Mechanic

Being a mechanic not only guarantees that you will get your hands dirty, but is also a very desirable and useful skill to have. Everyone who owns a car will eventually need a car service. Sydney and Melbourne are great cities to live in as a mechanic since there are so many cars on the road there. Getting good car service in Melbourne is especially desirable as many people rely on their cars to get to work every day.

Archaeologist

When it is your job to dig holes and look for artifacts in the ground, you are sure to get your hands dirty. Being an archaeologist is a very relaxing job as well because you get to be outside and generally there is no stress associated with the job as you aren’t expected to find anything most of the time. For the times when you are lucky enough to make a big find and you can contribute to our understanding of history, then the job can be very rewarding.

Landscaper or Gardener

Dirt will literally get all over your hands in this job, as well as on your clothes and stubbornly under your fingernails. Building a new landscape or creating a new garden can be really rewarding as well as physically demanding, but at the end of the day you can feel good knowing that you turned a plain space into a beautiful one.

Veterinarian

Especially if you are a large animal vet, you may find your hands going places where no hands have gone before. Despite the gross-factor of some of the things vets need to do, you can be proud that your efforts often end in saving the life of an animal.

Plumber

A day in the life of a plumber isn’t always choc-a-block full with constant mess, but when you get dirty in this job you really get dirty! As a plumber, you will never be short of work as this is one of the most highly valued jobs in society. Bad plumber jokes aside, it is a very necessary position as well as highly paid.

Dry Waller

Your hands will get dirty, your face will get dirty, your whole body will get dirty doing the job of a dry waller. This is a highly skilled job and you will be very popular if you can get really good at it.

Surgeon

Sure, you wear gloves when you are performing surgery, but your hands are still in a place where hands don’t normally go. To be a surgeon it takes years of dedication to be good enough, but if you are very dexterous, have an eye for detail and are interested in saving peoples lives, then this may be the job for you!

There are various factors to consider which can help you weigh up each option, and it is more than just rate differences when you compare car hire companies. Read through these points to help you come to a conclusion that suits your situation best:

Time

Time is the first thing you need to consider. Is this a long holiday you are taking, and do you have plenty of annual leave from work saved up? Or are you getting away to attend a wedding over a weekend and need to be back in the office early the next week?

If you have a decent amount of time up your sleeve, then driving is a great option as the journey to the destination can form part of the overall holiday experience. But if you are in a rush, the added pressure of driving on a time limit may not make the getaway as enjoyable as it could be.

Money

You may think the money argument is simply one of fuel vs. airfare. While this is definitely a big factor in weighing up your finances, there are other points you will also need to consider when analysing the budget.

If you are driving your own car, you will need to make sure it is in good condition before taking it on a long road trip. Having a car service in Melbourne before heading off is necessary for safety reasons, but the cost of this may need to be considered as part of the holiday budget. There is also the cost of snacks and meals on the road, and whether or not you will need a hotel or motel overnight on the way.

As for flying, you need to take into account the cost of getting to and from the airport on both ends. Do you need to hire a car when you get to your holiday destination? Do you need to catch a taxi on either end? These costs need to be factored into the overall costs of flying.

With the airfare, be wary of taking the advertised ‘cheap airfare’ as being the final figure you will pay for tickets. There are always additional costs that are included when booking, such as paying for baggage, seat allocation and taxes in some cases. If you are planning a holiday just for you, or just for a couple, then plane tickets may be the cheaper alternative. But once you start to introduce kids into the equation suddenly a family of four will find it a much more expensive option to fly.

Environment

If you drive a relatively fuel-efficient car, then the greenhouse gas emissions that are generated are less than that of flying. However, this is based on one car vs. one airline passenger, so if you car-pool or have a whole family going on holidays, the carbon footprint per person is reduced even further for driving.

Of course taking a bus or train lowers the carbon footprint per person considerably more, so if your reason for driving is due to your concern for the environment, consider buying a bus or train ticket instead.

Peace of Mind

Flying with children, especially toddlers can sometimes be a parent’s worst nightmare. But ask yourself, is it worth flying with them for just a few hours to save you at least triple the time in a car? Being cooped up in a car isn’t much fun but the bonus is that you can stop when you need to and you don’t have to deal with the death stares from other passengers.

Diesel fuel is cleaner
What is diesel? It’s something we usually associate with trucks and tractors, but the benefits of using it in family cars are becoming more apparent. The difference between diesel and normal petrol is that it is heavier and oilier, meaning it evaporates slower than petrol. As a general rule, diesel is also less refined than petrol. It does not burn as hot as regular fuel and produces fewer emissions – studies have shown diesel engines to produce between 10% to 20% less greenhouse gas emissions that regular petrol engines. The design of diesel engines, which take into account the way the fuel burns and its viscosity, also helps to reduce emissions.

Diesel cars are more fuel efficient
Studies have shown that diesel engines are cheaper to run and fuel consumption can be anywhere from 20% to 40% less than a petrol engine. It’s probably the biggest reasons why more families are choosing the diesel option. However, the price of diesel can be much higher than regular unleaded petrol at the pump, particularly in regional and rural areas. Diesel engines may also not have the performance of its petrol cousin, and this is one of the main reasons why some buyers will lean towards a petrol version. But diesel engines have a lot more low-down grunt known as torque, which is why so many 4WD vehicles go for diesel.

Some costs with diesels are higher
There are several factors that can offset the immediate fuel cost savings of a diesel car. Take servicing your vehicle, for example. Diesel engines are probably going to cost more than a petrol version, whether it is a car service in Sydney, a car service in Perth or a car service in Melbourne. Do your homework first and make sure the mechanic you choose knows their way around a diesel engine. Also, it’s generally going to cost more to fix a diesel engine if something goes wrong. But the design of modern diesel engines is of the highest quality so you should have no reliability concerns when compared to a regular petrol engine. Diesel vehicles usually cost a bit more to buy than petrol versions as well, so it’s another factor you need to consider. On the plus side, insurance is likely to cost less on a diesel vehicle, so shop around for car insurance quotes.

It comes down to preference
In the end, the choice between diesel and petrol is going to come down to that vehicle’s particular characteristics. Studies have shown that when taking everything into account, the running costs over a period of years differ very little between petrol and diesel. So it will likely be performance and engine characteristics that really sway the decision.

Decision making

You don’t just get what you pay for when you hire a car- You get the results of making your decision to hire a particular car. So before you make up your mind to hire anything, it’s a great idea to create a list of features you want for your trip.

1. Start with the type of car you want

If you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you really need to plan a long way ahead to make sure you’re getting the type of vehicle you want.

These are the big issues:

• Long distance travel

• Space for people and their things

• Comfort

• Communications when traveling

• Top vehicle quality

Think about these things, because you’ll really be able to pin down exactly what you want, and you can have a lot of fun while you’re at it. Have a really good look around, because you’re sure to find something you’ll really love.

2. Getting down to cases

While making up your mind, you’ll soon see that there are some cars which really fit the bill for a long trip, a holiday, or business travel. This is the stage where you can find some really good deals, and find some very good opportunities to treat yourself to a great vehicle.

Do you need-

• A 4WD
• A family wagon
• A city runabout
• Station wagon
• Business car
• Hatchback
• Convertible
• Luxury car
• Van or commercial vehicle
• High-grunt power vehicle for towing a caravan or boat
This gets a lot simpler when you start looking at models. A Pajero or a good family car will really stand out if you’re looking for a 4WD or a reliable family car. Take your time and go through the class of vehicle you prefer, because you’ll find something good for sure.

3. Features and amenities

There’s not much you can’t get in car hire if you pick a good car rental firm, preferably on a website that acts as an agent for multiple car hire companies, so you can compare deals as well.

Would you like-

• Air con, naturally
• Car stereo and MP3 player
• Lots of storage space
• Really comfortable seating
• Car computer
• Power steering
• Automatic or manual
• ABS
• Cruise control
• Sports suspension features
• iPhone car kit
There’s a lot more options, but you get the idea. The good news is that you’ll definitely be able to get all these things on a good car hire site. If you want to save time, just fill in one of the online forms or phone and ask for these features. They’ll find them.

This approach also saves you having to traipse around the car hire firms talking to sales people and listening to sales spiel which is usually about everything but what you need to know. Ironically, the sales people are far more useful when you’re talking specifically about the rental terms and deal options than when you’re in the process of making up your mind.

The good news is that you can get some excellent car rental deals, particularly from the online car rental services, which tend to be more focused on providing quality information. Their websites do provide a lot of useful information upfront, and you don’t have to go looking for basic information about their rental deals.

Comparing car rental deals

There are 5 basic methods of making sure you get a good car rental deal every time:

1. Make direct comparisons between car rental rates: Some car rental websites offer you a choice of bookings from several big name car rental companies like Avis, Hertz, or other very reputable businesses. They also provide you with a list of car models, rates and can calculate your rental costs based on pick up and drop off dates. This is a very simple way of comparing a lot of rental options at once, and it’s an excellent way of getting your benchmark prices upfront for budgeting.

2. Check out the booking and payment options: The best car rentals are those which keep the whole process simple and straightforward. All you should need to do is fill in a simple form, select your car and book yourself in. The payment process comes later, and it’s also very simple, just a credit card payment online.

3. Only rent from companies which have good quality information: There should be an FAQ page for basic information about charges and fees, to start with, because this information is required to be disclosed by consumer law.

4. You should be able to get information easily about extras: Most car rentals come with optional extras like baby seats or even things like an iPhone car kit. If this information isn’t easy to find, look elsewhere.

5. You should have a contact point for any questions about your rental: Good car hire firms provide good customer service, and it’s also basic standard practice to have a reliable contact process if you have any issues while you’re hiring the car.

Important: It’s very strongly suggested that you check out the very reliable online multi-company car hire sites first. A site which does bookings for several major car hire firms will always be a much better bet for finding good deals fast. You should have no trouble finding a good deal, a good car, and a hassle-free rental experience.

Be patient: Inclement weather is going to slow down the traffic. It’s also going to add to number of vehicles on the road as those who may walk or ride a bike opt for the dryness of their car. You should also allow extra time to get to your destination.

Turn on your headlights: This will increase visibility, not only helping you to see but to make sure other motorists see you.

Slow down when it’s wet: You don’t have to drive at the speed limit all the time. In deteriorating conditions, reduce your speed, which will give you more time to react.

Pull over in poor visibility: If you can’t see then it’s unsafe to drive. Whether it’s pelting rain or fog, don’t take any chances. Pull over safely and wait until conditions improve before moving back into the traffic.

Increase braking distance: Put more space between you and the car in front. This will also give you more opportunity to react to vehicles in front of you. Stopping distances in the wet increase significantly compared to dry conditions, so don’t take chances.

Brake smoothly: Jumping on the brakes in the wet can result in a loss of control. Keeping a significant gap between yourself and the car in front will go a long way to ensure you have plenty of time to brake smoothly.

Avoid a heavy right foot: Stomping on the accelerator is likely to cause wheel spin, loss of traction and ultimately loss of control. Start off smooth and if you feel the wheels lose their grip, ease off the power.

Avoid hard turns: Jerking the steering wheel is another way to lose control in the wet. Keep it smooth and steady and give yourself plenty of time to make turns.

Making sure your insurance is up to date is also important, as crashes and claims jump in winter because people don’t drive to the conditions. You may find it’s a good time to revisit your policy and get car insurance quotes to ensure you are adequately covered. It is also important that your car is well maintained, and one of the most important things you can do is regular servicing. If you are getting a car service in Sydney, for example, your mechanic will be able to tell you if you need new tyres, wiper blades or your brakes require adjusting. There are a few things you can keep an eye on yourself.

• Tyres: Check for wear. A bald tyre is sure to slip on wet roads, so make sure they are up to scratch.

• Wiper blades: It’s a good idea to get new ones before winter starts each year. They are easy to fit yourself, but check at an auto store to determine what’s right for your vehicle.

• Headlights: Make sure they are working, along with your tail lights and indicators.

• Brakes: Regular servicing will help you determine how your brakes are holding up. Get them adjusted or visit an expert who can check them for you if unsure.

• Heater: Make sure you can demist the front windscreen when it fogs up. Using the air-conditioner will clear it faster. Check the rear demister is also working evenly.

For the most part, insurance companies are still trying to determine how to price coverage for electric vehicles. There are several factors the need to be considered which include the cost of repairs and replacements, the lack of qualified mechanics, the durability of these vehicles, and more. The number of vehicles on the road is still very few, which means that insurance providers will take time to determine a fair price for coverage until claims are made by owners. Electric vehicle owners are currently eligible for a federal tax credit. However, insurance providers are not keen on taking the reduction of around $7,500 on the base price into account since they are not sure if credit would be available if the vehicle needs replacement. Moreover, insurance companies do not benefit from tax credits if they need to replace portions of an electric vehicle.

Among the most expensive replacements in an electric vehicle is the battery pack. This is one of the major factors that will influence the premium that the insurance provider arrives at. Therefore, insurance providers rely on the Insurance Service Office rating for every electric vehicle manufactured. They use the rating to come up with their own formula and pass on the costs to the consumer.

The only solution for electric vehicle owners so far is to shop around for the best possible rate. Insurance providers vary in the formula they arrive at when calculating premiums for these vehicles built with cutting edge EV technology. Shopping around will help you make an informed decision and find the best coverage at the best possible price. Among the factors that will affect your insurance premium are your driving history, safety and security devices installed in the vehicle, customer loyalty, no claims bonus, and much more. Electric vehicles are cheaper to run and you can hope to save a significant sum when you search for better insurance rates.

The Green rating
Typically Green car ratings are created for a class of vehicles. The ratings are based on standardized testing conducted by manufacturers, a fact not all Green people are entirely happy about.

The basic tests include:
• Greenhouse gases rating- CO2 emissions
• Air pollution rating- Pollutants like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon (fuel-based) emissions, and nitrogen oxide, another toxic gas
• Star rating- Somewhat like an energy star rating for an appliance, based on the emissions factors

As an example of a rating, the Toyota Prius, the standard bearer for the current generation of Green cars, rates ten out of ten.
Many dedicated environmentally conscious people might dispute these ratings, but the fact is that any rating system has to be based on a clearly defined systemic approach. This system may or may not leave out things like carbon particulate emissions and be short on other information, depending on your level of technical knowledge of particular cars.

Checking Green car credentials properly
The current generation of Green cars are hybrids and the new electric cars now coming on the road. A realistic check of Green credentials therefore involves some number crunching as well as technical information. If you can find out the engine specifications and filter capacity of a car, you can pin down the actual Green factor in any car.

The sad fact is that most older cars put out a minimum about 50g per mile (slightly under30g per kilometer, roughly) of carbon. That includes some of the hybrids, which although they’re at the bottom end of this scale and the Toyota Prius is definitely best of its class, is still a lot of carbon. Fuel efficiency is definitely a factor in Green credentials, and more fuel efficient cars are considerably Greener than the big cars, quite literally every second they’re on the road.

The electric cars are naturally Green in terms of common definitions involving fuel-based calculations, but naturally, the generation of electricity has a role to play in their real Green values. If your source of electricity is solar or another alternative power generation system, your electric car is truly Green. If you’re sourcing electricity from a coal powered electricity generator, the car is contributing to emissions from that source, albeit in a minimal way.

There’s another way of determining Green car credentials- On road costs. Real Green cars, particularly electric cars, are considerably cheaper than gas guzzlers. If you total up your on road costs including car insurance, you should see a notable improvement in your car budget real costs over a time frame of a year.

Check out your car online, and compare with the top Green cars. You’ll soon see where the real Green credentials are.

There are some basic, but major mistakes which put drivers behind the eight ball in terms of their costs:

1. Not thinking ahead about costs: It’s ironic, when drivers are trained from day one to look out for developing situations that they don’t think a lot more about their developing costs. Most drivers are their own worst enemies, in this regard. They pay for things when they happen, and don’t think about preventing the problems.
The truth is that most people spend on their cars when they have to, rather than when they should. People quite often know their car has some sort of problem, and will wait until they actually have to do something about it. The result, inevitably, is that the car is off the road, costing money, and costing more money in alternative transport. That’s exactly how not to save money on your car.

2. Not locking in routine car services: It’s a lot easier to manage costs when you have some known prices to work with. If you simply pay for what needs doing when it needs doing, you’re costing yourself big money. Car problems don’t just happen. Most are preventable. A single routine car service will definitely deal with things like wheel alignment, steering, brakes, etc. and other wear-and –tear creating situations. These services are a lot cheaper than the repairs, and save a lot of money by preventing problems. You can lock in your services on the basic 6 month basis and you’ll find your car repair and replacement costs go down dramatically over the life of the car.

3. Not looking for good car insurance: Many people don’t know that there are better ways of getting car insurance these days. The new online insurers are excellent, allowing you to tailor your policy to suit your needs, not the old One Size Fits All approach. You can save real money on these policies, and just get the insurance you need. You can also get comprehensive car insurance which will lay on replacement transport, accommodation, towing, and even extra drivers.

If you’ve seen a few possibilities for improvement in the way you manage your car costs, you’re not alone. Motorists are hit with very high costs for things which really ought never to happen. Just planning your costs ahead can really save you a lot of money, and take the pain out of your car budget.

Shop around; look for better options and better deals. You will find them, and you’ll save yourself a lot of time and frustration as well.

• Licensing Requirements. Naturally there are licensing requirements. It is obvious you need a professional driving license. Because this position is more than just driving yourself, you will need a special license, be over 20 years of age, and a medical check by a registered doctor is also required. It will help if you don’t have any criminal convictions, although this is not a requirement, and will depend on the conviction. The forms for your application are available from the NSW state transport authority. The application costs around $50, and you will need to fill out the appropriate forms for your health and character/responsibility declaration.

• Improve Your Chances. Although not a requirement, it is worth investing in specialist driver training courses. Larger companies will definitely give you some training and a test, but a smaller operator might not have the resources. Be sure that you will be put through your paces a couple of times by whoever is letting you drive their car. The money spent on driver training will enhance your driving ability outside of your work, an issue that is currently being considered as a requirement for all new drivers. It will benefit you personally, and may also lower your personal insurance premiums. Remember, driving as a limousine driver will mean some specialist techniques and driving styles. Listen carefully to your potential employer.

• Remember this is Hospitality. Just like any hospitality job, your personal appearance is extremely important. Professional drivers should appear responsible, calm and reserved. This hospitality job calls for a more high-end appearance and attitude compared with most. Look and behave your utmost best.

• Finding the Right Employer. As with any other job, there is fierce competition. Finding a job might be a little harder than you think. Some professional limousine hire Sydney, are actually more like agencies for owner/drivers. It is important you understand the nature of each company before you apply. In the case where there are owner/drivers, it does not mean there is no chance for you getting work, those owner/drivers will also need a support driver because they cannot drive 24 hours day, 7 days a week. You might be employed as a casual employee, or they may want to establish a subcontractor relationship with you. Do some research on the whole market, and look at your options.

• Background Check. Whether you know it or not, any responsible company will do a background check on you. You should be prepared for this, and remember, this may include your online profiles. Many companies are turning to social media searches to dig into the history and character of a person. Make sure you have good references and a clean online profile. Your personal driving history will be an issue. If your car insurance and record looks bad, you know it will be a tough call.