Experience in Buying Cars in Australia

TasBurrfoot

Hi folks, let's talk about your experiences in buying a car here in Australia...

I have not regularly driven for the past 4 yrs as we were previously based in Singapore; cars are very expensive there but the good thing was that the transport system can practically take you around the small island. However I am very much aware that getting a car is really a necessity in Australia as buses and trains can sometimes be unreliable.

We have set aside a small amount for us to get a car hopefully within the first 2 months upon arrival - plano namin a cheap (yet reliable) car so that it can be of help to us when we go around and for us to practice na rin with regard to our practical examination when we will be getting our license. Yung mga brand new car, saka na yun when we are already stable in Melbourne. Eheheh!

Thanks! 🙂

Nadine

@psychoboy: Hello!

I arrived po in Brisbane about a week ago. So far sa mga nakausap ko na car agents/dealer, pumapayag ng walang downpayment, ready to drive away! Lalo ngayon na clearance sale for 2012 stocks kasi dadating/dumating na mga 2013 stocks. I'm talking about new cars anyway.

Iba I think for used car because you have to check the history of the car itself before you decide. But available naman yan from legit dealers.

Also, dahil wala naman ako car dito ngayon, they are more than willing to pick you up, bring a similar car na gusto mo para test drive na rin. They will also do full tank on delivery of the car you will buy.

I guess kelangan nila ng business ngayon. Kaya they go the extra mile. 🙂

TasBurrfoot

<blockquote rel="Nadine">@psychoboy: Hello!

Iba I think for used car because you have to check the history of the car itself before you decide. But available naman yan from legit dealers.

I guess kelangan nila ng business ngayon. Kaya they go the extra mile. 🙂

</blockquote>

@Nadine - re: brand new cars, I reckon they would be needing a payslip right? 🙂

brand new would be ideal sana but it would cause a very big dent to the baon... 🙁

Nadine

Madami option po, if hindi pa kayo too keen on getting a new car. Wala po hiningi payslip Sir kahit financing pa ang option with NO downpayment po yun. 🙂

But of course if you're buying spot cash, lalong ok. 😃

P.S. Napansin ko talaga dito, uso ang walking dahil malayo bus and trains. Buses are ok naman po, never napupuno unlike Sg (in Brisbane, not sure about bigger cities). But not necessarily ontime lagi. Also, not all areas are served. Hindi din cheap ang fares.

MclarenF1

Hi @Nadine, what sort of documents were required from you by the dealer or the bank when you were inquiring about buying a brand new car? Thanks

Nadine

Hello po!

Passport, visa, bank account details (I opened with NAB, wala pa laman yun), driver's license. I was supposed to submit my tenancy agreement (to prove your address), pero to follow pa sakin. I talked to the business manager of toyota. I think sila na nakikipag usap sa bank mismo if you'll be approved or not.

TasBurrfoot

<blockquote rel="Nadine">Hello po!

Tempting... Ahahaha!! 🙂

Would you have any ballpark figure as to how much would the monthly cost would be?

Also, would they sell cars even if you don't have a local license yet?

MclarenF1

Thanks @Nadine for the info.

Nadine

@psychoboy: quite tempting. I got approved for financing po (yaris 2012), but I changed my mind. Hehe!

Anyway, for as low as 118/week on a 457 visa for 47 months. Pero depende din po kasi sa mga add-ons. Madami pwede idagdag kasi. Eto barest minimum.

Yup, accepted Phil license although nag submit din ako international permit. You can buy and drive without local license po. 🙂

Nadine

@MclarenF1: no worries po! Yung business manager po will ask a few details from you. Tapos, saka nila sasabihin what documents they will need and offer you financing options.

TasBurrfoot

<blockquote rel="Nadine">@psychoboy: quite tempting. I got approved for financing po (yaris 2012), but I changed my mind. Hehe!

Anyway, for as low as 118/week on a 457 visa for 47 months. Pero depende din po kasi sa mga add-ons. Madami pwede idagdag kasi. Eto barest minimum.

Yup, accepted Phil license although nag submit din ako international permit. You can buy and drive without local license po. 🙂</blockquote>

TUKSO!!

vangievc

<blockquote rel="Nadine">@psychoboy: quite tempting. I got approved for financing po (yaris 2012), but I changed my mind. Hehe!

Anyway, for as low as 118/week on a 457 visa for 47 months. Pero depende din po kasi sa mga add-ons. Madami pwede idagdag kasi. Eto barest minimum.

Yup, accepted Phil license although nag submit din ako international permit. You can buy and drive without local license po. 🙂</blockquote>

Mahal papo yan per week nyo na yan...

Bare in mind na Kung phil license ka, no work, etc...mataas ang interest rate mo. toyota has their own financing...recently nag offer sila 1.2%,Nissan 0% and last week I received a letter from Honda they are offering 1.5%....I would suggest new car is better para walang sakit ng ulo. Mahal magpagawa ditto.at least new car may warranty pa. You can have $500 down payment.kelangan po nila yan to hold you at the same time e you will sign the contract of sale....never I have experience na pauutangin k nila without work...kc they have to make sure na may monthly repayment ka na nka allot sa car mo....your capacity to borrow is significant...

I bought a CRV 2013, monthly repayment $850 per month for 5 years with $13T balloon payment.Novated lease po Ito. Pinadaan ko sa company...libre gst ng lahat expenses sa car...but this is different situation...I am sure you want to know the basic stuff.

Kung may work na kyo at kahit one month plang kyo sa company pwede n kyo bumili car. Brand new bilieve me.ha ha ha. Kahit may cash kyo better look for instalment with very low interest rate, keep your money and use it for you other basic needs...

lock_code2004

parang maglalakad muna ako pagdating dyan.. hahah..

dito sa US, im paying 220 car + 80 insurance montly.. for 4 years

this is a second hand 2008 Honda Civic... na binili ko nung 2011..

so parang 300/month in total... medyo mataas ang insurance ko.. kasi wala akong credit history..

im hoping that i can get a car on the same budget 300/month..

kung hindi.. bisikleta muna.. lol..

TasBurrfoot

<blockquote rel="vangievc"><blockquote rel="Nadine">@psychoboy: quite tempting. I got approved for financing po (yaris 2012), but I changed my mind. Hehe!

Anyway, for as low as 118/week on a 457 visa for 47 months. Pero depende din po kasi sa mga add-ons. Madami pwede idagdag kasi. Eto barest minimum.

Yup, accepted Phil license although nag submit din ako international permit. You can buy and drive without local license po. 🙂</blockquote>

Mahal papo yan per week nyo na yan...

</blockquote>

Sana hindi ito mabasa ng asawa ko ms @vangievc, dream car nya ang CRV! ahahaha... 🙂

Nadine

@vangievc: 😃. Essentially why I backed out po, naghahanap pa ako ng mas mura sa 118/week. Ang need ko is just getting from point A to B.

I prefer the simplest first car - compact para fuel efficient na rin (ako lang gagamit) and it will be my first car in Au. May nakita ako mazda2 2012 (17k) vs honda jazz 2012 (17k) din vs yaris (16+k)? Automatic po eto. Any thoughts po sa inyo especially sa mga car enthusiasts? 🙂.... Salamat!!!

Yun talaga sinasabi ng mga pinoys I've talked to dito - get a new car na lang para iwas sakit ulo. Honda nga daw 1.5% and toyota 1.2. Ang sarap sana ng novated lease but I am not too sure if I can get my company involved.

TasBurrfoot

<blockquote rel="Nadine">@vangievc: 😃. Essentially why I backed out po, naghahanap pa ako ng mas mura sa 118/week. Ang need ko is just getting from point A to B.

If you want more fuel efficiency, try getting a car no more than 1.7 liter... Also get a manual transmission - you will burn lesser fuel here than automatic.

Nadine

Sir @psychoboy, I grew up po on manual satin hehe! Pero sanay na sanay nako sa Cebu na pati kung saan corner ako need bumaba to 2nd gear, alam ko. Anticipated ko na yun. Tsaka yung 20km/hr natin, masaya nako dun sa trapik ng Pinas 😃.

Dito hindi lang car ang baliktad, pati roads!! Nakakalito when I tried driving even if I'm a driver na for about half of my life. Naisip ko if I have automatic, di ko na isipin ang gear na yan, roads na lang. Make sense po ba?

Oo nga pala, I finally admitted to myself kailangan ko ng lessons! Roads, rules etc. 😃

barloval

@ psychoboy, pare madali lang mag buy ng car dito, mas mahirap pa yung kumuha ng license. anyway kung may phil licenise ka pwede ka naman mag drive dito up to 3 mos.

@ topic, bumili ako ng car from a private seller, okay pa naman mga condition mga car dito kahit malaki na mileage, hiway mileage namin unlike sa atin na kung umabot na ng 100K's sira sira na. yung nabili ko is 98 crv, 4K, spent some for the replacement of timing belt and okay na.

basta bili ka muna ng cheapy ones, pag okay ka na income mo, saka ka bili ng new.

brent

@Nadine, agreed on driving automatic lalo kapag baguhan sa AU. Laking manual din ako sa Phils, and when we did the initial entry with my family, I rented out an Automatic Kia Cerato, and downloaded a free GPS app... perfect.

Planning to buy automatic when I get settled in AU this yr. =)

TasBurrfoot

<blockquote rel="Nadine">Sir @psychoboy, I grew up po on manual satin hehe! Pero sanay na sanay nako sa Cebu na pati kung saan corner ako need bumaba to 2nd gear, alam ko. Anticipated ko na yun. Tsaka yung 20km/hr natin, masaya nako dun sa trapik ng Pinas 😃.

Oo nga pala, I finally admitted to myself kailangan ko ng lessons! Roads, rules etc. 😃</blockquote>

I got you here! 🙂 dapat extra careful kapag magdrive... 🙂