Moving to Canberra

[vwgtimkv]

Hi all,

I've been somewhat absent this past year, since I've been doing Hons in Economics, which has gobbled up all my time. Writing a 25,000 word thesis was a mission and a half.

So, since I have graduated, you'll be seeing another CW 3dr GTI on the roads down there soon. I've been offered a graduate position with Treasury and will be moving down to Canberra in the next few weeks. I know there's loads of members from down there, so I'd love to catch up at some point for a GTG or meet or whatever. I also need to find out which dealers are a no-go and where the best place to get my car serviced is.

Hopefully see some of you soon.

Cheers,

 

[Lima]

Cool bananas, just shoot me a PM/email/whatever if you want any local advice etc.

:thumbsup:

Cheers
Liam

 

[Lima]

I also need to find out which dealers are a no-go and where the best place to get my car serviced is.

In regards to this we're not exactly spoiled for choice I'm afraid.

Lennock Volkswagen is the mainstay, and if you ask for Shane or Gareth in service they should look after you. In sales, I've found Andrew to be pretty good, although we bought our GTI from another guy, who has since left.

Gerald Slaven Volkswagen only opened up recently (last 12 months or so) and I'm not sure if they just moved across a bunch of their Holden mechanics into service, or if they've managed to bring in some techs with experience.

For independents, the only one I know of is Peter Shelley/Canberra VW Centre, with an outlet in Belconnen and Michael in Tuggeranong. They generally get spoken of pretty well. I expect Peter will see a bit of my Mk1 over the coming years.

The biggest trick might be finding some accommodation. Do you have anything lined up on that front? And, despite perceptions of Canberra as a little old village, we have BIG city rental and house prices, unfortunately.

 

[vwgtimkv]

In regards to this we're not exactly spoiled for choice I'm afraid.

Lennock Volkswagen is the mainstay, and if you ask for Shane or Gareth in service they should look after you. In sales, I've found Andrew to be pretty good, although we bought our GTI from another guy, who has since left.

Gerald Slaven Volkswagen only opened up recently (last 12 months or so) and I'm not sure if they just moved across a bunch of their Holden mechanics into service, or if they've managed to bring in some techs with experience.

For independents, the only one I know of is Peter Shelley/Canberra VW Centre, with an outlet in Belconnen and Michael in Tuggeranong. They generally get spoken of pretty well. I expect Peter will see a bit of my Mk1 over the coming years.

The biggest trick might be finding some accommodation. Do you have anything lined up on that front? And, despite perceptions of Canberra as a little old village, we have BIG city rental and house prices, unfortunately.

OMG it's the worst rental market I've ever seen, and that's coming from Brisbane with a 97% occupancy rate! Particularly finding a house at the time of the year with so many graduates starting at once just magnifies the inherent issues. But we flew down last week and (extremely luckily) found a perfect little 1 bedroom unit in Barton, which is a 10 minute walk from work (Treasury is in the parliamentary triangle). It is $430 a week for a newish, generously sized 1 bedder with a large kitchen, compared to the $370 a week I currently pay in Brisvegas for a similarly sized 2 bedder. But I'm not phased. I'm earning good money and sharing with my gf, so it's not really that much at the end of the day. Really liked Canberra from what I saw. It's significantly slower and more quiet than Brisbane, but this isn't all bad from what I experienced. But we literally know no-one down there. There are a couple of my uni pals going down, but other than that we'll be all alone! But with so many grads starting at once, I assume will get settled in pretty quickly.

I don't get my car serviced through a dealership at the moment, so I assume I would probably use CVWC. I remember reading about it on here before. If I was to buy/sell I guess I would just travel to Sydney for a bit more competition.

Cheers,

 

[Lima]

Barton should be quite good. Close-ish to Kingston and Manuka which should suit a young whipper snapper like you, haha. If you're in the Landmark development I'll be driving past your door twice a day on the way to work. Actually, I go past Treasury twice a day as well.

You're also pretty close to the Brodburger van by the lake. This is creating a bit of name for itself for great burgers, and they are, you just have to line up for a while is all.

Glad that you've found somewhere, as you say, it can be pretty hard to find something.

 

[saad]

+1 for Broaburger, but they may be closing due to Govt - sign their petition if your ever there

 

[vwgtimkv]

Barton should be quite good. Close-ish to Kingston and Manuka which should suit a young whipper snapper like you, haha. If you're in the Landmark development I'll be driving past your door twice a day on the way to work. Actually, I go past Treasury twice a day as well.

You're also pretty close to the Brodburger van by the lake. This is creating a bit of name for itself for great burgers, and they are, you just have to line up for a while is all.

Glad that you've found somewhere, as you say, it can be pretty hard to find something.

I am indeed in the Landmark building. I'll look out for an S3 (?). And I'll appreciate a good burger; Brisbane has some crackers.

Cheers,

Steve

 

[Lima]

Yeah, usually in the S3. Although, hopefully at least once a week in the MK1 when it cools down a bit and I can get the damn thing starting reliably, haha.

Brodburger is just over the road in Bowen Park (which just looks like a small car park, really). As saad says they've been asked to move from their current location. Probably because they're paying a shit all hawkers fee and now are doing very well for themselves. If they choose to stay open I'm sure they'll come to some sort of deal or find an alternate location.

That part of Wentworth Ave is also a favourite haunt for the white Mercedes vans you'll need to keep an eye out for.

 

[vwgtimkv]

That part of Wentworth Ave is also a favourite haunt for the white Mercedes vans you'll need to keep an eye out for.

I see. What an excellent piece of advice.

Cheers,

 

[GTI_racer]

I'll chip in here too

Gerald Slaven are good, speak with Aaron if you ever go there. They are good, but sometimes are a little slack when calling back.
As for the technicians, they have a couple of new VW specialists who have been doing training by VWA. They are in the process of building a separate service department for the VW's and that should be complete late this year / early 2011. They are very keen to have Slaven VW completely separate from Slaven Holden.

The dealer also gets along very well with Peter (CVWC) and they share their knowledge.

I too am starting a grad program in Feb, but I'm at Centrelink

 

[Lima]

I'll chip in here too

Gerald Slaven are good, speak with Aaron if you ever go there. They are good, but sometimes are a little slack when calling back.
As for the technicians, they have a couple of new VW specialists who have been doing training by VWA. They are in the process of building a separate service department for the VW's and that should be complete late this year / early 2011. They are very keen to have Slaven VW completely separate from Slaven Holden.

The dealer also gets along very well with Peter (CVWC) and they share their knowledge.

That's great feedback Ben, thanks. :thumbsup:

 

[vwgtimkv]

I too am starting a grad program in Feb, but I'm at Centrelink

Oh great to hear. Are GTI GTGs common in Canberra? We have them fairly regularly up here? I seem to remember there being a disproportionate number of members from down there.

Cheers,

 

[Schnitzel Baby]

I'll keep an eye out for you in a few weeks. I too am in and around Barton every day (the missus works there). My GTIs pretty easy to spot. It has a big red "Wild Digital" on the side (that is unless I'm in the Mini which is red with white stripes).

I think I'll try Slavens or CVWC next time as I've had some frustrating episodes at Lennocks.

 

[saad]

I organised a GTG once. Me and Lima turned up

Oh BTW you should put your name down for the track day in March...Im sure you can apply for a day off from now

 

[Lima]

Oh great to hear. Are GTI GTGs common in Canberra?

IMO the short answer is yes. But you can go one day and not see any, but the next day you might see 5 or 6 in 10 minutes.

I only saw one on the drive home today. It was black, a Mk6 and easily spotted. :thumbsup: