Improbable as it may seem， an increasing number of Germans are giving up their elegant Mercedeses， sleek BMWs and ferociously fast Porsches and getting behind the wheels of imported American models – fro plush Cadillacs to more prosaic Fords. Unlike the cars produced by Detroit‘s European subsidiaries， these cars are as American as apple pie and watery beer. And thanks to a favorable exchange rate， they are more affordable than ever Last year Germans bought 12 477 new U.S. –built cars； sales are expected to double this year.
Like blue jeans， this buy – America fad appeals to Germans from all walks of life. Once regarded as faulty， flashy， gas – guzzling Goliaths， American autos are – thanks in large measure to foreign competition –more stylish and reliable than in years past. Tugged， off- road vehicles like the four-wheel drive Jeep Cherokee are now the hot wheels to drive among Germany‘s thirty- something set. Owners and Aficionados of American – made care also boast their cars are cheaper to maintain.
But that‘s not the main reason German motorists are choosing U.S. imports – It’s their price. Even after the cost of overseas shipping is included， American – made cars offer more value – and deluxe features – for less money than German models. A Chrysler LeBaron convertible sells for 35 000 marks； a BMW 320i convertible， by comparison， commands 10 000 marks more. And U.S. autos come with standard equipment – electric windows， automatic locks and sun roofs – that‘s available only as expensive options on German ng an American car in Germany is not for everybody. But the worst headaches come form the German bureaucracy. Johann Erben， a Greiburg dental lab technician， purchased a LeBaron convertible during a U.S. trip in November – and has yet to drive it one kilometer. First， he waited months for the proper registration documents to arrive； then he spent more than 1 000 marks to have it comply with German regulations. Even so， safety inspectors refused to approve it until he changed the headlights and windows to European Community standards. “There I was with my supermodern， $ 20，000 car and unable to get it through inspection，” Erben recalled.
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