Have been looking at trading/swapping our Honda that hasn't sold (price needs to come down again) so we have something that is useful. Had my mind fixed on a 4 door ute with canopy, prefer petrol so it's ideal to take camping and not have to tow a trailer and is tidy and reliable but they seem abit hard to get down here. Any other suggestions for vehicle that would have the space to take all the camping gear and 4-5 people?
brapbrap8,
Feb 10, 10:51am
A budget might be helpful.
4rdfan4eva,
Feb 10, 10:57am
Yes, good idea lol, $8-9k hopefully.
gmphil,
Feb 10, 11:32am
commodore wagon
4rdfan4eva,
Feb 10, 11:35am
We have a 2011 Mondeo wagon for a work car, but still used a trailer last time we went.
mopsy3,
Feb 10, 11:44am
Falcon wagon. Far more space than a Mondeo or Commy.
tamarillo,
Feb 10, 12:13pm
What's so wrong with trailer? Isn't it better to have car that's fine for most of year, economical, affordable on gas, tyres etc, safer and cheaper, then just hitch a traler occasionally? Or cart around weight at cost of gas, big wheels with pricey tyres, poor handling that's not as safe. etc. But if you insist there's not much to replace a big ute but petrol ones will cost fortune to run, even diesel ones burn a lot. And they hold value so well they cost way more to buy. Have you looked at a truly big wagon like a big Volvo? Or van/ people mover like Previa? Heaps of space but modern mechanicals, safe, handles well, if only two rows of seats used will have huge boot left.
4rdfan4eva,
Feb 10, 12:23pm
Nothing wrong with a trailer, I can tow one no problem but we don't own one, don't really like borrowing and would rather not buy one. I'm hoping just to make the one purchase, ideally a straight swap. Have been looking at some van type options too. Prefer my wee car for everyday around town.
daryl14,
Feb 10, 7:46pm
Are you camping once a week or once a year? is trailer rental an option? I just bought an older trailer and give it a wof once a year and a rego once in a blue moon.
4rdfan4eva,
Feb 10, 7:53pm
Hoping to do 3 or 4 trips over the summer months, will use it for getting wood, taking the kids out with their bikes etc. Husband generally has to work so it needs to be a vehicle I can take away.
nesta129,
Feb 10, 7:56pm
Agree. mate's parents got one that they use for camping when they take their two kids,works well!
homeless_guy,
Feb 11, 9:10pm
5 door Rav 4 with a roof rack. Then you have the option of 4 wheel drive, can tow a trailer if needed and roof storage if required. Good in Southland on the beaten tracks and readily available at a good price. Can't go past a Toyota.
supernova2,
Feb 11, 9:42pm
IMHO the tray space on 4 door utes with canopy is about as much use as a child's wheelbarrow. Also the back seats are often pretty basic as well. As others have said a Falcon wagon is the way to go.
franc123,
Feb 11, 10:00pm
As above, dont underestimate the relative load area sizes between twin cab utes with canopies, and properly large station wagons, the former are smaller than you think in tray AND rear seat area and are stupidly expensive to buy for what you get AND to run in overall terms when buying used. They're just a huge compromise IMO. A late model Estima is easy to get for that $ and could be worth a look, about the only disadvantage would be having to rub shoulders with damp smelly camping gear on the way home if its been wet.
thejazzpianoma,
Feb 12, 4:46am
An 8-9K ute is going to be a horrible old, high maintenance, high km thing that won't be particularly comfortable and will likely cost you a lot to keep on the road. It's a supply and demand thing and as a result old utes are ridiculously over priced.
Personally, I would probably go with a Mercedes Vito Van in diesel, you could get a very nice example of the first shape for your money. They are lovely to drive, plenty of go, cheap to run and very reliable. Parts are reasonably priced and easy to get.
If you don't mind looking a bit different, the other possible option that comes to mind is a Fiat Multipla. We have one and it's fantastic. The rear seats are completely individually removable and it's tall and wide with a flat floor. So if you want to take 3 people and a heap of wood, no problem. Five people and several bikes, easy as. WIth one or two seats removed you will be amazed at how much camping gear you can get in one. They are easy to load with a low floor and everything remains dry and can be locked up, unlike a ute.
I have used them as work vans for electrician type contractors, carried car engines, travelled long distance with 6 adults Christmas dinner and presents. When my wife rode her motor scooter to work and it started raining I could go and pick her up and just put the scooter in the back.
Again, very reliable, lovely to drive, costs next to nothing to run and parts are cheap and surprisingly easy to get. Far more comfortable to travel in than an old Ute too.
My 2C.
inkapuka,
Feb 12, 6:53am
You may aswell buy a v8 because i used to own a 97 2 door rav awd and was the most thirsty pos ever. Had to replace all of the shocks and it used alot of oil oh and only the 2002ish up have optional 4wd
tamarillo,
Feb 12, 7:03am
I can go right past a Toyota, a Long long way past. My fridge has more character and appeal, and is probably better to drive if I put it on castors.
tamarillo,
Feb 12, 7:05am
Agreed, any but very latest softroaders burn way more gas than they should for size and performance. And yes I have driven them, lots.
tamarillo,
Feb 12, 7:08am
Any modern 2 litre plus will tow beautifully. Indeed many smaller modern motors will.
Looked at Skoda Octavia or superb wagon. Based on VW underpinnings with bigger bodies, big wagons, superb is enormous, but efficient grunty VW group engines. Many motoring journos spend own money on them. Choices of petrol and diesels of various sizes. Hugely popular in Europe and plenty here now. Hard to be in your price range but do come up.
4rdfan4eva,
Feb 12, 7:34am
Definitely agree with everything said above in regards to Utes overpriced, not tidy and lots of k's, I've had abit of a shock to be honest. I do like the idea of an Estima with abit more flexibility. We take alot of gear as we don't go to camping grounds.
motorboy2011,
Feb 12, 10:22am
Nissan stagea, petrol, 2.5l, at least as big as a utes tray when the rear seats are down, 4wd. On the up side, when it's shit cold and wet, you can sleep in the back
thejazzpianoma,
Feb 12, 12:04pm
This is a board full of used Japanese car dealers and their mates so be ready for a backlash. but honestly, the Estima is over hyped.
They are very thirsty and not as practical as you might think. Twice the price to run of the Multipla for instance, yet slower and while they are a much bigger far more lumbering vehicle to live with they struggle to carry as much gear.
Up to you, but if you have a drive of the Mercedes and Multipla, and do the math on the running costs you may well be very surprised at the difference.
thejazzpianoma,
Feb 12, 12:08pm
If you can fit in a wagon, I couldn't agree more. A phenomenal vehicle for the money and pretty much no compromise. You get reliability, power, mega economy, a brilliant drivers car and loads of space with no down side. VW/Skoda is very well supported in NZ for parts and service too.
Definitely worth a drive and doing the math on as well, then compare to the Estima.
tsjcf,
Feb 12, 2:56pm
What about a holden Crewman? Close to your budget V6 or V8.
mrfxit,
Feb 12, 4:20pm
Holden = over priced/ thirsty/ heavy/ big body vehicles/ chew wheel bearing hubs/ suspension mounts/ steering joints/ head gaskets. Grunty yes but thirsty doing it.
Apart from the fact that they are rebadged Daewoo bodys since 2005.
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