Choosing the Right Car

Stationwagons vs. Campervans

First of all before you even start to look at cars you must decide what vehicle best suits your needs. The main factors are how many people do you regularly plan to have in the car, how many kilometres do you plan to do and how much time do you have?

Stationwagons

Australian made 6 cylinder wagons such as the FORD FALCONs are cheap, very reliable and most importantly, easy to find parts for in even the remote regions of the country.

Recommended for:

• People on a tight budget
• People travelling for 2 to 3 months and planning to do big distances (big kilometres / little time)
• More than 2 people (up to 6 persons)
• Guys n' Girls who plan to meet and travel with new friends

Falcon facts: 12-13 lts/ 100 km fuel consumption, most have 4.1 lt motors - 80% are automatic. Good quality falcons from a dealer such as the Travellers Auto Barn will cost between $3000 and $5000 and will include NRMA membership, maps, registration, insurance, buyback guarantee and most importantly a reliable fully serviced car.

Vans, Campervans & Mini-Buses

These vehicles are most suited to couples, more than two persons is too much for these small capacity engines. It is also recommended that you are travelling at a relaxed pace. You should look for low Kms and preferably nothing older than 1984. It is generally easier and much cheaper to find a good van than it is to find a good campervan. Good campervans are hard to find and usually cost $10,000 plus.

Beware of old backpacker VW Kombis

VW Kombis look cool, that's why they are always popping up in marketing campaigns for anything and everything. Just like drinking Coke will make you good looking, driving around Australia in an old Kombi and having fun is just as unlikely.

Don't be a fashion victim, OLD VW KOMBI's circa 1960's and 1970's are not a smart choice for a trip around Australia . Simply, way too old, air-cooled (and the air's not cool in Australia !!), and not just expensive to repair but difficult to repair as parts can be quite hard to find. These old kombi's will struggle the most in the hotter regions of Australia and it is in these areas that the mechanics have no sympathy for people driving through the outback in a clapped out Kombi.

With the greatest respect to all the local Kombi owners and lovers, your vehicles are not exactly the kind of vehicle we are talking about here. Most backpackers think $3500 for an old Kombi is a lot of money and spending money on them is not part of the equation. Totally opposite to the Kombi enthusiast, which we acknowledge there are many, many, Even we agree they are one of the classics of modern motoring.

A few years back the trail of broken heated backpackers who had bought Old Kombi stretched from Perth to Sydney and Darwin to Melbourne , now it's not so bad as most of the vehicles are now owned by Kombi collectors and wreckers yards.

Panelvans, 4WD & Bushcampers

Ford Falcon Panelvans are excellent vehicles for couples with all the reliability of an Aussie 'six' and a comfortable sleeping area for two. One of the best cars for a trip around Australia.

4WD's and Bushcampers are the ultimate way to see the bush, but a fat wallet is essential. Expensive to buy and expensive to run, however the advantages out weight the disadvantages, as many parts of this amazing country are only accessible to a 4WD vehicle.



Follow the link below for up-to-date rental prices, reservations and more information