If you'd ever driven a proper hot hatch made by Renault, Citroen, Alfa, Ford Europe, Seat (pronounced See-at) or the European Civic Type R you'd know how watered down the cars we North American's get. Most car companies claim Nurburgring testing... but that's for the European version of their cars, they then water them down and soften them up for our big slow highways and lumbing cities filled with 90 degree corners. It makes sense... 80% of the car buying public in North America wants something comfortable to comute in stop and go traffic and they like soft and easy to drive cars... so that's what we get. Because remember, those European cars are much better handling and faster, but usually at the expense of comfort and ease of driving. Most Europeans grow up surrounded by motorsport and are encouraged to enjoy a spirited drive and learn to handle a car properly and appreciate good chassis dynamics from a yound age. Most North Americans are brought up around football, NASCAR, Escalades and driving straight down a highway with a low speed limit to the nearest mall. It's all about pleasing the masses whereever they are.
