New car imports

[Captiva Fan]

Pretty sure cars like c63, m3, cayman s etc are significantly cheaper in the uk than here. So you wouldn't need to 'rich' to afford one at UK prices.

I just checked the C63 (Edition sedan), AU$131k in the UK at current exchange rates, AU137k here if you deduct LCT.

Now they've got 20% VAT vs our 10% GST ... but it's still only going to be something like $15k cheaper, $160k-ish down to $145k-ish is pretty meh IMHO.

[rj_astra]

C63S in UK is equivalent to AUD128K - take off VAT an its AUD 107K

Here the RRP of $133K (no on roads etc) includes GST and the 5% duty. Take both off an you are looking at $115K.

So, how will a parallel importer get one here cheaper?

[Jack Nicholson]

I don't think Merc is a good example of price-gouging in Australia, not with the C63 anyhow.

The C63 is aggressively priced in Oz already IMHO, further up the ladder is where things get well out of whack.

[Captiva Fan]

I don't think Merc is a good example of price-gouging in Australia, not with the C63 anyhow.

The C63 is aggressively priced in Oz already IMHO, further up the ladder is where things get well out of whack.

Agreed; but my point was that there's nothing for 'the enthusiast' that's relevant, particularly further up that ladder; it's all for 'rich people'. Let's throw around that one-percenters term, even though it's US-specific, 'cos in general terms they're the only ones who'd see any price reduction.

[Babalouie]

I reckon it won't make a hell of a lot of difference below the 911 GT3 level. You'd want to save a hell of a lot of money on a C63 to counteract the longer wait time, possible lack of choice on colour and options and lack of warranty. Saving $70k on a 458 Italia is a different matter tho.

I suspect that below the $100k mark, the new system will appeal to ppl who want to spend $75k on a Toyota Alphard, or marque diehards who really, really have to have a Exiga STi Type C.

[Asteroid]

In for Alto RS 4wd

[Babalouie]

In for Alto RS 4wd

I think kei cars are built to a lower crash standard in Japan, so are probably not going to be eligible under the new scheme.

because ACA OMG they're importing unsafe cars


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[irsa76]

I think the only real game changer would be if they opened it up to LHD cars.

If it means I can get my hands on a Charger Hellcat then I'll happily suffer the wanker insults for driving a LHD.

[fatz]

Coff 90k gtr coff

[dan-]

if this were to happen, i would not be surprised if the importers instructed dealers to fiddle with the pricing or availability of parts and servicing they can offer for the parallel imported vehicles. if you think about the massive warehouses full of parts and all the computer diagnosis devices etc etc... not having those available to you would suck, or having parts cost double their local price would suck, and if you are not buying a car from the importer then why can't they recover their costs (through higher prices), or why does the importer need to give you access to that stuff at all?? would be a huge fight but ultimately i reckon the importers would be on the right side of the argument.

[Rezz]

I think kei cars are built to a lower crash standard in Japan, so are probably not going to be eligible under the new scheme.

They have minuscule crumple zones, especially at the back... which is kind of ironic as there are heaps of expressway deaths involving Keis from them being in front of prime movers who can't slow down and getting plowed from behind.

I wouldn't drive one anywhere, even in JP unless I was fully aware of every other driver out there, like a motorcyclist would.

[Captiva Fan]

if this were to happen, i would not be surprised if the importers instructed dealers to fiddle with the pricing or availability of parts and servicing they can offer for the parallel imported vehicles. if you think about the massive warehouses full of parts and all the computer diagnosis devices etc etc... not having those available to you would suck, or having parts cost double their local price would suck, and if you are not buying a car from the importer then why can't they recover their costs (through higher prices), or why does the importer need to give you access to that stuff at all?? would be a huge fight but ultimately i reckon the importers would be on the right side of the argument.

To me, a part of the argument for blocking parallel imports is the current alleged need for importers to supply parts for ten years.
But then you try buying bits for a Falcon which are no longer available because the supplier went bust, or you wait for 3 months for a gearbox-widget to come from OS for your non-grey import; and I'm not so sure that this 'guarantee' of parts supply is such a thing.

[dan-]

Jap spec LC70 with petrol V6 - $35k! How does a diesel engine increase its cost by double?

see this i can sort of understand. the LC70's are a basic old tank, and that's why they are loved in australia. but back home in japan, that is a bad thing. so when a bloke in toyota did the sums on their last update with the v8/dual cab/wagon/etc, it would have boiled down to something like
* the up-front fixed costs of design/setup/tooling/etc are so high that we need to make 50,000 of these things if they are to sell for a half-reasonable price
* making 50,000 of these things is going to cost us, say $30k/ea when they leave the factory gates
* the dealers, governments, distributors and other wackers need take their cut, so we need to sell the things for an average of $50k
* we'll sell half of them in africa and other shitholes, but can only sell them for $40k because those blokes are all poor
* we'll sell the other half to those bogan cunts in australia, and because those cunts are richer than the starving africans, we can sell them for $60k
* we can't sell them anywhere else because they aren't big enough for the fat-arse americans and the rest of the world has roads and doesn't see the point of a tank like the LC70
* if we priced them at $50k in africa we wouldn't sell any, and if we priced them at $50k in australia we wouldn't make enough bank to cover our costs

so they go ahead with their business plan where everyone is paying different prices, the starving africans get their ambulances and roothy gets a sick truck to go out the simmo bouncing off dunes and drinking a slab of XXXX gold around the campfire every night and everyone is happy.

and then some clever cunt in japan dreams up about doing a limited run and selling it as some "heritage edition" thing. they probably can't sell them for much because there are few people who want a car like that in japan because there is nowhere off-road to drive it and on the road they suck, but their costs are already covered by the aussies and africans, so they ship them out the door at the marginal cost and sell em for $30k/ea. they still cover the cost of making each car, but don't pay back the up-front cost of design/setup/tooling/etc.

[Babalouie]

New car imports

if this were to happen, i would not be surprised if the importers instructed dealers to fiddle with the pricing or availability of parts and servicing they can offer for the parallel imported vehicles. if you think about the massive warehouses full of parts and all the computer diagnosis devices etc etc... not having those available to you would suck, or having parts cost double their local price would suck, and if you are not buying a car from the importer then why can't they recover their costs (through higher prices), or why does the importer need to give you access to that stuff at all?? would be a huge fight but ultimately i reckon the importers would be on the right side of the argument.

I reckon in practice it won't be an issue. OEM parts are very easily obtainable online, and if there is enough demand, independent workshops will figure out how to use them. Especially if it's much cheaper...I just bought a Lexus balljoint from a California Lexus dealer for US$80, whereas Lexus Oz wanted $330.

Even with a bit of a markup for their time, I reckon parallel import parts will be cheaper or the same price as local, easily.

And when my FD needed a new front lip, the panel beater worked out how to order one from Japan all by himself.


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[mizone]

Agreed; but my point was that there's nothing for 'the enthusiast' that's relevant, particularly further up that ladder; it's all for 'rich people'. Let's throw around that one-percenters term, even though it's US-specific, 'cos in general terms they're the only ones who'd see any price reduction.

Heres a Hypothetical. Lets say Ford bought the GT Mustang out here for AUD$70k plus on roads. The same car in the US AUD$40k (so lets say $50k landed = 10% GST plus $4k shipping). That's a $20k difference. So, what's the advantage to stop me going into a US dealer, ordering a RHD one and putting it on the boat?

The reason I say this is in whilst living in the UK people where buying their LandRovers in Holland (ordered RHD) and shipping them to the UK. They saved a mint.

Also what cars are out there that this would apply to. The V6 Clio mentioned before, or like Forg said, only the high end stuff ?