The Thailand Special Thread - New Developments/News

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by smoo

Apart from a cheaper sticker price, the Triton offered nothing else that make it a compelling buy against the alternatives.
What decent advancement has the segment seen in 20 years. A few V6 diesels. Navara with coil springs. A couple of models that offer rear discs. Maybe rear diff lock and 4 wheel traction control.

This thing has taken the next step of introducing new tech to a segment that has stagnated for the last ten years (except eye watering RRP).

Time well tell if it’s a sales success. I can’t see why it won’t be, juding by the amount of cheap Chinese shit already on the road. I can see people overlooking the made in China stigma if it’s as well appointed as Wildtrack/Raptor and goes harder than them.
Save $30k on a Ranger, use the rest to go to Bali and finish off the full sleeve tatts.

The segment has stagnated like the small hatch segment (before everyone killed their offerings), things like the Mazda 2 have made no technological changes for the past ~15 years, same power and torque figures they've just gotten heavier.

[kevino]

Originally Posted by PooDog

One thing I learnt when researching the Outlander is they don't achieve anywhere near the economy they advertise, if that helps

I had one as a rental a month ago metro use for a week 10/11 litres per 100 km
Seemed pretty gutless too

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by PooDog

One thing I learnt when researching the Outlander is they don't achieve anywhere near the economy they advertise, if that helps

We drove an Outlander Exceed Tourer before buying a Tucson.
Loved every aspect of the Mitsu.
But it was gutless, we may have purchased one if turbo petrol or turbo diesel and no CVT. (hybrid wasnt around then, and we'll just change to a Hybrid Tucson when the time comes anyway)
Id say that may be why the econ is rubbish.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by smoo

Apart from a cheaper sticker price, the Triton offered nothing else that make it a compelling buy against the alternatives.
What decent advancement has the segment seen in 20 years. A few V6 diesels. Navara with coil springs. A couple of models that offer rear discs. Maybe rear diff lock and 4 wheel traction control.

This thing has taken the next step of introducing new tech to a segment that has stagnated for the last ten years (except eye watering RRP).

Time well tell if it’s a sales success. I can’t see why it won’t be, juding by the amount of cheap Chinese shit already on the road. I can see people overlooking the made in China stigma if it’s as well appointed as Wildtrack/Raptor and goes harder than them.
Save $30k on a Ranger, use the rest to go to Bali and finish off the full sleeve tatts.

smoo, you may well could be right moving ahead, I don't know I'm just commenting from observations and interest.
Don't think I'll ever need to buy a dual cab again - triton never needed to be anything more in the past - sticker price and wty, hardy a top seller same applied to novara.
Going onto the shark re later tech and better interior ? the latest GWM top of the line dual cab my nephew got is just as you described the shark compared to Lux/ranger etc, don't think I saw it really dent the top seller sales.
Lets see what this does over the next year/2.
Will be interesting viewing seeing the vfacts.
Mind you I have no axe to grind or bone to pick or just banter like Franco about dual cabs, abn's, engines/suspensions/tech yaddayadda, it is what it is you play where it suits your need and budgets.
The industry is changing, gov's keep changing, policies, FTA's, china could flip its butt next week, Kamala or Trumpy, who has a coin flip it haha

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Curious about the 1.9L vs 3L (4JJ3)

The latter has had significant modifications to improve NVH,



https://www.isuzuute.com.au/discover...smooth-torquer



How's these figures compare with 2.0 Biturbo job in the Ranger?

I didnt drive the 3.0l but when he started the two back to back the 1.9 was considerably quieter.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

I didnt drive the 3.0l but when he started the two back to back the 1.9 was considerably quieter.

The 4JJ1 variant is rough as guts from an NVH perspective, the 4JJ3 they've made a decent chunk of improvements, if you can tell the difference with them both idling near each other you can imagine how bad the previous 4JJ1 is then in the previous models.

I did about 600km in one of the 4JJ1 variations on the highway, dual cab variety with a canopy on the back, at highway speeds, hearing that bucket of bolts rattling away gets old after a bit, and they're not exactly comfortable, have to shift around on the seat after a bit or you start getting a sore posterior, feel like I need a nurse to come flip me over so I didn't get bed sores

Its not like it was unloaded either, canopy on the back + tools + two people + long range fuel tank (150L).

We were doing around 14L/100km sitting on 110-120.

Add in that rough as guts engine plus chunky AT tyres, people think small cars were bad with road noise they've obviously advanced in age and become deaf because these things are worse than my Fiesta ST

Ranger is significantly better from an NVH perspective, have one at work but its still not great, ours is either on or over GVM and it handles like a dog.

[PooDog]

Originally Posted by DJM83

We drove an Outlander Exceed Tourer before buying a Tucson.
Loved every aspect of the Mitsu.
But it was gutless, we may have purchased one if turbo petrol or turbo diesel and no CVT. (hybrid wasnt around then, and we'll just change to a Hybrid Tucson when the time comes anyway)
Id say that may be why the econ is rubbish.

Yep EV fixes the lack of power twin motor they go really well, the extra weight of the battery down low makes them ride and handle well too.....but then you have the price tag which is over the top

[DFB FGXR6]

1.9 DMAX review and acceleration -

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

1.9 DMAX review and acceleration -

'If you're not doing any heavy towing, or carrying heavy loads in the back'

1400kg payload

That guys voice and how he talks does my head in, he holds onto the last few letters of words when he ends sentences, but he does alright content.

Good to see a manual box too,

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

'If you're not doing any heavy towing, or carrying heavy loads in the back'

1400kg payload

That guys voice and how he talks does my head in, he holds onto the last few letters of words when he ends sentences, but he does alright content.

I knew you were going to say that!

But seriously, that thing is far too slow for a modern vehicle, let alone a tradie ute. Even my pov-pack 2.2 Ranger would smoke that thing. Why would anyone actually choose the 1.9 over the 3.0?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I knew you were going to say that!

But seriously, that thing is far too slow for a modern vehicle, let alone a tradie ute. Even my pov-pack 2.2 Ranger would smoke that thing. Why would anyone actually choose the 1.9 over the 3.0?

Oh my lord, our work one does my head in with how mong that thing is to drive, and this thing is even slower

I like plastic interior, vinyl floor and steel wheels - peak work vehicle.

Its not a good test with no load in the back, he should have somewhere he can rock up and pick up a 1000kg concrete block or something he can fork into the back for these tests, gives a good test at payload or close to (driver + tray weight).

This thing in auto would probably be good for auto parts delivery joints, they just carry boxes of parts around and the occasional tools, most of the time my local one uses hatches.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

https://www.isuzuute.com.au/discover...smooth-torquer

How's these figures compare with 2.0 Biturbo job in the Ranger?

I know the thread has moved on but this is the graph Simon Varley provided when bi turbo came out. Plus it has 4 more gears than the MUX to better utilise the engine.

[BENT_8]

Today was a real reminder why I hate new car dealers.

Its blatently obvious from the large number of yard stock many popular cars on just about evrry brands forecourt that the industry has not just caught up but is now bursting at the seams with unsold stock.
Some of the discounts off rrp are generous enough, then before you even begin to haggle they start trimming more.
They are as desperate as I can remember.

The trade off is, that sycophant middle man appraiser who's been gorging himself on trade in margin hasnt realised that the profits they made from flipping trade ins at Covid markups is now going to bite them hard as they now lowball to keep their cash flowing.

Was such a shame as the saleswoman was quite good, and I've worked with a few, but im damned if im going to be insulted by some faceless clown devoid of a Kangaroo on his birth certificate so he can offload it at a handsome profit to his mate Arshdeep over at rip off motors

[Rastas]

Originally Posted by smoo

And compare it to what Thai special is at the same price point. Base model Ranger Hilux. Triton, Navara etc.
Looks like it’s better appointed, faster, maybe rides and handles better than them with independent rear. Might be a no brainer unless someone really needs the towing capacity.

Is why it's first allocation was sold out within a day (even with it's website going down for a few hours) ....... plenty on here may not rate it for being Chinese but clearly plenty out there are.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by Rastas

Is why it's first allocation was sold out within a day (even with it's website going down for a few hours) ....... plenty on here may not rate it for being Chinese but clearly plenty out there are.

And the CCP have helped price this thing at a loss, as it is their political aim to remove competition in the EV market.

When / if the Chinese own the market and everyone has “shut up shop”, let’s see what options we have.

[jpd80]

After seeing the Tasman Ute, I’m willing to say that everything else is forgivable….

Well except for BYD trying to buy the Australian market…

[Rastas]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

And the CCP have helped price this thing at a loss, as it is their political aim to remove competition in the EV market.

When / if the Chinese own the market and everyone has “shut up shop”, let’s see what options we have.

Well their is over 100 different Car manufacturers currently in China (Pretty sure most wont survive the long run) , but expect at least 20 or 30 to come a knocking on our shores.
If Legacy companies want to survive then they will have to up their game and sharpen their pencils and not sit back on their laurels and expect their brand loyalty will keep them relevant.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Fordman1

And the CCP have helped price this thing at a loss, as it is their political aim to remove competition in the EV market.

When / if the Chinese own the market and everyone has “shut up shop”, let’s see what options we have.

Easy, prices come down and they compete,

If this takes off the days of $90K Ford Ranger are over,

Remember, the PX Ranger was introduced at $19,990 for the povvo pack tray back job, now its $45K and you can't say inflation is that much over the past decade.

Funny how when we had our own car industry, and Falcon XR6 at $36K and utes around high $20K mark, we didn't have $90,000 Ford Ranger, or $50,000 Toyota Corolla.

All this is, is forcing the established players to compete again.

If they were going to leave our market, they'd have done it when NVES was on the cards and went through parliament, and they would have left the tiny shitful market that is NZ when they introduced those huge new green taxes on Thailand Specials.

But no, they're all still here,

However, I'm looking forward to our government taking the bait from the manufacturers, and implementing tarrifs on Chinese EVs,

In which China will immediately turn around and 'find issues' with our wine and seafood exports and cripple our producers, as well as show concern for 'racism towards Chinese students studying within Australia', and encourage them to go to a nation which has a better understanding of how to treat Chinese students.

Oh and they can get high quality black coal from North Korea, high quality iron ore from Brazil and they've been cutting deals with the Taliban in Afghanistan for access to their massive lithium deposits, while also developing mining resources in Africa.

I'd tread extremely carefully about protecting foreign car manufacturers ability to rip Australian consumers, because its got a $300,000,000,000 torpedo to our struggling economy attached to it.

[Sprintey]

And if that happens it will be OK, and we will diversify our reliance on a single trade partner which will make us more resilient. This began to happen the last time export of our seafood/wine/coal was blacklisted. There is a wider market in the world for what we produce.

Edit: how good was cheap crayfish for locals? Mmmmm!

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

And if that happens it will be OK, and we will diversify our reliance on a single trade partner which will make us more resilient. This began to happen the last time export of our seafood/wine/coal was blacklisted. There is a wider market in the world for what we produce.

Edit: how good was cheap crayfish for locals? Mmmmm!

They didn't do a very good last time, it was PAPPA GOVERNMENT SAVE US! OUR ONE CUSTOMER WE SHARE NO CULTURAL VALUES WITH STABBED US IN THE BACK!

Except Pappa Government basically caused the retribution by daring to ask our biggest trading partner 'WTF, your virus bro?' (how dare we question our Sino-overlords)

Then when China backed off, they've gone straight back to having one customer, in a move that surprised absolutely no one.

We've all heard of monopoly, but no one seems to understand the concept of the monopsony, which is what our producers have backed themselves into a corner with.

The problem is you need to do the sales work to diversify before you get stuck in the trade war.

Its a very one sided relationship, our producers need China, but China doesn't need our producers, its a 'nice to have' for their middle class who can afford our products, and there's plenty of other countries they can source commodities from, thats the problem being a commodity trader, they're commodities - low value, easily sourced/produced goods and why Australia has an 'economic complexity' ranked somewhere around Uganda, because we basically either dig shit up out of the ground, sell animals/vegetables or sell real estate to foreign interests using our market to launder money out of their own economies.

I have issues with China like everyone else, but lets use some lube before we bend over. I'm waiting for the accusations to start about me being on CCP payroll

You're all here playing checkers and China is playing 4D chess, we're up shit creek without a paddle if we play trade war with our biggest trading partner before we get our shit together and diversify to new markets.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Funny how when we had our own car industry, and Falcon XR6 at $36K and utes around high $20K mark, we didn't have $90,000 Ford Ranger, or $50,000 Toyota Corolla.

1994 Corolla Seca Ultima was $30k, in today's money that is $65k.
Cressida Grande was $45k, or nearly $100k today.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by XR Martin

1994 Corolla Seca Ultima was $30k, in today's money that is $65k.
Cressida Grande was $45k, or nearly $100k today.

What was 2016 Corolla?

$20,790 plus on-road costs for mid-spec,

Which is $25,627.65 in 2023 dollars.

Base model is $36,317 in 2024 - $10,000 more than inflation figure,

So we can't point to devaluing of our dollar being the issue here, market pricing is our problem here,

Market pricing which will correct when Chinese EV hit our shores at better pricing.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

What was 2016 Corolla?

$20,790 plus on-road costs for mid-spec,

Which is $25,627.65 in 2023 dollars.

Base model is $36,317 in 2024 - $10,000 more than inflation figure,

So we can't point to devaluing of our dollar being the issue here, market pricing is our problem here,

Market pricing which will correct when Chinese EV hit our shores at better pricing.

Nope, they'll just leave.
We're a small market with RHD vehicles.
Citroen has gone, other smaller Euros will next (Peugeot, Renault, Fiat etc)
Then the smaller Jap brands, so on and so forth.
In ten years time it will be a sea of disposable Chinese cars, and everyone will be saying "how did this happen?"
I'll walk naked to Perth if I'm wrong.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by XR Martin

Nope, they'll just leave.
We're a small market with RHD vehicles.
Citroen has gone, other smaller Euros will next (Peugeot, Renault, Fiat etc)
Then the smaller Jap brands, so on and so forth.
In ten years time it will be a sea of disposable Chinese cars, and everyone will be saying "how did this happen?"
I'll walk naked to Perth if I'm wrong.

So you think they'll only hang around if they can continue to rip us off?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by XR Martin

Nope, they'll just leave.
We're a small market with RHD vehicles.
Citroen has gone, other smaller Euros will next (Peugeot, Renault, Fiat etc)
Then the smaller Jap brands, so on and so forth.
In ten years time it will be a sea of disposable Chinese cars, and everyone will be saying "how did this happen?"
I'll walk naked to Perth if I'm wrong.

Said the same thing about Facebook and Google when the previous federal government mandated them to pay the old media for content, they whinged, bitched, moaned and threatened, and they're still here when they could have easily pulled all their services from the tiny Australian market.

They all whinged bitched and moaned when NZ introduced their Thailand Special tax, NZ is a much smaller market than ours, and they're all still here.

They're all greedy, they won't give up our tiny market because it means conceding to someone else where they could have sales.

Citroen and all those other fail and AIDS Euros sold like 10 cars a year in our market, BEFORE the Chinese EVs arrived.

Look at Toyota's sales to our market, they're not going anywhere, Ford is up there as well just on Ranger and Everest sales.

The only people who will pull out of our market are Stellantis type clowns who sell nothing as we sit now.

If I'm wrong, and all the Thailand Specials in the VFACTS top 10 disappear because they've pulled out of the Australian market because of Chinese EVs, I'll drive across Melbourne with an 8" rainbow dildo strapped to my forehead on a harness.

[BENT_8]

Lol, now im not sure if I want them to stay or go..

They arent going anywhere. They could cut 20% off their rrp tomorrow and still turn a worthy profit.
The only reason they haven't yet is because a fool and their money are easyily parted and Aussies are amongst the biggest idiots on the planet.

[whynot]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Remember, the PX Ranger was introduced at $19,990 for the povvo pack tray back job, now its $45K and you can't say inflation is that much over the past decade.

Using the RBA inflation calculator, $19,990k in 2011 dollars is equal to $27,000 in 2023 dollars. The RBA's inflation figures for 2024 isn't out yet, but add another 3% to that to get around $27.8k.

However, the Australian currency has moved in the wrong direction as well. Back in 2011, one AUD would buy 32 Thai Baht. Today, it only buys 22 Thai Baht. So, that $27.k in AUD actually requires $40.4K AUD in 2024 adjusted for exchange rates. We are starting to get a bit closer to the notional $45K.

Next has been the additional safety technology lumped onto the vehicles. Since 2011 most mining companies have implemented WHS changes that require a minimum five start safety ANDCAP rating.

This is an incomplete list of ANDCAP changes in the last few years alone. This is electronic kit above and beyond changes to crash ratings for vehicle strength, additional air bags, etc, etc.

• MOTORCYCLE-DETECTING AEB & LSS
• PEDESTRIAN & CYCLIST PROTECTION
• AEB Backover
• AEB Junction (Cyclist)
• Cyclist Dooring
• AEB HEAD-ON AND JUNCTION CROSSING
• CHILD PRESENCE DETECTION
• VEHICLE SUBMERGENCE
• frontal crash with a moving trolley (MPDB test)
• AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING (Car-to-Car)
• AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING (Vulnerable Road User)
• LANE SUPPORT SYSTEMS
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
• SPEED ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS
• INTELLIGENT SEATBELT REMINDERS
• DRIVER MONITORING SYSTEMS

So, as noble as all of these improvements are, they cost money to install. It requires ultrasonic sensors, video camera's, radar transmitters/receivers, plus a computer to monitor all of it.

Plus, things like hydraulic power steering units have to be replaced by EPAS units (so that the computer can control the steering for things like lane support). That is more dollars baked into the vehicle.

On top of all of that, the world's supply chains are still out of whack; and that too costs money.

When one includes adjustments for inflation, adjustments for exchange rates, and adjustments for mandatory changes in ANCAP, then the 2011 cost is a lot closer to the 2024 cost. With the 2024 vehicle being a much better vehicle that the 2011 predecessor.

In an open market the supplier is free to charge as much as they wish for a product (assuming competition laws, world trade laws, human rights obligations, etc are being complied with). If certain manufacturers are making a killing on certain product lines, they deserve the rewards. If one listens to the certain political interest groups, the 4WD would be long dead by now. But the fact that Toyota, Ford, et al, are still producing them - despite the open hatred by the environmentalists - means they took a financial risk. If they are making above average profits, then they are being rewarded for that risk that at a stroke of a pen they could be wiped out of existence.

The Ranger was never built in Australia. At the time Ford introduced the Ranger, journalists spilt heaps of ink saying what a stupid idea it was for Ford to introduce such a large and imposing vehicle into the Australian market. Journalists absolutely panned the Ranger. But rather than listening to the experts, it was consumers who changed their buying habits and voluntary moved from large sedans (e.g. Falcon) to the Ranger, Hilux, Prado, et.

Who knows what vehicle consumers will buy next? The CyberTruck might make it to Australian shores and everyone ditches their Thailand Special for a USA built Elon dream. It has a better crash rating. It is a pure EV. Would that make some folk happier?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by whynot

Using the RBA inflation calculator, $19,990k in 2011 dollars is equal to $27,000 in 2023 dollars. The RBA's inflation figures for 2024 isn't out yet, but add another 3% to that to get around $27.8k.

However, the Australian currency has moved in the wrong direction as well. Back in 2011, one AUD would buy 32 Thai Baht. Today, it only buys 22 Thai Baht. So, that $27.k in AUD actually requires $40.4K AUD in 2024 adjusted for exchange rates. We are starting to get a bit closer to the notional $45K.

Next has been the additional safety technology lumped onto the vehicles. Since 2011 most mining companies have implemented WHS changes that require a minimum five start safety ANDCAP rating.

This is an incomplete list of ANDCAP changes in the last few years alone. This is electronic kit above and beyond changes to crash ratings for vehicle strength, additional air bags, etc, etc.

• MOTORCYCLE-DETECTING AEB & LSS
• PEDESTRIAN & CYCLIST PROTECTION
• AEB Backover
• AEB Junction (Cyclist)
• Cyclist Dooring
• AEB HEAD-ON AND JUNCTION CROSSING
• CHILD PRESENCE DETECTION
• VEHICLE SUBMERGENCE
• frontal crash with a moving trolley (MPDB test)
• AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING (Car-to-Car)
• AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING (Vulnerable Road User)
• LANE SUPPORT SYSTEMS
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
• SPEED ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS
• INTELLIGENT SEATBELT REMINDERS
• DRIVER MONITORING SYSTEMS

So, as noble as all of these improvements are, they cost money to install. It requires ultrasonic sensors, video camera's, radar transmitters/receivers, plus a computer to monitor all of it.

Plus, things like hydraulic power steering units have to be replaced by EPAS units (so that the computer can control the steering for things like lane support). That is more dollars baked into the vehicle.

On top of all of that, the world's supply chains are still out of whack; and that too costs money.

When one includes adjustments for inflation, adjustments for exchange rates, and adjustments for mandatory changes in ANCAP, then the 2011 cost is a lot closer to the 2024 cost. With the 2024 vehicle being a much better vehicle that the 2011 predecessor.

In an open market the supplier is free to charge as much as they wish for a product (assuming competition laws, world trade laws, human rights obligations, etc are being complied with). If certain manufacturers are making a killing on certain product lines, they deserve the rewards. If one listens to the certain political interest groups, the 4WD would be long dead by now. But the fact that Toyota, Ford, et al, are still producing them - despite the open hatred by the environmentalists - means they took a financial risk. If they are making above average profits, then they are being rewarded for that risk that at a stroke of a pen they could be wiped out of existence.

The Ranger was never built in Australia. At the time Ford introduced the Ranger, journalists spilt heaps of ink saying what a stupid idea it was for Ford to introduce such a large and imposing vehicle into the Australian market. Journalists absolutely panned the Ranger. But rather than listening to the experts, it was consumers who changed their buying habits and voluntary moved from large sedans (e.g. Falcon) to the Ranger, Hilux, Prado, et.

Who knows what vehicle consumers will buy next? The CyberTruck might make it to Australian shores and everyone ditches their Thailand Special for a USA built Elon dream. It has a better crash rating. It is a pure EV. Would that make some folk happier?

Its not an open market, its protected by legislation, and tax incentives which encourage consumers towards Thailand Specials, it also reduces your taxable income on centrelink entitlements on family tax benefit and childcare subsidies if you have an ABN and a Thailand Special.

There's other competitors with the same feature set, as per the Isuzu DMax we've been talking about in the same page, which is $32K DA at the povvo spec end, which includes a lot of those 5 star ANCAP features - $13K cheaper than the Ranger, and it also comes from Thailand so it exposed to the same drama with the Australian peso.

None of those ANCAP requirements are legislated, they're just 'nice to have', everyone hates all this autonomous bullshit, especially on this forum there's huge discussion about it, and there's only a couple people here who prefer the car driving for them.

If you look at private vehicle sales, using the 2023 full year as the metric, the Tesla Model Y is Australia's most popular vehicle amongst private buyers, so Australian consumers prefer EVs (as of 2023) - I don't consider corporate purchases as 'consumers' (people), they don't have tax incentives to buy Thailand Specials.

[smoo]

Well, Jeep has cut about $30k or close to 30% out of the Gladiator pricing so it shows how much they are rorting us, or the hand ful of people who actually bought one. Damage has been done and it looks like Jeep/Ram are in the shit in the US too. I’ll laugh if they end up Chinese owned if that is even possible.

[whynot]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

There's other competitors with the same feature set, as per the Isuzu DMax we've been talking about in the same page, which is $32K DA at the povvo spec end, which includes a lot of those 5 star ANCAP features - $13K cheaper than the Ranger, and it also comes from Thailand so it exposed to the same drama with the Australian peso.

It is an open market suffice that consumers are free to choose between the DMax and the Ranger. That the DMax is $13k cheaper than then Ranger points to such a strong consumer preference to the Ranger, that Izusu have to drop their price to shift the demand curve. To be sure, Izusu is not operating a charity. I am sure that would love to charge an extra $13K on the DMax if they possibly could.

Why there is a stronger consumer preference for the Ranger (and Everest, Hilux, Prado, et al) is debatable; better advertising, better reputation, better after sales service, etc, etc. But the cold hard fact is that the consumer preference is there.

I am failing to see the link being drawn between business vehicle expenses / novated leases, and the Thailand-Australia FTA.