Finally Emigrating

[JRM]

It's taken me a while but I'm finally moving to Sydney and I can't wait.

6 years ago I decided I wanted to try and move out, spent a couple of years getting permy resident visas (can't believe that process!) and then got married had our first child so stopped looking to move, got a great new job in London 2.5 years ago, through which I have managed to secure a transfer to the Sydney office.

Just can't believe it's finally happening after all these years.

I'm just hoping that the place I loved when I was there just married is not going to disappoint now that I'm turning up with 2 kids in tow.

To keep this vaguely motoring related, can anyone tell me the process for buying a car privately (rego? cash or bankers draft preferred etc?)- does a car need a registered address, how can I buy one if I'm in a hotel for the first month? What are insurance costs like compared to the UK?

[Google [bot]]

JRM said:

It's taken me a while but I'm finally moving to Sydney and I can't wait.

6 years ago I decided I wanted to try and move out, spent a couple of years getting permy resident visas (can't believe that process!) and then got married had our first child so stopped looking to move, got a great new job in London 2.5 years ago, through which I have managed to secure a transfer to the Sydney office.

Just can't believe it's finally happening after all these years.

I'm just hoping that the place I loved when I was there just married is not going to disappoint now that I'm turning up with 2 kids in tow.

To keep this vaguely motoring related, can anyone tell me the process for buying a car privately (rego? cash or bankers draft preferred etc?)- does a car need a registered address, how can I buy one if I'm in a hotel for the first month? What are insurance costs like compared to the UK?

First of all, how long have you owned the S2000? It is likely to be worth bringing that over as it would be worth a lot more here, assuming you've owned it for 12 months or more. You'd have to do the sums though I may be wrong.

I think you'd need an address to register a car to, though I'm sure there's ways around that.

Insurance I've found cheaper than the UK. I pay $220/yr 3rd party on a Toyota Vienta, used to pay $1100 FC on a supercharged MX5 w/agreed value $15k.

Any of the above cash/bankers draft (preferred)is the norm and easy to get.

I know I've not answered all your queries, and off to a meeting in a minute, but pre-welcome!

[JRM]

Well I've owned the honda for 8 years, so that's not a problem, but the issue is that we're a family of 4 now and I'm not using it much so need to buy something boring when I get out there - thinking of a Mitsubishi Outlander (exciting huh?).

The £?,000 it'll cost to ship the Honda would be a bit of a waste of money as although I'd recover the cost in increased resale value, I don't ever intend on selling it, so I'll keep it safe in the UK and pick it up in 4-5 years time when we decide where we are going to settle (UK or Aus)

Cheers

[robm3]

Good stuff!
After 8 years of subtle hints to my wife we too are planning to go to Sydney.

Next week we're there for 10 days looking at schools and suburbs in the Upper North Shore. Then all going well we'll be moving December 28th.

I grew up in Sydney but been away for 10 years now.

Sadly the car scene is a little restricted when compared to UK and racing around in my Ultima GTR (as I do here) would soon see me in Jail!

[the rev3rend]

Hey! Great news on making this come true. It won't be long before you're in Oz. I think you'll find that coming here will be eye opening for you.
As far as cars go the cost of certain things is higher, so buying the car in the first place is enlightening. I find they do cost a fair bit more than you would be used to paying in the UK.
It is particularly so when you consider European cars (for obvious reasons) We looked at a Clio RenaultSport 200 and they wanted approx $43,000 which is about GBP28,000. I wouldn't pay more than GBP18k in the UK but that's how much things cost here.

So it means you're going to have to get used to either paying, going for native Holden (GM) Ford kit (it's fine) or Japanese.

Jap stuff isn't any cheaper either I find so you won't find significant savings there. I believe it has to do with the volume in the market. As I'm sure you know we have approx 20m population in AU and only less than 1/2 are car driving age. Compared to the volumes you have in the UK it makes it more efficient to sell them there - that gets passed on to others.

You will of course get more back because (I'm told) cars don't depreciate as much, also the more moderate cold weather + no salt helps their lifespan.

Rego (Registration) isn't too expensive at about $500 (IIRC). Fuel is $1.20 per litre depending on the day of the week.
I wouldn't get too tempted to drive anything really nice because the standard of driving is really varied here. Most people drive sheds (cost / don't care?) and the police are religious about speeding here. With limits at 100khp / 110kph is it worth getting anything too fast?

Anyway - I'm sure you didn't organise coming here just to drive cars. Good luck with the move and I hope you settle down where you want to. At least you've missed the winter!

The Reverend.

[JRM]

Thanks guys

Really getting excited now, but SO much to organise it's crazy, not quite sure where to start. At least work are going to help me so hopefully someone will know what they are doing!

I didn't realise fuel was so cheap (compared to UK), that'll be a pleasent surpise at least.

If we come out at the end of September I'll have had a good double summer

[JRM]

robm3 said:

Next week we're there for 10 days looking at schools and suburbs in the Upper North Shore. Then all going well we'll be moving December 28th.

We're going to be doing the same so that my eldest can start Kinda at the start of 2011, hopefully we'll be there by October, so if I can share any findings of schools on the North Shore let me know.