Car prices - I'm shocked!
 

Porsche's iconic 911 sports car starts in Australia at $223,000. In Japan, its price tag converts to $134,000. Britain, $107,000. The US, ''just'' $77,200!!!

http://smh.drive.com.au/motor-featur...415-1dgy7.html

I'm barely able to express my horror...& envy

Research needed
 

I am just guessing here, but with a little research I bet we could find that the majority of the extra costs are generated by the Gov taxes placed on them for entry into the various countries. I would be willing to bet that every one of them leaving the factory costs exactly the same, of course with given options. This sounds like a huge argument to take up with your local Gov to stop the madness. WOW That is pretty sad if taxes are that bloody high. Then add the cost of insurance on top of the cost of pertrol nowa days in most of Europe and using public transportation does not seem so bad. Driving a van like ours in the United States costs us about $65-$75 for a fill up. Over here in Prague a fill up is going to cost us somewhere around $165 from what we are being told. Considering that the average spec vehicle gas tank is setup to run about 300-350 miles on a full tank that averages out to about $2 a mile just for the gas, which is pretty sad. The electric car is looking better and better these days, and they are really starting to come out of the woodwork now. I will have to upload a few pics, but yesterday we were in downtown Praha and saw a demonstration with several electric vehicles. From regular size skateboards, to mid sized sedans. They had vehicles ready for test drives. Big skateboard, 3 wheel SEGWAY looking thing, quads, dirtbikes from mini, to mid, to full size, and 5 or 6 different cars and trucks. All of them plug in to charge, unplug and go.

I know a couple of people that went though the rigmorol of importing a new car and it worked out cheaper.

I do agree that the price difference seems off kilter.

You guys should see how much they cost in Brasil :lol: or any car.

Its not all bad though you pay $70,000aus for a holden clubsport R8 and we pay £50,000gbp for the same thing badged as a vauxhall VXR8, not half price but still a 10% saving in OZ, though its still expensive compared to the American rebadge, the pontiac G8 GXP at $41,000usd.

Don't forget the combination of low octane petrol and Californian emission regulations mean that American engines produce less power than they do elsewhere, so they may be grinning more when they go to the bank, but you'll have a bigger smile on your face when you put your foot down, the clubsport R8 and the VXR8 have 425hp while the G8 GXP only makes 402hp

I read in a Top Gear magazine that the HSV GTS (Holden) sells in Singapore for more than S$300,000. I guess we don't get it as bad as some. Doesn't make it right though.

Bottom line
 

The bottom line here is that each countries Gov puts laws into place that heavily tax inport automobiles in order to keep the numbers of foreign vehicles in the low numbers. This in turn keeps everyone selling their own vehicles which supports the countries economy by keeping jobs. The fact that the USA can acquire some of these high value vehicles lower than any other country is one of the reasons the country is in such a sorry state financially. The USA is inporting more than it is exporting creating a void in our job market.

And their build quality....

I just resent the fact I could have bought a 911 instead of the STi (we had 100 octane back then too - only 98 now) or an M3/M5/RS4 etc

Australia's a great country but it would look better from behind the wheel of something exotic

:lol:

I think even Haiti could look good behind the wheel of something exotic.........

Well, try norway ;) I think we, along with Denmark has some of the highest car taxes in the world?

A new Toyota prius (it`s one of the really cheaper cars here due to smoke (CO) taxes, costs FROM $50k for the cheapest type...

A new Corvette Z06, starts at $380k :lol: (not many to see on the roads, in other words)

Better then here in the US since the vehicles manufactured in Brasil have to be rugged enough to withstand the harsh road conditions in some places there. So the suspension, drive train and some other components are all different than a similar model of a Chevy, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan or VW sold here. Other differences are the engine choices available to the Brasilians and I think some models are multi fuel compatible (gasoline, diesel and ethanol).

Where have you been hiding to dude, nice to see you back again. :yes:

Winter sucks for me, I hate it :lol:. I've checked RCM, but didn't have anything to post so I just read some of the threads. You can always reach me via e-mail.

Good to see you
 

Yea it is good to see you Lutach. How are things going for you? Anything new with your ESC adventures? We sure have seen a better selection in HV lately. Things are improving. How is the family?

I'm somewhat cool. I will problably have to do a little surgery to repair some nerves on my shoulder. I haven't slept good since November and I'm just about to go nuts :lol:. I have done 3 MRIs and a ton of X-Rays. The first MRI saw a torn tendon and some swollen tissues in the joint, the second was of my neck and my orthopedic got me a little scared. Did a nerve test and it seems to show some nerve damage and went on to the third MRI this pat Friday of my Bronchial Plexus.

As far as ESCs goes, I've spoken with a few of my clients (The big EMS companies) and they keep telling me my ideas are ahead of its time. My ideas are more complex and advanced from what we current have, but it would be nice to see them done to get this hobby into the future. Other than that things are going well.

I'm king of enjoying the Gold, Silver and how popular Brasil has become in the greedy eyes of the wealthy. It sure is making a few a lot of money, but the same people will always find a way to burst another bubble :lol:.

Maybe the price of cars in Brasil will come down a bit so we can use more Ethanol :lol:.

Life is good.
 

WOW sorry to hear about your medical issues. Were you trying to ride one of your R/C's and fell off?:lol: Or just trying to feel young again showing off your once alive and well football skills to the kids?:whistle: Anyway hope all goes well with your medical professionals so you can get well soon.

As for the ESC issues, have you tried talking with Martin over at MGM? Yea I know some of their stuff is a little bit expensive, but he specializes in personal requirements for his clients, so maybe you can work out what you want with them and come up with the ultimate controllers. You can write to him at
(m.dvorsky@mgm-compro.com). I have exchanged a few emails with him already and hope to visit their little factory soon. We live in Prague now, and his shop is a few hours drive from here to Zlin, Czech Republic, so we have to wait for our van to arrive before we can take the drive over there and meet with him and his borther. Anyway just a thought. I hate to see your ideas just sitting around gathering dust, when I am sure that we would be impressed once you have something more in production or at least in a testing phase. Good luck with that and your shoulder issues.

Missed a step on the stair and to avoid a more serious case, I stopped my fall using my right elbow. I had a few things on my hands and the elbow was available :lol:. That happened around April of last year, but the real issue came in November when I was doing laundry, I went to put my stuff in the dryer and my right arm just fell out of the socket. The pain was insane and after that it was messed up.

As far as my ESCs and ideas goes, I wouldn't want to share tem again with nobody. We saw what happened when I shared a few of them :lol:. A while back, I did speak with Tekin regarding a micro controller, but they didn't seem too interested.

Getting old.
 

Yea getting old sucks, huh? Well that is a new one for the books. Hurt yourself putting laundry into the dryer? Sounds like we are all falling apart these days. I hurt my shoulders last June working on that house in Cali and they are still giving me problems, but not on your level of pain. Hope you find a solution for that soon. Good luck with that and your ESC ideas.

I wish we could afford one of the more exotic vehicles even at the lower prices in the USA. We just purchased our new Town & Country van in December and even that is a stretch at $34K. I would love to be driving a Dodge Viper, or an Astin Martin, or a Maseratti, or even a Lamborgini Countache, but who in the hell can afford to drive something like that in these tough times? Thats right, people who have so much money that the price is not even an issue, EVER... I remember when we were kids dreaming of winning a million dollars. Hell nowa days one million dollars wouldn't get you very far. Especially after the Gov takes their cut our of your butt. If you can't win at least ten million dollars it is hardly worth the effort anymore.