2009 HONDA CITY is HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[~Sp33~]

There's that, and also the fact that our minimum safety requirements often surpass other countries, so safety compliencing on imported models can often make it not worth the while.

[SPQR]

These laws are there to protect our own local car industry I am lead to believe. Make sure we sell enough Fords and Holdens so that the aussies are employed. Sounds cynical but correct me if I'm wrong.

But that's my opinion based on what others have said, would love to hear it from someone from the industry.

Once up a time, before the "Button Plan", the Oz design rules, the import tariffs, the import parity and quota systems were designed to keep other cars out of Oz but now every man and his dog sells cars in Oz. Even the yanks think they can sell their horrible designs here because there are many young people here and now influenced by US culture. Our tariff rates have slowly come down and are supposed to reduce to 5% (they're at 10% at the moment).

Oz design rules are slowly being brought into line with more common world standards as a result of the free trade process; a cause for which Oz is a champion. Limits on what does come here are now more to do with the value of the Oz dollar or simply a "terms of trade" matter: Oz dollar goes down and so imports get expensive and vice versa.

I said they're lax by our standards. Our import laws are strict.

Could you expand on his insightful statement?

NZ laws aren't lax even by our standards. They are just designed for the realities of their small market; otherwise no one would bother selling new cars there. They don't miss out on safety equipment or other latest technology.

Insightful in it's simple perception of the market realities for Oz. Honda Australia models have carefully selected equipment levels designed to meet minimum standards, surpass some others that are not too costly and have a small 'wow' factor above market expectation just to ensure the right level of competitiveness for the given market. True in all markets even in Japan where one should go to buy a Japanese model designed for the Japanese market and its idiosyncrasies.

[~Sp33~]

NZ laws aren't lax even by our standards. They are just designed for the realities of their small market.

Sounds like you just made an excuse as to why it's lax.

Insightful in it's simple perception of the market realities for Oz. Honda Australia models have carefully selected equipment levels designed to meet minimum standards,

Does NZ? NZ relies upon the countries that they import their cars from to see if the car surpasses minimum requirements. Does NZ do independent testing? Has NZ ever denied a car production due to insufficient safety standards? Just because their laws are realistic doesn't mean they're equal to Australia's standards.

True in all markets even in Japan where one should go to buy a Japanese model designed for the Japanese market and it's idiosyncrasies.

I have no idea what message your trying to convey with that sentence.

[Garrigues]

does the city come with a factory window tint?
hopefully a proper dark tint if it does.

[040501912]

tint is always an option mate..
never come standard lol..

[SPQR]

The City has arrived in Darwin. It's tiny! Or rather it's a Tardis. It even looks smaller than the Jazz but it's actually bigger. The wheels look undersized and out of proportion to the body. There's heaps of room under the bonnet for a larger engine.

[yourfather]

i hate when people play salespeople out as bad guys, they are their to assist you in getting the info you need to make an educated decision and properly represent both you and the company in negotiations.

That is bullshit, you know for a fact that most the sales people have less knowledge than us about the cars and that they only care about the dollar.

They don't give a shit about the fact you are there except for the dollars you bring.

They don't represent the buyer at all, they only exist to line the dealers back pocket, and the dealers exist to distribute the vehicles the manufacturer produces.

Look at some of the stupid shit that some 'dealer' staff (not panda) from around Australia say in this thread.

[yourfather]

Once up a time, before the "Button Plan", the Oz design rules, the import tariffs, the import parity and quota systems were designed to keep other cars out of Oz but now every man and his dog sells cars in Oz. Even the yanks think they can sell their horrible designs here because there are many young people here and now influenced by US culture. Our tariff rates have slowly come down and are supposed to reduce to 5% (they're at 10% at the moment).

Oz design rules are slowly being brought into line with more common world standards as a result of the free trade process; a cause for which Oz is a champion. Limits on what does come here are now more to do with the value of the Oz dollar or simply a "terms of trade" matter: Oz dollar goes down and so imports get expensive and vice versa.



NZ laws aren't lax even by our standards. They are just designed for the realities of their small market; otherwise no one would bother selling new cars there. They don't miss out on safety equipment or other latest technology.

Insightful in it's simple perception of the market realities for Oz. Honda Australia models have carefully selected equipment levels designed to meet minimum standards, surpass some others that are not too costly and have a small 'wow' factor above market expectation just to ensure the right level of competitiveness for the given market. True in all markets even in Japan where one should go to buy a Japanese model designed for the Japanese market and its idiosyncrasies.

wank wank wank wank wank wank wank wank wank wank wank

bet you were a marketing major

[Atjo]

I think City Type-Z looks much better, feels like a "sedan".

[INVSBL]

looks like an ek series sedan just shorter.

looks preety good though, minus the wing.

[SPQR]

wank wank wank wank wank wank wank wank wank wank wank

bet you were a marketing major

My post was reasoned. Either you are masturbating over what I posted (pandering to yourself) or you are being gratuitously offensive. I never got to be a marketing major: Only a Sergeant Major; but that was before seven years of university study.

[yourfather]

My post was reasoned. Either you are masturbating over what I posted (pandering to yourself) or you are being gratuitously offensive. I never got to be a marketing major: Only a Sergeant Major; but that was before seven years of university study.

Well, Sergeant Major, I'd expect less waffle and more of the truth.

Firstly, we all masturbate, but i'd hardly call your words 'inspiration' or motivation.

Honda Australia models have carefully selected equipment levels designed to meet minimum standards, surpass some others that are not too costly and have a small 'wow' factor above market expectation just to ensure the right level of competitiveness for the given market.

True in all markets even in Japan where one should go to buy a Japanese model designed for the Japanese market and its idiosyncrasies.

Let me translate this for you,

Honda Australia chooses the lowest equipment levels possible to 'differentiate' the product from other offerings on the market, not because the Australian consumer wants it, but because they try to maximise the margin on each vehicle.

When it comes down to the point of whether Japanese consumers have differing tastes, I'd say that the FD2R that exists in Japan would be better received by enthusiasts here rather than the FN2R hatchback no LSD live axle version.

But, Honda Australia have a history of disregarding the consumer, or thinking that their knowledge is superior to Australian buyers.

Many examples or cars not getting Brembo Brakes, or limited slip differentials,

K20A motors and B series motors being detuned for "petrol quality reasons"

Type-R cars that are sold without the signature Championship White what was part of the EK9, DC2R and DC5R legacy. The FD2R does have Championship White, I guess the FD2R doesn't suit Australian tastes because it's a real type r.

No, I think the reality is that Honda Australia and the dealers don't bend over backwards to accommodate the Australian consumer. We're a small market, we move fewer cars.

But to say that Honda Australia has our interests at heart or they're trying to differentiate the product to make it 'excel' in this marketplace, we all know it's about profit maximisation. They need to make a profit, and they try to get away with as much as possible without the consumer knowing. That's the way companies operate. And I blame Honda Australia for that, the best thing to back this argument up is the fact that 5-10 years ago, every honda vehicle was sourced straight from Japan.

Now because of FTA's, labor costs and other factors, Honda vehicles in Australia primarily come from Thailand.

The Honda products that roll out of Thailand, for example, the Jazz (Fit) etc etc, they won't have 4WD like the Japan factories, they won't have the moon roof like the Japan versions do.

It's not an exercise in tailoring the product to the Australian market. Just like sales people aren't really intermediarys for buyers and sellers.

If the dollar signs arent there, they don't bother

Now, Thailand has become the crucial supplier to Australia.