium) 4 SAAB 9−5 (Luxury) 5 VW Golf (Standard) 6 Ford Focus (Economy) 7 VW Passat (Standard) 8 Peugeot 307 (Standard) 9 Opel Astra (Economy) 10 Audi A4 (Premium)
Judging by these figures, Brits are poor, Swedes are rich and Americans are somewhere inbetween. But although it's difficult to deny that Britons drive less impressive vehicles than Swedes and Americans, it's not that easy when it comes to comparing Swedes and Americans. Americans go for large cars/trucks that consume a lot of gas. Swedes can afford expensive cars, but one could also argue that they can't afford real gas-guzzlers. If big is better, you'd be better off in the US than in Sweden.
But there is one circumstance that is even more striking. According to the statistics above, income is in fact MORE evenly distributed in the US than in "Socialist" Britain. The wide differences in what cars people drive suggests that the country with the least even distribution of income is, in fact, "Ultra-Socialist" Sweden! According to the list above, 1 out of 5 Swedes are poor (and the the vast, well-off Swedish middle class can't afford gas).
Next topic:
NATIONALISM?
Britons are said to loathe and despise everything French. This might be the case, with two big exceptions: Peugeots and Renaults. In Britain, they are viewed as well designed, priceworthy and reliable.
Internationally, Americans are often thought of as very patriotic and not seldom isolationist. However, that doesn't stop them from supporting foreign car manufacturers. 6 of the 10 best selling cars in the US are Japanese products.
Swedes often shake their heads in bewilderment when they are confronted with the ways in which other nations celebrate themselves. But Swedes are actually more patriotic in the field of car consumption than many other people. The four best selling cars in Sweden all have very strong national ties (although Volvo Cars today is owned by Ford and SAAB Automotive is a part of GM).
Finally:
WHO DARES TO BE DIFFERENT?
In Britain, there's a certain type of individual that everyone hates; the snob. He is either a polo-playing, upper class, inbred, stiff upper lip, retarded aristocrat or an arrogant, rich, successful, self made man. In both cases he drives a BMW. At least by today he does. Jaguars etc are a thing of the past. Despite the fact that millions of Brits daily vent their spleen upon these reprehensible individuals, they just won't go away. In fact, if the trend continues, BMW will one day be the best selling car in Britain!
The United States of America, they say, is the stronghold of individualism and freedom of choice. That might be the case in many areas, but few Americans choose cars that really stand out in a crowd according to statistics. Either they go for a Japanese mainstream car, or an American one.
Swedes pride themselves with being the most environmentally concerned of all Europeans, yet they drive the most polluting cars throughout the continent. A Volvo V70 might not consume gas in amounts anywhere near a Silverado, but compared to the cars Britons drive it is an environmental villain.
In conclusion, the cars we drive don't tell everything about us, but to some extent they might reveal unexpected aspects of our (national) mentalities and lifestyles.
SOURCES
British car sales 2007:
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_10_bes ... itain#2007
American car sales 2007:
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/industry/best-and-worst-selling-vehicles-of-2007/
Swedish car sales 2007:
http://www.bilsweden.se/files/topplistaokt07.pdf
I’ve got two F150 pickups and an S-10 extended cab sitting in my driveway.
They are all japs apparently
Correction:
British car sales 2007:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_10_best_selling_cars_in_Britain#2007
“I’ve got two F150 pickups and an S-10 extended cab sitting in my driveway.”
- That’s not bad!
What’ll be the next car you buy?
Which would be great if we British could do all our shopping in America. And pay our taxes in Antarctica :0)
As cripplecreek implicitly noted, it is common for Americans to own multiple cars. We own three, with one of them my two-seater (inconvenient for family purposes) and one used as a backup if the other two are unavailable.
Got my F-150 in the driveway
Actually its and S-15 but the next car I buy will probably be another used American car.
Wow.
You put a lot of time into that and I am not sure what you are trying to say.
1. Swedes are socialist and therefore drive nicer cars? Socialism does actually work.
2. Americans are practical and average but free?
3. Europeans make more money than us but drive throw away reaper traps?
No offense. It’s an interesting analysis.
All we’ve driven for the past 20 years are SAABS. Currently we have a 9-5 wagon, a 9-3 ‘vert’, and an ancient 900T. Been the best cars we’ve ever had.
Waaaaaaay back we had Fords, Mercuries, International’s, Chevy’s, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, and Chryslers.
We’ll stick with our SAAB’s.
“Which would be great if we British could do all our shopping in America. And pay our taxes in Antarctica :0)”
- Britons are richer than Americans only on a theoretical level. The cost of living in Britain is higher than in the US. In Sweden, wages seem attractive to most people (but they’re even higher in Norway, Iceland and Denmark). However, in order to really benefit from the ‘Swedish Model’ you have to live there for a long time and raise a family in there to really benefit from all the government goodies. The system is very much designed to benefit families at the expense of singles (which in many ways is good, but still there are too few Vikings being born many would say).
Concerning Britain being richer than the US (from BBC):
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7174372.stm
You must have a large driveway, sir.
My philosophy on cars is to let some other poor slob buy the car new, break it in for me and take it in the shorts on the depreciation. I buy it gently used and never pay anywhere near blue book. Based on the article, if you count what the cars cost new, three of our vehicles would be standard and our Dodge Ram pickup with the Cummons Turbo Diesel would be luxury. Imagine that!
2005 Dodge Grand Caravan w/ 6-disc changer, automatic doors, DVD player and Stow n’ Go seating.
It’s basically an apartment on wheels.
The smallest vehicle in my driveway has the largest engine - 2004 Pontiac GTO with a 6.0L V-8. The other one is a Chevy Avalanche with a 5.5L V-8 surrounded by 3 tons of Detroit Iron.
I like my beaters.
“I must confess I never thought of Volvos and Saabs as luxury cars.”
- Originally, Volvo wasn’t marketed as a luxury car in the US, but by today the best selling Volvos in the US are the XC70 and the XC90 I think. The S80 is, comparatively, popular cars as well. Whether or not one conceive of them as luxury cars, they aren’t exactly cheap. The V70 is cheaper but still a rather expensive car, just like the SAAB 9-5.
“In my travels (it’s admittedly been a few years) I noticed far fewer Japanese luxury cars (or Japanese cars of any type) in continental Europe as compared to the US, and your list seems to support that.”
- Even though Lexus’s and Infiniti’s are well built cars, most Europeans don’t think they compare to our premium/luxury vehicles. Especially not in terms of handling.
“As cripplecreek implicitly noted, it is common for Americans to own multiple cars.”
- I’m aware of this and perhaps I should’ve pointed it out originally. However, I tried to keep the whole thing simple as there’s plenty of room for discussion and correction here below.
There are a lot of factors involved when people buy a car. The price of fuel is one, the initial cost of the vehicle is another.
But - I think the biggie is how the vehicle is used. We tend to have comparatively wide city streets - even in small towns. We also have the opportunity to drive further. A 1000 mile drive isn’t uncommon here - in Europe that would take you clean across the continent - from the Bay of Biscay well into Eastern Europe. I intend to visit family in Northern Pennsylvania this summer - about 500 miles one way. A tiny little car wouldn’t do.
A European doing the same thing would likely take a train and depend on buses and local trains on arrival. We don’t have as good a public transport system. We need a comfortable car.
Notorious quote of the day: “Quantity has a quality all its own.”
Have you figures for per-capita vehicle ownership?
Getting a welfare check does not eliminate poverty. You can have the nicest house in town, but live in spiritual poverty. When you can't even preach from the bible without being arrested for hate crimes you can live in moral poverty. When you can't even walk down the streets of Malmo without being assaulted you are living in cultural poverty. And when your wives and daughters can't even walk the streets without being called whores and then getting raped, you may live in a country that has eliminated poverty in absolute terms, but the fact is you live in such poverty that there is no hope but to start over in another country, because your politicians aren't doing anything but making matters worse with every passing day.
When a collision forced me into the market again, I broke a string of four Crown Vics to get a Jeep Cherokee.
I like durable, reliable, roomy, powerful vehicles. Since the Vic doesn’t come as a 4x4, I went with the Cherokee. It’s not as roomy as the Vic, but it is more versatile.
My point is that I think you are overlooking the fact that a car buyer here can get every bell and whistle available and put it into a “standard” car, and make it quite luxurious. Also, a bare bones BMW isn’t much more than the little logo on the hood.
Around here, people have trucks that I could live in!
Nothing is said in the article about the possibility of tariffs or other trade restrictions. Japanese cars don’t sell well in Europe, despite being more reliable than any Euro brands. (Big Euro brands like Fiat & Renault were driven out of the U.S. market by their abysmal reliability.) I don’t really know, but I suspect that Euro govts. handicap the Jap imports somehow. The U.S. market is much opener.
Yes, that's why I said we needed to shop in America. And don't forget the taxes thing. In reality people have far more buying power in America - and have seven times as much personal space.
‘Fess up now, what did you do with “Old Betsy”? I used to love your rants about that noble little Chevy! Of course, now that you have the brood, it’s good to know that you’re stylin’.
So good to see you again!
I have an 07 Impala myself. Great car. I agree, some of the lower line BMW’s and Mercedes are not very well equipped for the price. People just want that name. Just know that in Europe, they are used for police cars and taxis - nothing special.
Very interesting.
Another note - it’s interesting also that Japanese nameplates are nonexistent in the Brit and Swede top ten.
I think you are on to something.
A better analysis would have been the capital invested in
transportation. I own 5 cars. When I was in Sweden and Norway, my recollection is that they own one car per family.
If I sold all my “average” cars, I could buy an Aston Martin.
You put a lot of time into that and I am not sure what you are trying to say.”
- Burden of love. I like statistics as well as economics and last but not least: cars!
“1. Swedes are socialist and therefore drive nicer cars? Socialism does actually work.”
- We Swedes don’t view ourselves as Socialists. On the other hand, we have a strong element of egalitarianism in our culture. Americans do not and this difference is a source of much misunderstandings and mud-throwing between our nations.
The prosperity of Sweden and the other Nordic countries comes from Lutheran work ethics, engineering competence, Capitalism and high levels of education. Not Socialism.
Swedes believe it is possible to ‘correct’ the poor and ‘prevent’ people from being unproductive (through tax funded educational measures, big brother surveillance etc). This involves a “big government”, therefore most Americans tend to dislike it. What we call discipline, productivity and order, you label limitation of the individual.
“2. Americans are practical and average but free?”
- My impression is that, in the area of cars, many Americans are very practical yes. Swedes and Germans are more into “buying a car your neighbor can’t afford”.
“3. Europeans make more money than us but drive throw away reaper traps?”
- Only some European countries can compete with the US when it comes to purchasing power when you really have a close examination of the whole matter. I’d say it boils down to Switzerland, Luxembourg and the Scandinavian countries (not Ireland in fact, their GDP per capita is very high, but the wages are low compared to their GDP/capita).
Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple measurement of these things. There are too many factors involved.
Simply put, few Europeans are as rich as average Americans.
“Notorious quote of the day: “Quantity has a quality all its own.”
Have you figures for per-capita vehicle ownership?”
- No, but I think it’s safe to say that an average American owns more cars than an average Swede or Brit.
Hey hay!
Old Betsy got sold for $200 for parts. The timing belt went and it was going to cost more to fix than the blue book value said it was worth. Got a silver mini-van instead. It’s everything I ever hoped it would be, as an insane family man.
How’s things? Are you still Carolina Moonin’ it? How’s the Lounge Lizard and all the rest?
You know we moved to Kentucky, right?
“I unselfishly offer to pair with one of your nation’s Nordic beauties in order to reverse such a trend.”
- I, likewise unselfishly, admit that many Swedish women seem to be attracted by American men.
According to this I must be a poor Brit. I drive a Ford Focus.
I think you’re right.
Here in Sweden, you find the biggest cars in the North, where distances are the largest (driving 100 miles for a night out is a common thing) and people more commonly take their SUV off-road.
Gas-guzzling SUVs make up for about 40% of car sales in this part of Sweden, even though it is poorer than the metropolitan areas of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö (the three largest cities where a large portion of the population lives).
* Sweden has approx 455 passenger cars per 1,000 population
* Britain has approx. 445 passenger cars per 1,000 population
* The U.S. has over 835 passenger per 1,000 population.
Automobile sales measured in absolute numbers tells nothing of national wealth. Indeed, the Swedish preference for more expensive autos, with a substantially lower per capita consumption that in the U.S., indicates greater social distinctions more than more general wealth.
- That’s what I’d call a real car!
“I think I’ll drive it a lot this spring and summer just to p*ss Algore off.”
- That’s what I’d call exercising your rights!
Greetings from Gothenburg, Sweden!
ping
Thanks for posting!
Obviously, an average American own more cars than an average Briton or Swede.
“My philosophy on cars is to let some other poor slob buy the car new, break it in for me and take it in the shorts on the depreciation.”
- Way to go!
There’s a point in what you say, but I can assure you Malmö is nowhere near East LA.
“My point is that I think you are overlooking the fact that a car buyer here can get every bell and whistle available and put it into a “standard” car, and make it quite luxurious.
- I’d say European car buyers are just as crazy about gadgets as their American counterparts.
“Also, a bare bones BMW isn’t much more than the little logo on the hood.”
- With all due respect, that’s exactly where you’re wrong. Cars like SAABs and BMWs are superior to most other cars in the same price range in the area of handling and overall road performance. Volvos and Audis can compete. Cars like
Toyota Camry and other Korean/Japanese insults to automotive engineering can not.
All we’ve driven for the past 20 years are SAABS. Currently we have a 9-5 wagon, a 9-3 ‘vert’, and an ancient 900T. Been the best cars we’ve ever had.
Waaaaaaay back we had Fords, Mercuries, International’s, Chevy’s, Pontiacs, Oldsmobiles, and Chryslers.
We’ll stick with our SAAB’s.
*********************************************
Actually the 9-5 and the 9-3 are Pontiac G6’s with a different name badge.
“Another note - it’s interesting also that Japanese nameplates are nonexistent in the Brit and Swede top ten.”
- Yes, this is interesting.
In Sweden as well as in many other European countries, Japanese cars are today less popular than they were 5 or 10 years ago.
On many levels, Japanese exporting efforts have failed over here in Europe.
I see Viking sails appearing across the horizon from which the rising eastern sun emerges...
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