WHY ???

[philbo]

If you really wanna see how were getting screwed over, check out the used price UK vs AUS
Lotus Elise (2002 Model Convertible)
- Australia - $35,500AUD
- England - $16,200AUD

Mazda 626 (2002 2L)
- Australia - $8900AUD
- England - $2070AUD

All examples found similar model, similar Ks - UK pound to AUD present exchange rate of $1.6 per £1

as soon as a vehicle hits 10y.o. in the uk the value falls out the arse for em, dont know what it is, but it was mentioned on wheeler dealers

[yzr750]

It's quite simple really, and the government are complicit in forcing Australians to pay over the odds for vehicles. Parallel imports are banned in Australia, so if you want to privately import a vehicle, it cannot be one that is already sold over here. It either has to have been made before 1989, of be on the raws register http://www.raws.com.au/ImportPurchase.asp.
What this means is Importers (not usually the dealers) can charge as much as they like. It was similar in the UK years ago, and people were importing cars from Europe at far cheaper prices, the UK government tried to ban it, failed, and as a result the price of new vehicles tumbled. Until parallel imports are allowed, we will be paying way over the odds.