European VS American.....

Before I start...I wanna say this thread in NOT political.....

But anyway, is it me or is anything imported from europe really expensive and considered top-notch?

Corvette vs F430
Ralph Lauren vs Gucci

I can go on but anyway, why are european products so expensive? No wonder american power will decline soon.

 

Your are comparing affordable mainstream brands to high end niche/image brands so your comment about price does no apply to these examples.

Don’t hold your breath because no nation is close to overtaking the US economically or militarily any time soon. The only nation with any potential is China, but definitely not Europe considering their stagnant economic growth, dwindling population and rapidly aging work force.

The problem with Europe is that like the UN, the Europeans still don't realize that they are completely powerless and irrelevant in today’s world.

 

Ok then I'm mistaken.

 

Yea, that's not necessarily a good statement. Products from the US that are high-end, or luxury, are just as expensive: i.e. the Ford GT, Saleen S7, Seven for All Mankind jeans, Paperdenim & Cloth, etc.. It's just that places, especially Italy, are more famous for their luxury items (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Prada, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, etc..). With that said, I do generally prefer Italian cars and clothes.

 

Cars are to complicated because it depends on how and what you plan on using it for.
Almost all the clothes I buy are European. I have a European build, tall/ slender so they fit me well unlike the more boxy American clothes.

 

The definitive comparison: (Semi-NWS link)

http://www.energyradio.fm/gallery/data/509/1euro_vs_america-med.jpg

 

I was looking for that photo earlier.

 

All I know is I tend to like the look of european products (cars etc.) more than the look of american products. But yes prices are horrible for these things!

 

Very true. But worth the money. Even if they are only a few pieces in the wardrobe. Nice things last a long time. Not to mention, I love European design.

 

I guess europeans are not that heavy consummers as the US are.
I guess as well it's harder to f... them around with their pension plans et al. just to have them knowing they work "with" Bill or Bob or whatever that is cashing in 200 mls a year.
I guess you have 1000* more dumba$$es that are full of cash in the states than in europe, where it mostly comes with some kind of culture and intelligence, thinks you usually don't need in the US since you have 250 mls people speaking one language, having one way of life fed by school/TV propaganda (i intentionaly ommited here press or books, as most of them relate the tale of any football/golf/boxing star...)
I also don't think they are that irrelevant in todays' world.
The US think that because they auto-finance their economy via an absurd military budget, and they have to start useless wars just to get rid of the old crap, they have such a big position in the world.
The europeans have style where the US have cash.

 

this is too broad to make a generalized statement like that.
european cars are designed for european roads, meaning higher speeds, better handling, slightly smaller, sometimes more fuel efficient. the fact that they sometimes come packaged in more stylish or better engineered bodies is just a style thing - and the value of that is in the eye of the beholder.

i will tell you that almost every european car is cheaper when sold in the usa, vs the prices that they are sold for in europe. that is an amazing thing and primarily a testament to the size and importance of the usa market, but also our lower tax/duty structure..

regarding other things like clothes - ralph lauren is considered very high end in europe, and he has some incredible stores that sell at outrageously high prices. i guess the big difference is that he does not sell his lower level brands here, and places like tjmaxx dont really exist in too many places, so you hardly ever see the stuff at a cut rate price. the same can be said for hilfiger, gant, timberland etc.

 

I guess the general need for quality/engineering is more an european thing.
US cars tend to have a crappy finish, and no one cares.
There is no history (no Disney isn't historic yet) of craftsmanship like in europe (compagnons, gobelins etc etc), thus i guess the general level of quality is better in Europe. In the states people tend to buy stuff as a statement to their wealth, while in europe it's often a statement to the good bought.
Just look at all pimped cars, flash colours etc. you find in the states, look at Robb Report....

 

The Z06 corvette, in Europe, almost costs as much as the f430 does in the US.

 

Hmmm like soooo many of the fine French cars out there.

Hmmmm maybe because this country is actually less than 300 years old and still not dwelling in the dark ages. You are Generalizing quite a bit aren't you?

Again... your pathetic generalizations. It is a fact that many in the states "customize" our cars.... so what's wrong with that? Yeah, we all TEND to buy stuff as a statement of wealth.... LOL! You sound like a very jealous individual living in a country that never chooses a side whether right or wrong. Gee, I wonder maybe THAT'S why you don't spend any money of defense as you so brilliantly noted previously... pathetic. Get off your high horse... you've been living up in the mountains for too long.

 

What? How much does the F430 cost in the US?
The Z06 is about 108,000chf here, thats about US$85,000 about 20k more than in the US. The F430 230,000chf.

 

All generalizations, including this one, are full of crap. You might be reminded that your generalization about people in the States buying things to show their wealth is matched by the Euro-trash generation over there.

Every nation has strong points as well as weak points. Every nation has some people who are willing to disparage another nation apparently without ever having traveled to that nation or doing any intelligent research.

John

 

After living in and traveling throughout Europe for a while, I really noticed and was quite surprised by how contemporary Europeans tend to be very resentful and spiteful of the US. I believe it was mainly because of their economic success and due to the fact that they replaced Europe as the dominant Western power. This post does a very good job of exemplifying what I observed.

BTW before anyone accuses me of any bias or being nationalist, I’m not even American.

 

It's more than a century now that the states are the strongest power in the western world, so it's nothing new, and there is nothing bad about that.

To make it clear, i LOVE the states, frankly. I do. I do travel there quite often and enjoy it everytime.

But again, name me one thing where you can say, wow, it's such a great fit and finish and that is "proudly" made in the US.

Nothing, that's why they got (and are still) overrun by the Japs in car building, that everyone with taste and cash want a merc, bimmer or Audi, a Patek Philippe or a Vacheron Contantin, a french or italian wine, french clothes (or english ones, depending on your taste), get german Hifi, swedish design stuff etc etc.
It's just that historically americans don't have the same connection with time. Just see how the houses got blown away by "some" wind, that could not happen in Europe, as they do use concrete (making houses costly to build, though), so again, there is nothing bad, just everybody should relax, and americans aren't good for quality, they don't need it.
lastly, if you call "economic" success a country that has such a bad ecomic balance (meaning roughly noboby outsides wants the stuff) that is only somehow staying alive thanks to stock trading investments, that has such a bad level of social care, security, and such a high level of poverty,well please, go for it...
Also, there is nothing bad to show off your "wealth", most people on this forum do it, but again, there are ways doing it....
Lastly, about french cars, to my big surprise, they would give any US car a run for its money in terms of build quality since 10 years.

Lastly, if i live in Switzerland, i'm not Swiss, and neutrality is often more a sign of intelligence than cowardry....
Also, we have cows here, not horses
But it's fun to see how narrow minded residents of such a big country can be

 

To have traveled so much and to be so uneducated. Where in the U.S. have you spent your time? Do you know anything about the U.S. economy other than what is written in the European tabloid newspapers?

I really should be working (actually doing something productive for the U.S. economy, not insider stock trading) but a few things to rebut your comment about "nothing" in the U.S. being of value:

Boeing airplanes.

Information technology, U.S. is leader. If your computer doesn't use a Microsoft operating system, it uses Apple's. Both proudly made in the U.S.

Music, jazz, blues, rock and on and on the U.S. sets the standard for the world in contemporary music.

Technology development. The U.S. is in the top rank in the world. Of course others are there, but the U.S. is second to no one.

Wines. I love French, Italian, Australian and Chilean wines but the quality and variety of wines produced in the U.S. is world class also. I can't say the same for Swiss wines, although they can be charming if simple and unsophisticated.

Media and Entertainment. Movies and television shows produced in the U.S. not only are the largest revenue generators in the world, they also are distributed all around the world. The U.S. attracts creative talent from around the world because this industry is the "big leagues".

Financial and Capital markets. The U.S. is the center of the world for global capital markets and innovation in financial instruments that enable companies to raise capital, from venture stage to the largest companies in the world. The financial centers in London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore all lag the U.S. in size, influence, liquidity and innovation. Those markets take their cues from the U.S. much more often than the other way around.

"Nobody" outside of the U.S. may want this stuff, but they seem to buy it anyway. I wonder why?

John

 

Neutrality is a sign of intelligence? Gee I wonder what the world would be like if ALL of Europe was neutral during WWII? I don't remember the last time there were 150 mph winds to blow down houses in Europe do you? Your ignorance never ceases to amaze..... and talk about narrow minded... have you looked in the mirror lately? That thin air is making you delusional. BTW I think you should stop typing.... you're starting to give the Swiss a bad reputation.

 

You are right, Swiss "neutrality" is a myth. Remember Nazi gold?

John

 

Great post. There are lots of American products equal or better than any other country's. There are of course imported items that are superior, but freedom to buy whatever we want makes for competition and improved US products.

Now, US cars went from being great, to garbage, and now are on the rise again. Ironic that GM is the largest carmaker, when almost all of their stuff has been the definition of boring at best, and usually tacky. That too is just starting to turn around.

 

You mean the deal knot by G.W.s' Grandpa ? Yup !

 

It's been my experience that European made products for the most part are inferior to US made products, with the exception of Germany, although that is changing too. However, the cache of european products attracts the American consumer.

 

NYC, Miami, LA etc.
Fun to hear americans speaking about tabloids when you only read FT and sports illustrated....wow, what a culture, amazing.


Boeing aren't any better than Airbus planes, in fact, if you omit the still to come 787 (and a bit the 777), they are 20+ years old engineerings.
While it's true that they have the lead on Operating systems, they are historically bad on software engineering (many game dev. for example is done in europe/japan).
Design is often as well japan/europe thing.
Music/movies you're definitly right, what comes from other places is 99 % plain crap, agree on that
Litterature almost inexistant in the US
Forget swiss wine, they're sh@t if you omit 1-2. US do make great wines, but these are carrying also a european name (Rotschild
Automobile industry, the biggest job giver in the world, and the biggest INDUSTRY in the world, is out of their hands, forever.

For capital investment you're of course right, but that's not always a good thing, as nowadays, capital is no more connected to real economy...