Comments on: Help buying a car in New Zealand? http://www.mainspot.net/help-buying-a-car-in-new-zealand/ Automotive Resource and Car Care Sat, 16 Oct 2010 15:54:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: ugg kid http://www.mainspot.net/help-buying-a-car-in-new-zealand/comment-page-1/#comment-8872 ugg kid Mon, 11 Oct 2010 16:52:40 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=1034#comment-8872 Hello, Great job on the site, it looks great. I am going to bookmark it and will make sure to check often. Hello, Great job on the site, it looks great. I am going to bookmark it and will make sure to check often.

]]> By: Rory Lilburn http://www.mainspot.net/help-buying-a-car-in-new-zealand/comment-page-1/#comment-8868 Rory Lilburn Sun, 10 Oct 2010 20:55:25 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=1034#comment-8868 Hi. I just noticed that your blog looks like it has a few code errors at the very top of your site's page. I'm not sure if everybody is getting this same bugginess when browsing your blog? I am employing a totally different browser than most people, referred to as Opera, so that is what might be causing it? I just wanted to make sure you know. Thanks for posting some great postings and I'll try to return back with a completely different browser to check things out! Hi. I just noticed that your blog looks like it has a few code errors at the very top of your site’s page. I’m not sure if everybody is getting this same bugginess when browsing your blog? I am employing a totally different browser than most people, referred to as Opera, so that is what might be causing it? I just wanted to make sure you know. Thanks for posting some great postings and I’ll try to return back with a completely different browser to check things out!

]]> By: Piper Hauptmann http://www.mainspot.net/help-buying-a-car-in-new-zealand/comment-page-1/#comment-8841 Piper Hauptmann Tue, 05 Oct 2010 01:50:39 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=1034#comment-8841 Great story! I've been searching google for several hours looking for relevant info on this, they definitely need to position your site on the first page! Great story! I’ve been searching google for several hours looking for relevant info on this, they definitely need to position your site on the first page!

]]> By: rapsson2003 http://www.mainspot.net/help-buying-a-car-in-new-zealand/comment-page-1/#comment-2231 rapsson2003 Mon, 11 May 2009 13:03:15 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=1034#comment-2231 I have had Japanese imports simply because they have been cheaper to purchase. The down fall is you really cannot be sure of the full history and it is wise to have a certified odometer check. I purchased a Toyota Corolla which was a fantastic car but when I put it in for a service, realised it had been tampered with. NZ new cars will probably meet the specified safety standards - at best do your homework on the make and model of the vehicle you seek to purchase. I would go for an automatic simply because if someone else ever needs to drive for you you can be assured they'd be able to drive your vehicle. Also, driving in the city can be a pain with a manual when you have to stop and start. Long distance driving is also easier with an automatic. Fuel consumption is likely to be less with an automatic because of your ability to set cruise control - but that will also depend upon the type of vehicle you buy and the way you drive. I have had Japanese imports simply because they have been cheaper to purchase. The down fall is you really cannot be sure of the full history and it is wise to have a certified odometer check. I purchased a Toyota Corolla which was a fantastic car but when I put it in for a service, realised it had been tampered with.

NZ new cars will probably meet the specified safety standards – at best do your homework on the make and model of the vehicle you seek to purchase.

I would go for an automatic simply because if someone else ever needs to drive for you you can be assured they’d be able to drive your vehicle. Also, driving in the city can be a pain with a manual when you have to stop and start. Long distance driving is also easier with an automatic.
Fuel consumption is likely to be less with an automatic because of your ability to set cruise control – but that will also depend upon the type of vehicle you buy and the way you drive.

]]> By: Tahini Raving Weirdo http://www.mainspot.net/help-buying-a-car-in-new-zealand/comment-page-1/#comment-2230 Tahini Raving Weirdo Sat, 09 May 2009 00:29:57 +0000 http://www.mainspot.net/?p=1034#comment-2230 The one thing to look out for is safety equipment. Non-NZ new imports from Japan do not comply to the same safety standards as some NZ new vehicles. I have just bought a used import Mitsubishi Colt Plus, from Japan. It does not have the side airbags you can get on NZ-new models. If your import comes from Japan, I would not worry about durability. Japanese cars are world-famous for it, and quality standards at home are sky-high. It is generally agreed that manual transmissions will outlast automatics, but the difference is marginal - consider that you will be able to use your car for about 10 to 15 years before it really starts deteriorating; maybe, in that time, you'll have a situation when you'll appreciate an automatic? I'd get an automatic (and I have). Automatics will allow you to go through traffic with less stress - you may not think it amounts to much, but it does. Starting from a traffic light on a hill without ever stalling it or rolling backward, having someone else drive you home, crawling through long traffic jams in Auckland simply by lifting your foot off the brake a bit... it adds up. You'll be glad to have it. And make sure it has airbags and ABS braking - you can verify by turning the ignition key to first stop and watching the lights that come up; one should say "SRS airbag", one "ABS". If it has both, you've got a keeper. The one thing to look out for is safety equipment. Non-NZ new imports from Japan do not comply to the same safety standards as some NZ new vehicles. I have just bought a used import Mitsubishi Colt Plus, from Japan. It does not have the side airbags you can get on NZ-new models.
If your import comes from Japan, I would not worry about durability. Japanese cars are world-famous for it, and quality standards at home are sky-high.
It is generally agreed that manual transmissions will outlast automatics, but the difference is marginal – consider that you will be able to use your car for about 10 to 15 years before it really starts deteriorating; maybe, in that time, you’ll have a situation when you’ll appreciate an automatic? I’d get an automatic (and I have).
Automatics will allow you to go through traffic with less stress – you may not think it amounts to much, but it does. Starting from a traffic light on a hill without ever stalling it or rolling backward, having someone else drive you home, crawling through long traffic jams in Auckland simply by lifting your foot off the brake a bit… it adds up. You’ll be glad to have it.
And make sure it has airbags and ABS braking – you can verify by turning the ignition key to first stop and watching the lights that come up; one should say “SRS airbag”, one “ABS”. If it has both, you’ve got a keeper.

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