| If you are planning to take your time to travel the | | | | 4. Where to buy? - The Kings Cross car market in |
| vast country of Australia and be free to go where | | | | Sydney is a great place to go and check out |
| you want when you want, then buying a suitable | | | | backpacker cars and meet other travelers. Otherwise |
| vehicle is a must. I traveled up the east coast from | | | | you can always see loads of cars on offer on hostel |
| Sydney to Cairns last summer in the blue beauty! For | | | | notice boards. |
| those who don't know her, she was a classic 1993 | | | | 5. Licensed Dealers - If you buy from a dealer make |
| Ford Falcon Wagon. It was the size of a bus and | | | | sure they are licensed!! |
| drove like one too. Having said this, it was the | | | | 6. Mechanical Check - An absolute must because the |
| perfect vehicle to suit my needs. I learned a lot when | | | | car you will be buying will have a lot of miles on the |
| it came to choosing the right car and what things to | | | | clock. Make sure you use a qualified mechanic, as |
| take into account, so hopefully this checklist will come | | | | there are lots of dodgy dealers around! |
| in handy: | | | | 7. Money saving tip - If you have space in the car, |
| 1. What type of vehicle? Australia has some of the | | | | post a few adverts around hostels to get other |
| best highways in the world so unless you are planning | | | | travellers to share the driving and petrol costs. |
| some serious off-roading a 4WD is an unnecessary | | | | 8. Quick Sale - If you are in a rush to sell then be |
| expense. You can always rent a 4WD for some of | | | | realistic with price and post adverts in as many |
| the more tricky terrains such as exploring the | | | | hostels as possible. |
| Daintree Rainforest or Fraser Island. | | | | A final thought... |
| 2. What state is it registered? This is really important, | | | | I have just 2 words to say...'Head Gasket'. Make sure |
| as it is easier to sell a car in the state where it is | | | | your mechanic gives the green light on this because if |
| registered. For me I was lucky as I bought a NSW | | | | something goes wrong a new one will set you back |
| registered car and sold it in Queensland to a | | | | about $1500 AUD. I met a few travelers who were |
| backpacker doing the reverse as me - i.e. Cairns to | | | | stung with this because they did not have a full |
| Sydney. | | | | mechanical check done at the start. |
| 3. How much Registration is left? - Try and buy a car | | | | Let us know if you have any more advice or even |
| with as much registration time left as possible. | | | | funny stories when it comes to car buying and selling |
| Anything less than 3 months is just not worth it | | | | around OZ. Also, I would love to hear how the blue |
| unless the seller is willing to knock-off the cost for | | | | beauty is doing so if anyone knows of her |
| registration renewal. | | | | whereabouts please get in touch!! |