New car imports

[Marlin]

Well, there must be SOMETHING in the ADRs, because there's an entire department dedicated to enforcing and coming up with them! Surely, they wouldn't be simply feathering their own nests and doing fuck all!

But it's basic shit really. Light positioning, number plate mounts, child restraints - the evidence of their meddling is everywhere.

Another ADR that is a real joy is noise limit testing.

[Aaron]

Has there ever been a detailed comparison done between ADR's and the UK/EU standards?

I crack up whenever someone tries to tell me that "Australian-spec cars are different" because i have not found a single "Australian market" component in the parts catalogues for my UK-built vehicles.

Only things I've seen different between UK and AU Renaults is feature and option combinations. Renault does have some kind of desert/hot weather pack on some models but I don't think we get that either.

From memory EU compliance is accepted as being equal or superior to ADR compliance with there being no unique to Australia requirements any more except the Child Restraint stuff - but now ISOFix is accepted.

[Marlin]

Yeah, now Isofix is accepted but in some bent form of thinking they're still demanding that there is an additional tether to a child restraint anchor! So all the Isofix seats available everywhere else in the World aren't good enough for Australia..... Fuckheads.

That's why I didn't smuggle in Isofix Recaro seats in a container from the UK for mine and a friend's babies..... at about half the cost of what the ADR modded ones cost, let alone the PITA that the upper restraint strap is, that does precisely nothing.

[Aaron]

Not disagreeing Marlin, someone's probably trying to save the "babies" of Shazza and Bazza who have the hand-me-down baby seat from grand mummies VN.

There are definitely some things that are extra or stupid (like the noise thing) but they seem to now be more exceptions than the norm.

[Jack Nicholson]

So in that case, if a UK-sourced vehicle has an "EC Certificate of Conformity for complete vehicles" &/or a "Vehicle Certification as Required by Section 47 of the Road Traffic Act of Great Britain - National Type Approval" then it fullfils the ADR requirements.

If the vehicle is indeed compliant the manufacturer can issue this certificate, the compliancing issue would be resolved.

I have one of those certificates sitting here on my desk, from when I imported my XJR from the UK to Switzerland.
That was all the Swiss wanted to prove that the vehicle was compliant with the standards. Cost me £100 at the time.
As opposed to the $1000's needed in Oz for a vehicle to be complied via SEVS or through the PIS.

[Asteroid]

http://www.ehinz.ac.nz/assets/Factsh...ased201405.pdf

Average fleet age in NZ has been on the rise for 8yrs. Older than Australia.

Dunno what NZ is up to these days but this could be fixed with legislation - eg, free import of cars up to 3/5 years old. Change pre-89 into a rolling 25yr rule or something. The market would sort itself out.

[fatz]

Yeah, now Isofix is accepted but in some bent form of thinking they're still demanding that there is an additional tether to a child restraint anchor! So all the Isofix seats available everywhere else in the World aren't good enough for Australia..... Fuckheads.

That's why I didn't smuggle in Isofix Recaro seats in a container from the UK for mine and a friend's babies..... at about half the cost of what the ADR modded ones cost, let alone the PITA that the upper restraint strap is, that does precisely nothing.

crash tests show isofix +teather is quite alot better

[MRMOPARMAN]

crash tests show isofix +teather is quite alot better

Link to test? Cant see how the tether could make it any safer than the seatbelt already used

[papahet]

The ADR's have been harmonised with European UNECE regulations for some time...I think the government have known the future of local manufacturing for some time so had no choice but to prepare for an import only market.

[rj_astra]

The ADR's have been harmonised with European UNECE regulations for some time...I think the government have known the future of local manufacturing for some time so had no choice but to prepare for an import only market.

Yep.. most regs are.

What the ADRs do is set the minumum specs for cars sold in this market. It also allows multiple regs to be accepted for one ADR. Whether that be an UNECE or North America regs.

For instance US sourced cars sold here don't need a rear fog light fitted.... if they are sold in the EU they do. Aus ADRS don't stipulate mandatory rear foglights.

ISOFIX here needs a top tether (which the EU will finally do as well)... the north american markets spin on ISOFIX - LATCH needs a top tether.

This is why the opening of the AUS market to grey imports can't happen. Most of these will come from Japan. Their national safety specs are all over the place. Just look at the appalling crash specs of Kei cars. The fact that Japanese market ND MX5s have optional side airbags in low spec models.

[Jack Nicholson]

The SEVS scheme already covers oddball Japanese stuff, and although relatively costly, it seems to work fine IMHO.

The issue here is vehicles that are prohibited from paralell import if they have been sold here via official channels.

Those are the vehicles that a lot of people would like to buy cheaper.

Let's pick one example. 2015MY Aston Martin Vanquish.

$600k driveaway here in Oz (which would include rego & stamp duty)
They are £200k in the showroom in London.

Remove the 20% VAT because export, £160k = $307k
Add $10k in shipping & handling = $317k
Plus 10% duty + 10% GST = $384k
Plus LCT of 33% above $62K = $490k
Plus Stamp duty $1350 + $5 per $100 = $514,500

So you could theoretically save yourself ~$85k on a half-million dollar car.

Worth it? If you have a full warranty yes, if there is no warranty then it's a huge risk for the money involved...

[Jack Nicholson]

And there you go, no used imports allowed http://www.theage.com.au/business/co...16-1mm5dr.html

[Old Major]

crash tests show isofix +teather is quite alot better

How about tests with an incorrectly installed or unconnected tether strap like 90% of them will be. The whole point of Isofix was that it takes incorrect installation out of the equation.

[itsnotagsr]

Surely this would see more specialist workshops if local dealers refuse to service them? After all, this is what has happened with Jap imports.

[Marlin]

crash tests show isofix +teather is quite alot better

Show me the data big fella.....