Cars in Oz

I have never owned a car, but since being in Oz I have fancied buying one. Anything from a Mercedes or Audi to a Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3. I think 3 things have factored into this: 1) watching Top Gear, 2) using public transit (that sometimes is unreliable) and 3) seeing cars/models that come to Oz first or don’t exist in North America.

Toyota
I remember when I first arrived in Melbourne and seeing various models of Corollas’. There was the standard 4 door sedan (that’s avail. in North America), the 4 door hatchback and the 4 door wagon. Plus the various sub-models (Ascent, Conquest, Levin). All of these sub-models are just upgrades. Then mid-year the new Corolla was rolled out, the new hatchback and sedan. They looked more sporty and exciting than the previous incarnations. Toyota markets it as the Hottest Corolla ever with European styling. I know that next year or 2009 these will appear in North America. The sedan will be the new Corolla and the hatchback will be the basis for a new Matrix which I believe is being phased out for a new model.

Honda
In Oz there is no difference between Acura and Honda, all cars are sold as Honda’s. I noticed on Acura Canada website the RSX is no longer sold. I think I know what the next incarnation will be. Here it’s called the Civic Type R. A sporty 2 door Civic car with a really pronounced back. It’s just been released here in Oz.

Also I have noticed a 4 door Civic Hatchback. But it has phased out since 2001. But I think it’s a car that would have sold in Canada.

Holden
Holden is Australian brand of cars but owned by GM. You don’t see many GM cars, only the cars that are genuine GM or well know brands – such as a Hummer, Cadillac, Saab.

Seeing these cars that are not in Canada has made me more interested in cars. But just on a technical or information level. I really don’t have an interest in buying a car. But it interests me in how things work. In terms of the cars that are released and marketed around the world. It seems they are first relapsed in Japan, Asia, Australia and Europe first. Like a beta test and then the models are released a year or two later in North America. But it seems like North America get’s the short end of the stick. There seems to be more options available here in Oz and the cars seem to more aesthetically pleasing.