This ones for the Aussies

[chewy4x4]

I am marrying a wonderful woman from NSW in dec. We plan on moving back to OZ in a few years. I have a 2001 X sport and I am wanting to take it with us. I have heard that if a vehical is less than 15 years old it would have to be converted to right hand drive. My questions are:

1. If they do have to be converted who is good to do this type of work, and is it worth it?

2. Did yall even get Explorer sports?

3. Do yall have the numbers to either shops there or here that can convert?

 

[chewy4x4]

Nobody???

 

[Aussie Explorer]

Right I am not full bottle on the laws of importing a car into Aus but it’s not easy and can be expensive, But to convert it to right hand drive and get it registered will cost a lot to do in Australia, You might be better getting the conversion done in the U.S.

No we do not get the explorer Sport’s in Australia.


Give me a day or 2 and I will try and get you some information, regarding the Laws and cost.

Cheers.

 

[gijoecam]

You might be better off importing it from Britain. I know they had right hand drive Explorers available there for a while. They're few and far between, but they're out there.

To try and do the conversion.... EEK!!! I don't even want to think about that!! It would mean swapping pretty much everything from teh seats forward, as well as ordering the proper parts for all the steering, engine controls, reversing pretty much all of the electrical in the dash, heater/blower/AC system.... Wouldn't be a chore I would want to undertake myself no matter how much I love my Explorer!

-Joe

 

[Aussie Explorer]

I got a few replies

This is 1 reply I got

“You have to really want it.
Every vehicle younger than 15 years has to be converted to RHD.
You need a RAWS workshop to do the application for an import permit for you
before you can ship it. without import permit you can not get it into Australia.
A RAWS workshop has to be licensed to get compliance for the conversion and
no workshop would do it unless they have compliance for that model and have
done it before .. I am just going through that with my truck coming from the US ..
there are different categories under which you can import and it depends on the
age of the vehicle and the owner status but it is hard for just any vehicle unless
it has been done before... he is better off bringing an old T-bird or so ..
then there is luxury tax on sedans as well as duty and GST ... there is no duty and
luxury tax on trucks (4WD or 2WD) only GST...
One has to find a workshop willing to do the conversion and apply for import permit.

Hard to say if its worth it.. For the conversion its also the windshield, or side windows when tinted in US and a few other things .. my truck is going to be close to 30K A$ for the conversion and minor modification plus all the extras I put in to bring it to the level I want it, which are not included in the conversion cost.

I'd say a two door is not worth it unless its 15 years or older.. then it's reasonably easy.”

Most say it’s not worth the effort and say you are better of importing a Classic car if you want to go down the import road and just buy a 4 door X hear.

If you wanted to buy another X once hear (We only get 4 Door 4WD’s) then I would put all the parts you want for you X in the container and bring them over with you as it will save you a lot of money.

What do you use you X For?

If you are still keen on importing it let me know and I will see if I can dig up a Number for you to call to speak to somebody about it.

Cheers.

 

[chewy4x4]

Ohhhhh Thanks

Thank youu soooo much for the info. I guess that means I will be selling My X eventually :thumbdwn: . Dissapointing to say the least . Thank you. I think I will just bring my parts and upgrades down under and just swap everything out.

 

[Aussie Explorer]

No problems, One think you will find out is we have a lot of laws that can be a pain in the arse, Importing a Car is one example of them.

I was reading on an Aussi Ford forum about a Guy in the U.S wanting to import an Australian Ford, a XR6 Turbo Falcon and it sound’s as if it is a lot easer to import a car into the U.S. If he gets it over to the U.S it will surprise a few people, they are a Quick car.

 

[chewy4x4]

I saw the XR8 when I was in OZ its sweet. Yalls idea of sport cars is completly different to ours.

 

[gijoecam]

Over at the R&E center yesterday, I saw a Ghia Territory parked next to an escape. From the front, I could have sworn they were the same vehicle, but the Ghia has a longer tail (picture an Escape stretched to Expedition length). GREAT looking vehicle!

They also had a pair of XR8s in blue over there for a few months.... right hand drives, but gorgeous looking cars! They make a Mazda 6 look like a Pontiac Grand Am..... Much cleaner lines than the Mazda, much less plastic too.

Couldn't take pics without jeopardizing my job though....

-Joe

 

[Aussie Explorer]

Most of your Sports cars are 2 door ones yeah?
I don’t mind the look of the Mustang’s, you see the Odd one on the road overhear and they really stand out.


We basically take a sedan or Ute and stick a High output engine in it, with Spot’s suspension and a few other things’ and hay presto one Aussi Sports car LOL

I am aiming for a XR8 as my next car.
I would like a Falcon GT but they are out of my price range.

Do you know why they had the XR8’s there Joe?