Buying a car.

**Crisis management** · 13th September 2006, 10:12

My pick would be something reasonably cheap so that, if the worst happens, you can walk away from it, ie if you decide to leave NZ and have to sell in a hurry...
There are heaps of good cars for under $5k, stick to sedans rather than station wagons as long as they give you enough seats and luggage capacity as there are more sedans available than station wagons.
I would keep clear of four wheel drives as there is no where in NZ you can't get with a car and they are expensive to run.
Finally..Toyota... don't buy anything else.

Mind you I could be completely wrong about all of this!

**KLOWN** · 13th September 2006, 11:00

what ever you do get a prepurchase inspection done, I believe they usually cost about $100 most people use the AA inspection but I hate the AA. There are plenty of alternative checkers. I was looking at getting a desiel before I bought my station wagon and the mechanic I talked to said don't even consider getting a desiel earlier than 95 and it really shoud be a 2000+ model. As for price im not too sure, But I got my 95 nissan sentra station wagon for $2000 and it is ment to be one of the most reliable cars out there next to the toyota corolla but it is a 1600cc so not to good for towing thigs. I think you'll find that cars are very cheap here compared to uk and our insurance is not compulsry but it is a good idea to get third party at the least. Also i've been told not to waste money on turbo desiel cars/trucks/4X4 cause they will end up costing you alot when it goes wrong. If you are lucky you might find a car running lpg which is very cheap and nice clean burning so usually less engine wear. happy hunting

**kickingzebra** · 13th September 2006, 12:02

I can't imagine you having any drama.
I just bought a 95 nissan terrano for $2500. It had 205000 kms on it, but good service records, and at that price, if the problem with it is more than is economical to fix, it isn't as if I lose a lot. Towbar etc, and a good 2 ton tow rating.
Diesel is currently $1.18 at the pump, and road user charges add $32.00?? per thousand kms. You have to pre pay them though, so you buy 5 or 10 thousand kms at a go.

Diesels do certainly cost more to fix if they go wrong.

The one problem with buying a toyota is that every other muppet under the sun wants them too, so old clapped out heaps of shit still sell for stupid prices. the competition for my terrano included 1988 turbo surfs still selling for $5000(notoriously weak where the turbo manifold joins onto the head, expect an (expensive) rebuild.
The 2.8 and 3.0 litre naturally aspirated are mint engines that will run damn near forever, the 3.0 turbo in the newer vehicles is bloody good as well.

Luck of the draw on the day, but keep an eye on trademe etc, as then you have a rough idea of what sells, and what it sells for.
Dealers are usually more expensive, but then you have recourse if something goes wrong with the vehicle.

Hope that helps.

**Edbear** · 13th September 2006, 18:47

Originally Posted by car

I was hoping to pick up something tidy but not earth-shattering in the $10k region. After that I start eating into my bike fund, and we don't want that.

Realistic?

Yup! That gives a lot of choice. I picked this up off TradeMe for $5k. TD27 Turbo-intercooled diesel, 7-seater with 137k on the clock. Very tidy and is going to be our cruiser for our SI trip at the end of the year.