Hello From Northern Ireland - Moving to Melbourne (Hopefully)

[mikevr6]

supercharged 2.8 vr6 engine

nice!!! whats news on importing it to melbourne??

Looks like the car will be in storage in N.I. for another year while I sort out my Visa. Poor car will probably fall apart next time it's driven.
I keep getting offered good money for the charger, so I may well sell it to fund the import costs. They're easily got from the US anyway and a piece of piss to fit.

Carpoid Thanks for the advice. Just reading up on a Holiday Visa now. I hope this will allow me to work fulltime. As usual I've left everything to the last minute. I'm thinking now that I might rent a house in Thailand for Dec/Jan whilst I wait for my Visa to come through. Then travel to Oz in Feb when the job situation is better. I have a few mates already in Thailand and it is a cheap place to use as a staging post between UK and Oz.

[mikevr6]

if you bring the corrado with you ill marry you!

Tim Thanks for your kind offer. If all other avenues are exhausted I may take you up on it
Are same sex marriages allowed in Oz??
I could get the Op done in Thailand on the cheap.

[Tim]

HAHAHAHA unfortunately same sex marriage isnt legal in australia. My gf would probly try and claw your eyes out anyways! Perhaps i can sell u my lil sister.

[Golf Loon]

Bring the corrado as early as you can fella. You could always sell it down under for big bucks. Particularly with the charger.

It was hard work getting the visa in Thailand. They dont speak english at the Australian embassy and try taking a tiket with an odd symbol on it and then trying to match that when they call your number out! Aaargh.

Working holiday visa is the easiest and quickest and then it gives you a year here to apply for a different kind of visa.

[mikevr6]

Filled in the On-Line application for a Holiday Visa yesterday.
Just gotta wait for it to arrive.
I'm going to Thailand on the 19th for 3 weeks. Then home for 3 weeks (Xmas & New Years) then my mate and I will be heading to Melbourne on the 10th of Jan or so (provided the Visa arrives)
I've got a few quid in savings, so no immediate need to get a job. Probably travel around seeing the sights for a few weeks then start looking.
I'm already registered on Seek.com and there doesn't seem to be any shortage of positions. Agency reckons I can get $50 per hour upwards if I do contract work.

I'll get the Corrado shipped over once I'm settled and I know I'm defo staying in Oz. She needs new copper brake pipes fitted at the minute. No mechanic wants to do it for me. Might have to go to VW and pay an arm and a leg.

You could always sell it down under for big bucks

NEVER!!!!

[h100vw]

Having taken 3 months to get a job in Adelaide I'd say keep an eye on the job situation from when you arrive.

A bit different with me having a family to support but I sat around for a couple of weeks and regret it.

Gavin

[mikevr6]

Yeah, I'm gonna do my best to have something lined up before I even leave the UK. I've been in regular contact with a handful of Agencies and they seem to think my prospects are fairly good.

That Headlight Loom you made me is still working a treat Gav

Spotted a nice Oak Green Mk2 16v Campaign for Sale here:-

http://www.the-corrado.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=48983&start=0

Might be shipping 2 motors over

[h100vw]

Glad to hear that Mike. Having a job up front will make life much more bearable. Hot having one is a bind, big time.
If you are travelling thru SA look me up for a drink.
Gavin

[OEM G60]

Hey Mike, sounds like its all coming together - awesome !

Sorry to be a pain in the arse but you won't be allowed to bring 2 cars, only one a year unfortunately.
I had exactly the same idea about bringing a Mk2 16V 3 door. Good news is - as that Golf is registered before 1st Jan '89, you wouldn't need to own it and be in the UK with it for 12 months to get import approval, you could stash it away for a year then bring it over........

[mikevr6]

Thanks for the advice Carpoid. I guess the farmer will be getting an extra £52 this year for storing yet another car.

[brackie]

Storage??

* I'm a farmer
* I've got sheds
* I'm in Australia

I can store your car (But I guess I'll have to drive it around the block every few days just to keep the battery charged. )

[mikevr6]

Thanks for the offer Brackie but the only place I'll be storing my motor in Oz will be my drive or garage.

On a different note, the Corrado could do with a respray as she looks more Flash Pink than Flash Red these days. I've had her buffed a few times but it never lasts for more than a few months.
A respray at home will cost £1400. Can anyone recommend a good bodyshop in Melbourne or nearby?
Also, I know that the rear side windows on a Corrado have to come out for a proper spray job. Once these are removed they can't be used again as the window and seal are one complete item. Am I likely to be able to source replacements in Oz?

[syncro]

Am I likely to be able to source replacements in Oz?

No, they will have to be ordered from overseas.

[Golf Loon]

Spray will be cheaper than the UK, bring the windows with you.

[mikevr6]

Hi guys,

Hope you all had a great Xmas. I'll bet it was a bit warmer than here in Northern Ireland!

Haven't been on for a while, so thought I'd let you know my progress.
I applied for my Working Visa about 7 weeks ago and there still hasn't been any response from the Dept of Immigration. So my plans are on hold at the moment. I'm hoping my Visa will arrive sometime before April. In the meantime I'm probably going to go back to the Middle East for one final stint or across the border to the Republic of Ireland. (have to get out of the UK soonish to maintain my Tax Free status)

On a more positive note, just checked my Airmiles account and I see I now have more than enough miles accumulated to get a FREE return flight to Melbourne from Belfast in Business Class! So that'll be one less thing to pay for when the time comes.

Thanks for all your help and advice so far. I'll check in periodically to see what the craic is.

Have a great New Year!
Mike