So how much of Aussie is really like everyone thinks it is? Is it mainly all dirt and dust with a few cities here and there, or is it more of the US style cities at the water lines and farms in the middle?

Cause I could see if it was all dirty and dusty people may not want a convertible.

The majority of the Australian land mass is fairly barren, with the interior being mostly desert and sparsely vegetated. But Australia is a huge country with only 20 million people. The majority probably never see any real desert. Most people live in the East, the capital cities being from North East to South East respectively, Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. The temperature generally warms up as you head north. My state, Victoria, is larger than most countries and outside of the cities is mostly grazing and crops, bushland, rivers, mountains, sealed roads and the temperature ranges from about 10 to 40 degrees celsius across the year, except in areas that suffer extremes.

Overall the Australian climate ranges from temperate in the south to tropical in the north. The landscape includes each of the following, mountain ranges, desert, farmland both green grazing and vast wheat belts, rugged bushland, rain forrest, vast coastline and everything in between. The scale though is such that you could live your entire life in a major city or country town and if you never drive more than a few hundred miles, or only fly to your destination, or never head off the major arterial roads you would likely never see the Australian desert landscape that is portrayed in many movies and brochures.

Go here and have a click around http://www.auinfo.com/Victoria_map.htm

and there is s*** loads of apples in tazzie, personaly i hate tazzie im happy in melbourne

I see, so what exactly is the conversion between KW and HP? and whats the performance scene like? Do you get alot of ricers and supped up imports down there?

Well being a western nation situated in the Asian region you can imagine what a shining beacon for imigration Australia is. So coffee can exhausts, over sized decals, and bright blue neons adorn many cars among youths of certain ethnic origin. Its a simple annoying fact that doesnt really hurt anybody, and I'm not being racist or making any broader comment on the immigration issue. Of course the very nature of immigration is such that you will see the rice phenomenon mainly in capital cities.

More conservative country areas still have utes, and larger Australian made cars as the choice for red blooded young males. Even if its an old rust bucket many new drivers on a budget would still rather the burble of a V8.

Yeah I remember being surprised as to how many signs in Japanese there were in certain places.
As was said before, don't allow the desert Outback cloud your perception. The NE part of the country (around Cairns) is very tropical.

The aussie performance scene is pretty robust and there arent that many in the way of ricers.

It seems that most young males start out with a V6 or V8 rear wheel drive holden commodores and Ford Falcons and these cars really dominate the local scene.

Rotaries are very popular over here and Australia is responsible for several low seven second RX-7s. As well of several of the worlds best rotary workshops. I drive an RX-7 that isnt particularily quick. Outhandles the local product though.

The import scene is growing and you cant throw a rock without hitting a skyline in certain areas (Well...only because i aim for them). Aslo popular is the Subaru WRX, which is a stupid looking run-about on steroids. Annoyingly quick though. Another popular choice for young people is to take a basic runabout with all the inbuilt dynamic ability of a dog turd (eg. Hyundai Excel, Mistubishi Lancer) and put oversized wheels, oversized bodykit and stupid amount of sub woofers in them. :flush: Thankfully they usually get laughed at. I laugh especially hard when some kid who has spent 15 grand on an excel and 20 grand doing it up gets less street cred than my stock looking 8,000 dollar 1982 RX7.Though these cars are in the minority, it really is rear drive big engined cars that rule the day in Australia and for that im thankful.

Originally posted by Gibbsy@Jul 28 2004, 10:30 AM
It seems that most young males start out with a V6 or V8 rear wheel drive holden commodores and F*** F****ns and these cars really dominate the local scene.


AMEN TO THAT BROTHER :D

Originally posted by Nocturn@Jun 23 2004, 03:38 PM
Cause I could see if it was all dirty and dusty people may not want a convertible.
Because of the unusually 'clear' light quality here which delivers dazzling sunshine and sizzling summers, the reality of convertible ownership in much of Australia is second degree burns from melting upholstery, followed by heatstroke then skin cancer. So converibles aren't the wisest choice. The sun really has a bite to it in Oz