[Jonathon1977]

Currently my partner and I live in the US (Houston, Texas) where owning a car is just a way of life. We have no plans to bring our cars over to NZ because we can't afford to ship or convert them. Also selling our cars before we leave will provide us with some much needed cash while we find jobs and housing. We have yet to decide which part of NZ we wish to settle but no matter where we end up we will not initially have a vehicle. So I have a few questions:

1. Am I crazy to think we can live a few months to a year without a car?

2. What cities provide ample ability to commute via foot or public transportation? I prefer small cities but realize this may be a contradiction.

3. What price range do late model used cars run?


Thank you everyone for you help!

[veronica]

If you were to live in Christchurch city you could manage without a car, the city is fairly small, there is a good bus service and biking about is also an option. Can't answer for the other cities as I am not familiar with them.

[Avalon]

Jonathan,

We have only just bought a car, and we have been here 9 months! We had to buy because we were moving out of Welly city into the countryside, and although Alan commutes mostly by train, we actually have to drive 15 minutes to get there!

Living in Welly certainly wasnt too much of an issue for us without a car (with parking spaces costing between $50-80 a week - you need to consider that on top of other costs in the central city). We came from being a 2 car couple to a 0 car couple. However - there were plenty of busses if we needed to get around the city.

Problems come when you want to get out of the city (which we found we did - desperately!). It was better for us to hire a car for the odd weekend, but then some friends lent us thier car (People carrier actually) if they could - in return we took them out for dinner ocasionally and filled the tank for them. Costs about the same as hiring a car, but our friends get a nice meal rather than Avis making a buck!

Welly is also a fairly compact city - so i did a lot of walking. It was a pain having to walk accross town with 2 bags of heavy shopping, but when we did have a car we stocked up at P&S.

I understand the suburbs also have good access to busses (and of course trains), so unless you want to be like us and live in the sticks, you should mamage ok if you want to try car-less living.

Of course all this is for Welly - havent done it in the other cities - but thought it may help.

[Moorf]

I've always fantasized about getting by without a car - but once in the situation where I'm without one, I hate it!! :o

Yes, you can get around Chch on the buses, no probs, in fact they're very good here - regular services that run into the early morning hours (4am is the last bus from city to New Brighton!!).

But, if you're going to be house-hunting etc then I, personally, would want a car. If you're into cycling then you can easily get around Chch with pedal-power - if you live on the hills that's obviously a different matter ;) .

[zsj]

Definately you could in Welly, we live in the suburbs, OH got the bus/train every day to work and back and until I was ill recently I walked everywhere. The most use we got out of it was at the weekends and mainly cos we wanted to go further afield and we have 2 young kids...waiting for public transport when one needs a wee and the other is having a screaming fit cos he's tired...no thanks!

However having said that, I would still say you will probably *want* one...though that would be a difference - you would only need one.

[Carol]

I live just north of Wellington and definitely need my car.

Mainly because I work in a school out in the sticks.

I really wouldn't WANT to be without one.
for shopping etc - 3 kids - I need a LOT of shopping every week.

[Miffy]

You could get around most places with out one via walking or push bike or the limited bus service. Walking / biking around Dunedin is do-able, but man you'll get fit as there are so many hills and they are really steep!

BUT it would be a pain especially when looking for houses or going for job interviews and getting a big grocery shop home on the bus or walking is no my idea of fun.

Additionally there is not much of a public transport system from area to area so you would be stuck in the same place at weekends and would struggle in going off to explore other locations. which would be a real shame.

European and american cars are expensive and deemed as high end 'luxery'.
There are loads of cheaper japanese alternatives. Many of these are imported from japan and will be around 5 years old. The japanese as a rule don't really drive long distances or rag their cars so they are in good condition. Just a little bit old in technology etc.