bearskin

Following on from Desmondo's new purchase, I was wondering what type of vehicles people are driving?

I currently have a small motorbike for a work trolley, and our family car is used by Mrs B as she has a good 40min commute each way - that is a thirsty 4 litre Ford Territory - a 2007 2wd version. We are thinking of adding another car too, as it has become harder and harder to cope with only one vehicle capable of reasonable transport.

I have never been much of a 'car person' ever, but I do appreciate that for many it is a big deal. Looking fwd to hearing what is in use out there.

MrsFychan

probably won't help you but we bought over our Vauxhall (Opal/Holden)Zafira so use that. been ok on parts. think you would have to look at budget, whats available near you, what you want be it 5 door, 3 doors, how many seats then get it checked by the AA before buying or get from a dealer that has some sort of warranty

BucksBoy

If you go Japanese / Korean you won't go far wrong.

Stormer999

The Honda Fit/Jazz is popular and so is the Suzuki Swift. Good bargains can be had at the auctions with ex Nurse Maud vehicles. Turners I think.

Stormer999

Most modern car manufacturers build under SPC contol now days inc Fiat of Italy hence a massive upturn in reliability.
(Statistical process control in simple terms it is of no use measuring what you have just made because if it is wrong then it is scrap, so SPC is the control of the process (making) of the product so you only make known good parts) hope that makes sense

Snap Shot

We purchased a Mazda Familia with a manual gearbox for just under $10,000 in 2011. It's reliable and economical but really not flashy or fancy. It's just passed another Warrant of Fitness test with no trouble. First year long W.O.F. for it now that the W.O.F. is annual.

Was advised to get a service and an oil change as I'd paid another $25 for VTNZ to check the fluid levels of the battery, brake and clutch fluid, oil etc so I'll book the car into a garage soon.

BucksBoy

Very true, but the Asian manufacturers have taken it to a whole new level while other manufacturers have simply adopted it. I've worked in the motor industry in a QA role and would buy a Toyota over any European car any day due to my personal experiences. However if you want looks and personality in a car look to Europe (and find a good mechanic!).

Hebe

A Honda Civic hatch which I brought over from Aus with me as it was not old amd low mileage. Great nippy little car. OH has a BMW black diesel thing that he bought before I arrived!!!

bearskin

Does the Zafira use parts available locally - through Holden for example?

Justcol

we're just about to buy a Mazda Verisa for Mrs Justcol.
I'm not a car person, I have a 16 year old honda that I will drive till it falls apart, but she
wanted something small, nippy, cheep on gas that looked a little different to the usual jap stuff

bearskin

I quite like Mazdas, had a couple of Familias when I first moved here - both written off by lunatic North Shore women drivers.
I think the Verisa looks inspired by the Mini.

S_and_T

We bought a Nissan Qashqai from a dealer here. They were offering 1% interest on a brand new car. Seemed a bit daft paying a higher interest rate on a bank loan for a used car.

RobClubley

I drive a highly modified, 2004 Skoda Octavia vRS wagon which I brought from the UK and it has its challenges as it's too low for half of NZ's kerbs and ramps.

Our sensible car is the wife's 2002 Mazda 626 which we bought cheap as it had nearly 250,000km on the clock. three years later it's on 265+ and going strong. Everything works, has been pretty cheap to run and probably still worth what we paid for it.

moonie2011

We have a 2004 Mitsubishi grandis as the family car, it's got 7 seats which is great for ferrying school friends around, and has a really big boot when the back seats are down. As our second car we have a 1996 Nissan cefiro with only 105k on the clock.

Persephone

A 2002 Holden (Vauxhall!) Astra bought in 2008.

Been reliable so far Currently stuck on a farm somewhere waiting for my return to NZ-can't wait to get back to a manual gearbox!