Honda Australia Hybrid Rip-off!

[omn1potent]

G'Day All

Back in 2001 Honda decided to release the fuel efficient Honda Insight in Australia for AUS$49,000. That's a lot of money for this vehicle BUT....

In the US the same vehicle (Insight) today is for sale for US$19,330. The Honda Civic Hybrid for sale here is AUS$31,990 and in the US for US$22,150.

Now just doing the sums, should'nt the Australia release of the Honda Insight cost just AUS$27,000, who is Honda kidding here?

Reference US sites for pricing: -
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/model_overview.asp?ModelName=Fit
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/model_overview.asp?ModelName=Insight

Now if Honda Australia is serious about fuel efficient cars, they should sell them at reasonable uniflated prices in the Australia.

I would love to buy a brand new Insight in Australia if it where to be re-released, but at realistic prices.

Rumours in US and other forums is that the extremely fuel efficient Honda Jazz/Fit Hybrid will be released soon.

If this is released here in OZ, hopefully Honda Australia will not rip us off!

Cheers
Omn1potent.

[EuroDude]

What was the exchange rate between AU$ and US$ in 2001? Maybe it was the time when AU50c was equal to $1 US ?

But even so, I remember reading somewhere that the Aussie government are quite harsh on new car taxes compared to the US, so new car prices are already ridiculously inflated.

[Pogi]

Look at cars like the Holden Monaro/Pontiac GTO, it is noticeably cheaper to buy it in the US than here.

Ditto for European luxury cars such as BMW and Mercedes Benz.

[matt]

also look at the size of the markets as well.
there are many more factors affecting the price of a car than just currency conversion.

the new civic hybrid is only 31990 so i guess they are getting there.

[Terry]

US esp Carifornia have tax incentive to encourage ppl to buy environmental friendly car.......here gov. want ppl to buy V6 or V8 rather than hybrid

[thatdbeme]

hopefully the accord hybrid gets here soon!!

[omn1potent]

:wave: Has anyone procured or who has thought of procuring a Hybrid CiViC HyBrid? If so it would be nice to know how much and how the vehicle performs. :wave:

[dhdevil]

http://www.honda.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/Honda.com.au/Home/Showroom/Civic+Hybrid/ <--- clicky.

[yfin]

You can't compare USA pricing to Australian pricing. 99.9% of the time they get a better deal on all things automotive. Yes we have different taxes, etc but putting that to one side they are still way ahead.

The M3 in the USA starts at under $49,000US. You do the math and see how much cheaper that is in that the $130,000AUD+ it costs in Australia.

[bigdongers]

even at 50k Honda were selling the Insight at a loss. It was not designed to make money but to show the world that hybrid technology was here.

[Svelte']

Purchasing Power Parity mate!

[SINISTR]

Back in 2001 Honda decided to release the fuel efficient Honda Insight in Australia for AUS$49,000. That's a lot of money for this vehicle BUT....

In the US the same vehicle (Insight) today is for sale for US$19,330. The Honda Civic Hybrid for sale here is AUS$31,990 and in the US for US$22,150.

Not only would the conversion for AU$ and US$ be different back then in 2001 but you're also comparing different 'times'... 2001 @ $50K in australia but not US$19.330 - thats 4yrs difference. Back in 2001 the Insight could have cost US$35000 and that could have been equivalent to AU$50000.

Its like you're trying to compare oranges and bananas.

[IS250]

The Insight cost US$18,800 back in 2000. The exchange rate at the time was around US$0.55 per 1 A$1 so the car would have cost around AUD$34,000.

[Twincam16]

even at 50k Honda were selling the Insight at a loss. It was not designed to make money but to show the world that hybrid technology was here.

Nobody spends $billions to make a loss.

They may have had a lower margin on the car but it was definetly not selling at a loss.

[UNLS1]

lol wat a silly thread i dont know where to start about what wrong with wat ur saying!

[omn1potent]

Not only would the conversion for AU$ and US$ be different back then in 2001 but you're also comparing different 'times'... 2001 @ $50K in australia but not US$19.330 - thats 4yrs difference. Back in 2001 the Insight could have cost US$35000 and that could have been equivalent to AU$50000.

Its like you're trying to compare oranges and bananas.

Actually it cost the same since it went on sale in 2001, so we are comparing apples with apples.

[omn1potent]

lol wat a silly thread i dont know where to start about what wrong with wat ur saying!

.... let me guess, you are a honda dealer.

[omn1potent]

Well I just bought a second hand Honda Insight (2002 build - 1 of 50 brought into the country). Red in Colour, 40,000klms with books and complete service history, one owner, no previous repairs or damage. The damage to my pocket (30.1.07) $13,500 + ORC.

First impressions, gutless, but that's not the reason I purchased it.

Getting 3.5lt/100klm. yeah babe!

[Rice_4_life]

.... let me guess, you are a honda dealer.

if you don't like the price of the Hybrid you can always go next door to Toyota and their Prius.

[BlueSiR]

do u guys know tat honda bought hybrid technology from toyota?
there r only three brand have hyrid, honda, toyota, lexus(belong to toyota anyway)
even prius is around $Aus10,000 cheaper in Jap.
shame Aus Gov only give rebate on gas...

[omn1potent]

shame Aus Gov only give rebate on gas...

Yeap in the states you get a rebate on the procurement of these vehicles, he in oz, we can pitence on LPG only.

I bought my Insight second hand (as mentioned above) and loving it.

Some of the local Aust importers may bring them in via special request (brand new Insights), delivered about $30k on the road with Aust compliance, what a bargain. Shame that Honda can't bring a small batch in (same price as CiViC Hybrid), at least for its last hurrah!!!!! Yeap, they have been discontinued. :eek:

[Bayani]

GM Bought the rights to an engine that ran on water.

Go figure why it hasn't been released.