Wizard of Aus: big-body dreamin’

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I know, I know, it’s taken me an age to purchase a vehicle here in Sydney, Australia. As it turns out, I am in a completely unique scenario here in Australia, and one that I have never been in my entire life. I’m living out of a suitcase, in an apartment with no garage, and without off-street parking. Do you catch my drift? What this means for a car enthusiast such as myself, is that storing a vehicle, keeping it mint, servicing it, and maintaining it myself are all serious problems now. Not to mention the yawn-worthy traffic here in Sydney, the fact that I might be returning to New Zealand in a year, and that this vehicle would be our only vehicle influencing my choice.

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It’s taken me months of searching local Facebook pages, Gumtree.com.au, Carsales.com.au, and many more to decide on which vehicle to purchase. I was dead set on a Toyota Soarer JZZ30 for weeks, I even had the deposit ready after a test drive. I then decided that perhaps a modern diesel hatchback would suit, or a Ford XR6 Turbo, or a … You get the idea.

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What I did settle on, though, was something I thought I would never buy. It’s a vehicle with bugger-all grunt and curtain airbags. I can’t change the head unit, I can’t up the boost, and I can’t modify it (legally). The Lexus GS300, or the Toyota Aristo as they’re more commonly known back home, is a vehicle produced for the luxury market, and one that I fell in love with after a short drive. She’s a 2003 model, with 200,000kms, but is in immaculate condition.

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It has tan leather interior, crazy amounts of airbags, factory polished alloys, factory working Australian navigation, a six-CD stacker, dual climate air conditioning, and a naturally aspirated VVT-i 2JZ engine with 166kW (222hp). All of these things, combined with the factory cruise control, have me yearning for the long open roads, up and down Australia’s East Coast.

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I was sold on this vehicle the moment I drove it. It has the comfort you’d expect from something much more expensive. The 2JZ is backed by a five-speed sportshift automatic transmission, and, the best part, it’s completely silent. The build quality is next-level amazing, and did I mention it has a sunroof?

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However, I am a performance car enthusiast, and, yes, I have googled the insane amount of upgrades available for the JZS160R chassis. It can be turbocharged, slammed, and anything else you can think of. But first, I have to prepare the vehicle for my current situation.

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No garage? No problem! I made my way to Supercheap Auto to collect a plastic 45-litre container to house my spray wax, interior cleaner, tyre shine, and microfibres. Probably the most exciting thing I have done to date in Australia is purchasing my beloved microfibres, as they’re simply a detailer’s best friend.

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Well, amateur detailer, such as myself. Thanks to the extreme heat here, I made sure to purchase a windscreen sun visor, and I have booked the GS300 in to have its windows tinted to keep the cabin cool. Next on the list of boot fillings is a toolkit. I will be looking at something that is all-purpose, with spanners, sockets, knifes, screwdrivers, and pliers. After that, some duct tape and cable ties couldn’t hurt to have on board until we find a place I can work on it.

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It’s been a huge change leaving home, where everything was in impeccable order, and condition. Detailing my vehicle each night on the driveway is now a distant memory, as, these days, I will be doing the same every time I hit the service station to refuel. I welcome the challenge, though, and will keep you all informed about what it is like to be a car enthusiast here in Sydney.

Until then!

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