Hello From Northern Ireland - Moving to Melbourne (Hopefully)

[mikevr6]

Hi guys,

Just thought I'd introduce myself.
I'm a regular on the Corrado Forum in the UK.

I've owned a handful of Mk1, Mk2, Mk3 Golfs and about 4 Corrados over the last few years.
I'll post a few pics up later.

I'm from Northern Ireland, but currently working in I.T. in the Middle East.
A few of my friends have moved to Aus over the past 18 months and they're loving it. I'm looking at moving in November when my contract here is up.

Any advice you can offer on moving, VISA's, Imigration etc would be appreciated.

Once I get settled with accommodation/job etc I'll be looking at bringing my baby to live with me.
She's a 1995 VR6 Corrado in Flash Red, Black Heated Leather, 16" BBS rims, S/S Exhaust/Cat Bypass, Eibach Lower Arbs, Bilstein Suspension and Eibach Springs. (under the bonnet there are a few "special" mods too)

She's been dry stored for a year whilst I've been here and I miss her so much.
Can't wait to get behind the wheel again and driving on the RIGHT side of the road again will be nice.

I've read the other threads about importing a Corrado and it seems straight forward enough (well, as straight forward as anything like this can be). Just a few other related questions:-
- What kind of fees can I expect as a motorist in Aus? In the UK we pay extortionate road tax of £160 per year.
- How does insurance work in Aus? In the UK we have 3rd Party, 3rd Party Fire and Theft and Fully Comprehensive. Again, insurance in the UK is a rip-off. I'm 30 with Full No Claims and I've been driving for 10 years.
- Can I transfer my UK Driving License to an Aus one or do I have to sit the dreaded test again?
- How much is petrol in Aus? In the Uk it's currently £1 per litre which hits you hard when you're driving a 2.9ltr V6!
- Can anyone recommend a good, trustworthy VW mechanic in Melbourne that knows the VR6 engine?
- Are VR6 parts readily available in Aus or should I ship a container load with her?

Thanks in advance. You seem like a great bunch of folk.
Oh, big shout to Carpoid. Told you I'd do it!!

Mike

Pics added....

My old Mk2 16v R.I.P


My Mk3 GTi "Anniversary" Special 25th Anniversary Golf model

[brackie]

Welcome!

A big welcome from us all .
Another Corrado (especially one like yours) would be very welcome too!

Hi guys,

Just a few other related questions:-
- What kind of fees can I expect as a motorist in Aus? In the UK we pay extortionate road tax of £160 per year.

This varies from state to state. Here in Tassie it's about $550 per year. All state include personal and third party injury in this.

- How does insurance work in Aus? In the UK we have 3rd Party, 3rd Party Fire and Theft and Fully Comprehensive. Again, insurance in the UK is a rip-off. I'm 30 with Full No Claims and I've been driving for 10 years.

I pay ~ $380 per year for my TDI and it's fully comprehensive. Third party is ~$120

- Can I transfer my UK Driving License to an Aus one or do I have to sit the dreaded test again?

You don't have to sit the test. Some states have a written paper.

- How much is petrol in Aus? In the Uk it's currently £1 per litre which hits you hard when you're driving a 2.9ltr V6!

How long is a peice of string It has been up to $1.50/L but at the moment it's ~$1.20/L

- Are VR6 parts readily available in Aus or should I ship a container load with her?

All parts can be sourced, but VR6 parts are dear.

Thanks in advance. You seem like a great bunch of folk.
Oh, big shout to Carpoid. Told you I'd do it!!

Mike

Thanks, Mate. This forum is a "no put-down zone" and you'll find that all of us are very supportive of each other. We keep up our high standards.

IT jobs? Well Qantas is about to outsource 400 to India. They claim it's because they can't get enough IT professionals in Oz but we all know it's more about $$$s
Mikinoz is one of our forum's IT guys you should PM him.

[OEM G60]

Hey Mike, was wondering when you'd be around again, that must be your year done and dusted then.

Brackie has answered most of your questions i see, only thing i would advise you know is get a quote off Shannons insurance, mine was about $1200 fully comp, including shipping parts over etc, pretty good i reckon.

Matt

[Golf Loon]

Bring your car man, shouldn`t be too hard, as you have had her for more than a year.

Everything in Oz, costs the same in $ as it does in quids, e\xcept insurance, which is lots cheaper. Oh yeah and petrol.

Lots of mechanics should know the VR6, parts are easily available, except Corrado specific bits. I`d bring extra headlights etc.

Welcome to the forum, hope to catch you again soon

[GoLfMan]

welcome mate, good to see another one bringing over a Corrado, they are a very rare beast here!
I'd say bring your container full of parts none the less they may come in handy (you can never have enough parts), and plus you can sell them if you dont need them

Volkspower in melbourne is one
Volkswerks (MK2GTI works there )

itll be good to see a Corrado on one of our up and coming cruises too, have you found out where in Melbourne youll be living?

[peter_j_g]

Hi,

For IT jobs have a look at www.jobserve.com.au, it's one of the best places for both contract and pernament positions.

Also get a statement from your UK insurance company about your insurance history, most Australian insurers will carry over your no-claim bonus from abroad.

Rgds, Peter

[roccodingo]

Great to see another unusual VW model making it's way to Oz...

Bring some replacement panels with you, cause your never going to fined them here, and maybe the glass & seals also ( windscreen definately !!)

Good luck mate.

may have to look at a trip over to the east one of these years to check out some of this rare metal...

.

[mikevr6]

Thanks for the helpful advice and positive comments guys.

I'm going home around Xmas time and I'll dig the Corrado out of storage and see what bits have perished while she's been laid up.
No doubt I'll end up with yet another hefty mechanic's bill!
Owning these cars isn't cheap, even in the UK where parts are a little more readily available.
I have a garage full of spare bits and bobs that frequently go. Including headlights, doorhandles, window regulators and a sunroof. So I'll chuck all that stuff in the boot when I'm shipping her.
E-Bay is a real boon for those hard to find parts.

Gotta concentrate now on getting a Visa and job sorted out.

Here's a pic of the yoke that broke my Corrado "cherry"....

My First Corrado. 1.8 16v, Black Leather all round. Now lives in a shed during the winter. The current owner is even more picky than me!

[OEM G60]

Nice one mate, i expect skilled independent migration will be the easiest way for you to get your residency.
You've probably looked at the site but incase you havn't, you want www.immi.gov.au

I didn't use any migration lawyers myself, saved a heap of money that way and from what i've heard from people that did, it didn't cost me any time either.

Shanonns will get a windscreen over here on my insurance, or any other panels etc.

Feel free to PM me if you think i can help you out mate.

Matt

[mikevr6]

Few more Corrado Porn pics...

Didn't keep this one long. 1.8 16v bored out to 2.0 ltr with Shrick cams. Got offered silly money for her at a show the same day this pic was taken.


My current Baby. VR6 Moneypit!


And a little sneaky pic of under the bonnet. Can you guess what it is yet?

[mikevr6]

What's the craic with personalised plates in Oz?
Would I be able to get something like my existing B16 VWC plate?

Is there any way that I can keep my UK reg for even just a year?

[mikevr6]

And here I am, driving her like I stole her....

[peter_j_g]

What's the craic with personalised plates in Oz?
Would I be able to get something like my existing B16 VWC plate?

Is there any way that I can keep my UK reg for even just a year?

You can get any combination of letters and numbers you like, but it costs! My favorite which I used to see around Sydney is "TIH2HO". Cryptic, but when you see it in a mirror behind you...

[MK2 GTI]

welcome to the forum! "B16 VWC" is available for $495. Go to https://www.vplates.com.au and go for your life.

[mikevr6]

Go to https://www.vplates.com.au and go for your life.

Nice one mate!
Just wasted 2 hours of worktime playing with that site!
Custom plates are cheap as chips in OZ.
Yet another reason to love the place!