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Buying or selling

Small or large, manual or automatic, import or NZ new, Ford versus Holden? Check out what our experts have to say on these and other choices we motorists have to make from time to time.

2 March 2012

Don't get ripped off - do the checks on that car before you buy it

If you ever wondered why you should bother getting a vehicle history report when buying a car you should read Our kids buy a car on Trade Me and get ripped off in a big way, written by Brian Edwards. It's blog post about a young couple who found a great car on Trade Me only to have it repossessed because money was owed on the vehicle.

2 February 2011

A caution about private imports

With the current favourable exchange rates, more and more requests are coming through to our tech advice staff asking for advice on importing a used European car from the UK. For most potential Euro bargin hunters, the checking of the rules comes first but there are some who like to jump the gun and purchase a late model car, ship it to NZ and try and sort out the technicalities later.

20 January 2011

Petrol or diesel - which one should you buy?

With huge fluctuations in fuel prices, one of the big questions, when buying a car, is whether to opt for petrol or diesel.

23 November 2010

Change in buying patterns

Like other markets around the world, New Zealand’s new car industry has seen some major changes in recent years, with fluctuations in buying patterns throughout these recessionary times seeing some interesting shifts in customer preferences.

21 May 2010

Do you really need a V6 engine?

For those on a limited budget and looking for a reasonably cheap used car, we strongly recommend some consideration is given to the number of engine cylinders sitting under the bonnet.

13 April 2010

Helping your teen buy their first car

Helping your son or daughter purchase their first car is a challenge. Tensions may mount over choosing the most suitable vehicle. Aspirations may be beyond financial realities. Here's some guidance.

23 March 2010

Cheaper to stick with a manual shifter?

Automatic transmissions continue to be the transmission of choice for most Kiwi drivers, but for many they have become a financial nightmare.

13 May 2009

Toyota Yaris vs Suzuki Swift vs Holden Barina 2009 review

Back in the days of endless summers, quarter acre sections and school milk we rode around in big 6 or 8 cylinder cars unconcerned about the price of fuel or the damage we were doing to the environment. After all, petrol only cost a couple of bob a gallon and small cars were considered dangerous so the more hard metal around us the better.

27 September 2008

How to buy a safe second hand car

There are two sources of valuable information. These are crash test results and car accident statistics.

13 November 2006

Ford Focus Wagon, FFV, Falcon Mark II and FPV Vehicles 2006 review

Ford New Zealand are introducing a swag of new additions to their most popular model line-ups between now and the new year, and there's something for everyone among the new selection of Focus, Falcon and FPV vehicles.