[Zef]

Hi All,

First post and introduction from me.  I found this site through http://www.hyundai-forums.com and am very happy I did.  I am looking at buying an i30 and am hoping to get some good pointers from you lot.

Some of you may be interested that I work on the docks in Brisbane so, among other things, I get to drive all the new cars off the huge car ships that come in.  Guess I don't need to do any test drives at the car dealerships.  

Welcome Zef,

I hope you find the forum useful and enjoy the great company we have on here.

So, Zef, I assume you have seen the odd i30 come of the ships in Brisbane.
You amy be able to enlighten us on the procedures and the amount of time involved in getting cars on the dock and cleared by customs.

Bob

[Zef]

Hey,

Thanks for the welcome.

As to how long it takes customs to clear the cars.  Not that long.  When a vehicle ship comes in we normally can clear them (that is, clear what our port is taking) in a shift, and all we do is drive each vehicle to a designated spot on the wharf.  There is a maximum of three days that any car can sit on the docks so it should be cleared and out by the end of that three days, often sooner as space is always at a premium for the next car ship that is coming in.

EDIT: Oh and yes, I've driven a number of i30's off the ships.  Very impressed which is why I am looking at purchasing one now.  Plus I get to compare them with all the other makes and models I drive off which is useful.

[Dazzler]

Hi Zef.

Welcome  8-)

The Diesel's are magic and a lot quieter once they warm up (don't suppose you get a chance to warm them up)  

Rgds,

Dazz

[Zef]

The Diesel's are magic and a lot quieter once they warm up (don't suppose you get a chance to warm them up)  :?

[rustbucket]

Hi Zef,

Our silver i30 crdi slx was, we were told by the dealer, released this morning so it's possible that you have already driven it. Hope it's a good one.

[Shambles]

Hiya zef - welcome mate  

[eye30]

Welcome Zef from another pom.

What is most £££ $$$$ car you have driven?

[Zef]

Welcome Zef from another pom.

What is most £££ $$$$ car you have driven?

Oooohhh, that's a good question but I haven't a bloody clue.  See, I'm actually not really a car person so I don't know the prices of what I'm driving most of the time although I have driven off some really nice low sports cars before.  I remember one lot we had there was only two of them on the ship, so obviously rare and no doubt expensive.  One guy grabbed one just before I got to it and the other was already taken.  No problem, I thought.  But it turns out the guy was too tall to get into it and so I got to drive it off instead.  He was livid.  

Actually the best cars are the used cars we get or are loading back on as generally they are collectors types, vintage, hoony, etc, in other words specialised cars that are moving from one owner to another.  The percentage of used cars we handle is very small however they are always interesting.

[Dazzler]

Zef,

It is all very interesting (one of the joys of this site with 270+ members from many different places)

We get to see things from different perspective..

If you are allowed a picture of the docks would be good (with a few cars lined up )

[Zef]

Zef,
If you are allowed a picture of the docks would be good (with a few cars lined up )

I'd love to (for my own benefit as well as yours) however maritime security has a ban on all cameras once in the perimeter, as are mobile phones while on the dock itself. (Mind you, we all still carry our phones and some are brave enough to use them but not I).  There are security cameras on the docks that can zoom in on people from hundreds of metres away so I'll play it safe. Although the no phone rule is a company rule rather than maritime security.  

I was a bit disappointed as when I started I had wanted to photograph every ship I worked on.  I still keep a log of what I have worked on but pictorial evidence would have been nice as well.  There is a great vantage point across the river at Luggage Point to view and/or snap ships but it's across the Gateway Bridge so not worth it for me.

[Hemmi]

HI Zef and welcome  

[bumpkin]

Hi Zef

Welcome to the club!!

Cheers
Brian

Going against the trend I'm looking at a petrol rather than diesel version.  Not that I don't like the diesel but I can't quite justify the extra expense (despite the eventual cost savings in fuel).  The petrol is still a great ride.

Welcome Zef

I bought the SR 2.0ltr petrol version and it's fantastic, but either way you wont go wrong if you get either petrol or diesel.

[Dazzler]

I'd love to (for my own benefit as well as yours) however maritime security has a ban on all cameras once in the perimeter

Thought that might be the case  8-)

[jayem]

Welcome to the club Zef

[EymaTeapot]

Hi Zef and welcome to the club.
I can fore-see different members asking you when thier i30's dock as you will be the first to see them.