'Australian Delivered' superior cars. Fact or fiction?

[Gollum]

I keep hearing how an 'Australian Delivered' European car is a different machine to it's European counterpart but is there any truth to it?

I can understand Porsche, Ferrari, Merc, even BM and Audi claiming that they are selling a superior machine over here. Maybe in doing so they justify a car costing triple what it may at home but is there any basis to the argument?

Superior options as standard I can understand, its a long way so why not send the best they can but I also here of cars that have better protection systems, even suspension - which I find hard to believe.

Is there any real basis to the argument or is this simply a hangover from the marketing campaign or a fear of salt I wonder. I have done 'much' research but neither Google nor Wiki have an answer.

Edited by Gollum on Wednesday 5th February 10:26

[Gollum]

What got me thinking about all this was watching megafactories on freeview. Ne'er do they say - "and this is a hot country spec engine or gearbox as its going to Australia". Infact the options sheets run down the chassis line, not the Engine and Gearbox line. The engine and gearbox are a standard that get tested from -40 to +50 degrees ambient.

It's been suspected/reported that both US and Aus landed turbo cars are infact less powerful as they are 'detuned' at the factory as the fuel can't be trusted, which left unchecked would give rise to engine failures (worst case) or at the very least detonation due to poor octane content.

The AMG suspension comment aside, we are talking about the same machine, forget options for now, I know there are hot country spec options as my S8 used to cool the its interior down on sunny days with a solar powered fan BUT the car was a British car so this is just another option that any nation can choose.

Reference the last two posts:

1. A performance car that doesn't perform as well.
2. A workhorse that can't tow as much.

In both cases, substandard vehicles.

Edited by Gollum on Monday 10th February 23:49

[Gollum]

Off topic admittedly but my understanding of the best gravel ABS is to turn the the thing off?!?

I know the rally drivers are specialists but I thought this was the one specialist realisation that truly transferred down from race driver to the every day driver...

(and as an aside, why all of a sudden is a UK website, with UK English demanding that I spell 'isation' WRONGLY with a Z...?!?!?!?!) Same with all Microsoft products?!? Is it just me?