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Old 11-01-2006, 09:58 PM
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Gurkha Gurkha is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Boondocks
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcreynol View Post
Federalization would cost far more than that. First there is the crash testing. You'd need 1 spare for the successful crash test and 1 spare for each unsuccessful test. Then there are the engineering modifications required to make it pass. Got airbags? No, you need to engineer those in. Seatbelt interlocks? Park interlock? DOT lights? The roof looks very weak. Next, that "Mercedes derived" engine isn't US spec even when MB makes it. Figure $40K just for that step. It goes on and on.
The OM616 turbo passes Euro-III and IV so passing US standards won't be hard, its already exported to Germany and quite a few of them have been sold there and therefore it passes the German laws, also it is TUV certified but it would need a dedicated investor with financial backing to bring it into USA. The roof may look weak but it takes rolls and doesn't collapse, have seen one carrying 15 people take three rolls and all survived.
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