Discussion
GravelBen said:
I think what you call mot is what we call a wof (warrant of fitness) here - fairly basic check that the car is safe and roadworthy. Required annually for cars after about 2000, 6 monthly for cars older than that. Costs around $55.
Rego costs aren't based on engine size or emissions etc like I think UK car tax is, just general category of vehicle - diesel 4wds are higher than cars, commercial vehicles higher again.
Not being compulsory helps reduce the amount of cynical profiteering by insurance companies, but you'd be silly not to have any insurance. Obviously price varies with risk profile of the vehicle, driver and location as well as different companies so well worth shopping around.
Top info. Thanks Rego costs aren't based on engine size or emissions etc like I think UK car tax is, just general category of vehicle - diesel 4wds are higher than cars, commercial vehicles higher again.
Not being compulsory helps reduce the amount of cynical profiteering by insurance companies, but you'd be silly not to have any insurance. Obviously price varies with risk profile of the vehicle, driver and location as well as different companies so well worth shopping around.
Mansells Tash said:
Woo hoo another Aucklander! I'd say get settled and find where you want to live and get used to living costs before buying a car.
I have a Landcruiser for the wife and kid and long trips and a CB500x for commuting (parking is free all year round in the city for motorbikes) and an Evo IX MR for the weekend.
Long journeys exploring will want to be done in as comfy a car as you can get, a fast car makes no difference when you're stuck behind 30 cars following a camper van, and there WILL ALWAYS be a camper van holding up traffic.
The country roads here are epic, and I do mean epic!
I'd be happy to meet for a beer when you land and give you my view of the world here (maybe a PH meet one weekend?)
I'm living on the North Shore, its a fantastic place for young families.
For 20k or less I'd look for a clean Subaru Forrester STI.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/subaru/...
Nice setup. Don’t think the Mrs will drive anything that big! I have a Landcruiser for the wife and kid and long trips and a CB500x for commuting (parking is free all year round in the city for motorbikes) and an Evo IX MR for the weekend.
Long journeys exploring will want to be done in as comfy a car as you can get, a fast car makes no difference when you're stuck behind 30 cars following a camper van, and there WILL ALWAYS be a camper van holding up traffic.
The country roads here are epic, and I do mean epic!
I'd be happy to meet for a beer when you land and give you my view of the world here (maybe a PH meet one weekend?)
I'm living on the North Shore, its a fantastic place for young families.
For 20k or less I'd look for a clean Subaru Forrester STI.
https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/subaru/...
Edited by Mansells Tash on Thursday 2nd August 11:36
Mind if I ask where abouts on north shore? I’ve been looking at Hobsonville/West harbour.
Mansells Tash said:
Topbox said:
Nice setup. Don’t think the Mrs will drive anything that big!
Mind if I ask where abouts on north shore? I’ve been looking at Hobsonville/West harbour.
Browns Bay, pretty much the entire coastline in the East of the Shore is nice. Mind if I ask where abouts on north shore? I’ve been looking at Hobsonville/West harbour.
alex.tvr said:
Do you have a car in the UK that suits you? If I were to do things again, I’d bring a car down from the UK. You’d possibly save on not loosing money on the car you’d sell in the UK, and as exchange rate isn’t that friendly for bringing money down you could save by not having to sell and then transfer money. Just a thought. Shipping would cost a few grand GBP, and not sure if this still stands but you wouldn’t have to pay GST on your import as you would be a new immigrant as long as you kept car for a year or two.
I’ve found car insurance costs have risen sharply over the last few years, used to pay $400 for fully comp on a Porsche Cayenne - now pay just over $900 for a Mini Clubman!!
Fuel is now dearer too in Auckland thanks to a new regional fuel tax - +11c
HTH
Alex
We currently run a civic which we like and a T5 van which we like. I’ve found car insurance costs have risen sharply over the last few years, used to pay $400 for fully comp on a Porsche Cayenne - now pay just over $900 for a Mini Clubman!!
Fuel is now dearer too in Auckland thanks to a new regional fuel tax - +11c
HTH
Alex
I’ve considered shipping one/both over but to be honest I’m ready for a change. I think I’m going to try to get away with 1 car and a motorbike.
The civic is too small now for my son and the T5 is overkill (my track bike can go on a trailer ....and that’s if I buy a track bike) and my mountain bike can go on the car roof.
I also think if I run 1 car my man maths says the mpg is irrelevant and I want something fast.
Contenders:
Vw Passat r36.
These seem cheap.
Parking sensors all round (for the Mrs)
Fast enough with 300bhp
Bit concerned fitting a tow bar will be tricky.
No good i need to take it off tarmac.
Audi s4.
As above but more expensive.
Legacies and outbacks appeal but not many have parking sensors. The Mrs will hate it. The newer ones do but I can’t bring myself to spent 30knz on an outback.
Seen a Ford Kuga with 200bhp .....ticks all boxes apart from fast and interesting.
Any other suggestions?
Vw Passat r36.
These seem cheap.
Parking sensors all round (for the Mrs)
Fast enough with 300bhp
Bit concerned fitting a tow bar will be tricky.
No good i need to take it off tarmac.
Audi s4.
As above but more expensive.
Legacies and outbacks appeal but not many have parking sensors. The Mrs will hate it. The newer ones do but I can’t bring myself to spent 30knz on an outback.
Seen a Ford Kuga with 200bhp .....ticks all boxes apart from fast and interesting.
Any other suggestions?
sopaz said:
I see a lot of C63 AMG wagons around - A lot of car for the money... (But then so is the Passat!)
Thinking outside the box, would a Caldina GT4 be too small? Or a blade master G? Both are definitely interesting!
I’ve looked at the c63. That might be an option.Thinking outside the box, would a Caldina GT4 be too small? Or a blade master G? Both are definitely interesting!
Thanks for the other 2. Not quite big enough I don’t think but I like outside of the box ideas. No idea either of those existed!
alex.tvr said:
Topbox said:
Contenders:
Vw Passat r36.
Bit concerned fitting a tow bar will be tricky.
Legacies and outbacks appeal but not many have parking sensors.
Any other suggestions?
NZ new stuff seems generally to be specced lower than what you might be used to, used to have a Nissan Murano which had bugger all compared to a UK spec. Also to note there are 2 sizes of tow ball in circulation !! 1 7/8” and 2”. Found that out after trying to hitch up a trailer onto a ‘euro’ tow ball. Vw Passat r36.
Bit concerned fitting a tow bar will be tricky.
Legacies and outbacks appeal but not many have parking sensors.
Any other suggestions?
T5’s seem to be all the craze with the surfers around my neck of the woods at the moment - how does it compare with prices for them on Trademe? I find some euro cars way more expensive down here than UK, easily covering the cost of shipping etc. Downside is you’ll have needed to own in UK for a year before shipping to save on the new immigrant GST saving.
Guessing a Golf R estate too small? They appear to be roughly $14000 cheaper in UK
I can’t find anything comparable to my t5 on trademe. They’re all bogo vans and mines quite nice with windows and carpet etc.
I’ll look at gold r estate. I think it would just be big enough but possibly pricier than I’d like.
vsonix said:
Topbox said:
Legacies and outbacks appeal but not many have parking sensors.
Any other suggestions?
Aftermarket parking sensors and even reversing cameras are very easy to fit, so I wouldn't let a lack of them put you off the right car. Holesaw in the bumper, +12V feed and tap into the reversing light circuit. for a reversing camera you'll need an aftermarket stereo with the appropriate video input. Any other suggestions?
Should take an hour and a half to to hours at most to install.
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