Imports?

[Expert]

How does anyone feel about imported vehicles?

The reason i ask is because i was wasting time the other day and was looking around a merecedes benz dealer forecourt, i had no intention of buying one and told the dealer so. I said if i would ever consider getting a european car i would get an import cause they're so much cheaper. He looked at me like i was from another planet and told me with a straight face, that those cars weren't made for the new zealand conditions! they wouldn't have enough power to get up the steep hills and they use different oil that you can't get here and the tyres would be different.
i assume because of these new zealand conditions i keep hearing about.
this isn't the first time i've heard this sort of drivel.

i watched an ad for some hyundai thing on the telly and they said the suspension was tuned for new zealand conditions!?

do kiwis really believe this crap? what's so special about nz roads that manufactures are making special vehicles for this tiny, special market?

what would put you off buying an imported vehicle? speedo in miles perhaps?

I thought about bringing a bike or two back with me from the uk when i go over, lots of european stuff over there. Would i be able to sell them, or wouldn't they be up to the nz conditions?

[sil3nt]

My dad keeps going on about imports because a lot of countries put salt on the road to clear ice and it causes corrosion on cars.

I think the special thing about NZ roads is that they are crap. Highly doubt they change the cars in anyway though!

[onearmedbandit]

How does anyone feel about imported vehicles?

The reason i ask is because i was wasting time the other day and was looking around a merecedes benz dealer forecourt, i had no intention of buying one and told the dealer so. I said if i would ever consider getting a european car i would get an import cause they're so much cheaper. He looked at me like i was from another planet and told me with a straight face, that those cars weren't made for the new zealand conditions! they wouldn't have enough power to get up the steep hills and they use different oil that you can't get here and the tyres would be different.

Although I'm not in the 'game' any longer I did spend 10ys involved in selling Japanese imports (incl Euro's) and have never once heard that line. Would be a good one to use if I got into selling NZ new models I suppose.

One thing though, in many countries (such as Japan) towing isn't very popular (ever seen a Jap Import come in with a tow bar? I have, once. Out of 10yrs. And it was a 4x4 airport vehicle), so the oil coolers on most auto trans are not up to the task. Easy fix for around $400-600.

[Crasherfromwayback]

My dad keeps going on about imports because a lot of countries put salt on the road to clear ice and it causes corrosion on cars.

Highly doubt they change the cars in anyway though!

He has a point about the salt. Not good. One of the other main 'issues' with imports, when from places like Singapore/Hong Kong etc is that it's so fucking hot and humid over there, that it cause problems with the electrics. The electrical connectors can (and do) sweat, causing bad connections etc later in life.

I've had a Japanese 735iL Beemer, and an XJR Jag from Singapore...both had the same problems to a certain degree. The heat also fucks the glue on the hood lining etc!

As far as different specs etc...dunno if they do now, but in the day they had (at times) different suspension calibrations etc

[Motu]

NZ cars were built to ADR standards,and usually had emission dodads removed - NZ VN Commodores had no cats or EGR.We have no emission standards,and taking all that crap off made them cheaper...and run better.I have a NZ new Mercedes C220,compared to an import model of the same year it's very basic,air con and electric windows is about it as far as extras go.NZ cars had trim able to handle our high ultra violet light too - there was a seatbelt fading issue some years back.

As mentioned,don't get one from Singapore,and not from some country that uses salt in winter.I had a 1987 Escort that had been imported 6 months old - from the axle line down I had problems...wheel bearings,fuel tank rust,sills,chassis,you name it.I once had a CB250,perfect in every way...and the swingarm was rotted out.

[slofox]

I've had three imported Subaru wagons over the past umpteen years. None of them have rusted at all and all have been a pleasure to drive. So I have nothing against imports as such.

Only down side of the subs is that they guzzle gas. But they go like stink so I can forgive a little thirst. Same as the Gixxer really...

EDIT: Regarding "built for NZ conditions". My partner has a Honda Civic - NZ new, fairly recent model. Having driven it to d'Auckland and back many times, I can categorically state that it is NOT the best for NZ conditions. Road noise from the chip seal is excessive. And I mean excessive. Have to shout to be heard over it if the chip seal is new. I'd hardly call that "suitable for NZ conditions". But then Honda probably don't do anything to make them "suitable for NZ conditions" anyway.

My Subs, however, although not designed for NZ conditions, have been much quieter than the Honda. And, in my opinion, much easier to drive on NZ roads. Actually, the Civic is a bastard to drive on NZ highways. Very hard in the mouth with a nasty tendency to dive into corners. Bugger of a machine I reckon.

[Edbear]

I hear of a lot of issues with European cars in particular, BMW's Audi's and Merc's are all prone to electrical problems that can be a nightmare to diagnose and expensive to fix, just ask Classic_Z. +1 about Singapore, even Toyota has issues with Lexus' imported as Signature Class cars.

Main issue with Jap imports is an almost total lack of servicing once out of warranty, so any imported will be far more worn out than a NZ new car that has been regularly serviced. This is especially critical in diesel vehicles and turbo-diesel in particular. Also, their radiators for some reason are all partially blocked and need cleaning out. It's easy for a good mechanic to check this.

Our Nissan Pulsar SLX auto was NZ new in '99 and lacked the drink-holders of the imports but came with a 1600cc motor rather than 1500 and had alloy wheels as well. Well specced at the time with 4-wheel discs, ABS, Air-con, driver's air-bag, leather steering wheel and gearshift, electric windows and mirrors of course, and the alloy wheels, it's now done over 190,000km and apart from a few rattles in the front shocks, has cost virtually nothing to run except for recently doing the left CV joint. It still runs pretty much as new, looks pretty much as new on the inside but needs a cut and polish on the outside. We got a towbar fitted from new and occaisionally tow a very light trailer.

We've serviced it by the book from new including the air-con and transmission and everything functions as it was intended to.

Every Jap import we've owned has had problems of one sort or another including the cracked head on the turbo-diesel Estima, throwing ancilliary belts on the Nissan Caravan coach, transmission failure on the Nissan Caravan van, and several engine and transmission, (manual as well), failures on the Mazda Bongo Brawny, a blown headgasket on the Toyota Custom coach 2.4D and rear suspension issues and a failed rear passenger window winder on the Honda Legend.

Apart from that they were very reliable...

[Maha]

Aren't all vehicles imported into NZ?

[oneofsix]

Aren't all vehicles imported into NZ?

Technically correct or should that be grammatically. Anyhow yes they are all imported but some are imported new to be sold in NZ whilst others, the one we call imports, are built to be and are sold new in other countries and then imported as second hand to NZ

[robo555]

Aren't all vehicles imported into NZ?

Yes, but I think they're referring to NZ new vs 2nd hand import from another country. That is, they suspect there's a difference between a new car from a New Zealand showroom to a new car from a foreign showroom.

[YellowDog]

My Tiger was new and came from LA. It was a higher spec than was available in NZ at that time. The bike was new and UK made, regadless of were I imported it to NZ from. Kiwi Shipping charged me US$495 to ship it over and took care of the paperwork. I paid $250 for freight insurance and in all saved just over NZ$5,000 getting the bike on the road. The NZ$ to US$ rate is getting highly favourable again.

There is no special suspension or engine boost for NZ roads. Japanese cars come with tyres that are best changed once they get here. That's not a big deal at all. My 3 year old (when I bought it) Subaru cost me $10k less than my neighbour's slightly older one. Both cars were bought within a month of each other.

His car is NZ new mine is not.

Lucky chap eh!

[Swoop]

...imports, when from places like Singapore/Hong Kong etc is that it's so fucking hot and humid over there...

I know someone who imported a Jaguar from Singapore. Nice car. He went to put the heater on during the first winter here and discovered that it wasn't fitted with one!

[YellowDog]

I know someone who imported a Jaguar from Singapore. Nice car. He went to put the heater on during the first winter here and discovered that it wasn't fitted with one!

Good point and that is why you do need to check the foreign country spec with the NZ one.

In the case of Japanese cars, the domestic vehicles usually are of a slightly lower spec. I don't have an electric sunroof on my Subaru, whereas my NZ New neighbour's one does.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I know someone who imported a Jaguar from Singapore. Nice car. He went to put the heater on during the first winter here and discovered that it wasn't fitted with one!

Aye. My XJR was a lovely car too. But the electrical gemlins take the gloss of owning them!

[onearmedbandit]

Good point and that is why you do need to check the foreign country spec with the NZ one.

In the case of Japanese cars, the domestic vehicles usually are of a slightly lower spec. I don't have an electric sunroof on my Subaru, whereas my NZ New neighbour's one does.

Not normally the case, generally Jap domestic models are higher spec then ours. Sunroofs are just not that popular in Japan, but you can spec your car to have one if you want.