Audi A4 Japanese import (off trademe) 3 years ago and have had nothing but problems. It's cost me the same again in repairs. So now the car flooded (due to excessive heavy rain and wind) and lucky for me the insurance company are coming to the party. My question is.what to buy next. Cars i don't want are, European, Jap imports, high fuel consumption. What i do want is a descent car thats not going to be in the garage every time it needs a wof.
Thoughts please!
vtecnet,
Jan 12, 3:22am
Only safe option is to buy a really new car with a warranty perhaps
stretchedart,
Jan 12, 3:35am
Yes that would be nice but don't want to put myself in debt. Looking at around 6k
friendly_prawn,
Jan 12, 3:38am
coon. go for a coon. They're as tough as an old pair of hobnail boots.
stretchedart,
Jan 12, 3:44am
excuse my ignorance but whats a "coon"!
magicmat,
Jan 12, 3:46am
She is a beauty mate! Of course I would rather be ashamed and drive a Holden (that has been reliable as hell) but that is just me.
stretchedart,
Jan 12, 3:47am
too small and double my budget.
stretchedart,
Jan 12, 3:48am
now i do have some Holdens in my watchlist. How are they mechanically!
shelleigh,
Jan 12, 3:52am
70's nickname for a Falcon - someone is showing their age calling them that lol I liked the XD model best.
friendly_prawn,
Jan 12, 3:53am
rubbish. I bought my 1998 Falcon a couple of years ago and apart from replacing a door handle *typical fault with falcons* it hasnt missed a beat. Taxi drivers tell me they get up to 400k out of them with out having to do stuff all to them. Of course thats well maintained.
and its not the first coon I have had. they have all been very reliable.
stretchedart,
Jan 12, 3:54am
Holden was actually my third thought. 1st being Toyota then Nissan. Ive heard these cars are very realiable!
I thought that 6k would get me a descent secondhand car that would at least last me 5 or so years!
magicmat,
Jan 12, 3:55am
Relatively simple compared to Euro cars. Parts can be expensive but repairs are rare (mostly) and they are built to survive the harsh Aussie summers so NZ is easy going for them. Mine is 5.7 litre so bit more of a gas guzzler than you would be after - but its been very reliable other than a fuel pump that died but was replaced by mechanical insurance anyway. The V6 Holdens have awesome performance and way better economy than the V8 models. I love V8's but after driving a few V6 Holdens I have to say the V6 models hold up really well.
edangus,
Jan 12, 3:57am
Sorry Friendly, what I meant was its a mixed bag when you limit your options. At $6K, I would not expect anything to be flying through WOFS everytime. We all know about wear n tear. Stupid bulbs, worn seatbelts, brake pads, shocks etc. Thats just part and parcel of owning a car.
edangus,
Jan 12, 3:59am
You are really going to have your work cut out looking for a non imported jappa. $6K will not gaurantee 5 years. Neither wil $15K. Sorry Mate
magicmat,
Jan 12, 4:01am
Yea agreed - 6k is not going to get you much car, or not much of a guaranteed reliable car. Personally, my next choice would be a Honda if I could not get a Holden (for 6k there are not too many great Holdens). I have nothing but praise for the couple of Hondas I have owned in my life. Very reliable and cheap to run.
stretchedart,
Jan 12, 4:02am
Yes i understand wear and tear but i brought the audi for 10k and its cost around 8k in repairs in 3 years. I want something thats not going to be heavy on the pocket when it does need something doing ie brakes and other things that need replacing every now and then.
richard198,
Jan 12, 4:06am
Opels are European.
magicmat,
Jan 12, 4:08am
Ok stretchedart I am going to again recommend Honda. For the money you have to spend you could get a fairly decent Honda. Though I am only going by my own experience (I have murdered many cars in my years lol) I have to say Hondas have done me very well. Others here will flame me for that I am sure. But I did the Euro car thing too, got a Mercedes from me daddy for a bargain and it was great when it went well. then things started to break. lots of things. and it was a nightmare that I flicked off 'as is, where is' for virtually nothing and was glad to see it go! Last Honda I had was an early 90's Integra and I drove it very hard and did thousands of K's in it (Tauranga to Hamilton daily for work) and only got rid of it as it was starting to get too many miles on the clock. Its probably still flying through warrants for the new owner!
edangus,
Jan 12, 4:11am
It is a worry out there. The Altezza Wagon I bought a year ago (lotsa money) has cost me $1000 or so in the last year, for shocks etc (blimin not cheap for that puppy) and having the rims straightened (1st WOF since import) dang it. But its a Fantastic Wagon while heavy on the Gas (3.0) The Mirage 2003 cost me 4K 18 months ago and has had $500.00 worth of odds n sods. Crappy old E38 BMW740 ($4K) - A battery (which i am yet to buy). thats it. and its passed 2 Wofs.
So so far thats the best buy in the last 2 years!
edangus,
Jan 12, 4:12am
Got a Holden Badge.but yes Richard. you are 100% correct.
stretchedart,
Jan 12, 4:20am
Thanks all of you for your thoughts.but im off to bed now to sleep on it. Insurance assessor wrote car off today and is de-registering it so i need to move fast. Will be dreaming Honda's, Toyota's, Nissan's etc etc
frank1,
Jan 12, 4:41am
My advice--stick to Toyota/Nissan--as an ex engine recon business owner--They had the least probs--And parts are cheap As for Audi's Vws
owene,
Jan 12, 5:16am
If you really want to avoid all of your past problems then buy a nice new Raleigh Twin Forks 26" cyclical.Jokes aside, the Nissan/Toyota advice in #27 is dead right - can't beat them.
LOL at not wanting Jap import but wanting fuel economy. Prety much everything NZ new is exactly the same as the Jap import. NZ new Mazda 2 is the same as JDM Mazda Demio for example. It may have been the case that Jap imports were sub standard but not anymore.
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