First, thanks for the kind words about your experience here. The willingness to go out of their way to offer, unsolicited, help is something I have found in very few places outside the US (Ireland, England outside London, Hungary, etc). Open a map on city street almost anywhere, even more so in the south, and you will be offered help almost immediately.

Second, all Americans envy Australia's attitude toward going on tour (or whatever you call it) and the common year abroad. That is all Americans who know about it. There is a vast conspiracy at all levels of government to keep us ignorant of the concept. Heck, I risk losing my security clearance if I am unemployed longer than 60 days.

Third, although they get a bad name in some parts of the world, much like Americans, the Aussies and Kiwis are the ones I could always depend on to help when lost in Krakow or lonely for something that resembles the English language in Amman, Jordan. One particular Aussie contributed mightily to my honeymoon by playing navigator and keeping me on the wrong side of the road in Ireland...my wife and I will be forever thankful for her making life fun again when we got the news of 9/11 while touring the Waterford factory.

Finally, this group of pick and pull's have an online database...

www.picknpull.com/locations.aspx

If a vehicle has been there more than 45 days, do not plan on finding any common failure items. Obviously keep in mind the LF/RF drive differences in interiors and front suspension, engine compartment items, etc.

I have never been to a a PnP that does not have a couple of guys willing to pull parts for you for a few bucks (many will not speak english)...feel free to ask random folks in the yard, usually the guys with rolling tool boxes, to pull something for you for $5-15.

Mike