Car advice...moving to Australia!
Discussion
Wondering what pHers advice is with my situation.
I currently live in Leicester but in a couple of months am moving to the slightly sunnier climes of Melbourne, Oz. Brilliant job opportunity, double my current pay, well chuffed etc etc. But...then I found out that German cars cost practically double over there. So not much chance of getting another C63 over there. The trouble is I have fallen in love with that engine note. The V8 is just epic!
Over in Oz they do have the HSV clubsport R8, better known as the Vauxhall VXR8 over here and that is very reasonably priced. I know it's not as sophisticated as the AMG but has anyone driven both? I'm not to bothered about the plastic-fest interior, just about how the driving experience stacks up compared to the C63.
Also, convertible-wise...370z roadster or '07 slk 55?
By the way I'm not moaning, I know this is a great dilemma to have and I am very lucky. Thanks for reading.
I currently live in Leicester but in a couple of months am moving to the slightly sunnier climes of Melbourne, Oz. Brilliant job opportunity, double my current pay, well chuffed etc etc. But...then I found out that German cars cost practically double over there. So not much chance of getting another C63 over there. The trouble is I have fallen in love with that engine note. The V8 is just epic!
Over in Oz they do have the HSV clubsport R8, better known as the Vauxhall VXR8 over here and that is very reasonably priced. I know it's not as sophisticated as the AMG but has anyone driven both? I'm not to bothered about the plastic-fest interior, just about how the driving experience stacks up compared to the C63.
Also, convertible-wise...370z roadster or '07 slk 55?
By the way I'm not moaning, I know this is a great dilemma to have and I am very lucky. Thanks for reading.
Fox- said:
Why not export your C63? Take advantage of how much cheaper they are here and take it with you!
If you have or will have owned it for 12 months by the time you leave, this is exactly what you should do. If you haven't, you can't.Go to the Australia forum for everything you could want to know about importing.
Already looked into exporting the C63 but overall cost isn't worth it. Aussie government absolutely hammers you with tax. Price ends up almost cost of a used C63 over there with added masses of red tape and paperwork. A new C63 is just over £100k pounds in Oz!!! I will never complain about 'rip off Britain' again!
Ok looked again at the importing option...very confused (sorry for being dense). Another forum said to avoid at all costs. I have a '07 c63 estate with 43k miles. Worth prob about £29k ish. I have owned the car for a year. How much to end up on my doorstep in Oz? And will it take a long time?
The c63 is on a pcp. Even if I paid it off now would I be classed as only owning the car from now and not fulfilling the 1 year of ownership requirement? I think there is too much risk exporting the car. Also,itt wouldn't be under warranty in Australia and not sure I want such an expensive car with no warranty.
So...HSV clubsport?
So...HSV clubsport?
Fox- said:
Ford FPV GT 
Must admit, I like the look of the HSV more, but I'm not a badge snob so the ford definitely deserves a test drive. I've been scouting Aussie car forums and am somewhat taken by the amount of vitriol Aussies seem to have for their homegrown holdens and fords. I would have thought there would be an element of patriotism and that it would be slightly 'cool' to drive a Holden compared to a 'foreign euro car'. Driving in Italy, to compare, it is obvious they love their fiats. But in Oz anyone who drives a Holden or ford is a 'bogan' (as far as I can understand, that is an equivalent of a chav in the uk but please correct me if I'm wrong). Am I going to get eggs thrown at me for driving a HSV or ford fpv? What's wrong with these Aussies?
I once sat at a table in a bed and breakfast in Bathurst opposite a guy in a Holden shirt. Outside, parked beside my rented Falcon XR6 was a HSV Commodore. As him and his wife and me and the gf were the only ones there it was obvious who drove what.
He totally blanked me. Eventually his wife made conversation with my gf. As soon as he realised the Falcon was merely rented he suddenly became the most chatty person ever. He just refused to talk to Ford owners.
It seems this is typical between Holden and Ford owners, its like a religion
He totally blanked me. Eventually his wife made conversation with my gf. As soon as he realised the Falcon was merely rented he suddenly became the most chatty person ever. He just refused to talk to Ford owners.
It seems this is typical between Holden and Ford owners, its like a religion
my advice is to take stuff with you. I was down there for the last year and euro stuff (infact, homegrown stuff too) is crazy expensive down there. it looked to me as if it was cheaper to buy a monaro/vxr8 here.
I'd like to start a business shifting L322 range rovers and Jag XJ X350's to aus. Even with import taxes, there MUST be profit to be made when L322 range rovers start at for £7 in the uk and $30k in Aus.
That said, they drive slow as s
t. Driving thrills come from track/off road stuff only as far as i can tell. I was shocked at how fast my mum drove when i came home.
I'd like to start a business shifting L322 range rovers and Jag XJ X350's to aus. Even with import taxes, there MUST be profit to be made when L322 range rovers start at for £7 in the uk and $30k in Aus.
That said, they drive slow as s
t. Driving thrills come from track/off road stuff only as far as i can tell. I was shocked at how fast my mum drove when i came home.Check out the wiki in the Australian sub-section on importing cars.
Oh, and the reason that there is some disdain towards Australian cars is
a) some owners who take tribalism to a new level
b) they are propped up by government payments and harsh tax towards foreign cars, artifically increasing the price of imported cars
c) they styling, or lack thereof. No, Australian branch of U.S. car company, some tacky stripes and ugly paint colours does not an attractive car make.
Oh, and the reason that there is some disdain towards Australian cars is
a) some owners who take tribalism to a new level
b) they are propped up by government payments and harsh tax towards foreign cars, artifically increasing the price of imported cars
c) they styling, or lack thereof. No, Australian branch of U.S. car company, some tacky stripes and ugly paint colours does not an attractive car make.
Would you consider an older muscle car? I have been in and out of Oz quiet regularly over the last 2 years, and I thought that if I was going to buy something I would seriously look at getting something like a late 60's Mustang fastback. There is a huge suppport structure over there for the older cars, I believe parts and specialist garages are widely available. I think something like this would tick the box for the V8 sound. Ok handling won't be anything to write home about. In saying that it is very very difficult to find a quiet road to go for a spirited drive as the police take a very dim view on speeding and are everywhere.
Anyway just a thought, will be interesting to know how you get on, best of luck.
Anyway just a thought, will be interesting to know how you get on, best of luck.
Edited by Shake&Bake on Thursday 19th January 01:18
[quote=Shake&Bake]Would you consider an older muscle car? I have been in and out of Oz quiet regularly over the last 2 years, and I thought that if I was going to buy something I would seriously look at getting something like a late 60's Mustang fastback. There is a huge suppport structure over there for the older cars, I believe parts and specialist garages are widely available. Also it's a good opportunity to be able to drive a left hand drive car on the correct side of the road! I think something like this would tick the box for the V8 sound. Ok handling won't be anything to write home about. In saying that it is very very difficult to find a quiet road to go for a spirited drive as the police take a very dim view on speeding and are everywhere.
Anyway just a thought, will be interesting to know how you get on, best of luck.
[/quote]
Ummm... we drive on the same side of the road as you...
Hear you on the police comment. It's like driving nirvana in the UK in comparison.
Anyway just a thought, will be interesting to know how you get on, best of luck.
[/quote]
Ummm... we drive on the same side of the road as you...
Hear you on the police comment. It's like driving nirvana in the UK in comparison.
Although its a romantic notion to one day own a classic muscle car I must admit I don't have the mechanical know-how or the time to invest with my job to keep one of those on the road. Also I fear that after getting used to 0-60 in 4.5s it might be a bit too much of a performance gap for me to substitute the AMG for a 60s mustang!
2nd hand prices of the Lexus isf are in the slot and that is definitely comparable to the C63. But I'm still definitely going to test drive the ford/HSV opposition.
2nd hand prices of the Lexus isf are in the slot and that is definitely comparable to the C63. But I'm still definitely going to test drive the ford/HSV opposition.
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