Grey Imports

[KIMBOPRADO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close KIMBOPRADO]

Just saw the news in opening up the # of grey imports they want to bring into Australia

http://www.news.com.au/finance/busin...-1226845002155

http://www.news.com.au/finance/busin...-1226845045081

Hope people realize what they buying - but less $$$ for a car compared to Aussie built, was the demise of the Australian Car Industry

Might be able to buy a "near new Toyota" Landcruiser 200 series quite cheap - but get nothing as a trade on my 120....

Or sell the 120 Privately and buy the missus a Kia.....

Wish I had a 150 to sell, might be able to trade up to a Hyundai...

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

The middle men must be quaking in their boots. There goes their markup. You can get a BMW M5, bought in UK (RHD), shipped, duty paid for cheaper than list price in Aus.

The safety thing is a bit misleading. Aussie cars (Falcodores) have only been 5 star safety for a few years and the rest of the industry has only just started offering equipment that's been standard in Europe for years. (2007/2008 corolla with ABS only as an option? Puh-lease!)

Sucks for the resale price though. But as I'm planning on keeping my 120 for 10+ years, resale isn't much if a concern.

[DISHoh Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close DISHoh]

The whole thing is HUGELY misleading. I was considering starting this thread on here as I feel this is a much more mature (don't take that the wrong way) forum compared to others I'm on.

Basically now that our automotive manufacturing industry has lost many of the major pillars supporting it, the government now has to try and find another way to keep "Grey" imports out of the country. Their previous tactic of stating that it would cripple the automotive industry now will not remain relevant, and so they are trying to now scare the Australian public into buying the overpriced crap that we call "local".

The government has a hell of a lot of money to still lose, mainly gained through taxes if people start turning to grey imports, particularly fleet buyers.
They say that it will bring down the prices of used cars - well obviously it will as they have been ridiculously overpriced for many years and only now will the Aus public start to realise it when they aren't blinded by our government as to what foreigners are paying for the same or better cars.

I agree that kilometre tampering is a current issue, not so much for the enthusiasts that understand it and are accepting of the risks, but if the general public start importing cars from overseas then yes they will get stung. It will be less frequent when newer cars with already low klms are imported, as there will be no need to wind them back, but it will still be there amongst some.

Their whole issue on radioactive cars is ridiculous. Anyone who has had anything to do with importing cars over the last 5-10 years will know how strict our quarantine procedures are, which already include testing for radioactivity and that simply because Russia has much more relaxed procedures doesn't mean the three eyed fish will flow through to Australia.

The issue relating to crashed cars being imported is always a possibility, however there needs to be a point where people accept that there are risks and they are doing so at their own will. If you are buying through a competent importer then the risks are almost nil as the information and photos they provide are nothing short of comprehensive, and they will stand by their cars. Pretty soon the dodgy importers would be uncovered and much like used car dealers people who want a flawless sale would gravitate towards the more reputable ones, where as those focused purely on price would naturally take a higher risk.

The article's point about our market being one of the most competitive legitimately made me laugh. Competitive against itself, maybe, competitive against the rest of the world - not even close. If anything deregulating the import procedures would drive down the new car prices even further as people would see what equivalent cars they can get for the same price.

What annoys me most about this is that much of Australia will not know these issues and what the car markets are like overseas and will continue to be happy living in their little overpriced, lesser quality automotive market that we have currently. It's infuriating knowing that if you have $x amount to spend on a car here you can get such a worse car than simply if you lived elsewhere purely because of government restrictions.

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

You can get a BMW M5, bought in UK (RHD), shipped, duty paid for cheaper than list price in Aus.

I know the point you are making, but cars bought in the UK cannot be imported and registered in Australia unless you have lived there and owned it for a minimum period. Even then its difficult as these laws were set up to stop people specifically doing this.

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

I know the point you are making, but cars bought in the UK cannot be imported and registered in Australia unless you have lived there and owned it for a minimum period. Even then its difficult as these laws were set up to stop people specifically doing this.

And how would you go with the speedo in mph and odo readout in miles.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

I know the point you are making, but cars bought in the UK cannot be imported and registered in Australia unless you have lived there and owned it for a minimum period. Even then its difficult as these laws were set up to stop people specifically doing this.

But if the laws are relaxed this will be possible.

Holden and Ford both told the productivity commission that cars are ~3,000 more expensive to build here due to Aussie labour costs. Doesn't explain the price differences we pay

And how would you go with the speedo in mph and odo readout in miles.

Most cars I owned in the UK had speedos showing both mph and kmh on them due to Europe. Not sure about the new M5. And it's not that hard to work out. A km is 5/8 of a mile therefore 80kmh is 50 mph. 100km is 62mph, and 50 kmh is 31mph. Which are very close to common UK speeds limits anyway.

(To go kmh->mph. Divide by 8 and multiply by 5. Mph to kmh is even easier. Divide by 5, multiply by 8. It's not that hard a calculation even for me )

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

But if the laws are relaxed this will be possible.

Holden and Ford both told the productivity commission that cars are ~3,000 more expensive to build here due to Aussie labour costs. Doesn't explain the price differences we pay



Most cars I owned in the UK had speedos showing both mph and kmh on them due to Europe. Not sure about the new M5. And it's not that hard to work out. A km is 5/8 of a mile therefore 80kmh is 50 mph. 100km is 62mph, and 50 kmh is 31mph. Which are very close to common UK speeds limits anyway.

(To go kmh->mph. Divide by 8 and multiply by 5. Mph to kmh is even easier. Divide by 5, multiply by 8. It's not that hard a calculation even for me )

Yes but what are the rules here on ssuch readouts on grey imports?

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

But if the laws are relaxed this will be possible.

True, but thats a big if. Established, official importers still want to protect their patch.

Holden and Ford both told the productivity commission that cars are ~3,000 more expensive to build here due to Aussie labour costs. Doesn't explain the price differences we pay

Greed. The same as our politicians. To quote Joe Hockey - "the age of entitlement is over"

*unless you're a politician or corporate executive.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

Yes but what are the rules here on ssuch readouts on grey imports?

I believe they're acceptable as long as kmh are the main display. And it's certainly doable. In the 90s, friends of ours were buying European spec models in RHD from French dealers for use in the UK cheaper than they could get them from UK dealers. They all have kmh as the main display. Then the price disparity reduced and they stopped doing it

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

In the 90s, friends of ours were buying European spec models in RHD from French dealers for use in the UK cheaper than they could get them from UK dealers.

They still do even in LHD. British laws must be slacker than ours. So many LHD cars and trucks on their roads.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

They still do even in LHD. British laws must be slacker than ours. So many LHD cars and trucks on their roads.

I wouldn't say slacker I would say more accommodating.

They have to because of the European common market. They can't prevent them. You do have to get the lights realigned though otherwise they light up the wrong side of the road. A lot if those cars and trucks might also be continental visitors too.

Personally I don't know what the fuss is about. They're not that dangerous to drive. We had a LHD corolla for years, and regularly took our RHD cars on touring trips round Europe or over to visit friends in France and Holland where they drive on the wrong side.

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

I believe the LHD laws are changing in Australia. I see quite a few American cars LHD with NSW rego.