Performance

[R1 Crasher]

Perhaps someone could explain the differences in ECU upgrade prices in AU compared to the U.K. where generally things are more expensive than here.
Ie,At the moment Awesome Gti are doing APR Stage 1 chip tunes for 375.00 UK pounds at current exchange rates thats $800Au,yet here its $1750. Why more than double?
Surely the cost to the distibutor from APR would be the same the world over.I realise that Australia is a smaller market than the UK. But to be more than 100% more smacks of taking advantage of that small market.

[FL00DY]

Perhaps someone could explain the differences in ECU upgrade prices in AU compared to the U.K. where generally things are more expensive than here.
Ie,At the moment Awesome Gti are doing APR Stage 1 chip tunes for 375.00 UK pounds at current exchange rates thats $800Au,yet here its $1750. Why more than double?
Surely the cost to the distibutor from APR would be the same the world over.I realise that Australia is a smaller market than the UK. But to be more than 100% more smacks of taking advantage of that small market.

Ok where's my popcorn and recliner

It's a good question, all I'll add to the mix is GIAC is cheaper

[R1 Crasher]

Ok where's my popcorn and recliner

It's a good question, all I'll add to the mix is GIAC is cheaper

How much cheaper 1oo%?

If not the ? still remains

[FL00DY]

How much cheaper 1oo%?

If not the ? still remains

No, not 100%. But it brings the 'smaller market then the UK' argument closer to reason.

[jasn78]

just waiting round to c when admin steps in on this one lol

[FL00DY]

just waiting round to c when admin steps in on this one lol

Well so am I, but I don't see a problem with R1 Crasher asking a straight forward Q and me telling him that GIAC is cheaper. But I know the admin warlords won't like it.

[Timbo]

Perhaps someone could explain the differences in ECU upgrade prices in AU compared to the U.K. where generally things are more expensive than here.
Ie,At the moment Awesome Gti are doing APR Stage 1 chip tunes for 375.00 UK pounds at current exchange rates thats $800Au,yet here its $1750. Why more than double?
Surely the cost to the distibutor from APR would be the same the world over.I realise that Australia is a smaller market than the UK. But to be more than 100% more smacks of taking advantage of that small market.

Asked and answered.

I am sure Guy will provide the specifics as they relate to APR in Australia, but I will respond based on my knowledge and experience in other technologies.

This is always a difficult issue for people to come to grips with, but it relates to the fixed costs of setting up a distributor/reseller model with adequate technical support, and recouping these fixed costs over a much smaller, yet geographically large market where the number of likely buyers (market share) is also significantly lower.

VAG cars have always been, until recently, a fairly minor player in the Australian car market. The performance versions -- Golf and Polo GTIs -- proportionately lower again. Compare this with the UK which -- while its population is between 3 and 4 times -- has a healthy population of GTIs of all VAG types -- as a proportion of all car sales, substantially higher than in Aust. This means VAG performance tuners in the UK have lower set-up risks and costs to address a larger market. Higher volumes, lower fixed costs per sale. And there's strong, healthy competition between the various tuners and their resellers, as AwesomeGTi's prices show.

In addition to the higher fixed start up costs and risks, the Aust market isn't large enough in these specialist areas to support multiple agents, so there's scope for monopoly pricing. But, there are substitutes such as GIAC, REVO etc, which at least keeps things fairly honest.

It is an unfortunate fact of life for us in Australia. Tyres, wheels...a whole range of stuff is substantially more expensive than in other markets.

If you think you can do better, by all means get into it and I'm sure there's many on here who'll support you. but that probably won't make you a millionaire

[Blitzen]

I'd like to see a reply to this too...Seems very lop sided if it is true...

[99gti]

Well so am I, but I don't see a problem with R1 Crasher asking a straight forward Q and me telling him that GIAC is cheaper. But I know the admin warlords won't like it.

Firstly we are not war lords but we are not child minders either. Educated discussion is encouraged but self re-assurance by degrading the quality of others research is just insulting other members. Flick through the rules if you are not sure on our stance on this - you should be well acquainted with them.

I think it is actually a good question and shows that someone has done their research.

My response would be that this question would be better answered by a distributor rather than asking a consumer. The problem with asking a consumer is that they are always going to think they made the right choice. Because of this, often the answer you receive will be biased based on their own investigation.

For those who do attempt to make a mockery of this thread be warned. If you don't have the intelligence to answer this question with an un-biased answer and you feel the need to inflate your ego by re-assuring yourself of your decision - then do not reply to this thread.

[R1 Crasher]

Thanks for the replies.
Just a couple of points.
Yes the market is much bigger in the UK by about 100%
Over a million new vehicle sales in Au and just over 2 million in the U.K. but with three times the population.
The general cost of living is much higher there than here,so surely the setup costs proportionally will be higher there.Wages,insurance,super, VAT, Rates you name it.
There are more dealers certainly (Just like there are more VW dealers),it doesnt make them cheaper though does it.

Out of curiosity why would the moderators want to close a genuine enquiry to get some info