Golf GTE Group Buy

[arcadelt]

OK, the topic title was just to suck you in to read this post, but it could be an actual topic beyond 2018. According to reports today on ABC RN and in The Guardian, the Federal Government is about announce that it is removing or curtailing import restrictions to allow individuals to import one car every two years, provided it is less than 12 months old, has travelled less than 500km and presumably meets some sort of standard (whether ADRs or some agreed foreign authority's). While reports from last year focussed on the fact that these cars would be cheaper to land (I actually doubt that), would you go down this road to get something new that was different, interesting or that the local distributor had no intention to sell into the local market? I have previously thought it was a pity that the e-Golf and Golf GTE were off the table for Australia, but parallel importation could be a real possibility in the future, provided you could set up some sort of servicing regime. At least with the Golf GTE, Audi bring in the e-Tron, which is largely the same car under the skin.

So what are your thoughts?

[h100vw]

OK, the topic title was just to suck you in to read this post, but it could be an actual topic beyond 2018. According to reports today on ABC RN and in The Guardian, the Federal Government is about announce that it is removing or curtailing import restrictions to allow individuals to import one car every two years, provided it is less than 12 months old, has travelled less than 500km and presumably meets some sort of standard (whether ADRs or some agreed foreign authority's). While reports from last year focussed on the fact that these cars would be cheaper to land (I actually doubt that), would you go down this road to get something new that was different, interesting or that the local distributor had no intention to sell into the local market? I have previously thought it was a pity that the e-Golf and Golf GTE were off the table for Australia, but parallel importation could be a real possibility in the future, provided you could set up some sort of servicing regime. At least with the Golf GTE, Audi bring in the e-Tron, which is largely the same car under the skin.

So what are your thoughts?

Not that I am in the market for anything like that Golf.

I'd be very wary bringing in anything that isn't here officially. Getting support for warranty/service could be hard work. If it's not brought in by VWA there might be no training for the techs available and I can see it going downhill from there.

If you can save 10k on a GTI, different story all together.

Gavin

[arcadelt]

It will be interesting to see if the Government has anything to say on the warranty front. I can't imagine that they would be able to force Australian statutory warranty provisions on overseas sellers, nor could they compel a local distributor to take that on if they had made the decision not to import that particular model - and then there would be importations of cars where there is no local distributor or marketplace.

Would something like a well executed group buy, complete with someone agreeing to take on the servicing and repairs, and the establishment of a spares supply chain, make a difference? There are plenty of well qualified and highly regarded VW repairer out there outside of the dealer network, and many of us use them in preference to the dealers.

[h100vw]

The grey import thing happened in the UK years ago, ordering UK spec cars in RHD from Europe. It was big business for a long while. Although the warranty was Europe wide, it didn't mean that UK dealers were going to jump when you rolled in with a problem under warranty.

I believe the local importers, VWA or VW uk, would be up for the warranty processing. Having made nothing off the car to start with, not a great incentive to hurry things along.

Personally this isn't on my radar. I am happy running older cars that I can maintain myself. With parts that are easily available through the internet if not locally.

[Transporter]

...and, it's an old news.

[arcadelt]

...and, it's an old news.

Transporter, have I missed something in your comment, because it was news on the day I made the post? Any news before that was about the Government's intentions, but not that they were actually going to announce their decision.

[Sharkie]

I for 1 would be interested in exploring some options in 2018.

As an enthusiast I often want a specific model (or even colour) from a specific brand that the local importer in their infinite wisdom (OK call it response to perceived market demand) decided not to bring into Australia. Yet, that model is available in that spec in other countries.

Not too fussed about warranty really, the price (savings hopefully) and convenience of getting exactly what I want would offset any concerns I'd have.

Scirrocco TDI for instance? Or a manual A4 1.8TSI sedan? Or a manual 4Motion TDI400 Multivan? the possibilities are massive ....

[arcadelt]

I for 1 would be interested in exploring some options in 2018.

As an enthusiast I often want a specific model (or even colour) from a specific brand that the local importer in their infinite wisdom (OK call it response to perceived market demand) decided not to bring into Australia. Yet, that model is available in that spec in other countries.

Not too fussed about warranty really, the price (savings hopefully) and convenience of getting exactly what I want would offset any concerns I'd have.

Scirrocco TDI for instance? Or a manual A4 1.8TSI sedan? Or a manual 4Motion TDI400 Multivan? the possibilities are massive ....

...or pretty much any high spec manual, as apparently those that prefer manual cars only like base models...or a three door Golf R...