Thinking of Moving to Australia

[Montalban]

great just what we need more loud mouth americans!!!

I'm half Seppo. We're everywhere!

 

[TheDag]

I'm half Seppo. We're everywhere!

of course i'm more of a loud mouth than any american I've met so far!!

 

[vscola]

Thank you so much!!

We feel incredibly blessed and are amazed everyday at the doors that God has opened for us.

As for loud mouthed Americans ... the stories I could tell ...

 

[Tahoenite]

Thank you so much!!

We feel incredibly blessed and are amazed everyday at the doors that God has opened for us.

As for loud mouthed Americans ... the stories I could tell ...

WHAT DO YOU MEAN LOUD MOUTHED AMERICANS?!!!

My wife and kids are pretty tame so I am the only one that really fits the bill, and I just don't think referring to me in the plural is proper grammar. I am not that over weight.

 

[Montalban]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN LOUD MOUTHED AMERICANS?!!!

My wife and kids are pretty tame so I am the only one that really fits the bill, and I just don't think referring to me in the plural is proper grammar. I am not that over weight.

During the Olymics - the best ever held - I was on a train at Central (station) and a group of Americans got on and one announced to the whole carriage that he thought Sydney was a beautiful city. He said to anyone and everyone "Beautiful city you have here!"

Even 'loud-mouthed' in a positive way is still 'loud-mouthed'.

 

[vscola]

Even 'loud-mouthed' in a positive way is still 'loud-mouthed'.

So true! I will be sure to bring something to keep Tahoenite a bit quieter

 

[Montalban]

So true! I will be sure to bring something to keep Tahoenite a bit quieter

I appreciated his sentiment but it seems odd he thought we'd all want to know.

NSW's Premier is an American.

My late father was an American - a Hoosier

 

[TheDag]

During the Olymics - the best ever held - I was on a train at Central (station) and a group of Americans got on and one announced to the whole carriage that he thought Sydney was a beautiful city. He said to anyone and everyone "Beautiful city you have here!"

Even 'loud-mouthed' in a positive way is still 'loud-mouthed'.

I remember encountering an obnoxious person during the olympics. She was from canada. When my friend who I was with was getting really sick of her snide comments about peoples ignorance about the rules of hockey he turned around and said so what part of the US are you from. Boy did that get her upset and going. We had a good laugh at getting back at her along with everyone around us!

 

[Montalban]

I remember encountering an obnoxious person during the olympics. She was from canada. When my friend who I was with was getting really sick of her snide comments about peoples ignorance about the rules of hockey he turned around and said so what part of the US are you from. Boy did that get her upset and going. We had a good laugh at getting back at her along with everyone around us!

 

[Tahoenite]

Hi all, could anyone tell the best way to travel from Sydney or Melbourne to Canberra area? (without a car)

Is one better than they other?
Are car services good to use?
Is the train a good way to go?
Are there any other good options?

 

[Montalban]

Hi all, could anyone tell the best way to travel from Sydney or Melbourne to Canberra area? (without a car)

Is one better than they other?
Are car services good to use?
Is the train a good way to go?
Are there any other good options?

There's a direct train from Sydney to Canberra.

Sydney is closer to Canberra then Melbourne is

So whether you go by car, bus, train or plane it's quicker.

I don't think that there's a direct train between Melbourne and Canberra.

I wouldn't hitch-hike

 

[Tahoenite]

Ok next question which is almost contrary to the last question, but if you were going to buy a car would it be cheaper in Canberra, Sydney, or somewhere else near by?

Where we live if you go over the stateline a couple hours you can save a few thousand dollars for the same car because of the various dealers competing for business.

 

[Tahoenite]

There's a direct train from Sydney to Canberra.

Sydney is closer to Canberra then Melbourne is

So whether you go by car, bus, train or plane it's quicker.

I don't think that there's a direct train between Melbourne and Canberra.

I wouldn't hitch-hike

Thank you.

 

[Montalban]

Ok next question which is almost contrary to the last question, but if you were going to buy a car would it be cheaper in Canberra, Sydney, or somewhere else near by?

I think in Sydney's west there's good car deals especially on 'Auto Alley'.

People who know something about cars though go to car auctions.

If you're going to buy a car in NSW it's good to refer to REVS first especially if you're not buying a new car. REVS has a database that you can check to see if there's money owing on the car - because if you buy a car where the owner hadn't payed off the debt, you get the debt!

The NSW Department of Fair Trading has some points of caution on their site

I don't think we have the 'lemon laws' that you have in the USA

Where we live if you go over the stateline a couple hours you can save a few thousand dollars for the same car because of the various dealers competing for business.

In Sydney, if you're buying new, a lot of people got to "Auto Alley", which is Church Street, Parramatta because a lot of car dealers are in the one area. Just to confuse you google maps call this part of Church Street the Great Western Highway.

You can check cars out online, too here

If you really want to go into detail there's ANCAP a safety rating site that will give you a guide on how safe the car model is

In NSW as well as a 'pink slip' (that certifies the car is roadworthy), there's a compulsory 'green slip' that you must have - it's compulsory third party insurance. Different insurers have different charges for green slips

A good group to get information from is the National Roads and Motorists' Association which is commonly just referred to as the NRMA. Everyone knows what the NRMA is here. They have advice on car buying and if you're a member they offer road-side assistance should you need it, as well as maps for tourism and other services, and they have a reciprical (spelling? ) arrangement with other state's motoring organisations (auto clubs - see below) so if you break-down in another state, you can still get assistance.

The NRMA also offers a swathe of car and other insurance products. Though it's best to shop around. Other big name car insurers are GIO, AAMI and Allianz

Also, don't forget, we drive on the left-hand side

Other Auto Clubs:
Royal Automobile Association (South Australia)
Royal Automobile Club of Queensland
Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania
Royal Automobile Club of Victoria
Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia

We broke down once in Queensland and the RACQ came out and fixed the car because we're members of the NRMA

 

[TheDag]

The NRMA also offers a swathe of car and other insurance products. Though it's best to shop around. Other big name car insurers are GIO, AAMI and Allianz

Just be aware that it is not actually the NRMA that offers insurance and the other products but rather IAG (Insurance Australia Group) which pays a licensing fee to use the NRMA name. Once upon a time they were the same but became seperate when NRMA was put on share market. Also the NRMA building society was originally owned by an insurance company and has since been sold to HSBC bank. So check who is behind the product first to make sure it is a solid company that won't suddenly go broke.

AAMI in the past has had a reputation for only insuring safe drivers so chances are they don't have to pay out. They do seem to like smashing up as many cars and things as they possibly can in their tv ads.
GIO is a former NSW government insurer now owned by a Queensland based bank called Suncorp Metway which are well sized. I am not sure of their reputation.
Allianz are a solid company. European based I think.
MLC used to be one of the largest insurance companies in Oz. Don't know where it stands now but was sold in the 1990's by its parent company to NAB (National Australia Bank) which also owns banks in europe.



When buying a car in a different state to where you will be living be aware that you will have to eventually get it registered in the state where you live (your supposed to do it within a month I think). This of course costs money. So if you buy second hand you need to save a significant amount of money to make it worthwhile. There is also the hassle of going and getting it. I can't imagine prices in ACT being that much more than sydneys auto alley to justify it but then I have no idea of prices in ACT.

 

[Tahoenite]

Two more questions for the moment, all answer appreciated.

1) Is it common to use credit cards of there, and are there any benefits to using them like airline miles or a percent going into a saving account?

2) Do you have to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to purchase a house?

 

[Montalban]

Two more questions for the moment, all answer appreciated.

1) Is it common to use credit cards of there, and are there any benefits to using them like airline miles or a percent going into a saving account?

There are frequent flyer points/fly buys etc.

Fly buys is only one such scheme

2) Do you have to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to purchase a house?

Anyone can buy a house or a flat (a unit/apartment).

 

[TheDag]

1) Is it common to use credit cards of there, and are there any benefits to using them like airline miles or a percent going into a saving account

There are frequent flyer points/fly buys etc.

there are some credit cards that give you a rebate or allow you to get stuff for free. Of course unless you pay your credit card balance in full before they charge interest then all these schemes have no value as the interest takes away any savings.

 

[Tahoenite]

Thank you guys, this is helping us set up our plans after arrival.

 

[Montalban]

Thank you guys, this is helping us set up our plans after arrival.

Even Oprah arrived before you!