Why Does NZ Get Better Cars Than Australia ?

[csv8]

New Zealand is better than Australia for many reasons. It’s not just pavlova (they really did invent it).

The skiing is better there. So are the roads. So is the adventure tourism, if jumping off stuff is your idea of a fun afternoon. Then there are the sheep. The mountains. The scenery. And the cars.

What? Cars?

Really?

Yes, really. The Kiwi crowd often get an early bite of the cherry when it comes to new models in the market, where Australia has to wait up to 18 months for those almost identical cars to be sold here.

We recently teed up a drive of the Citroen C4 Cactus in New Zealand. That car has been in the NZ market for the best part of a year already, and it won’t launch here until early 2016. Why was it on sale there first? There are a few reasons…

Despite the fact the New Zealand car market is about 90,000 units per year for passenger-focused vehicles less than 3500kg – or about eight per cent of what happens in Australia every year, or, looking at it another way, less than what is sold here in a regular month – the rules about what can be sold there are less stringent.

Add to that the fact that about half of all first-registered vehicles sold in a year in NZ are used (grey) imports, and the market is not only complex, but a bit crowded.

Yep, for 90,000 vehicle sales (including trucks and four-wheeler bikes) there are about sixty brands. And people say the Aussie new car market is crowded with its 65+ brands and 1.1 million vehicle sales!

So back to our C4 Cactus – Citroen, for example, could sell the car there earlier than it could in Australia because the company had to specifically design new child-seat anchor restraints with top-tether hooks (that’s the Australian Design Rule designation – there is no NZDR).

It just so happens that Citroen’s homeground engineers also had to make up a new 60:40 split fold rear seat in the process.

That didn’t need to happen in NZ, where the standard ISOFIX points without top-tether latches are deemed safe enough. The newly added split-fold system was just a happy bonus.

But there are other cars in the Citroen garage that remain available in NZ and aren’t sold here. They include the C3 hatchback – which was pulled from sale here until a more up-to-date drivetrain arrives, as the old version – and that one sold in NZ – had an uninspiring 1.6-litre four-cylinder with a four-speed auto. A new three-cylinder turbo engine with a six-speed auto is expected to be sold here at some point.

Citroen also has the C4 Aircross still on sale in NZ – that Mitsubishi ASX-based model was axed here earlier this year as part of a range rethink. It sold poorly here, but was one of the best looking small SUVs on the market.

But it’s not only Citroen that sells some odd models in NZ that don’t make it to Australia.

Ford, for instance, has a couple of variants on offer in Aotearoa that aren’t sold here… and I think they should be.

First is the Ford Tourneo Custom, an eight-seat passenger van based on the impressive Ford Transit Custom.

iThis highly practical people-mover would be a hit in Australia, particularly if priced right. It could compete with the Volkswagen Transporter-based Caravelle, offering a budget-conscious bus for breeders.

There’s also a Ford Focus wagon that we don’t get here, presumably because it would eat in to the sales of the Kuga SUV. It’s a shame – small wagons are great.

A Ford insider told me that the fact that imported used vehicles make up such a big percentage of sales in NZ means that offering a broader fleet with lower sales targets is justifiable. And, as I understand it, there is guaranteed fleet business for vehicles like the Focus wagon and Tourneo van. That’s not the case in Australia.

Another small wagon sold in NZ but not Oz is the Toyota Corolla wagon (above). It’s powered by a miserly 1.5-litre four-cylinder, but perhaps Toyota Australia made the decision not to bring that car in based on looks alone. It is, in my humble opinion, a fugly thing.

Toyota also has a mid-large wagon offering over the ditch that we don’t get, the Avensis. It complements the Camry/Aurion buddies, but with a big boot. There’s probably a similar argument for not bringing that car here, being that RAV4 is the fourth most popular Toyota model in Australia and essentially does the same thing for probably less money (the Avensis is European-made, adding cost and complexity, where the Japanese-built RAV4 is a simpler equation).

There are other models that would undoubtedly do nothing in the local market.

The Suzuki Farm Worker, a specialist cab-chassis version of the previous-generation Suzuki Sierra, may be cheap (from NZ$14,990) but it has no airbags and would presumably have very limited appeal.

The Kia K2500 is another cab-chassis model that would lack much desirability in the Aussie market, given that it’s a very old design.

But it’s worth noting that the Kia Picanto – the impressive little city hatchback that Tegan drove recently in the UK – is already selling in NZ, and has been for some time. It’ll come here early in 2016.

Another model that was on sale in NZ before Australia was the Volvo V60 Cross Country, a higher-riding version of the V60 wagon with that lovely black plastic cladding that buyers seemingly go nuts for. That car is now on sale in Australia.

Then there are some models that just aren’t ever going to be sold here, no matter how much we want them.

They include the Skoda Rapid sedan (we get the hatchback model instead), and the Volkswagen CrossPolo (which is a shame, because a smaller SUV than the Tiguan would presumably sell its proverbials off).

Others aren’t so clear: the Ssangyong Tivoli small SUV has been nominated for a World Car of the Year gong, but it may not be good enough to be sold here. It really should be, if Ssangyong wants to lift its game locally.

So, you can see that even though the Australian car market is regarded as one of the most competitive and crowded on Earth, we miss out on a few models that could do well here."

Read more at http://www.caradvice.com.au/389850/w...ZcjjCgeuJXq.99

[Franco Cozzo]

Honda in New Zealand is also having their cars equipped with the new 'Earth Dreams' series of engines which are more powerful and more fuel efficient while Honda Australia is continuing with the old engines for some unknown reason.

[seldom]

Funny I've always thought the opposite. Especially in terms of model variants. Trying to find a manual Xr in any spec is impossible. I saw a manual d40 navara v6 petrol here on trademe a while back. Turns out it was an Aussie import.

I'd have your cars any day to our standard spec stuff.

[383hq]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Honda in New Zealand is also having their cars equipped with the new 'Earth Dreams' series of engines which are more powerful and more fuel efficient while Honda Australia is continuing with the old engines for some unknown reason.

Safe to say we can discount sales volume as a reason.

I'll go with red tape.

It's probably just me, but it seems every turn I make has a government employee (tax funded of course) with their hand out for cash, or additional work requirements / burning hoops to jump through.

CASA, CSA, ATO etc - why would ADR be any different. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that a full impact barrier test at $1m+ is required for a simple engine change, whereas "over the ditch", they'd say "approved for Europe you say?" good enough for us Cuz, bring em in.

[Express]

They’re haven’t had to concern themselves with protecting a local car industry.

Now they’re not the only one.

[commodorenutt]

Originally Posted by seldom

Funny I've always thought the opposite. Especially in terms of model variants. Trying to find a manual Xr in any spec is impossible.

Same here. And I have plenty of mates over the ditch who are car guys.

VL 2.0L 6 cylinder.
VN 2.0L 4 cylinder....
NZ had to suffer them when Oz didn't.
It's very hard to find a decent Ford over there.

But then these are just woeful click-bait articles written by amateurs who can't even remember the Y2K bug, wouldn't know how to change the oil, and they only look at a narrow field that suits their slant.

They seem to think French & Eastern Euro cars are the best thing since sliced bread too.....

[XRtowcar]

Mmmm, Citroen C4, Kia Picanto, Ssangyong Tivoli.
Nup, I'll still be an Aussie thanks.

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by Express

They’re haven’t had to concern themselves with protecting a local car industry.

Now they’re not the only one.

Well said. Our ADRs are designed to make it difficult for importers. Once 2018 arrives we should banish all ADRs relating to vehicles and just copy the German standards.

[99AUXR]

Originally Posted by Syndrome

Well said. Our ADRs are designed to make it difficult for importers. Once 2018 arrives we should banish all ADRs relating to vehicles and just copy the German standards.

Originally Posted by Express

They’re haven’t had to concern themselves with protecting a local car industry.

Now they’re not the only one.

Couldnt agree more.

[nstg8a]

Lol, it's the 2nd hand imports that make the Nz car scene more attractive.

Only the ford and Holden guys wish for an Aussie style car market,and they are easily in the minority.

Plus in nz you have the ability to parallel import a brand new car... Imagine the out cry from Aus importers if you suggested such a thing here.

[BradEL]

To the OP, be my guest, come and take every Citroen, Skoda, Volvo and any other crap you want. Please take them all the less here the better

[99AUXR]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Lol, it's the 2nd hand imports that make the Nz car scene more attractive.

Only the ford and Holden guys wish for an Aussie style car market,and they are easily in the minority.

Plus in nz you have the ability to parallel import a brand new car... Imagine the out cry from Aus importers if you suggested such a thing here.

Mate imported merc saved like 40k.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by 99AUXR

Mate imported merc saved like 40k.

Probably still has factory warranty too

[99AUXR]

I think the warranty is for a shorter period under international warranty but don't hold me to that.

[Ross 1]

You can also get Honda knock offs of Discovery, just slightly smaller.

[Vesper Martini]

Not sure if it was sold as new or as an import, but the Toyota Caldina is popular on the roads in NZ.

Corolla sized Wagon with 4WD.
there's options of 190KW Turbo or a diesel.

sadly I think Production ended in 2007 shame Great little car

[Giant Cranium]

so that article was about NZ getting a whole heap of yawn cars, so jealous right now!

[BradEL]

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Not sure if it was sold as new or as an import, but the Toyota Caldina is popular on the roads in NZ.

Corolla sized Wagon with 4WD.
there's options of 190KW Turbo or a diesel.

sadly I think Production ended in 2007 shame Great little car

They are jap import, the old 90s caldinas are good cars. I know a guy with one that's done well over 400,000 kms. The newer ones that are being imported these days are horrible things many have the problematic D4 Toyota engine and I think some have CVTs too.

[vbvbvb088]

Local Kia Rio misses out on a lot of goodies. Toyota Corolla as well. VF Commodore in USA has a whole lot more gear as well....

[castellan]

Mitsubishi Lancer in NZ don't have the big 2.4L but only the little 2.0L

[simon varley]

NZ allows CE approval so the car companies do not have to recertify for a tiny market like they do for us. That's why they get better powertrains in their cars too.

[Vesper Martini]

Originally Posted by castellan

Mitsubishi Lancer in NZ don't have the big 2.4L but only the little 2.0L

do they have the 2.0T & 1.8D, as that would cover any need for a 2.4

[BradEL]

A definite good point about NZ is that none of my cars have a catalytic converter, not a legal requirement

[mechanic]

I did 3 years as a mechanic in NZ in the very early 70's.
Things would need to improve because most of the "cars" on the road were just slightly advanced on the horse and buggy era.
I think some government legislation changed shortly after and second hand imports were allowed, must have been celebrations all round when that happened.

[nz13boy]

Originally Posted by XRtowcar

Mmmm, Citroen C4, Kia Picanto, Ssangyong Tivoli.
Nup, I'll still be an Aussie thanks.

Yeah those arent exactly cars to peak the interest of most on this forum. However, in the past year I have seen the following advertised in Nz, all prices in Nz dollars. Oz equivalent minus 7-10%.

Multple Amg C63s, high $40ks, low $50s. Some nz new, some imports.
Latest Audi rs4s, high $80ks.
R35 GTR, seen as low as high $50ks.
Latest Audi Rs6, na few aorund $150k, one as low as $140k. And new ones for $200k.
Previous model m3 my08-etc, mid $40k.

All age and ks dependant of course. All prices pre any haggling haha.

You wont find any of those prices in Oz anytime soon for the reasons mentioned in OP post. least I havent seen any.

On the flip side, Hsv and fpv or way to expensive in Nz.

[Ben73]

At first I thought this article was just about ****reons. But then I saw it was about a large range of cars that I would never consider owning, and I doubt any would've sold in number in Australia. Can't see the Focus wagon taking Kuga sales. No many people in Australia want a car based wagon these days.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by BradEL

They are jap import, the old 90s caldinas are good cars. I know a guy with one that's done well over 400,000 kms. The newer ones that are being imported these days are horrible things many have the problematic D4 Toyota engine and I think some have CVTs too.

My sister and her husband have had a caldina for over a decade now, it's only ever had brakes shocks and a starter motor done to it.
Not once has it let them down. It's an awd auto n/a 2.0 I think so no powerhouse but perfect for them.

It's really all the imports that make the car scene what it is. Evos, gtr's, cefiros, liberos, wrx, rx7s... All the cars that stand out a bit here are common over there.

But kiwis pay more for falcodores, and much more for fuel... Which is one of the reason imports are more popular.

Oh, and vans.... People who want a nice van rather than a courier spec hi ace have more to choose from than a over priced Nissan el grand... Really don't see why they are everywhere here haha.

[MAGPIE]

Being able to buy a brand new 2016 Shelby GT350 Mustang (and driving it without RHD conversion) is pretty cool, just need the $140k.

[BradEL]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

My sister and her husband have had a caldina for over a decade now, it's only ever had brakes shocks and a starter motor done to it.
Not once has it let them down. It's an awd auto n/a 2.0 I think so no powerhouse but perfect for them.

It's really all the imports that make the car scene what it is. Evos, gtr's, cefiros, liberos, wrx, rx7s... All the cars that stand out a bit here are common over there.

But kiwis pay more for falcodores, and much more for fuel... Which is one of the reason imports are more popular.

Oh, and vans.... People who want a nice van rather than a courier spec hi ace have more to choose from than a over priced Nissan el grand... Really don't see why they are everywhere here haha.

Actually heard a talk on radio about the taxes from our fuel prices, and the transport minister saying how much of it goes into roading upgrades and maintainence. Yes cheaper fuel is what everyone wants, but I was in Sydney for the all Ford day last year and was actually really surprised how much worse the roads were than over here.

[nstg8a]

Yep, unless it's a multi lane carriageway in a main centre the roads are bloody average