[jess]

:o We don't really know much about cars. I want a small automatic, and I tend to go for a newer model with lower milage over a flashy model. I just like a car that's less likely to break down.

I'm moving to Wellington in less than two weeks, and I just realised I don't know anything about the cars available in NZ, and even the models like the Mitsubishi Lancer which we have in the states are not the same.

Does anyone have any recommendations either of a dependable car you have or a website that has reliable reviews?

Thanks!
J

[jubjub]

You can get Toyota Yaris over here, they have got a good reputation, there is also the Holden Barina thats a small car too (quite fancy one myself), there is also the Nissan March (like the UK Micra) & Mazda Demio that are quite small, as is the Honda Jazz, and I am sure you can get Ford fiestas here too they seem to last a good while.

http://www.autonet.co.nz/

http://www.aa.co.nz/motoring/Section?Action=View&Section_id=376&Story_id=2760

http://www.donsautopages.co.nz/carsgeneral.htm

http://www.thecaryard.co.nz/

HTH

[Smiler]

Jess

In Wellington there are heaps of main dealers and garages on Kent and Cambridge Terrace (a short walk from Tepapa) round the Basin Reserve road (at the top of K&CT)and also private cars for sale on the airport road on the weekend. :uhoh

I've also heard about a car market on sundays in Lower Hutt, getting really popular.

I've not bought but heard good reports from other forumites about http://www.wcd.co.nz/ The sales men are salaried, not on commision and are prepared to cut a deal. :nice1

There is also the small VW Polo, Honda Civic, and little Peugeot 206 and 306's.

I have trouble recognising a lot of the makes too so you won't be alone.

[jess]

Thanks to you both! Lots of good information and links. I appreciate it. I'm going to try WCD first I think, because I've read several good comments about them.

I drove a used Mitsubishi Lancer here and loved the way it handled. I heard they are a completely different car overseas -- well, mostly I heard the US version doesn't measure up to the European version of the car, so maybe that will work out.

Thanks!
J

[sweetpea]

Newish cars = $$$$$$. Get a Toyota Corolla or Corona, whichever was the first year they had airbags -- between 1994 and 1997 is my guess. They go forever -- even the 10-year-old ones. Most of the Corollas in NZ are smaller than Corollas in the States, and they're available in hatchbacks and all sorts of variations. The Corona is just a bit bigger and has a reputation for being the Energizer bunny of cars.

I love VW's and owned a Passat for years, but I would not recommend any VW to someone looking for a reliable car :uhoh I rented a Mazda Demio when I first came out here and it was supercute and fun, but I'm not sure about Mazda quality over the long term.

Not that I'm opinionated or anything :D

If you want to have a look at real-world NZ cars, visit www.trademe.co.nz (http://www.trademe.co.nz)

Laura
(who still hasn't surrendered her Toyota sleepervan)

[Avalon]

Jess,

Mitsubishi's are available here - and there is a dealer on Cambridge Terrace - so you could find what you are after here. With these cars , as with other makes - the name of the car is often different. So fo exaple, we have a Mitsubishi Legnum, which in teh Uk at least would be called a Galant. Or so im told!

If you are brave enough - you could also check our turners Car auctions at Petone

http://www.turners.co.nz/

Happens to be where we got ours from. We didnt bid for it - but went back later to ask if it was still available and negotiated that way - a lot less pressure!

[jo-and-jeff]

Jess,

With respect to your question, I too am from the states, and I will be arriving in Auckland within the week. I would also like to buy a car within the first couple of days or so, and I have done quite a bit of research on the subject. First, many of the foreign cars are the same in NZ as they are in the States (Mitsubishi Lancer and Toyota Corolla excepted. Don't go looking for American makes as they are all different. Holden is a branch of GM, but they are made in Australia. You probably wouldn't recognize any of the Fords). Second, some NZ models are coming to the states thanks to increased petrol prices (e.g., Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz). The Consumer Reports (CR) car issue is out right now; I've read it cover to cover and found it to be very helpful, especially with respect to the hybrids at which I have been looking, the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius, both of which are available in NZ.

One resource that you might want to try is the NZ CR equivalent, Consumer Magazine

http://www.consumer.org.nz

Some of the information is a bit dated, but I have found this to be a good source not just for cars but for electronics, insurance and other things. Online subscriptions are reasonable (around $20NZ per month, I think) and well worth it.

Now, my question(s): Does anyone have any tips on negotiating price with NZ new car dealers? Are hybrids in demand in NZ now like they are in the States? Can I expect a better price if I am willing to buy the car with cash outright? I've never had to haggle over a car before, so I would appreciate all the advice I can get. Thanks,

Jeff

[clg]

It is hard to negotiate on a new car since you don't know dealer cost like you do in the US. Best bet is probably to work with a couple of different dealers and be prepared for a lot of back and forth. I contacted some by email first and asked for their best price then went back and forth with the one who came in lowest. I had the deal setup before I moved here. Cash does not really seem to help much. There are hybrids around but I don't know how popular they are at dealers, my hunch is less so than in the US since most kiwis would put the extra $ for a hybrid into a bigger car.

Chris

[jo-and-jeff]

Thanks Chris. I hadn't thought about negotiating via email before I arrive. I may have to give that a go, as they say.
Jeff

[jen]

thanks for the info - I was also wondering if negotiating over car prices was generally the same as in the US. I've done the back-and-forth haggling a couple times on used cars and HATE it so I was hoping for a fixed-price system, oh well!

I've had 3 hondas including my current Civic, so I guess if we move I can stay in my rut and just get another one :laugh

[Howie]

We just bought a 1997 Toyota Carib. It's a small station wagon, with ABS and air bags. We went to a bunch of used car dealers on Great South Road in Takanini. There was lots to choose from. The thing that surprised me is just how much the dealers were willing to haggle. We told them we wanted to spend about $6000 cash and they started showing us cars listed at $10,000 and were bringing them down to $7000 right off. It seems that there are so many used cars from Japan the dealers are trying to get rid of.

[xanctus]

Jess, how small do you want?
if you like hatchback type, maybe you want to check Honda Fit or Jazz (same car, 2 different names, but excatly the same car). Or if you like a smaller SEDAN car, then civic/corrolla is about the same as here in the States.

[Toronto_Kiwi]

Interesting fact from World Mapper: New Zealand tops the list of the most cars per person in the world: 61 cars per 100 people. As 23% of the population of New Zealand are under 14 years old, that is almost a car per person for everyone old enough to drive.
I wonder NZ-landers have so many cars, considering their relative high cost?
http://www.sasi.group.shef.ac.uk/worldmapper/display.php?selected=31

[Moorf]

Probably cos they've all still got the same car at 80 that they did at 20 cos it's still running and rust free and they just bought more in the mean time :D