Discussion
Should be in Christchurch sometime next week so I'll be looking for a motor.
Cant (at the moment) decide between a banger/backpacker wreck for a few months or just buy something I'm likely to keep.
If its a wreck I dont care realy, so long as it doesnt fall apart and passws WOF's without much trouble.
A keeper? looking for something < $10k initialy. Prefer manual but auto would be ok so long as its not gutless.
Quite fancy a subaru legacy tye (as everyone has em, easily fixed etc) looks like I could get a mid/late 90's GT-B or something - what are they like on petrol (when not thrashed), most seem to be 100k-160k how long do the turbo's/transmission etc last?
City runabout - focus/mondeo sized FWD town car, less enamoured of this because I'll want to get out and about, camping/skiing etc.
Rav4 - prolly a 3 door SWB, not quick but usefull and 'car like' for a 4x4.
I'll probably be buyung a track car/weekend toy at some point so I dont need the daily driver to be quick, just able to pull a boat etc if needed, enough room to go camping (may end up backpack camping so may not need much space, reliable and less thirsty than my previous RX8, also would like a decent range out of the tank no matter how it drinks, 300-350miles minimum.
No yute! Whatcha recon?
Cant (at the moment) decide between a banger/backpacker wreck for a few months or just buy something I'm likely to keep.
If its a wreck I dont care realy, so long as it doesnt fall apart and passws WOF's without much trouble.
A keeper? looking for something < $10k initialy. Prefer manual but auto would be ok so long as its not gutless.
Quite fancy a subaru legacy tye (as everyone has em, easily fixed etc) looks like I could get a mid/late 90's GT-B or something - what are they like on petrol (when not thrashed), most seem to be 100k-160k how long do the turbo's/transmission etc last?
City runabout - focus/mondeo sized FWD town car, less enamoured of this because I'll want to get out and about, camping/skiing etc.
Rav4 - prolly a 3 door SWB, not quick but usefull and 'car like' for a 4x4.
I'll probably be buyung a track car/weekend toy at some point so I dont need the daily driver to be quick, just able to pull a boat etc if needed, enough room to go camping (may end up backpack camping so may not need much space, reliable and less thirsty than my previous RX8, also would like a decent range out of the tank no matter how it drinks, 300-350miles minimum.
No yute! Whatcha recon?
Subaru autos have a reputation for needing a rebuild around 150km so I'd stay clear of those, manuals a little harder to find but worth it. as for fuel economy, none of them are exactly frugal, but after about '94 the turbos give better cruising economy than the n/a motors. expect around 30mpg for ^110 kph cruising, being fairly gentle. Not sure about tank size of the newer Legacies but my '90 2.0 n/a wagon has slightly worse mpg and will get between 450-500km from a tank when trying not to use the right foot too much. from what I've heard the GT is a bit more economical than the GT-B (also slightly less power, 191kw[260hp] vs 206[280]) They're all bloody easy to tickets in though, and our police do tend towards nazi-ism when it comes to speed.
HTH, Ben
edit to add: another option could be to buy an earlier Legacy like mine (see profile) for a practical vehicle, (you can pick them up for nz$2-4k pretty easily) and save the rest to buy something more fun to go with it once you're settled in.
>> Edited by GravelBen on Monday 12th September 14:14
HTH, Ben
edit to add: another option could be to buy an earlier Legacy like mine (see profile) for a practical vehicle, (you can pick them up for nz$2-4k pretty easily) and save the rest to buy something more fun to go with it once you're settled in.
>> Edited by GravelBen on Monday 12th September 14:14
GT-B Spec Subarus are thirsty and you will get tickets 
Had a early full-time fwd 1990's Auto with 170kms on the clock, the trans was starting to slip before I sold it for $2K. Was up for $2K to fit a second hand one in, so was lucky to get anything for it. Low miliage one would be the way to go though if there are any around.
Had a early full-time fwd 1990's Auto with 170kms on the clock, the trans was starting to slip before I sold it for $2K. Was up for $2K to fit a second hand one in, so was lucky to get anything for it. Low miliage one would be the way to go though if there are any around. I'll agree with the Above... Subarus are popular but they're expensive to insure (theft risk) and they're more expensive to repair engine-wise. I've heard reliability horror-stories on mid-late '90s Subarus… I get the impression that they're cars that aren't bad to own from new but don't make good cheaper imports. The normally-aspirated models are probably the best bet if you're worried about economy at all because they ARE thirsty.
Given that in NZ it costs NOTHING to pick up a less desirable model and run it into the ground, I'd be going that route if I was you… you end up with a car you don't care about to lug you, the family and your luggage around and it REALLY costs you everything… leaves more funds free for a weekend toy later on. Car theft and theft FROM cars is a huge problem in NZ… the more crappy your car is and the less you have on display, the better. Alarm or not, I know people with turbo legacies who can't even take their car to the movies in a big city without a significant chance some scrote is going to try to liberste their car… Subarus are notorious for this and it'll reflect in insurance premiums too.
The Rav 4 (although I hate them) isn't actually a bad idea for you really, or if you can stretch to it, a Honda CR-V If the Rav4 is good on the road, the CR-V is meant to be GREAT, they've got 4WD for the ski-field, honda reliability and a complete lack of desirability for theft. Another option is the Mitsubishi RVR 4WDs…. Not the world's most fantastic cars, but come in 4WD, common as muck, cheap and they fit your bill.
Off the top of my head, I'd be looking for a cheapish CR-V if I were you.
Given that in NZ it costs NOTHING to pick up a less desirable model and run it into the ground, I'd be going that route if I was you… you end up with a car you don't care about to lug you, the family and your luggage around and it REALLY costs you everything… leaves more funds free for a weekend toy later on. Car theft and theft FROM cars is a huge problem in NZ… the more crappy your car is and the less you have on display, the better. Alarm or not, I know people with turbo legacies who can't even take their car to the movies in a big city without a significant chance some scrote is going to try to liberste their car… Subarus are notorious for this and it'll reflect in insurance premiums too.
The Rav 4 (although I hate them) isn't actually a bad idea for you really, or if you can stretch to it, a Honda CR-V If the Rav4 is good on the road, the CR-V is meant to be GREAT, they've got 4WD for the ski-field, honda reliability and a complete lack of desirability for theft. Another option is the Mitsubishi RVR 4WDs…. Not the world's most fantastic cars, but come in 4WD, common as muck, cheap and they fit your bill.
Off the top of my head, I'd be looking for a cheapish CR-V if I were you.
depending how much of a rush you're in, you can actually pick up something half(or quarter anyway) decent for practically nothing of you look around.
try:
www.trademe.co.nz
local newspaper classifieds
buy/sell/exchange mag
auto trader
should be easy enough to find a bargain somewhere.
good luck and happy hunting
try:
www.trademe.co.nz
local newspaper classifieds
buy/sell/exchange mag
auto trader
should be easy enough to find a bargain somewhere.
good luck and happy hunting
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