I actually agree with what you’re saying, I’m sure that generally this is an anti-North American spec bias rather than a LHD, RHD debate. It would probably help if it was discussed that way as the two seem to commonly be mixed up imo.
In the greater scheme of things I believe a stock US car would and should be worth less than a stock UK, EU or JDM car on the basis of its specification and importantly not due to the position of its steering wheel. I think JDM cars will always command a premium as they are the home market cars which are viewed as the Halo cars with the best usually being reserved only for the Japanese market.
No, I believe it to be a LHD vs. RHD debate BUT.....is purely USA LHD because who, in theiright minds would import an (expensive, relatively compared to the market choice in the USA) rusty European LHD into the UK ? Defeats the point doesn't it ?
Agreed with the rest 'cept not all of the JDM cars are 'most desirable' unless you're a JDM and/or OEM freak.
Well, as chrisvega has alluded to, I wouldn't place too much stock in your average civilian knowing anything much at all about these cars. We are still at a situation where even owners and self-avowed enthusiasts think the term '240Z' means just one thing, and that they were made by a company called 'Datsun'.
That's the point. People like me (or maybe it's just me...?) have been trying to point out some fairly fundamental differences in nature across the different market models, largely because it has been so badly reported on up to now. Look at any of the magazine articles and press/web media reporting on the '69 through '73 cars over the last 20 years and you'll see mistakes, misconceptions and plain bad data repeated over and over again and often with a good dose of USA-market bias running through it. Pointing out such mistakes is not 'LHD bashing'.
No, it is not LHD bashing and if anyone claimed it so against you, I would defend you fervently Alan 'cos the reporting, aided substantially by a 'loaded' English speaking press (books included) and since by the social medias has been at best poorly researched and at worst simply awful....!
What the situation needs Alan, and this has been oft repeated, is a much more detailed English-language book on the S30 from germ in someones' head, through conception design, evolution to production and commercialisation. The cherry on the top would be a more JDM slanted look at the cars' competition history and results.
THAT, would be the ultimate 'get-back' at the usual USA-slanted reporting !
People (if they even bother to read these days) read what is easily available - go on ebay and amazon and look for 'Z-books' - what do you find ? They need something better - the car deserves something better.
You might not think so Alan, but you HAVE impressed and converted many, many people and influenced the description of the cars.
Not sure ? Up until 5-8 years agao, how many people mentionned S30s ? No, they were 240Zs and 260Zs and oh yes, wasn't there an Amercial 260Z with a ZX engine ?
Describing them as S30s was a massive step towards seeing the cars as a family and not one car with some offshoots and even that one car was 'merely' an export.
Whilst we're here, just how many export versions were there please ?
USA/Canada
USA California
Cont Europe
Portugal
UK
SA/Aus/NZ (?)
Others ?
Then the 4/5speed and automatic versions...
Nearly as many as the JDM variants ?