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Gotta jump in here on this one... As a former Ford research engineer, I can tell you that the cars Ford produces for the European market and the cars for the US market are set-up and tuned differently. Even the so-called "world cars", Escort and most recently Contour/Mystique/Mondeo, are unique for the different markets. The most "worldly" car, the Contour (the Escorts had a lot few common parts), has different engine choices for Europe and the US and different spring rates in the suspension (Euro is stiffer). The interiors are even different. The seats and door trim panels are cushier and more plush on the US spec cars. Why? Because that is what the customer in each of those markets wants. The Japanese companies make less destinction between Euro and US markets and do well in both. The US market of the European companies is either relatively small (ala VW right now) or they have built their market presence based on the differences between Euro and US (ala BMW) so they tend to build cars to the European customer wants. Ford doesn't sell 2+ million cars a year by not listening to the customer. Unfortunately (or we would all be driving Porsches), the performance-minded driver is a relatively small percentage of the total car buyer public. There are not many Americans that would enjoy the ride from Chicago to LA in a typical European car and I think you would have a hell of time driving a Crown Vic around alot of European cities. The market wants and needs are just different. pppphhhheeewwww....I will stop now. John Jaranson 71 FI Auto Fasty (with the euro ride and handling we have all come to expect and respect in our cars, although I want to 'tweak' mine some) ------------------------------------------------------------------- List info at http://www.vwtype3.org/list or mailto:help@vwtype3.org