New From Australia

[didgeridooguy]

Hi everyone. I’m new here and from Sydney Australia. I am moving to the UK permanently (arrive 17AUG09) and I am going to travel around UK/Europe in my Honda Acty Romahome. It’s done about 59k (miles) and looks in really good condition, almost like new. I selected this because I thought it would be good for fuel consumption, only 545cc. I’m used to fuel being about 50 pence a litre and thought ‘save fuel’ if you want to go around Europe. I will take it to Athens and back about 6500 kms return (that’s like Sydney to Perth return almost) I will take it real easy and know how to be kind to an engine. I do have a few questions if anyone can help me:

• What kind of insurance do I need for the continent?
• With the fuel going up an up I imagine it will be getting to the equivalent of 1 pound 50 pence a litre in Europe and maybe more next year. Will my 545cc engine (if I care for it and don’t rev it to bits) be OK? I will try and keep away from mountains where I can.
• Can I get parts for it if I need to? I will change the distributor cap, rotor button, all leads, spark plugs, ignition coil as soon as I get it. I will change the oil and use (as I do here in Sydney) Mobile One fully synthetic oil (it’s about 15 dollars a litre over here) as I have never had a major mechanical failure using this oil. And if you believe what the company says it never will ware out the engine
• Does the fridge (it’s an Electrolux made in Britain) work on gas?

Well that’s about it for now…cheers
Hugh

[Graham]

Hi didgeridooguy

Welcome to the forum, I think you have the dubious honour of being our most far flung poster. We have our old friend Kiwidave who as you can guess hails from New Zealand but he is based in the UK.

Regarding your questions hopefully some other Honda Acty owners will be able to answer them. The fridge should work of gas, electricity and 12 volt when travelling if its a 3-way fridge unless someone knows different.

Graham

[didgeridooguy]

Hi Graham

Thanks for your reply...My main concern with the vehicle is rust. We don't have much of it here in Australia as you need water and we don't have much of that either...this vehicle seems not too bad after being in the UK for 20 odd years. I have to go on photos and peoples honesty (I’m sure their all honest now since the dishonest ones were sent to Australia). FYI I paid 3400 pounds with 12 months MOT and 125 pounds for 12 months road tax. I don’t mind spending a few more dollars if I get a good one and it’s ready to go when I get off the plane. My mate will pick it up (he lives over there) and it states if it’s not as described ‘immaculate’ then I don’t need to buy it. Fingers crossed. It is 20 odd years old after all.
Cheers

[yamaha]

Hello Hugh - and welcome to our ever expanding Group.

So, moving to the UK from Aussy land, eh? Hope you won't find England too dry and arid after your present climate!! ( It's a cr*p summer so far here - loadsa heavy storms, so no water rationing so far!!

As for insurance - most UK insurance policies will issue a Green Card for European holiday travel - you need to advise them the countries to be visited, and usually the duration of the holiday. They then may or may not impose a surcharge - worth enquiring before buying the insurance, maybe.

I personally would also want to flush out and thoroughly check the cooling system and rubber hoses - maybe also fitting a new water pump on that age of vehicle, which will probably have spent a lot of time unused.

Also I would change the brake fluid, and check out the pads/shoes before any major distances are tackled.

Petrol at present in the UK is around £1.02 - £1.06 litre - not sure about the Continental prices - check out the AA website here - they may have European fuel prices on there.

I can't see any reason why you wouldn't be OK on a journey of that distance, given that you sound a mechanically sympathetic sort of chap - go for it!!

Mike

[didgeridooguy]

Thanks Mike.

I just keep thinking, this engine has two cylinders. Wow…two cylinders…makes you wonder…why have any more than that. I can’t find anything bad regarding reliability. The engine I believe is under the tray so I suppose you get to the donk from inside the camper. There must be a hatch or something. I figure I should save about $1000 alone in fuel to Athens return over the huge 970cc Suzuki. Apparently I hear the Suzzi is small but after the weight of the camper and the age of the motor their not all that fuel efficient (petrol) when it’s all put together. Anyway guys don’t be frightened to tell me what you think, the boy from Sydney can take it...

[kiwidave]

Hi Hugh, Mate... finally someone I can talk rugby too:) as long as Aussie is loosing of course!!
You will love this forum and your new romahome, I have remounted Bilbo twice and he is now on a 1300 Dihatsu pick up. I get about 40mpg but have a little more speed that the acty.
Any help that I can be, please don't hesitate to ask, would be great to catch up when you get here for a camp trip sometime if you run out of things to do.

Cheers mate
Kiwidave ( yep the strange little kiwi boy)