Help! What are these like?
Discussion
Assuming the paperwork goes through ok, I should be shipping out to NZ in early Feb - yay! 
Anyway, I'll obviously need to buy a car straight away,
initially something cheap just to run around in, do shopping, move furniture, etc. A barge with a big engine. The nice car will follow later...
Some of the cars I'm seeing on Autopoint, etc we don't get in the UK, so what do you guys make of the following:
- Holden Commodore (early 90's)
- Ford Fairmont (mid 90's)
- Ford Falcon (early 90's)
- Ford Taurus (mid 90's) [God, it's ugly]
- Ford Telstar (mid 90's)
Any obvious alternatives? Anything specific to watch for?
TIA,
Alan
and I nearly forgot - a Happy New Year to all the NZ PH'ers!
>>> Edited by wedgepilot on Thursday 30th December 09:30
Anyway, I'll obviously need to buy a car straight away,
initially something cheap just to run around in, do shopping, move furniture, etc. A barge with a big engine. The nice car will follow later... Some of the cars I'm seeing on Autopoint, etc we don't get in the UK, so what do you guys make of the following:
- Holden Commodore (early 90's)
- Ford Fairmont (mid 90's)
- Ford Falcon (early 90's)
- Ford Taurus (mid 90's) [God, it's ugly]
- Ford Telstar (mid 90's)
Any obvious alternatives? Anything specific to watch for?
TIA,
Alan
and I nearly forgot - a Happy New Year to all the NZ PH'ers!
>>> Edited by wedgepilot on Thursday 30th December 09:30
wedgepilot said:
- Holden Commodore (early 90's)
- Ford Fairmont (mid 90's)
- Ford Falcon (early 90's)
- Ford Taurus (mid 90's) [God, it's ugly]
- Ford Telstar (mid 90's)
Any obvious alternatives? Anything specific to watch for?
Hi Alan.... well you'll fit right in over here... already having to make up your mind on which side of the Ford/Holden fence you'll be sitting on I see!
First of all, STEER CLEAR OF EARLY-MID '90s HOLDEN COMMODORES!..... They added independent rear suspension on them from the VN model onwards and until recently (VT Onwards) they were SHOCKING!!!!! I've driven many a commodore along straight roads continually having to make 5-10 degrees of wheel corrections to keep the thing from dashing off into the nearest bush... I thought that I had one with worn bushings but after driving several and after talking to many afficionados, I'm told they're all like that and they're horrid..... there's better load luggers around than that.
Mid '90s Fairmonts/Falcons are ok... a Fairmont is only a Falcon with extra chrome and leather etc, (they retained the Live rear axle through the '90s and so are pretty simple and bulletproof). Like the commodore, interiors are REALLY cheap and nasty and many bits fall off and rattle, but they're spacious and REASONABLY comfy, but thirsty as hell. Parts for both Holden and Ford are plentiful
Steer clear of the Taurus if I were you... not many were sold here so parts will be a nightmare! Ugly as sin and wallowy.
The Telstar TX5 (or its identical twin bar the badge and body panels the Mazda 626/Capella) is PROBABLY your best practical bet.... parts are EVERYWHERE, they're pretty reliable and like everything Japanese parts bolt-in like lego and are cheap and plentiful. You can score them for chips these days and they generally do the job well. The V6 ones even have some poke (think of the Telstar V6 as a 5-door Probe)
As for other options, there's the Toyota Camry (early-mid 90s).... bland as hell but reliable... not the best value as Toyotas always seem to hold their value better.
Early to mid 90s Nissan Bluebirds also are usually dirt cheap and will do you well.
Because of our Jap import freedom over here, there's plenty of cheap cars that'll serve you well.
Just remember, over here in NZ cars last forever when compared to the UK (drier climate, no road salt means cars don't rust out much at all and if you're not worried about residuals, comfort etc and you want to save a few bucks, a well-looked-after late '80s, early '90s car should be just as good as a mid - late '90s one. Will do all the same jobs for similar running costs with maybe just a sacrifice in comfort/refinement.
Buying and running a car here is dirt cheap and your dollar will go further in the used car market than it will in the UK (youll get a better condition car for similar money)... so I don't think you'll have any troubles.
My wife has a Legnum VR4 - 4WD, 280bhp, 5-speed tip-tronic style gear change, anti-crap-driver-control etc etc. It's a superb piece of kit. Very quick, handles very nicely (especially on the new Toyo T1-Ss we've put on it), well built, refined. I thoroughly recommend them and you can pick them up very cheaply. Just make sure it's had it's recall work done or at least the interim fix or it will not be road legal. You can pick '96 VR4s up from around 12k but a good late nineties model (ours is '98) will be late teens to early twenties depending on spec', kms and condition.
There is nothing I've driven that combines all the performance, build quality, refinement, equipment and low price that comes close. A similar vintage Subaru Legacy for example is a nice car but nowhere near as quick and not as handsome.
As for thirst, my wife gets about 350kms a tank out of her car (48-litre fill-up) for general driving which isn't exactly frugal (my Chimaera matches it around town!) but worth every penny. I can't think what we'll get as a replacement.
There is nothing I've driven that combines all the performance, build quality, refinement, equipment and low price that comes close. A similar vintage Subaru Legacy for example is a nice car but nowhere near as quick and not as handsome.
As for thirst, my wife gets about 350kms a tank out of her car (48-litre fill-up) for general driving which isn't exactly frugal (my Chimaera matches it around town!) but worth every penny. I can't think what we'll get as a replacement.
Thanks for the replies everyone, helpful as always 
makes a mental note not to buy any Holden products...
I did a quick Google on the Legnum, turns out it's the Galant estate in the UK - a cracking car by all accounts. I'm considering a Legacy too, they've got a great reputation here.
I'll need to get something fairly quickly, so I guess it's a case of seeing what's available.
makes a mental note not to buy any Holden products...
I did a quick Google on the Legnum, turns out it's the Galant estate in the UK - a cracking car by all accounts. I'm considering a Legacy too, they've got a great reputation here.
I'll need to get something fairly quickly, so I guess it's a case of seeing what's available.
I agree with everything thats been said above however I dont think you really need to plan it too much.
Cars are probably cheaper here than anywhere else in the world. If your looking for an early 90s largeish family car youll have alot of choice. Only problem is just about everything is auto but if its only a boring family car its not such a big issue. Just have a look once you get here. There are alot of reasonable cars that youve probably never heard of before, if I was you Id just have a look once I got here. Particularly at places like Turners (Auction place) as you can pick up some good deals if you know what your looking at
Good luck
Cars are probably cheaper here than anywhere else in the world. If your looking for an early 90s largeish family car youll have alot of choice. Only problem is just about everything is auto but if its only a boring family car
its not such a big issue. Just have a look once you get here. There are alot of reasonable cars that youve probably never heard of before, if I was you Id just have a look once I got here. Particularly at places like Turners (Auction place) as you can pick up some good deals if you know what your looking at Good luck
Hello Alan,
I’ve been here for over 18 months haven become an NZPR here is my advice:
From my experiences with Holden’s I would say steer clear all together! (Even the re-badged European ones aren’t very good).
Ford’s are generally all right (you may want to steer clear of the V8 engines) but still relatively unrefined and crewed.
If you really want to have some fun buy a 4wd car with descent handling! The roads have plenty of bends and a lot of them are gravel back roads to play Collin McRae on.
Only other advise is to look out for the Dunlop Targa rally and Kiwi drivers, accident statistics conclude that they should not be allowed to drive anything other than bumper cars and I tend to agree.
I’ve been here for over 18 months haven become an NZPR here is my advice:
From my experiences with Holden’s I would say steer clear all together! (Even the re-badged European ones aren’t very good).
Ford’s are generally all right (you may want to steer clear of the V8 engines) but still relatively unrefined and crewed.
If you really want to have some fun buy a 4wd car with descent handling! The roads have plenty of bends and a lot of them are gravel back roads to play Collin McRae on.
Only other advise is to look out for the Dunlop Targa rally and Kiwi drivers, accident statistics conclude that they should not be allowed to drive anything other than bumper cars and I tend to agree.
my advise would be go for a 4wd wagon, great for NZ conditions, BUY A SUBIE! (slight bias there i'll admit)
have heard some bad stories about mitsi reliability and servicing costs, performance-wise a VR4 galant will be very similiar to legacy GTB or RSK(same age), slightly quicker in straight line but the Subs handle a lot better.
have heard some bad stories about mitsi reliability and servicing costs, performance-wise a VR4 galant will be very similiar to legacy GTB or RSK(same age), slightly quicker in straight line but the Subs handle a lot better.
the little 
nztrev said:
I'm looking at the IS300 GITA 4wd to buy soon. .
Been looking at these too. Although the asking price is still a bit steep for my liking.
The other half bought three Nissan Stageas 96 model wagons for his staff last yr and they go really well. We drove one of them around for two days to see what it was like as he was going to get another out for me. I kinda flagged it only cause it looked like an old Volvo from a distance..
thats how ugly they are. But one of his boys chipped his and whoo hooo! Very reliable, but I think I will stick to something easier on the eye
kylie said:
The other half bought three Nissan Stageas 96 model wagons for his staff last yr and they go really well. We drove one of them around for two days to see what it was like as he was going to get another out for me. I kinda flagged it only cause it looked like an old Volvo from a distance..
Very reliable, but I think I will stick to something easier on the eye
I see what you mean, Kylie!
Hello again everyone, I've been in Welly for the past couple of weeks, and just got a 'net connection. Cold turkey from PH - not recommended
I've seen loads of turbo Subarus around, some good prices for the imports too, but not many VR4's. Is the non-turbo Galant/Legnum 2.5 any good? Those XR8/XR6 turbos look like fun too, but a bit pricey.
I'll probably go for the Scoob though, whilst keeping an eye out for a nice 944.
Just bought a car for the wife - VW Passat 2.8 V6. That shifts a bit for a big car!
I think Venom has one of the non-turbo 4WD Legnum (Galant) wagons.... from what I've heard they go okay (2.5L, stay away from the 1800!) and are quick enough for getting pretty much everything done... obviously not as barnstorming as the twinturb, but a good, quickish load lugger. Just watch out for the transmissions on them... they like regular, careful servicing.
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