A very interesting thread regarding Germans, German cars and the hypocrits who call themselves patriots. Thaught I'd start a new thred as the other was getting very long!

I don't have a problem with Germans per se, just the individuals involved in almost destryoying MGR. At least sales of MGR products in Germany are healthy and rising, even better than when B*W was incharge.

What really does annoy me though,are those fools who won't consider a Rover simply because it is a Rover. Those British companies that send their reps end execs out in foreign made cars (which includes Ford), to try and win sales for their company. Its so hypocritical. What would they say if their potential customers turned round and said sorry mate, you're wasting your time here, we don't won't consider your company's stuff because its made in Britain, therefore its got the wrong image. Its simple, reps trying to sell British goods or services should use British cars in which to do so, which means MGR, as we all know that no Ford badged cars are made here any more.

What also bugs me is how the motoring press still regard Ford and Vauxhalls as British by calling them'the British car' or by putting a Union Flag next to their picture. Funny how AutoExpress for example describes the Ford Focus as British, yet its sister magazine in France AutoPlus, describes the Focus as German (which it is).

The Police- of course they shoud use MGR products, and MPs, ministers and the PM.

There, I've had my whinge!

Oh anothr thaught - people were talking about motorbikes - what about vans. I wonder if LDV could do anything with the Maestro Van, or is that just too far gone now?

In my view, Vauxall is not really a British car company.

Even a Honda Civic is more 'British' than a vauxhall... or maybe not.....
I mean that, vauxhall is just a rebadge of op*l.

[quote]Mike wrote:
A very interesting thread regarding Germans, German cars and the hypocrits who call themselves patriots. Thaught I'd start a new thred as the other was getting very long!

I don't have a problem with Germans per se, just the individuals involved in almost destryoying MGR. At least sales of MGR products in Germany are healthy and rising, even better than when B*W was incharge.
quote]

:eyes :eyes :eyes Does anyone know what the actual figures are as I'd really be interested in seeing them!! If our German neighbours are starting to buy more MG-Rover cars this is a very good omen for the future of the company. Maybe finally, the British public will see this and realise that if the Germans are buying them then it "really" must be a good product after all!
:) :) :)Stephen.

Mike wrote:
A very interesting thread regarding Germans, German cars and the hypocrits who call themselves patriots. Thaught I'd start a new thred as the other was getting very long!

I don't have a problem with Germans per se, just the individuals involved in almost destryoying MGR. At least sales of MGR products in Germany are healthy and rising, even better than when B*W was incharge.

What really does annoy me though,are those fools who won't consider a Rover simply because it is a Rover. Those British companies that send their reps end execs out in foreign made cars (which includes Ford), to try and win sales for their company. Its so hypocritical. What would they say if their potential customers turned round and said sorry mate, you're wasting your time here, we don't won't consider your company's stuff because its made in Britain, therefore its got the wrong image. Its simple, reps trying to sell British goods or services should use British cars in which to do so, which means MGR, as we all know that no Ford badged cars are made here any more.

What also bugs me is how the motoring press still regard Ford and Vauxhalls as British by calling them'the British car' or by putting a Union Flag next to their picture. Funny how AutoExpress for example describes the Ford Focus as British, yet its sister magazine in France AutoPlus, describes the Focus as German (which it is).

The Police- of course they shoud use MGR products, and MPs, ministers and the PM.

There, I've had my whinge!

Oh anothr thaught - people were talking about motorbikes - what about vans. I wonder if LDV could do anything with the Maestro Van, or is that just too far gone now?

I think most people's problem with Rover is not the fact that it is British, but their memories of when Rover wasn't quite the class act it is now. It wasn't so long ago that Rover meant a re-badged Maestro/Montego/Honda. Corporate transport managers need a lot of convincing that a firms cars really have changed. It amazes me that some people still view Alfas as rust-buckets. Remember, most people out there aren't as clued up about cars as the people who subscribe to this forum.

Actually the Maestro van is far from dead. It's sneaked away for a new life in China. Last time I looked there was some info on this on WWW.Maestroweb.co.uk.
As for LDV, they were in partnership over new vehicles with Daewoo known as project GEMINI, LDV taking the lead with the development of the large range, and LDV the smaller. With all the problems with Daewoo this died a death, but somehow the larger one has made it to production, and will soon hit these shores as the Arvia, built in Poland at the Andorra works (which built the LDV Convoy and Pilot from CKD Kits there). This will have a Cummins Euro 111 engine.
As for LDV, they have the rights to the smaller GEMINI range, but this has gone worriningly quiet. Given the collosal costs of tooling up without a partner, this is hardly surprising. They were in talks with VW, but they scuttled back to their LT35/Sprinter partner Mercedes. Renault, who they were once in bed with in a joint design, are now firmly wedded to GM/Vauxhall with their Luton IBC built Vivaro.
There seems little partnership options open to LDV, and the current range is getting horribly dated, and seem to survive only by customer loyalty and "Buy British" policies of local authorities. Why on earth do they not share R&D facilties with MG-R? They were once part of the same picture, they still share commonality of many suppliers which could lead to cost savings, and I sure staff are poached from one company to the other, and vice versa. Wise up, the pair of you!! >=(

With all this discussion of what is made where, and that companies (mainly now Vauxhall, also Ford) traditionally seen as UK makers in fact make most or all their cars overseas, that LDV make/made in Poland (had no idea!),etc etc, it seems a very complex and shifting picture...which means somebody somewhere must be having fun (and probably getting depressed) making a website tracking the details and what and wheres all these things. Does anybody have the URL of such a site folks?

Let me make it plain I'm not a fan of Vauxhall.

However, for the record, for the past two years they have actually manufactured more cars in the United Kingdom than any other manufacturer.

John