Would a Caterham be the wrong choice in Oz?

[Gingerbread Man]

East coast, Coffs Harbour area (For example), is it too hot for a Caterham??

Odd question, but my girlfriend and I are mid Oz visa and if all goes well, I'd like to take the 7 with me as the 7 was the car of my dreams, and I managed to get one, love it, would like to continue to own it, but would it be the wrong car for Oz?

It was my daily driver for ~4 years until I got a company van. So I'm not the typical Caterham owner, more of a loon

But I'm aware it has no real roof and no air conditioning. Will it be unbearable to use that often?

[Mattt]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Ozzie Dave]

Quite a few here in Brisbane, its too cold in Byron/Coffs, it sometimes goes below 20!
just be sensible, chassis plans are readily available for Oz standards and use a Jap 4 cylinder. above all- join the forums and clubs!

[George 54]

You would regret it in the future if you did not send it over . There are some beautiful areas out side of Goffs , plus traffic volume is a lot less .

[suthol]

Bring it, they cost a bomb in Oz.

An R300 SL is $96K delivered over here

[WhereamI]

Its a very personal decision.

If you chose to do it getting it into Australia could be fun, the car has to meet various standards and whether a Caterham would without modification is something you'd need to find out or face some unexpected bills. Bear in mind that the inspection is done at the state level - people from the UK fail to realise how much Australian government is state based so there's an awful lot of stuff that varies from state to state - hence finding someone who has done this successfully in NSW is only an indication of what would happen if you are going into Victoria, for example.

It's also fairly expensive, a lot more than just the cost of the shipping. I doubt if you could import anything for less than $10,000 and it can easily be quite a bit more than that.

You also need to meet certain standards, so you can only do it if you intend to stay in Australia permanently, in practice that means you have permanent residency or are on a visa, such as a 457, that allows you to apply for PR.

In practice, because cars cost so much more in Australia, it is usually financially worthwhile to import if you can but whether you'd find a market for a Caterham there is a question given the lack of roof, air con, suspension etc.

[Gingerbread Man]

Right, I'll send an email off to Caterham in regards to modifications they carry out before shipping cars off to Oz.

During my short time in Oz on a previous holiday. I did see a 7esque car bombing around the hills. I'll be quite far from any tracks so the roads are what I would have.

[Wanchaiwarrior]

But also remember, as its a personal import, rules are a little different.

Check out the "Shipping Cars to Australia - What, Why and How (The Rules)" and "Importing a car to Australia - All the facts... Hopefully!" threads.

Also http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/imports/

[Hasbeen]

Hi there Gingerbread Man. I'm just south of Brisbane, not far from Coffs as far as temperatures fly.

I have 3 convertibles, & drive them through most of summer, apart from the wet weather, which is mostly in summer.

I recently fitted air conditioning to my TR7 FHC, as it was too hot in a small coupe in summer. Of course our winters are the perfect weather for topless motoring, once the night time chill has dissipated a bit.

The Coffs area is a bit wetter than most of the east coast through out most of the year, but is mostly glorious weather, suitable for much car fun. You will find many kindred spirits in the area.

One acquaintance in Coffs, rallies a TR7 V8 in classic rallies & some Oz Rally Championship rounds, & a number of his mates have 7 type cars, which they use to compete in hill climbs, track racing & sprints, & other club sports.

Many of the roads in the hinterland are a drivers paradise, with lots of twisty stuff, & little traffic. Your car will be perfect.

[Gingerbread Man]

We're still choosing where to settle for now, so it's not yet set in stone. We have to come up with an area for our visa! But the East Coast between Brisbane and Sydney is looking likely for a start anyhow. That's my current research topic. My missus is looking for good schools (to teach) and I'm looking for a strong enough population for plumbing jobs/ clients.

Back to the Caterham.
I'd be tempted to get involved in hill climbing or sprints. I don't track the car that often over here, but have done. I mainly take it out on the roads.

I'm looking into stripping it down and re-powder coating the chassis and re-paneling it with a new paint job to top it off. This way it'd be pristine ready for import and hopefully find or a good few years.

I do realise that the Rover K Series is very much an English engine and I might be on my own out there when repairs are needed...? But how do people get on with their TVR's whilst some share a rover V6.
I'm also looking into purchasing a new ECU for the car. One that I can plug into a laptop so I might be slightly ahead of the game when it comes to having faults, as opposed to looking for someone with a rover diagnostic plug.

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

[motomk]

Gingerbread Man said:

I'm looking into stripping it down and re-powder coating the chassis and re-paneling it with a new paint job to top it off. This way it'd be pristine ready for import and hopefully find or a good few years.

I do realise that the Rover K Series is very much an English engine and I might be on my own out there when repairs are needed...? But how do people get on with their TVR's whilst some share a rover V6.
I'm also looking into purchasing a new ECU for the car. One that I can plug into a laptop so I might be slightly ahead of the game when it comes to having faults, as opposed to looking for someone with a rover diagnostic plug.

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

It should be ok with the engine as they were in Elises and MGs over here. Can you not get diagnostic equipment over there and bring it over? I have read a few UK magazines with different diagnostic equipment in them.
Redoing the body sounds a good idea whilst you are nearer the parts.

Fellow at works, clubman type car.

[Hasbeen]

A plumber, wow, make sure you bring a big enough safe to put the gold in.

I live in a "hobby farm" area south of Brisbane. There are about 600 homes, all on acreage, mostly 5 to 10, where the horse is king, at least the kids pony club ponies.

We are about 20/25Km from any township, although a big subdivision is happening nearby, which will give lots of building for 15 years. All of us have tank water, & dams or riverfront for stock & garden, with all the pumps & plumbing that entails.

We have 4 full time plumbers, they are busy & coining it. My neighbor does mostly maintenance, & no drainage. He fits his business in between taking his daughter to a special equestrian school each morning, & picking her up after school.

10 years ago they had not much. Today he has just built a big shed to house his motorbike collection, & another for the horses & gear.

Plumbing can work anywhere in Oz, & be very profitable.

What does your lady teach. We are desperate for math & science teachers. One of my daughters school friends became head of department [science] at 27, in a very large Gold Coast high school, they are in that short supply. All teaching is pretty easy to find work, but best avoid most inner city schools for a pleasant life today.

[Gingerbread Man]

motomk said:

It should be ok with the engine as they were in Elises and MGs over here. Can you not get diagnostic equipment over there and bring it over? I have read a few UK magazines with different diagnostic equipment in them.
Redoing the body sounds a good idea whilst you are nearer the parts.

Fellow at works, clubman type car.

Ahhh okay, I didn't know how many Eluded and MG's had hit those shores, but that's good to hear.
Nice 7.

[Gingerbread Man]

Hasbeen said:

A plumber, wow, make sure you bring a big enough safe to put the gold in.

I live in a "hobby farm" area south of Brisbane. There are about 600 homes, all on acreage, mostly 5 to 10, where the horse is king, at least the kids pony club ponies.

We are about 20/25Km from any township, although a big subdivision is happening nearby, which will give lots of building for 15 years. All of us have tank water, & dams or riverfront for stock & garden, with all the pumps & plumbing that entails.

We have 4 full time plumbers, they are busy & coining it. My neighbor does mostly maintenance, & no drainage. He fits his business in between taking his daughter to a special equestrian school each morning, & picking her up after school.

10 years ago they had not much. Today he has just built a big shed to house his motorbike collection, & another for the horses & gear.

Plumbing can work anywhere in Oz, & be very profitable.

What does your lady teach. We are desperate for math & science teachers. One of my daughters school friends became head of department [science] at 27, in a very large Gold Coast high school, they are in that short supply. All teaching is pretty easy to find work, but best avoid most inner city schools for a pleasant life today.

[Gingerbread Man]

Hasbeen said:

A plumber, wow, make sure you bring a big enough safe to put the gold in.

I live in a "hobby farm" area south of Brisbane. There are about 600 homes, all on acreage, mostly 5 to 10, where the horse is king, at least the kids pony club ponies.

We are about 20/25Km from any township, although a big subdivision is happening nearby, which will give lots of building for 15 years. All of us have tank water, & dams or riverfront for stock & garden, with all the pumps & plumbing that entails.

We have 4 full time plumbers, they are busy & coining it. My neighbor does mostly maintenance, & no drainage. He fits his business in between taking his daughter to a special equestrian school each morning, & picking her up after school.

10 years ago they had not much. Today he has just built a big shed to house his motorbike collection, & another for the horses & gear.

Plumbing can work anywhere in Oz, & be very profitable.

What does your lady teach. We are desperate for math & science teachers. One of my daughters school friends became head of department [science] at 27, in a very large Gold Coast high school, they are in that short supply. All teaching is pretty easy to find work, but best avoid most inner city schools for a pleasant life today.

My good lady is a Science teacher to senior school, GCSE stage here. What year does that relate to in Oz?

Port Macquarie is being looked at as well as Coffs at the mo. Any suggestions?

[Hasbeen]

Sorry Gingerbread Man, I don't know what that equates to here. I suggest she inquire with the NSW Department of Education. Each state in Oz run their own system, & requirements may be different. I expect she would be most welcome in either public, [government] schools or in private schools, once she has a teaching certificate.

I have no idea what that requires in NSW.

Here we have had a Chinese lady, very capable, but few could understand her English, & a lady from the subcontinent, who could not have passed a junior math exam as all the government system could supply, & one competent department head teaching senior math & physics, in our 1700 kid near city country high school.

Both Port & Coffs are really nice places. Good, similar climate, great beaches & hinterland for recreation, & large enough to have most small city facilities. Coffs is growing more quickly I believe, but neither have the disadvantages of large cities or large tourist destinations.

Either should be excellent. I suggest a look a realestate.com.au to get an idea of housing in both areas.

[Gingerbread Man]

Thanks Hasbeen.

My girlfriend has been on that real estate website a lot lately getting exciting at what could possibly be.

We're purely basing our search on passing through the area and Google maps to gauge location and distances.

Science teachers are in demand over here too. She sometimes has to teach maths Now ans again in her current school.

[Gingerbread Man]

I've had an estimate for shipping the 7 from Portsmouth UK area to Cuffs Harbour area.

"Below is our estimate of costs for sending your vehicle to the Australian port nearest your selected city via RO-RO (Roll-On Roll-Off) shipping. I’ve used a customs value of $18,700 (taking value of 2007 model and deducting 50% for depreciation), just for your information.

 

-- shipping costs --
$1,484 ocean freight & export customs
$1,200-$1,600 customs, quarantine & port fees
$275 Australian Customs vehicle valuation
$888 import duty
$1,967 GST

-- road registration costs --
$880 ADR compliance
$150 roadworthy requirements
$1,226 registration (12 months)
$729 stamp duty

-- other costs --
$50 import approval application
$990 Iron Lady Imports fee ('A' Package)"

Minus the companies import fee (if I did it alone, if possible!?), it's adding up as this is alongside wanting to tart it up in the UK making it as new cosmetic wise.

[WhereamI]

That's either optimistic or cheap. Without going through it in detail:

Firstly it is RoRo rather than a container, you pay your money and take your choice on that one but the danger of RoRo is damage and the probability possibility that they are going to have fun with your car getting it on and off the ship in the UK, Australia and possibly some port in between.

There is no marine insurance, OK you don't need it but then you aren't insured if something happens.

You've got a pretty low valuation going on there, which is good from an import perspective but less so if it has any bearing on what the car will be worth in Australia (which it might not have).

I'd be skeptical that they'd end up doing it for that to be honest.

[Gingerbread Man]

WhereamI said:

That's either optimistic or cheap. Without going through it in detail:

Firstly it is RoRo rather than a container, you pay your money and take your choice on that one but the danger of RoRo is damage and the probability possibility that they are going to have fun with your car getting it on and off the ship in the UK, Australia and possibly some port in between.

There is no marine insurance, OK you don't need it but then you aren't insured if something happens.

You've got a pretty low valuation going on there, which is good from an import perspective but less so if it has any bearing on what the car will be worth in Australia (which it might not have).

I'd be skeptical that they'd end up doing it for that to be honest.

So you think it'd be more to get it to Oz?