Why are Australian prices so much higher even provisions for exchange rates?
07-20-2005, 07:32 PM
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Why are Australian prices so much higher even provisions for exchange rates?
Is there some particular reason that Australian and NZ consumers seem to be getting screwed on price compared to our American friends? Is is simply the market size that is causing this? Based on and exhange rate of US75c, I'd not be expecting the price to be much more than $40k. Or I'm just missing something really basic!
I mean, most people here obviously bought one, so we think it's worth it, but the difference is big...
I mean, most people here obviously bought one, so we think it's worth it, but the difference is big...
07-20-2005, 08:06 PM
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1. Within any brand sold in numbers in Australia, the importer/distributor has an effective monopoly, because our import laws do not permit so-called parallel or grey imports (legalised anti-competitive market)
2. The importer/distributor then looks at the market in terms of alternatives, and establishes a price point based on what the market will bear (common sense...at the heart of the capitalist system)
3. Personally, I blame Nissan's original pricing of the 350Z, which I reckon set the bar for the 8
2. The importer/distributor then looks at the market in terms of alternatives, and establishes a price point based on what the market will bear (common sense...at the heart of the capitalist system)
3. Personally, I blame Nissan's original pricing of the 350Z, which I reckon set the bar for the 8
07-20-2005, 08:30 PM
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I'd also be interested to compare the taxes and duties slugged to the consumer between the USA and Australia/NZ.
But Timbo's got it essentially right - the price is always the highest the market will bear. Look what happened to the price of the Holden Adventra V8 when everybody ignored it and went out and bought a Territory instead.
But Timbo's got it essentially right - the price is always the highest the market will bear. Look what happened to the price of the Holden Adventra V8 when everybody ignored it and went out and bought a Territory instead.
07-20-2005, 08:34 PM
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If it were 40K I don't think there'd be anything great about the RX8.
It'd be all over the roads, although thats great, it'll be sickening to see so many.
And the Adventra's just another bloody commo, whereas the Territory is a whole new car.
I think.
It'd be all over the roads, although thats great, it'll be sickening to see so many.
And the Adventra's just another bloody commo, whereas the Territory is a whole new car.
I think.
07-20-2005, 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by RXP33D
And the Adventra's just another bloody commo, whereas the Territory is a whole new car.
I think.
I think.
07-20-2005, 08:51 PM
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supply & demand. The north american market is more than 10 times the size of ours. My canadian wife is always horrified at the prices we pay for stuff here in Australia, but so saying that, food is slightly cheaper and of a much higher quality (ie meat veggies etc) Computer equipment is also roughly the same price as well.
I think aust recently passed the 1million new cars sold in a year mark.... not bad for a population of 26million or thereabouts, now compare it with 270million? north americans who mostly earn the same amount as us, and who are getting taxed less... More choices, more mass markets and therefore competition that bring prices down.
fyi, the entire aust/nz book publishing market is just a little more than the greater new york area.....
I think aust recently passed the 1million new cars sold in a year mark.... not bad for a population of 26million or thereabouts, now compare it with 270million? north americans who mostly earn the same amount as us, and who are getting taxed less... More choices, more mass markets and therefore competition that bring prices down.
fyi, the entire aust/nz book publishing market is just a little more than the greater new york area.....
07-20-2005, 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by azzaboynt
north americans who mostly earn the same amount as us, and who are getting taxed less... More choices, more mass markets and therefore competition that bring prices down.
07-20-2005, 09:02 PM
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Also, most American prices quoted do not include the local sales tax and other taxes possibly associated with the purchase. Australia has an import duty and possibly other taxes/charges paid by the importer (Mazda) and this will obviously get passed on to the consumer.
07-20-2005, 09:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Revolver
If they've got so much money and choice...how come they still buy oversized, under-engineered, poorly made heaps of **** by the million? Or is that being provocative?
It's also a state of mind. compare the styling differences between Japanese, American, French, and Italian cars. Says a lot about how people perceive the world they live in. But I digress, i'm a computer geek, not a sociologist. <- or however you speel that word. :o
07-21-2005, 01:25 AM
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[QUOTE=Revolver]I'd also be interested to compare the taxes and duties slugged to the consumer between the USA and Australia/NZ.
I'm not a 100% certain about this but i think in NZ taxes are higher on new cars up to a certain $$$ value and also there appears to be no limit on bringing in grey imports. Therefore they sell more grey imports than new cars. Toyota NZ even offer factory warranty on imports sold through their dealership network. I've been told that in Aust. there are approx 550 different models of cars available excl different year models, whilst in NZ that figure is more than double - and there are certainly some unusual cars available!
I'm not a 100% certain about this but i think in NZ taxes are higher on new cars up to a certain $$$ value and also there appears to be no limit on bringing in grey imports. Therefore they sell more grey imports than new cars. Toyota NZ even offer factory warranty on imports sold through their dealership network. I've been told that in Aust. there are approx 550 different models of cars available excl different year models, whilst in NZ that figure is more than double - and there are certainly some unusual cars available!
07-21-2005, 01:48 AM
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Cheers Rick. 
I understand Aus reduced some of its import duties and Mazda dropped prices on some models accordingly - this ring any bells with you guys?
I understand Aus reduced some of its import duties and Mazda dropped prices on some models accordingly - this ring any bells with you guys?
07-21-2005, 02:02 AM
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Yes, there was a 5% cut in the general tariff, with effect from 1 January, IIRC. Mazda and many other importers started pre-emptive discounts around September 04, to avoid a last quarter drought
07-21-2005, 02:03 AM
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Originally Posted by timbo
Yes, there was a 5% cut in the general tariff, with effect from 1 January, IIRC. Mazda and many other importers started pre-emptive discounts around September 04, to avoid a last quarter drought
07-21-2005, 06:45 AM
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Originally Posted by azzaboynt
not bad for a population of 26million or thereabouts
Plus we also have the ridiculous Luxury Car tax which adds ... $5-10K
Andrew
07-21-2005, 06:52 PM
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LCT only applies to the Leather Pack. Another reason I bought the lighter weight cloth pack. Not only did you leather packs pay for extra weight you also contributed more to the government coffers than you should have :p
07-21-2005, 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by sco
LCT only applies to the Leather Pack. Another reason I bought the lighter weight cloth pack. Not only did you leather packs pay for extra weight you also contributed more to the government coffers than you should have :p
:p :D :D
07-21-2005, 07:13 PM
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Thanks gentlemen and ladies. Good cross section of answers (reasons?). My read on it all is that really Mazda are charging what they are because they can, which is reasonable enough for them I guess in a free market economy. I sort of agree with the comment about not wanting too many on the road (but not sure I agree with the principle of that desire being worth $20k of my money!)
Wrt the comments on pov packs v leather packs, from a personal perspective, I think the leather (black or red/black) looks great on the 8, and the power driver seat adjustment is good. But the extra stereo, xenon headlights etc don't seem all that useful. A lot, not only for $6k, but also to push the 8 into luxury car tax territory!
IMHO of course
Wrt the comments on pov packs v leather packs, from a personal perspective, I think the leather (black or red/black) looks great on the 8, and the power driver seat adjustment is good. But the extra stereo, xenon headlights etc don't seem all that useful. A lot, not only for $6k, but also to push the 8 into luxury car tax territory!
IMHO of course
07-21-2005, 07:35 PM
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Oh come on guys!! what about the alloy pedals!!! :p :D :D
Seriously, I agree about the xenons - fantastic. I also love the leather when one of my little darlings spills stuff.
:D :D Seriously, I agree about the xenons - fantastic. I also love the leather when one of my little darlings spills stuff.
07-21-2005, 07:45 PM
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Oh yeah, I forgot about the pedals! They are very cool.
I just read a comment in another post many moons ago that the xenon headlights are good, only if you do lots of night driving. So in general, people are pretty impressed with them? I've not driven with them in any car before...
I just read a comment in another post many moons ago that the xenon headlights are good, only if you do lots of night driving. So in general, people are pretty impressed with them? I've not driven with them in any car before...
