cherry

Fords made in Japan ,
Well I am Educated now on that one I thought they were made in OZ as most Fords here are .There was a Ford plant here in Welly once you know .Also a general Motors assembly plant in Upper Hutt(Holden) and years ago Rootes group and BMC cars were made here in Petone ,History here is great shame it had to expire like some of the car makers in the UK did .There was a thriving industry here once and also a trye manufacturing plant in Upper Hutt till recently .Sad really that we have to rely on imports but thats life .

lardyl

he he another potential ex-Pat in for a shock.....
Round these parts most people dont pay attention when driving, never mind worrying about what vehicle they are about to collide with!!
Most of us drive Jap-Cr@p, perhaps beat up sheds - like my Lego-wagon complete with two door pile up that the last guy who drove it failed to get fixed (due in at panel-o's soon!!); souped-up hoon-mobiles; big 4x4s - the architypal blonde-JAFA-sunglass haww in the Surf-HiLux nudge bar-truckie; cool-ish Youtz, that's pick-up trucks with a V8 and a tailgating problem; annonymous looking Civics/Corollas on the "new to NZ" lot; or really boring box-o's like the missus's Mazda Demio - a tiny car that thinks its a, erm..... tiny bus (on the drive/handing front that is)!!!!
And dont get me started on the driving............

SarahB

Cars are a sore subject for me at the moment. On friday my 3 year old son got hold of one of daddys screwdrivers and decided to practise his artwork on the side of my car..... I got one quote so far to repair it..... $800 to just over $1000!! I was not amused! DS got told off and hopefully wont do it again!! grrrr!!!!

lardyl

oh bugger - sorry about that Sarah - will keep my frivilous comments to meself........
Another of us due at the great temple of the panel-beater eh?

SarahB

I'm ok about it now but I was sooooooooooo pissed off!! I thought he should know better but at his age I suppose he wouldnt. I'm just glad now that hes ok and he didnt hurt himself with it. Daddy got told off too for leaving it where DS could pick it up. I dont know yet if Im gonna try claiming on the insurance or just pay for the respray.

...and its a 4x4 but only a teeny weeny one.

karonious

I just know that is what the salesman at the car-yard told us. Could well be wrong, just quoting him
Don't let it ruin a good post though!

cherry

This has always been a big engine car lovers country and b4 jap cars a lot of Yank cars were the in thing.G.Motors have done well here in the past and when you do see a well preserved huge car at a show it is more likely to be a yank GM or an OZZIE Holden from the 60`s.They used to like the old Vauxhalls here also and the Ford Zephyr`s and Zodiacs .Being a(LOWLY DIESEL ) mechanic as you know Avid I may know a little about these cars mechanically .

lardyl

The joys of parenthood, eh?

SarahB

Yes my mum laughed her head off when I told her what happened. I expect it the first of many things that will get wrecked by the little people.

We drive a mondeo and a Honda CRV with some kiddies artwork along the side of it.

lardyl

Yeah, CRV = pseudo-4x4, my Legacy is probably more of a Chelsea Tractor, although I do need it as I have to got to lots of out of the way places and carry lots of gear....pity I haven't been able to take the family anywhere for the past month as the passenger door is U-S......
Still got a $1700 excess to come back on our hire car which a geriatric Kiwi drove into on a car park....so ruddy adults can be as bad and they should know better.....

Avid

Fair enough! You do see a lot of interesting old cars out here. Saw a lovely Dodge Charger in Wellington today.



(who said 'lowly'?????)

SarahB

I never wanted a huge 4x4 but the CRV is nice. It should pull my horse in a trailor ok. Its an ex fleet car and I got it for trade price last year from OH's company....and yes its been off-roading.

Want2goNow

So can you get decent cars like BMW, AUDI, RANGE/LAND ROVER ETC.
Or are they megabucks can anyone give me some prices please.

Avid

If it's a short distance (under 10km) just use a flying sheep.

lardyl

mmm....these cars may not be too expensive to buy but running a euro-car is reportedly rather more expensive.
check out the autotrader over here - here's a linky
http://www.autotrader.co.nz/
Good luck