In 1994 I was looking at minivans and a dealer here in western Washington had brought in some Dodge Caravans from a dealer in Canada (BC) since the demand for them was high here at the time. They still had the km/h speedometers. The salesman said that they change them when a person buys the van. I didn't buy one, but I would have left it metric! :)
. ______________ ____ | | RICH KIM, Spatial Database Administrator \ | | | Washington State Department of Ecology, GIS | // | P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, Washington USA 98504 | * Olympia | Phone: (360) 407-6121; Fax: (360) 407-6493 \ _____| E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] `---------' http://www.ecy.wa.gov/services/gis/index.html -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Michael Payne Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 10:43 To: U.S. Metric Association Subject: [USMA:38489] Buying a SI display car As some of you know, I've been looking at whether it's possible to buy a new car with km/h speedometer here in the US. I find this an interesting exercise in frustration, not being able to make a choice to use the measurement system I want, which is not only legal in the US but preferred. So much for being free to choose! I've made many frustrating visits to all the various dealers for most manufacturers, and none are willing to sell a car with a km/h speedometer despite the metric system being the preferred system for trade and commerce. GM to it's credit has a very well designed system where at the touch of a button, the displays change from US to metric, everything, speed temperature, tire pressure, all change to SI. Trouble is I'm not otherwise enamored with GM vehicles. I personally like the design and fuel economy of the Mercedes diesel known as the E320 Blutec for it's use of Urea to reduce emissions. http://www.dieselforum.org/fileadmin/templates/FactSheetMasterFolder/FS_ SCR_08.24.06.pdf explains the process. Being adamant that I want a km/h speedometer and km odometer I'm left with 3 choices. 1. Get the speedometer changed. 2. Buy a Canadian vehicle which has to be a used vehicle. 3. Don't buy a new car at all. I wrote a letter to Mercedes hoping that I can take advantage of their European delivery program to pick up a car in Europe, they never replied but from a dealer I got the reply that they were not willing to do this. I felt it would be no problem to install the SI gauges at the factory and deliver the car to me. Because the vehicle can display the speed in mph digitally via a menu selection (as well as the analog km/h display) I feel it must meet US DOT requirements for the display of either system which is what GM does on it's vehicles, which obviously comply with the law because they sell them in the US this way. Perhaps if they got more people asking for this they might make it an option. More of us need to have the dealer ask the Head office if this is an option. One advantage of the European delivery program is that I can get a 7% discount on the price, plus there is no delivery charge ($750 otherwise). Not sure why this is. In Canada by comparison there is no discount and the vehicle is much more expensive. Plus from what I've found out it's not possible to buy a new vehicle in Canada and import it to the US, has to be a used vehicle. I'd be interested on feedback from Listserve members on their thoughts and suggestions on what I could do. I've even considered a lawsuit but believe these folks can sell what they want. But does it infringe on my rights under the 1865 Metric system authorized law. (no contract or dealing, ... shall be deemed invalid or liable to objection because the weights or measures expressed or referred to therein are weights or measures of the metric system). Any Lawyers on this listserve? Michael Payne 1 Thorton Court Potomac Falls VA 20165 USA
