New car imports

[Sumodog]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-1...w-cars/6396048

This would bring some interesting options for car buyers ...

[TJ Shermuz]

I love how all the motor dealers are crying "safety"

[PLAYA]

Can't fucking wait

[itsnotagsr]

Sure, but whats going to happen to the value of the import once someone tries to sell it? Most luxury buyers don't want imports (different story for S13s).

[Shonky]

Sounds alright. Of course warranty etc is also mentioned. However if I save what $10-20k-more on that's probably a risk worth taking.

[Captiva Fan]

Can't fucking wait

Out of interest, what price differences would you expect it to make?

I can see lots of scope in the upper price reaches, but stuff I might actually afford basically costs no more here than anywhere else these days. For example, a 911T is WAY cheaper in the UK, even taking our LCT into account, I reckon it'd almost be halved (it's what $400k-ish - I reckon more like $250k if a UK dealer was allowed to sell here, even with LCT). But run of the mill stuff by most brands (Mazda, Ford, VW, Toyota et al) I don't think there'd be much of a saving.
And paying new car money for something not otherwise available here is a gamble not that many would be game to take, surely?


And on another topic, how about:

Equally, the experience in New Zealand has been that opening up used car market imports has increased the age of the fleet on the road, which means you get worse safety outcomes than you do with a newer fleet

Wat?
They went from an average fleet age of something stupid like 20 years, when they embraced grey imports. Apparently visiting New Zealand in the early 90's, before grey imports took off, it was all rusted-out Austin Marinas and Mk3 Cortinas and the like - they were the norm, not the exception.
So if the gumbyment are bullshitting about used grey imports, who knows where their bullshit is with new parallel imports.
Aldi-branded Astra GTC, anyone?

[TJ]

Sure, but whats going to happen to the value of the import once someone tries to sell it? Most luxury buyers don't want imports (different story for S13s).

They save on purchase price, they take a cut on resale, but the % would be similar.

I reckon you would find a lot of buyers for luxo's at a more reasonable price.

[Rona]

Sure, but whats going to happen to the value of the import once someone tries to sell it? Most luxury buyers don't want imports (different story for S13s).

Bit different when you bought it new vs used import which has had exposure to salted roads, unknown/unverified accident and service history etc. You'd only buy it if you were keeping it long term, imported car with no warranty would definitely not have a good resale value compared to a local model say 2-3 years old.

[Captiva Fan]

They save on purchase price, they take a cut on resale, but the % would be similar.

In ridiculously expensive shit, you could probably just throw the car away & still be ahead compared to what the local price would have been.
The pulled-out-of-arse $400k vs. $250k 911T example above, for example, that $150k initial price difference is pretty massive ... there's a n '09 with 30k kms on CarSales for $240k (which I imagine would have to be quite bargainable - let's surmise you but it for $220k) ... given the $150k price-difference new, would a "grey import new AU-delivered" 2009 911T with full AU service logs etc be worth under $70k?

It'd have to be something with a current AU RRP of over about $70k-$80k for it to actually be cheaper to parallel-import, though. Anything less than about that is a fairly similar price to OS if you take the LCT away.

[TJ]

Forg - bit hard to tell - this would need to be implemented and several years of existence until you saw what it was doing to pricing.

But if you Joe accountant can buy a new one at 250 instead of 400 who thinks they wont?

[Rezz]

It may end up like Japan where people pay a premium for LHD Merc and BMWs from der Faterland. The exclusivity of LHD being a identifiable "foreign" car (ie: better than JDM) keeps prices higher. That said, it's usually restricted to the hi-po or higher end models. For the garden variety C180s and 3 series they are usually all RHD and sourced through the official importer (Yanase).

Would people then only get hi-po models that weren't available through Merc or BMW Aus as a new import?

[Captiva Fan]

Forg - bit hard to tell - this would need to be implemented and several years of existence until you saw what it was doing to pricing.

I suspect that if there were immaculate 30k-km 2009 AU-delivered 911T's with full Porsche Centre Sydney service-logs since new available for $70k ... well they'd get bought in seconds, and the next person selling would put the price up WAY more.

However, I'm assuming the intention is what would occur ... Porsche AU would stop the customer arse-raping instead. It's got to be more efficient for them to sell here, than for some guy to organise a one-off.

[MRMOPARMAN]

Sounds like the govco doesnt want to know about it, going off the news.com story on this.

[Nick]

Out of interest, what price differences would you expect it to make?

I can see lots of scope in the upper price reaches, but stuff I might actually afford basically costs no more here than anywhere else these days. For example, a 911T is WAY cheaper in the UK, even taking our LCT into account, I reckon it'd almost be halved (it's what $400k-ish - I reckon more like $250k if a UK dealer was allowed to sell here, even with LCT). But run of the mill stuff by most brands (Mazda, Ford, VW, Toyota et al) I don't think there'd be much of a saving.
And paying new car money for something not otherwise available here is a gamble not that many would be game to take, surely?


And on another topic, how about:


Wat?
They went from an average fleet age of something stupid like 20 years, when they embraced grey imports. Apparently visiting New Zealand in the early 90's, before grey imports took off, it was all rusted-out Austin Marinas and Mk3 Cortinas and the like - they were the norm, not the exception.
So if the gumbyment are bullshitting about used grey imports, who knows where their bullshit is with new parallel imports.
Aldi-branded Astra GTC, anyone?

Being born in Christchurch and growing up in the area and most of the South Island. This is very true!


Personally I can't wait for the luxury car tax to be fucked off (if ever).

[Mr Ed]

Sure, but whats going to happen to the value of the import once someone tries to sell it? Most luxury buyers don't want imports (different story for S13s).

Thats a cultural thing. Culture would change when it becomes the norm.