Moving to Sydney - buying Alpha V6, insurance, regs, meetups
Discussion
Hi All.
So, I am coming to Sydney with my lovely dual nationality girlfriend (thank you for the sponsorship) and I am looking for a suitable car to make the dream even better.
I have been looking at all sorts and have resigned myself to the fact that car prices are daft and will just go with it - I have promised myself not to sweat the small stuff once I leave London and see the cost of living as worth every penny.
I want to get something to enjoy and have considered a Porsche Cockster S, Z4 3.0 but my girlfriend is younger than me and only got around to passing her test last month - so she will be on P's in Oz.
Which raises my first point not to get annoyed about. We will both be on international licenses when we arrive and intend to travel around Oz before settling - so for a year she will be able to drive whatever I buy - which could be fast little sportster which would otherwise be a no no. After a year she will have to get a state license and will go onto P2's - therefore being restricted and not allowed to drive what she had been able to for the past year!
If I read things correctly the Alpha V6 3.0 24 valve is not on the restricted list and I have seen a beauty for $12,000. If I get this she can drive a car with a 0-100 in 6.something seconds and that is apparently Ok - anybody know any different?
Also can anyone recommend the best insurance companies to go with?
Looking forward everything - can't wait!
So, I am coming to Sydney with my lovely dual nationality girlfriend (thank you for the sponsorship) and I am looking for a suitable car to make the dream even better.
I have been looking at all sorts and have resigned myself to the fact that car prices are daft and will just go with it - I have promised myself not to sweat the small stuff once I leave London and see the cost of living as worth every penny.
I want to get something to enjoy and have considered a Porsche Cockster S, Z4 3.0 but my girlfriend is younger than me and only got around to passing her test last month - so she will be on P's in Oz.
Which raises my first point not to get annoyed about. We will both be on international licenses when we arrive and intend to travel around Oz before settling - so for a year she will be able to drive whatever I buy - which could be fast little sportster which would otherwise be a no no. After a year she will have to get a state license and will go onto P2's - therefore being restricted and not allowed to drive what she had been able to for the past year!
If I read things correctly the Alpha V6 3.0 24 valve is not on the restricted list and I have seen a beauty for $12,000. If I get this she can drive a car with a 0-100 in 6.something seconds and that is apparently Ok - anybody know any different?
Also can anyone recommend the best insurance companies to go with?
Looking forward everything - can't wait!
Ha ha - When I tried to post something I was informed that I was already a member - I apparently registered 59 months ago. Guess I didn't have anything to say then.
Alpha = Alfa Romeo Spider V6 - (darn iPad and auto correct) - will try to post an image.
If the exchange rate keeps going the way it is, I might be getting into a 911 by the time I get over there - a 4 wheel drive one!
Alpha = Alfa Romeo Spider V6 - (darn iPad and auto correct) - will try to post an image.
If the exchange rate keeps going the way it is, I might be getting into a 911 by the time I get over there - a 4 wheel drive one!
Check on each state you want her to drive in, they all have different rules about what's allowed and what isn't.
Usually it's no V8s, no turbos. (but there are exclusions/inclusions, diesels and smart roadster I think are allowed and the 911 and M3 are banned for example).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_licence_in_Au...
And I wouldn't want an Alfa here. My 164 (v6) used to overheat and break in the UK where things were within walking distance and parts were easy to get. Parts here will be expensive, and things will not get fixed as quick as in the UK either.
If you are doing a tour of Oz, get a 4x4. At least you can sleep in it and carry lots of water.
I'm over west, and currently with sgio for insurance. They had a 'beat your renewal by 10%' offer, that I took them up on. Both cars (V8 Commodore, V6 Hilux) are with them.
Usually it's no V8s, no turbos. (but there are exclusions/inclusions, diesels and smart roadster I think are allowed and the 911 and M3 are banned for example).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_licence_in_Au...
And I wouldn't want an Alfa here. My 164 (v6) used to overheat and break in the UK where things were within walking distance and parts were easy to get. Parts here will be expensive, and things will not get fixed as quick as in the UK either.
If you are doing a tour of Oz, get a 4x4. At least you can sleep in it and carry lots of water.
I'm over west, and currently with sgio for insurance. They had a 'beat your renewal by 10%' offer, that I took them up on. Both cars (V8 Commodore, V6 Hilux) are with them.
Edited by Bibbs on Tuesday 21st January 23:18
On insurance I have always used Shannons for my classic insurance, & various other companies for the moderns.
After I was silly enough to back the corner of my TR7 into a skip, I found the claim service so easy & helpful that I now insure all the cars with them. It costs about $150 more total for the 3 moderns, but I think well worth it.
On the round Oz thing, it does depend on how interested you are on desert. If you want to be an explorer you'll need that 4WD.
A mate of mine has done it twice, since he retired. The first time in a 5 tom Winnebago mobile home, with a small Suzuki 4WD hooked on the back some how. The second time in a Morgan +8.
Interestingly with cheap accommodation in caravan parks & such, he reckons it cost about the same for 15 months in the mobile home, as 6 months in the +8 using resorts & motels.
He reckons the +8 was more fun, but his wife is rolling her eyes in the background when he says it. Still they are off to Darwin again, in the Morgan this winter, so it can't have been too bad.
After I was silly enough to back the corner of my TR7 into a skip, I found the claim service so easy & helpful that I now insure all the cars with them. It costs about $150 more total for the 3 moderns, but I think well worth it.
On the round Oz thing, it does depend on how interested you are on desert. If you want to be an explorer you'll need that 4WD.
A mate of mine has done it twice, since he retired. The first time in a 5 tom Winnebago mobile home, with a small Suzuki 4WD hooked on the back some how. The second time in a Morgan +8.
Interestingly with cheap accommodation in caravan parks & such, he reckons it cost about the same for 15 months in the mobile home, as 6 months in the +8 using resorts & motels.
He reckons the +8 was more fun, but his wife is rolling her eyes in the background when he says it. Still they are off to Darwin again, in the Morgan this winter, so it can't have been too bad.
I might have over egged the drive around Australia bit - we don't plan to go anywhere we couldn't get to in a sports car on this trip - but the north south run is definitely one for the future - in something suitable and probably hired - or perhaps swapped with another PH'er for a few weeks.
I drove from Sydney to Brisbane and back via the Hunter in 45 degrees, last year in a 25 year old beaten and battered, no service history, Merc E190 with 250,000 Km's on it (my in-law traded it in for $200 last month). But I guess even that would be a safer bet than any Alfa of any age - (my mum has a JTS from new and it is not that is goes wrong all the time - it just never all works, all the time).
I have seen Spiders for sale with over 200,000 km's on them, so it can be done and it might cost a fair bit to keep it on the road - but my cars live pampered lives and unless it is inherently knackered I reckon I should be OK (ha ha that what every Alfa owner wants to believe).
So I have checked the P Plate restrictions and no states have banned the Spider V6 - which seems crazy considering its speed. it is approved in Victoria, NSW haven't banned it, Queensland don't know what it is and the NT allow you to drive a fully armoured tank with a jet engine strapped to it
I drove from Sydney to Brisbane and back via the Hunter in 45 degrees, last year in a 25 year old beaten and battered, no service history, Merc E190 with 250,000 Km's on it (my in-law traded it in for $200 last month). But I guess even that would be a safer bet than any Alfa of any age - (my mum has a JTS from new and it is not that is goes wrong all the time - it just never all works, all the time).
I have seen Spiders for sale with over 200,000 km's on them, so it can be done and it might cost a fair bit to keep it on the road - but my cars live pampered lives and unless it is inherently knackered I reckon I should be OK (ha ha that what every Alfa owner wants to believe).
So I have checked the P Plate restrictions and no states have banned the Spider V6 - which seems crazy considering its speed. it is approved in Victoria, NSW haven't banned it, Queensland don't know what it is and the NT allow you to drive a fully armoured tank with a jet engine strapped to it
P plate rules make no sense.
For example, in Vic a Golf GTi is banned because it is has a turbo and is therefore an evil performance car.
However, the R32 is approved, presumably because it is only a V6.
As for sportscars, Honda S2000 is approved (in Vic) Maybe another possibility instead of an Alfa?
For example, in Vic a Golf GTi is banned because it is has a turbo and is therefore an evil performance car.
However, the R32 is approved, presumably because it is only a V6.
As for sportscars, Honda S2000 is approved (in Vic) Maybe another possibility instead of an Alfa?
I have considered the S2000 but it doesn't stir me. No doubt it is better in every practical way than an Alfa but to me it looks like a posh MX5.
I have owned 2 MG's, a lotus élan+2, lotus Excel and a Citroen DS all as daily drivers - a good mechanic, maintenance schedule and comprehensive breakdown cover is all that is needed.
I am also very tempted by this as a reliable back up, super low km's and I will be an old man before that engine gives out. 6 cylinder too - so not prohibited anywhere.
I have owned 2 MG's, a lotus élan+2, lotus Excel and a Citroen DS all as daily drivers - a good mechanic, maintenance schedule and comprehensive breakdown cover is all that is needed.
I am also very tempted by this as a reliable back up, super low km's and I will be an old man before that engine gives out. 6 cylinder too - so not prohibited anywhere.
Aha, Alfa. Have you driven that model? I have and it was rubbish. Well, not so much rubbish as scuttle shake city, it felt like the front and rear axles weren't even remotely connected when you went over a bump and if you went over a bump in the middle of a corner it was actually pretty disconcerting.
The roads around Sydney are utterly abysmal and I wouldn't fancy tackling them in one of those.
Having said that, I briefly owned a 3.2V6 GT (before the engine blew up
) and in a world of 2litre turbo's that engine was a wonderful thing.
The roads around Sydney are utterly abysmal and I wouldn't fancy tackling them in one of those.
Having said that, I briefly owned a 3.2V6 GT (before the engine blew up
) and in a world of 2litre turbo's that engine was a wonderful thing.I haven't driven one for a long time. I drove a GTV 2.0 when they were new and owned the Lotus Excel at the time. It was not even close by comparison and the Lotus was 10 years old and 1/4 of the price. I described it as a nicely styled ford fiesta - very disappointing. However the V6 makes a lot of sense - but perhaps it won't live up to my expectations.
I understand that the scuttle shake can be improved with some bracing and revised suspension - if I find it too severe I would happily do a few mods.
Sometimes it is not how quickly you get there but how you feel when you are on your way. The Citroen DS was as slow as soil erosion but damn, did I love driving it, looking at it, ticketing with it.
The roads are definitely much much better than London. I ran a BMW 330ci M Sport for a few months - horrible car in London especially with stupid the run flat tyres.
I understand that the scuttle shake can be improved with some bracing and revised suspension - if I find it too severe I would happily do a few mods.
Sometimes it is not how quickly you get there but how you feel when you are on your way. The Citroen DS was as slow as soil erosion but damn, did I love driving it, looking at it, ticketing with it.
The roads are definitely much much better than London. I ran a BMW 330ci M Sport for a few months - horrible car in London especially with stupid the run flat tyres.
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