Australia and Cars

melchy · 4 Aug 2009 at 19:50

I genuinley love the place, been across 3 times in the last 5 years (as well as brief stop offs to NZ). I've relatives in Port Macquarie.

Both speeding and drink driving seem to be taken quite seriously which is strange in a country with big V8's and drive through liquer stores

On a serious note though, they do seem to have a bit of a problem with young drivers killing themselves doing stupid things in their cars.

Ev0 · 4 Aug 2009 at 19:51

[TW]Fox;14613748 said:
If I move out there I'll buy something awesome 12 months before and take it with me frankly. You can do that without paying huge import duty if you've owned it for a certain amount of time and don't sell it for 12 months.

Yup it's the sensible thing to do, can end up having an awesome car for a year here, take it over, and either just keep it or sell it for profit and buy your supercharged ute.

[TW]Fox · 4 Aug 2009 at 19:52

I went to Port Macquerie breifly, with the random painted rocks? And the drive through bottle shops are everywhere :eek:

It is the most fantastic place I have ever been. I went for 6 weeks and it was not long enough. I really, really want to go back there. Right now.

melchy · 4 Aug 2009 at 19:56

[TW]Fox;14613818 said:
I went to Port Macquerie breifly, with the random painted rocks? And the drive through bottle shops are everywhere

It is the most fantastic place I have ever been. I went for 6 weeks and it was not long enough. I really, really want to go back there. Right now.

I not sure what the story with the rocks is, but it seems to be a bit of a tradition to paint a rock when you visit the port.

You really do need to spend a worthwhile amount of time. I think I was 5 weeks (with some in NZ) the 3 times i've been. I would have liked longer, but my work wouldn't have given me it

Cousin had a Commodore SS Ute which was a bit of a beast.

Howard · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:00

I'm so jealous. Everything about your trip sounds so cool

Jez · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:01

So i should aim for a falcon FG then, seems to be your pick of the bunch. Predictably that console looks absolutely bloody awful, but i would expect nothing less from an Austrailian Ford.

Scania · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:05

Very interesting, cheers.

Ahem - Roadtrains.

morfmedia · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:05

Looking forward to the rest. Keep up the good writeup

[TW]Fox · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:07

Howard said:
I'm so jealous. Everything about your trip sounds so cool

I am not exagerating when I say it was the best 6 weeks of my entire life

It contained everything you could ever want

There is a 2003 Toyota Landcruiser in part 2, and oh yes it went off road, it went many miles from the nearest road

agw_01 · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:09

As has been said really Fox, a very good and interesting read!

Thanks for taking the time to share!

I especially like the look of this thing...

fonzee · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:10

you went to Australia? why didn't you say.

Alex UK · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:11

Great write up so far, looking forward to the rest.

We really should have more stuff like this in the UK - big, comfortable, cheap, simple, powerful RWD cars. Instead we get diesel four-pots. Great. I guess the reason we don't have stuff like the Falcon is that for 95% of people it wouldn't be necessary - we live in a much smaller country, so don't drive as far, many of us live in cities etc. It's a shame. Ute's are damn awesome by the way.

[TW]Fox · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:12

It had these:

Howard · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:15

agw_01 said:
As has been said really Fox, a very good and interesting read!

Thanks for taking the time to share!

I especially like the look of this thing...

Oh god stop it, I was practically mopping up pools of drool after seeing it on Top Gear. I want one so badly

Janesy B · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:16

Maccy · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:18

Interesting read, thanks

[TW]Fox · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:22

R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Very interesting, cheers.

Ahem - Roadtrains.

beermonster · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:43

Nice write up, eagerly awaits jap report. I've always loved those utes ever since I saw a Holden variant in Max Power magazine some 15 odd years ago big v8 super charged beast. Did you ever see the e39 M5 ute conversion over on M5board?

PeterNem · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:45

beermonster said:
Did you ever see the e39 M5 ute conversion over on M5board?

So wrong

Haircut · 4 Aug 2009 at 20:46

Good read, looking forward to part 2.
It's made me really want to go back to Australia now though!!

Unfortunately when I was there I had to make do with a Holden Viva (aka Daewoo Lacetti) all the way from Sydney to Cairns as the mates I was with didn't want to shell out the extra for something decent.

One thing I found incredible was the sheer number of bugs that come out at night, especially further north.
We tried not to do too much driving along the country roads at night due to risk of Kangaroos jumping into the road etc. but in the bits that we did do they were everywhere, front of the car got absolutely covered.