Will driving from SYD to Kununurra kill me?
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: utopia
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What ever car as long as it doesnt overheat.How many of the "wicked" back packers vans are on the road,and there got nothing going for them.
A lot more smaller cars outback these days ,thanks to fuel prices.
A Daihatsu will only cost you about $400 bucks in fuel these days, about a third of a 4 wheel drive.
Only problem is timing.
Feb ,bloody hot and another 4 cyclones due in that area so could be stranded in some hole for a while(if ya lucky)
A lot more smaller cars outback these days ,thanks to fuel prices.
A Daihatsu will only cost you about $400 bucks in fuel these days, about a third of a 4 wheel drive.
Only problem is timing.
Feb ,bloody hot and another 4 cyclones due in that area so could be stranded in some hole for a while(if ya lucky)
Just get in your car and drive mate, If you add all the time you normally drive in a car (say Syd) one hour to work in the morning and one hour home = 10 hours per week, you just end up doing a few weeks driving in a couple of days instead, you'd be pretty unlucky for something to go wrong. Make sure you get your cooling system sussed before you go and carry a spare water pump/belts and at least 20L of water that can be used for the car/drinking. I always used water with no coolant in it when i drove bush so i could drink the water in my cooling system just in case i got stuck, although having a 4x4 i always took the short cuts to save time and enjoy my time offroad.
You know if you've been driving too long when you stop, get out the car and everything is still moving towards you!
You know if you've been driving too long when you stop, get out the car and everything is still moving towards you!
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Somewhere around 27degrees
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It's already been stated to some degree. Vehicle range, KNOW IT!
The Sirloin with its 40lt tank reminds me of a Suzuki that I've done some "outback" travelling in. This particular little beasty had a 32lt go juice reservoir and needed at least a little planning. We even had a few 'character building' moments that required A/C off and best range power settings to reach the next stop!
As for tools etc, 100mph/gaffer tape can be one of the most versatile tools known to man. The stuff can mend coolant hose splits, patch exhausts (which will degrade mileage), hold the beast together after wildlife encounters, restrain backpackers etc.
Drive and sight-see/increase job opportunities or fly, the choice is yours. Don't blinkered into thinking KU is the only option. Who knows, DBY or BRM might be worth the few extra miles.
Either way, have fun!
The Sirloin with its 40lt tank reminds me of a Suzuki that I've done some "outback" travelling in. This particular little beasty had a 32lt go juice reservoir and needed at least a little planning. We even had a few 'character building' moments that required A/C off and best range power settings to reach the next stop!
As for tools etc, 100mph/gaffer tape can be one of the most versatile tools known to man. The stuff can mend coolant hose splits, patch exhausts (which will degrade mileage), hold the beast together after wildlife encounters, restrain backpackers etc.
Drive and sight-see/increase job opportunities or fly, the choice is yours. Don't blinkered into thinking KU is the only option. Who knows, DBY or BRM might be worth the few extra miles.
Either way, have fun!
I have a 1992 Mazda 121 bubble which I have driven from Sydney to Alice, via Port Augusta (in convoy with my husband in a triton.) Back to Sydney together with our dog. It is possible for a dog to hold the contents of his bladder from Alice Springs to Port Augusta, although if I hadn't seen it personally, I wouldn't believe it. 
Then Sydney to Alice, via Mt Isa, together with hubby, without a radio/CD player of any sort. I Spy gets very old, very quickly!
Alice to Darwin, stopping in Katherine to overnight, with my cockatiel in her cage as company.
Darwin to Mount Isa, stopping in Tennant Creek to overnight, again with only a bird and a cat as company. (Seperate cages)
Mount Isa to Sydney. By myself. It's possible to drive from Mt Isa to Roma, in a single day, and get breath-tested twice. In Amby & Roma...
Mount Isa to Sydney again, this time in a Mitsubishi 380. Also drove the 380 from Mount Isa to Townsville in one hop. Left Isa at 2pm, got to Townsville at midnight. Was driving very slowly & carefully, saw lots of roos, none on the road, thank goodness.
Be prepared! The 121 only has a 40 litre tank, never had to use a jerry can, but don't drive past an open petrol station, even if the price seems like highway robbery. Carry basic tools, and a basic understanding of how to use them. Make sure you know how to change a tyre, and that you can get your wheel nuts off. Join NRMA, they have reciprocal rights between AANT, RACV, RACQ, RAA.
Most of all, HAVE FUN and enjoy the drive, It's one you will always remember, regardless if it is good or bad.
Then Sydney to Alice, via Mt Isa, together with hubby, without a radio/CD player of any sort. I Spy gets very old, very quickly!
Alice to Darwin, stopping in Katherine to overnight, with my cockatiel in her cage as company.
Darwin to Mount Isa, stopping in Tennant Creek to overnight, again with only a bird and a cat as company. (Seperate cages)
Mount Isa to Sydney. By myself. It's possible to drive from Mt Isa to Roma, in a single day, and get breath-tested twice. In Amby & Roma...
Mount Isa to Sydney again, this time in a Mitsubishi 380. Also drove the 380 from Mount Isa to Townsville in one hop. Left Isa at 2pm, got to Townsville at midnight. Was driving very slowly & carefully, saw lots of roos, none on the road, thank goodness.
Be prepared! The 121 only has a 40 litre tank, never had to use a jerry can, but don't drive past an open petrol station, even if the price seems like highway robbery. Carry basic tools, and a basic understanding of how to use them. Make sure you know how to change a tyre, and that you can get your wheel nuts off. Join NRMA, they have reciprocal rights between AANT, RACV, RACQ, RAA.
Most of all, HAVE FUN and enjoy the drive, It's one you will always remember, regardless if it is good or bad.
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Australia
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"Filled my time calulating eta's for the next town "
Drive at 120km/hr then distance to go divided by 2 = eta next town!
I drove Brisbane - Darwin and Darwin - Brisbane twice in a '99 corolla, 120km/hr, 16km/lt with the aircon on! 50 lt tank and not one flat tyre and not one drop of oil used.
If going through western QLD stop at Augathella and get one of the chicken burgers from the truck stop, bloody nice!
Watch Vacancy before you go then again when you are stopped at some motel in the middle of nowhere with noone else staying there.
If driving across the barkly i dont know about its servicability at the moment but the corolla made Camoweal to 3 ways no worries.
Lots of the servo's up this way and out in the kimberely have Opal Fuel, which is the substitute for unleaded. Its the same your car will take Opal. the reason for Opal up here is it stops our brothers from sniffing it.
300
Drive at 120km/hr then distance to go divided by 2 = eta next town!
I drove Brisbane - Darwin and Darwin - Brisbane twice in a '99 corolla, 120km/hr, 16km/lt with the aircon on! 50 lt tank and not one flat tyre and not one drop of oil used.
If going through western QLD stop at Augathella and get one of the chicken burgers from the truck stop, bloody nice!
Watch Vacancy before you go then again when you are stopped at some motel in the middle of nowhere with noone else staying there.
If driving across the barkly i dont know about its servicability at the moment but the corolla made Camoweal to 3 ways no worries.
Lots of the servo's up this way and out in the kimberely have Opal Fuel, which is the substitute for unleaded. Its the same your car will take Opal. the reason for Opal up here is it stops our brothers from sniffing it.
300
Looks like a noddy car
At least our 'cousins' will leave it alone should it break down on the side of a deserted hwy, the seats would be crap, the battery wouldn't start their Valiant either 
All in all, a safe car
'300' ya can't kill a toyota
Wmk2
At least our 'cousins' will leave it alone should it break down on the side of a deserted hwy, the seats would be crap, the battery wouldn't start their Valiant either All in all, a safe car'300' ya can't kill a toyota
Wmk2
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Australia
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Hell and damnation, I've had it wrong for 15 years driving in the tropics arid zones and deserts. Averaging 30,000 km/year, that's about 450,000 km, probably 430,000 of which have had the air-con running, and not one engine failure.
Bottums Up
Originally Posted by A37575
In a Barina?
Does one person in a Barina with no a/c on constitute a quantifiable study result, that a/c causes engine failures?
Kunners Trip
Join Date: Dec 2002
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dmussen got it in one. No need to make things harder than they need to be. You will have plenty of opportunity in the next jobs to see the countryside.
I had a early nineties car and the mechanic said to me "the aircon in this is actually illegal and once it breaks you will get one thats legal but not as good". That old aircon was brilliant!
I had a early nineties car and the mechanic said to me "the aircon in this is actually illegal and once it breaks you will get one thats legal but not as good". That old aircon was brilliant!
Mr Hat you must have an old ford or something, the R12 gas is nasty to the ozone layer, you know that 'rubber' that protects us from the big bad nasty sun Although R12 is still available thru evacuating from older cars & stored/cleaned ready for re-use it's not readily used by the aircond guys. Cost I think is expensive too:-)
Agree with 'dmussen' sell the 'toy' car & use the dosh for something handy towards yr start at Kunners.
Wmk2
Although R12 is still available thru evacuating from older cars & stored/cleaned ready for re-use it's not readily used by the aircond guys. Cost I think is expensive too:-)Agree with 'dmussen' sell the 'toy' car & use the dosh for something handy towards yr start at Kunners.
Wmk2
Join Date: May 2008
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"
120kmh in a 99 Corolla 1.8Litre?
What were you towing?"
Nah 1.6Lt and it was going like the clappas. and it was loaded to the hilt!
It is an 06/99 model right before toyota changed the shape of the corrolla's. Brought it in 2005 with 45 000km's on the clock. Got a great deal to I still have it to. I do my own serivicing on it every 10 000km and it has never any major problems. Only thing was the roof came down on me due to the heat and humidity in darwin it stuffed up the glue and the rubber cover thing come off from around the bottom of the gear stick.
300
120kmh in a 99 Corolla 1.8Litre?
What were you towing?"
Nah 1.6Lt and it was going like the clappas. and it was loaded to the hilt!
It is an 06/99 model right before toyota changed the shape of the corrolla's. Brought it in 2005 with 45 000km's on the clock. Got a great deal to I still have it to. I do my own serivicing on it every 10 000km and it has never any major problems. Only thing was the roof came down on me due to the heat and humidity in darwin it stuffed up the glue and the rubber cover thing come off from around the bottom of the gear stick.
300