Sadly we've decided to sell our beloved MX5

[BMWST?]

Manufacturers are cramming more and more electrical stuff into cars these days and trying to do it at a cost point. Many would like to go to 48V electrics and battery makers are cramming more plates into their batteries to try to cope with the demand. That's why I don't recommend Shorai for modern cars until they come out with a greater reserve capacity. They'll start any car, but don't have the reserve for the likes of 10-way electrically adjustable heated seats and all the other paraphenalia.

my 1990 BMW 535 had 10 way adjustable electric seats.It also had a battery under the back seat to suit(and a 25AH auxillary in the boot).It started to do strange things if the battery was near the end of its life.I got a proper battery for it,ie what BMW actualy recomended.I dint have any issues after that.And for the record i got the 535 at 140ks and sold it at 260ks.I had it for about 8 years used every day.It let me down once.Fantastic car.

[ducatilover]

I took the car out twice today and I have to say that each time I drive it I love it more! Perfect day for it!

Keep it Ed, bugger the back!

[Edbear]

my 1990 BMW 535 had 10 way adjustable electric seats.It also had a battery in the boot to suit(and a 25AH auxillary).It started to do strange things if the battery was near the end of its life.I got a proper battery for it,ie what BMW actualy recomended.I dint have any issues after that.And for the record i got the 535 at 140ks and sold it at 260ks.I had it for about 8 years used every day.It let me down once.Fantastic car.

Keep it Ed, bugger the back!

My favourite model is the earlier 320/325's the six cyl manual ones. Apart from those I wouldn't bbuy one but glad to hear you had a good run.

I don't want to sell it really but if we get offered decent money it will go towards getting Mrs. Bear a car she can get into and out of easier. Recently she suffered a health reversal that means she has to be very careful with her movements for the foreseeable future and the car is just too low and hard for her to get out of now.

[Edbear]

Getting old sucks!

[scumdog]

Getting old sucks!

Ya don't really want to try the option....

[Nova.]

Bag it out!

[Edbear]

Bag it out!

Nah, just need enough dosh to keep it and buy the Misses another car.

[Edbear]

Ya don't really want to try the option....

Your logic is inescapable! Being dead would suck worse...

[SVboy]

In a straight line maybe, but then don't forget the LFA costs 5 times as much as a GTR.

Euro's? Imported? Sell boat loads of them. Yup early Audi CVTs were shit, BMW 4 cylinders burn oil, Mercedes well anything is pricey on them, e39 and X5 dashes lose lights, VW are fine but good luck if a DSG box shits itself. Pity because they are sweet gearboxes. VW R32 rear diff? Better have $8k nearby and time to wait while they build one for you in Germany. We almost traded a Volvo with a shot tranny once, inquired what a replacement was worth. Are you sitting down? Good. $35,000.

Servicing of Euros is not necessary a great deal more than certain Japanese cars. And when you think what your 2004 Audi A4 1.8t gives you for $18k compared to say an 04 Caldina for $16k, you're getting a fuck load of car. Just remember though, that Audi cost $100k from new, the Toyota maybe $38-42. They will cost more to repair for a reason.

I agree with most people's sentiments about Mitsubishi, with the standout exception of the 05 onwards 2.4 Outlander. We have sold dozens of these and they don't come back with faults.

Now to me, NZ has for a long time been a Toyota country. Corolla, Corona, Camry and Hilux. Names that everyone recognised. Now Toyota had diversified too much in my opinion, especially in their home market, to the point that they suffer in poor quality control. Biggest selling mid sized car for us currently is the Mazda Atenza. 2.0 or 2.3 they sell sell sell. Great reputation for reliability and a name that a lot of people now recognise. Biggest selling small'ish car? Mazda Axela, preferably 1.5 or 2.3. The 2.0 doesn't appear on most people's radars, they ether want economy and reliability or power and reliability. Resale for both these vehicles strong. Now I see NZ being less of a Toyota nation. The swing isn't fully there but it's gently falling away from Toyota.

Astute comments from a man in the game. Problem can be people can afford to buy the Audi/merc/french POS but expect to run them on a "toyota" budget!

[onearmedbandit]

There is the saying, if you can't afford a new European you can't afford a second hand one.

[ducatilover]

There is the saying, if you can't afford a new European you can't afford a second hand one.

And an early worm gets killed
Don't see the hassle myself, just buy a car with good history and generally it's fine, know where to shop for parts etc
I got a new radiator for my Ovlov 850 recently for a whopping $214nz delivered.
Front struts were around the same price for OEM (Sachs-Boge).
It cost me more for a rear Hyundai Lantra strut, at trade cost, than an Ovlov one, or a Biltsien for an E36

Peoples needs edumacations, or keep selling me "horrible, unreliable eurotrash"

[Ocean1]

There is the saying, if you can't afford a new European you can't afford a second hand one.

I had that exact phrase in my head last week, I was looking at a 2009 Volvo C30.

Nice drive, sat nice and flat and the 2.4 5 cyl wasn't bad. But I ended up with a Toyota Blade.

[SVboy]

And an early worm gets killed
Don't see the hassle myself, just buy a car with good history and generally it's fine, know where to shop for parts etc
I got a new radiator for my Ovlov 850 recently for a whopping $214nz delivered.
Front struts were around the same price for OEM (Sachs-Boge).
It cost me more for a rear Hyundai Lantra strut, at trade cost, than an Ovlov one, or a Biltsien for an E36

Peoples needs edumacations, or keep selling me "horrible, unreliable eurotrash"

Yes, but you obviously have mechanical aptitude and knowledge......as for volvos, I heard that from new they are the fastest depreciating car brand in nz.

[ducatilover]

Yes, but you obviously have mechanical aptitude and knowledge......as for volvos, I heard that from new they are the fastest depreciating car brand in nz.

I'd like to tell myself that people have been known to pay me to ruin their cars on a regular basis though

Wouldn't be surprised about that. I got mine for free and it's a '95... I'll have to pay someone to take it next year?

[Edbear]

Astute comments from a man in the game. Problem can be people can afford to buy the Audi/merc/french POS but expect to run them on a "toyota" budget!

True dat!

I had that exact phrase in my head last week, I was looking at a 2009 Volvo C30.

Nice drive, sat nice and flat and the 2.4 5 cyl wasn't bad. But I ended up with a Toyota Blade.

I would like a Blade Master! Had the opportunity to buy one and still could get the guy to find me a good one if I had the dollars.