Found this while on the Z4um (my wifes car). They didn't have much to say about our newest addition.

http://www.z4um.com/forum/viewtopic....139&highlight=

later,

 

Ever wonder why the entire British motorcar industry is now owned by "foreign" corporations - GM, Ford, BMW, VW...?

Duke

 

Let's not turn this into another Brit-bashing thread. Nobody takes Clarkson seriously. He says things to get a reaction and preserve his position as opinionated oaf.

The fact is that Ford UK have always been owned by America, as have Vauxhall, traditionally the largest selling brands but increasingly not. The British companies like Jaguar, MG, Wolseley, Austin, Morris, Riley, Armstrong-Siddeley, AC, Lotus and so forth are all victims of lack of investment and the fact that not even Ford America can turn a profit without economies of scale. Ironically, it is the worldwide desire for something with prestige and status which has led to the world's car makers snapping up smaller companies to inject a bit of life into their flagging and tarnished images of humdrum tinbox manufacturers.

It may be American money that saved these companies but it is the names themselves that will end up bailing out Ford and the like as cars like Mondeos stop selling and cars like Land Rovers and Jaguars and Saabs and Minis and Bentleys and Lotuses fuel the avaricious needs of badge conscious buyers.

As even TVR succumbs to Russian ownership, the clock is running out for the UK manufacturers but certainly not the car industry. The sad thing is that as we watch the US being increasingly invaded by foreign imports, it's just as well that American companies have bought them as you seem to want to buy them.

As for the Corvette, Clarkson is not a problem. The Corvette has garnered many favourable reviews but as was the master plan, it is Top Gear's semi-unfavourable review which sparked all the controversy and a whole lot of free publicity as it happens. But since GM don't really give a rat's *** about the rhd UK market, it doesn't really matter anyway as those of us who love American cars will forever have to import them.

BTW, don't you think the Z4 is an updated C1 Corvette? Twin lights, coves, semi-Corvette rear lights? Or is it just me. Not that the C1 doesn't look a million miles better youi understand.

 

Never started out as a Brit-bashing thread, just passing on a review. From what I read in the original post everyone knows Clarkson to be poor at his job, had to do with him personally, not Brits in gereral.

As far as "Z4 is an updated C1", it's not even close. The vette is exactly that, the consumate american sports car and the Z4 is exactly what it is supposed to be, an outstanding german touring car with a little pep to help it along - not even close to a vette.

But we really like them both, that's why we own 1 of each.

later,