- 86,630
- Rule 12
- GTP_Famine
I've been thinking about cheap/expensive categories.
Due to regional differences, a European is more likely to win an expensive category and an American is more likely to win a cheap category, even when both post the same car, since cars in Europe are about 60% more expensive and the dollar is standing at about 0.50c against the pound.
To avoid the confusion of conversions, I'd like to propose a new system, and a new currency - the GAP.
The idea is to compare car prices against their peers, rather than in several different economies. We select a car which is sold everywhere and compare our car's list price to that car.
For my example, I've selected a standard 3-door Volkswagen Golf MkV GTi which is $22,220 (list) in the USA and £20,607 (list) in the UK. Thus 1GAP = $22,220USD = £20,607UKP.
Example:
BMW Z4 M Roadster
UK: £42,245 (~$85,000)
US: $50,100
Golf Adjusted Price
UK: 2.05GAP
US: 2.25GAP
Toyota Yaris 3 door
UK: £8,810 (~$17,000)
US: $11,300
Golf Adjusted Price
UK: 0.43GAP
US: 0.51GAP
It makes things a lot closer and partially removes the problem that a UK-model Ford Focus (the ST) is effectively more expensive than a US-model BMW Z4 M Coupe - and gives the American spotters a chance in the cheap-car sections and the EU spotters a chance in the expensive-car sections.
Thoughts?
Due to regional differences, a European is more likely to win an expensive category and an American is more likely to win a cheap category, even when both post the same car, since cars in Europe are about 60% more expensive and the dollar is standing at about 0.50c against the pound.
To avoid the confusion of conversions, I'd like to propose a new system, and a new currency - the GAP.
The idea is to compare car prices against their peers, rather than in several different economies. We select a car which is sold everywhere and compare our car's list price to that car.
For my example, I've selected a standard 3-door Volkswagen Golf MkV GTi which is $22,220 (list) in the USA and £20,607 (list) in the UK. Thus 1GAP = $22,220USD = £20,607UKP.
Example:
BMW Z4 M Roadster
UK: £42,245 (~$85,000)
US: $50,100
Golf Adjusted Price
UK: 2.05GAP
US: 2.25GAP
Toyota Yaris 3 door
UK: £8,810 (~$17,000)
US: $11,300
Golf Adjusted Price
UK: 0.43GAP
US: 0.51GAP
It makes things a lot closer and partially removes the problem that a UK-model Ford Focus (the ST) is effectively more expensive than a US-model BMW Z4 M Coupe - and gives the American spotters a chance in the cheap-car sections and the EU spotters a chance in the expensive-car sections.
Thoughts?
