Holden cars also have the luxury Statesman and Calais versions, and Ford has the Fairmont, Fairlane and LTD limousines rent for $60 a day, upwards.

Four wheel drive vehicles are selling in vast numbers, and many having never felt the glamour of mud.

4WD’s come in small versions, such as the Suzuki and the Daihatsu Terios, hardly serious vehicles for driving around Australia.

The mid-sized models are the excellent Honda CRV, the Mazda Tribute and the Nissan X-Trail. These vehicles give good fuel economy and a comfortable ride.

The full sized 4WD vehicles have a distinct advantage in that they offer the economical turbo-charged diesel engine option. They are large, heavy machines and have a thirst for fuel, outdone only by the high cost of rental.

My choice for economy, comfort and safety is the Camry station wagon.
 

Campervan and Motorhome rental

Prices quoted are for a minimum of 100 days rental, picking up the vehicle in either Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane, and returning to the same place. Actual daily rates can vary greatly, but for the period from June 2004 through to October 2004 you can expect to pay, per day, somewhere in the price range as below:

Small poptop or high top campervan 
  $55 to $65 per day
Small motorhome, ie. Toyota Hilux
3 to 4 berth 
$69 to $89 per day
Medium motorhome, diesel engine
3 to 4 deluxe berths 
$120  per day
Large motorhome, diesel engine 6 berth
from $170 to $180 per day.

You may expect a keener quote from a broker such as http://getaboutoz.com.au 

Or ring their toll free number on arrival, 1800 656 899.

 


Toyota Hi-Ace Diesel Campervan with raised roof.


Sedans.

   Most caravanners tow with a sedan car, probably because most drivers own a sedan car. I drive a sedan car which I also use for business. The lockable boot means that my tools and electronics test gear is out of sight and hence fairly safe when the vehicle is parked. On our round Australia trip the boot held two camera bags, the video camera and recorder, plus other valuable gear. In the many car parks and side streets where we left the car parked it was not broken in to. Most theft from motor vehicles involves breaking into the passenger compartment - the boot is seldom attacked. Of course this aspect is only one factor in the overwhelming popularity of the sedan car.

   Because a sedan car is designed for passenger comfort rather than for heavy load carrying, the van being towed should be as light a load as is practical. If you feel you need a big van (say 16 to 18ft long) then you must tow it with a suitably large car. The problem here is that there are not too many large cars on the market now. GMH still produce the modernised Holden Statesman series, and Ford still market the Ford Fairlane.