New Ute!

Originally Published on March 1, 2024

If you're reading this you are looking at the proud new owners of a 2015 Toyota HiLux! After scouring the internet for a car that fits our needs and budget (sorry Ethan no Toyota Land Cruiser Prado... no, not a Land Cruiser 70 series, either) and listening to the advice of some locals, we decided on a good ole reliable Toyota truck. 

We bought the gem from Haberfield Motors, a quick one hour, 11Km bus ride away. It came with a bed cap, bed drawers, roof rack, bumper (roo bar as they call 'em), and a working radio, to communicate with the cattle stations-- think 1,000,000 acre ranches. The radio in the truck might seem fun... high schoolers across the US outfit their trucks with CB radios all the time, or at least Ethan and his friends did, but here, it is compulsory since it is potentially life saving in the remote areas with no service. All that to say, the HiLux has the hardware we will need to travel around the Outback. 

We've still got to find a rooftop tent and fridge but that's in due time. We're hoping to find a reasonably priced one on Facebook Marketplace and i'm sure we will be paying a visit to an ARB (a store for 4x4s venturing to the outback, or driving to the mall, whatever). 

After we checked out the truck thoroughly (thank you, Youtube mechanics), We let the salesman, Amo, know (his actual first name was Amearanof, but Australians love shortening everything and ending nicknames with an "O" or a "Y," so Amo it is...) and he became a bit concerned since you need a permanent address, and instead we had neither a permanent address, nor a PO box, nor an Australian bank account. That was all okay though, because we also did't have any proof that the address that we provided is where we are staying ("You don't have a bill; not even a cell phone bill with an address?!"). So if you're an American and wondering how to buy a car in Australia, maybe our story will help.  

Beforehand, we did go to the post office and ask for a PO box but apparently you have to have a permanent address to have one in NSW. However, the postal agent kindly informed us that we could send our mail to the post office address, attn ourselves. They would hang on to our mail for us and we will just have to come by and ask for it. Strange a system, and we hope it works! Mailing Address: CHECK.

Next, we went to Service NSW. Think of it as our DMV, except the staff is both abundant and friendly, and to top it all off, you're in and out in just a few minutes, but I digress. Anyways, the staff there informed us that we actually just needed an address; no proof, not permanent, and we could update it as needed-- perfect! Residential address: CHECK.

The last piece of the puzzle to fall into place was how to pay for the truck, err... we mean "ute". The ute, while a good deal, was still thousands of Australian dollars. We had checks wallet $172, since Tori found $100 by the bus stop on our way to the dealership. Alas, with little cash, and even fewer checks (none), we decided to try an international money wire.

It seemed promising at first, but after several phone calls with both the sending and receiving banks, the reality set in that we would be paying astronomically high transaction fees, made worse by the 240 hours we would have to wait (ain't nobody got time fo' that) to fully link the accounts, send a test wire of a small amount, and finally send the bulk payment. Dead end. But then, we had a thought... the truck actually cost less than our credit line through Capitol One, so could we put it on our credit card?? 

The thought scared us at first... I mean, doesn't this go against what every fresh-out-of-school financial advisor and high school personal finance class would suggest? Perhaps, but it actually made a lot of sense. The credit card fees in Australia are significantly less than the US, around 1%, which would total out to less than the wiring fees, plus we would get enough reward miles to book a hotel for a few days or maybe a couple plane tickets to Europe. Incredible. We couldn't stop laughing at how ridiculous it seemed. Payment: CHECK.

With it all sorted, we happily drove off the lot, Tori navigating while Ethan drove, carefully reminding himself that the passenger should always be the one closest to the edge of the road. We have already grown attached to the plucky little truck, with its nimble feel, robust build and rumbling diesel. Now to think of a name...

There is something to be admired about Japanese vehicles "kitted out" with Australian products. 

Us right after parking for the first time to go devour some Australian eggs and bacon. Parking is a bit tight in the Sydney suburbs, and downright impossible in the city center.