Editing Sydney (section)

==By Car==
[[Image:Sydgrp_Mar07.jpg|right|frame|CSer's enjoyed this and more at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade]]You can check out the relevant section on the [[Australia]] cs wiki otherwise before we embark on the how to do Sydney in a car, we first have to figure out how you will get a car! You can choose to hire a car, search the [http://yellowpages.com.au Yellow Pages] for car hire companies. Or if you want to buy a car check out the [http://www.tradingpost.com.au Trading Post]. There are many other ways to buy a car in Sydney, such as searching the local newspapers when you arrive.

The first thing to do when buying a car is to do a [http://www.revs.nsw.gov.au/ REVS] check, if you buy a car with money still owing on it, then you become responsible for that debt! A REVS check will tell you if a car you are considering buying carries debt!

If you buy a car, the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) have useful information about how to [http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/regotransfer/index.html transfer the registration] into your name. Registering a new car or a car that has not been registered for a while is a pain, registration is about $1000 to put the price into perspective.

At this point you should be thinking about the cost of petrol, well it varies you should be aware of the Sydney petrol cycle, the price of petrol always jumps significantly on a Wednesday afternoon, funnily enough this is pay day for most people. The best time to buy petrol is Tuesday or early Wednesday morning. A useful website for information on petrol prices is [http://www.motormouth.com.au/ Motormouth].

Parking is difficult in the Sydney CBD and around the beaches. There are parking stations in the city, but to be considered truly a god among men (and women) you want free parking. Free parking is the ultimate goal, if you get good, free parking, you should take a photo of it and brag about your ultimate parking spot for at least a week. If you are couchsurfing, you should inquire about parking availability if you are not an awesome parallel parker.

Other useful things to know when driving, are about [http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/usingroads/motorwaysandtolling/tolling_tolling.html Sydney tolls] and [http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/trafficreports/index.html traffic conditions]. The [http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/ RTA] website has lots of useful information.

Finally a few bits and pieces to be aware of:
*Speed cameras in Sydney (and New South Wales) have signs before them to warn you that there is a speed camera ahead. This is not so in other states, we just have a great deal!
*If someone 'flashes' their lights at you, it means slow down, there is either an accident ahead or cops, it could also mean you have not turned your lights on at night.  
*If you hit a native animal, what do you do? [http://www.wires.org.au/facts_first_aid.htm WIRES] have a useful website about animal first aid. If you have killed the animal, and if it is safe to do so, drag the animal off the road. You should then check if it has any babies and if it does call [http://www.wires.org.au/facts_first_aid.htm WIRES] 1800 641 188 (a free call). WIRES is a New South Wales only organisation.