your car coming into Oz..

[NXTIME]

Congrats KILL HSV, and best of luck Lucien

My RB26 was kicked over today and the good news is that the engine isn't seized Fuel pumps go in tomorrow and we will then fire it up and recheck it all.

[lwells]

I swear to god...

[Beer Baron]

i'd say it was damaged in storage, like parked under a tree with weird sap or something, but apart from that i love it, even the key is cool

Kill,

Congrats on getting the car mate. I just want to ask a few questions:

Which line did you ship with

Which port did you ship to

Did you use a customs broker, if so, which one?

Thanks mate,

Richard

[lwells]

Really, really unimpressed.

Turns out CGL did not organise the steam cleaning aspect, but more annoyingly, did not tell me. Moreover, the docks close at 1:45pm today (which I wasn't told), and I have to get some documents picked up from CGL over in Botany (which I wasn't told), all this after organising with work to take the afternoon off, which is now totally useless.

So, now I have had to order a courier at the nice cost of $76 to pickup the documents and deliver them within an hour, had to take more time off work, and will have to get down to the docks by 1:30. Moreover, Hobbs is extremely busy so the car has to be left there overnight.

Can I just say, I am not impressed.

LW.

[Beer Baron]

Really, really unimpressed.

Turns out CGL did not organise the steam cleaning aspect, but more annoyingly, did not tell me.  Moreover, the docks close at 1:45pm today (which I wasn't told), and I have to get some documents picked up from CGL over in Botany (which I wasn't told), all this after organising with work to take the afternoon off, which is now totally useless.

So, now I have had to order a courier at the nice cost of $76 to pickup the documents and deliver them within an hour, had to take more time off work, and will have to get down to the docks by 1:30.  Moreover, Hobbs is extremely busy so the car has to be left there overnight.

Can I just say, I am not impressed.

LW.

D'OH

[lwells]

D'OH

Its not the inconvenience that angers me, its that I wasn't told any off this despite asking in a couple of emails. Communications is the most important aspect of a business, and I feel extremely let down at the moment, not to mention the additional costs which could have been avoided if I was just told.

Edit: I also don't have access to private transport today, so there goes more money in cab fees

LW.

[sewid]

Yeah sorry to hear it dude. I had the same thing happen to me almost.

I went down to the docks at 7am to get my car - they said "wheres this and this document?" I said "WTF??!?!" So i called Colin and he said "Oh sorry - yeah you have to come to Botany to get this".

So i went to Botany and got the document and was back at the dock by 8.20am, got the car to Hobbs by 9am.

The thing to remember is that there is only two customs inspections per day at Hobbs bros. One at 8am and one at 1pm. If your car isnt ready for one of those it has to wait until the next one.

My car was done by 1pm luckily and i could pick it up at 3pm.

I dunno how Colin can keep forgetting to tell people that they need to grab docs from Botany... I mean how obvious is it for him...

if i was you dude I would leave the car at the docks today and pick it up at 7am tommorrow and try and get it to Hobbs Bros for the 1pm quarantine inspection. It's far more secure at the docks

[sewid]

Also remember that a sly $50 to Brendan at Hobbs Bros will probably get your car bumped up the chain a fair bit.... Hes good like that

[lwells]

Sewid: someone really needs to give Colin a slap. He doesn't answer emails properly (just ignore half the questions) and doesn't give you the full details of anything. Seriously unimpressed, but I won't say more should it cause SAU problems.

if i was you dude I would leave the car at the docks today and pick it up at 7am tommorrow and try and get it to Hobbs Bros for the 1pm quarantine inspection. It's far more secure at the docks

Yeah, I have heard about the rather lax security at Hobbs. But apart from the wheels in the car (assuming they are still there), there is nothing to steal except the car itself. I will take the wheels out of the car and with me when I leave this afternoon, and just leave the car there.

Hopefully it will be ready for the 8am inspection on Friday (might have to have a word to this Brendan guy about that ).

Edit: two things I meant to ask:

1) How exactly do you get from wherever you pickup the car (which Colin thoughtfully hasn't explained) at the wharf, to Hobbs? Is it just a short trip down James Craig Rd?

2) When do you pay Hobbs? When delivering the car, or when picking up?

Lucien.

[sewid]

Edit: two things I meant to ask:

1) How exactly do you get from wherever you pickup the car (which Colin thoughtfully hasn't explained) at the wharf, to Hobbs? Is it just a short trip down James Craig Rd?

2) When do you pay Hobbs? When delivering the car, or when picking up?

Lucien.

1) This is the fun part - as long as your car runs - you drive it It's a quick 500 meters down James Craig Road to Hobbs Bros drive way. Make sure you scope it out first so you dont fly past it ... Take it easy though because technically this isn't "legal" but hiring a tow truck for 500 meters is stupid.

2) You pay hobbs when theyre done and you're picking the car up.

[sewid]

1) This is the fun part - as long as your car runs - you drive it It's a quick 500 meters down James Craig Road to Hobbs Bros drive way. Make sure you scope it out first so you dont fly past it ... Take it easy though because technically this isn't "legal" but hiring a tow truck for 500 meters is stupid.

2) You pay hobbs when theyre done and you're picking the car up.

One more thing - bring a Jerry can of petrol if you can. BP Ultimate if you can. I have a Jerry can to lend if you need it (im in North Ryde at work). They cost about $20 from Bunnings for a 10litre.

[lwells]

Well today has been the lowest point in the whole importing experience.

Apart from all the troubles I have already listed, there were more. Courier arrived (thankfully) at 12 on the dot with my documents, and a grabbed a cab almost straight away. We managed to get very lost on the docks (at first we were down with the sugar import/export :Oops: ), but eventually got to the right place.

Handed over the paperwork to a nice chatty young women, who didn't ask me for any ID at all (?!). Drove the car down to Hobbs, after eventually finding it.

The good news:

* The car ran, and didn't explode

Ok, the bad news:

* There is no sign of my Volk TE-37s which were meant to be attached to the car.

* The inside of the car has mould through it (I guess this is to be expected after storage for 4-5 months).

* Today has cost me $100 is taxi and courier fees.

Someone pass the razor blade because I have had enough for today.

LW.

[jaik]

That sucks Lucien ;(

JK

[PHATR32]

you lost your wheels? man that really sux.

steve

[lwells]

you lost your wheels? man that really sux.

steve

Lost? No. I don't think they were ever attached. No sign of the log books or any paperwork, or the car cover I supposedly paid for.

LW.

[sewid]

Sheeeeet dude that really sucks... What the hell was the deal with the wheels then? Did the supplier just lie the whole time about getting the wheels on?

I never saw any books in my car either, i have a feeling they just get stolen and flogged on yahoo auctions.

[DLuded]

i havent had my car regoed yet so i rang the RTA up about driving the car unregistered. they told me it was LEGAL to drive the car to the place i am getting the blue slip done. all i had to do was place a piece of carboard over the number plate saying "blue slip at_______(where ever u are getting the blue slip at)". so thats what i did

[Beer Baron]

Lost? No.  I don't think they were ever attached. No sign of the log books or any paperwork, or the car cover I supposedly paid for.

LW.

Spewing... Look on the bright side, at least TE37s will be cheap to freight, cause they are so light! Well, that's if they are not gone for ever...

Bummber about the mould too. The real question is though, how did it drive?

[lwells]

Sheeeeet dude that really sucks... What the hell was the deal with the wheels then? Did the supplier just lie the whole time about getting the wheels on?

I never saw any books in my car either, i have a feeling they just get stolen and flogged on yahoo auctions.

No idea: I have emailed Anton @ JAD asking for him to tell me WTF happened.

I wish the books were still there (maybe they are somewhere; didn't rifle though it too much) as I want them for providence reasons.

I saw a nasty black R34 (GT-T I think) missing most of its front suspension -- which made me think of your car sewid -- and a bunch of other cars that all looked rather used: Supras, 180SXs, S13s, another R32, and some other cars I can't remember. The chick from the port authority told me there was still a number of cars from the Polaris Ace to be picked up.

And god damn Hobbs looks dodgey as (after I eventually found them)!! Should be ready by about 2pm tomorrow apparently -- unfortunately the inspectors were with Brendon so I didn't try to slip him anything

And now for some actual impressions. Car sounded rather lumpy in that beautiful RB26 kind way. Certainly rather willing to rev (although I was very careful to try and keep the revs down: max I hit was 4,000 in second gear), and had a really nice exhaust note. I popped the bonnet and had a quick look at the engine; it certainly does look clean (no peeling on plenum, etc, etc). As I said, it didn't explode (which is good!) and I think its probably in good mechanical order.

The clutch didn't seem to be slipping much, and I rode it quite a bit because of all the manuveuring I was doing (obviously don't know what its like as revs rise). Gearshift action felt nice and tight. I was suprised by how easy the car was to drive actually -- very easy to steer, clutch takeup was fine, nothing broke.

LW.

[fatz]

no just get it on the hoist and make sure is a grade 4

howver be prepared for the worst