Car totalled- what next?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Car totalled- what next?

Jonski

265 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 31

#225575 24-Nov-2017 18:57

So, an eejit in a Ford Regulus with bullbars decided to ram into the back of our stationary 2001 GT-T Caldina at an intersection. We've just been told our car is now not economical to repair. We might get $5-6k for it from insurance. So, where to from here?

We love our Caldina. It's the family wagon (two primary-age kids), it goes like the clappers. It hold a ton and just frikkin works. Until now.

SO, we only really load up the car to the gunnels for twice-yearly trips to Taupo (from Auckland) plus a camping trip or two in summer. So we're thinking that we should swap over to a smaller car, some kind of pocket rocket, and just hire a SUV or something when we need it. Possibly even get a plugin hybrid?!?

Between Toyotas, Hondas and Mazdas, what's the story? What should we be looking at? What do we need to consider when looking at batteries? Anything else?

TIA

Jon

I reject your reality and substitute my own!
- Adam Savage, Mythbuster

1 | 2

Geek of Coastguard
14116 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4576

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1907270 24-Nov-2017 19:19

What do you want to spend is the big question.

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

Jonski

265 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 31

#1907401 24-Nov-2017 21:42

7-10?

I reject your reality and substitute my own!
- Adam Savage, Mythbuster

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 759
Inactive user

#1907417 24-Nov-2017 22:15

What’s your daily commute like?

We recently swapped a Corolla into a 2011 Nissan Leaf ($10K) and with our daily 85km return commute we turned our $350/m petrol bill into a $70/m electric bill and use the $280 saved to pay off the upgrade price of the Leaf. Monthly electric costs go down even more when SWMBO can be bothered to free charge in town when shopping.

Bonus extras iare the massive torque, the silent drive, and the zero carbon ‘feel good, do good’ factor

Whole GZ thread on them here: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=162&topicid=191715

blackjack17

1713 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 865

#1907434 24-Nov-2017 22:53

3 years ago picked up a 2006 Subaru legacy for $5500 with 140,000km on the clock. Couldn't be happier. Not the most efficient around town but very on long distance. Handles snow great. Fits plenty for long distance. And very comfortable.

It now has 180,000 on the clock and other than tires, oil and transmission fluid haven't spent anything on it. I will have to spend $1200 on a cam belt in 20,000 km but worth it.

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

timmmay

20858 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1907459 25-Nov-2017 08:08

Suburi can be expensive to service. Toyota very reliable but getting quite expensive because of that reliability. Honda also reliable and expensive because of it. We have a Nissan Qashqui, nice car, modern and reliable, but not really any bigger than a standard sedan. I'd buy another Nissan.

If you're thinking of renting a big car a few times a year look at the cost. Might be $100 a day for three weeks, $2100. Kinda expensive. You can go cheaper, but not much.

1eStar

1604 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 375

#1907853 26-Nov-2017 09:21

Mazda 6 Wagon. Very reliable, heaps of them around, go well if you mash the pedal to the metal. Heaps of room inside.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

Batman

Mad Scientist
30012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1907917 26-Nov-2017 11:05

The newer subaru with the FB engine (same engine design as Toyota GT86) are economical as anything. Even better 4WD system. Chain driven so no cambelt.

BUT - it's a CVT, so you need to change the CVT oil all the time if you want it to last.

Otherwise the cars are cheap as anything.

linw

2893 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1205

#1907958 26-Nov-2017 13:19

And if you hire, be sure to factor in the insurance rort if you want to avoid the $3,000 excess.

Jase2985

13730 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6202

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1908031 26-Nov-2017 17:46

Honda accord euro wagon, with the 2.4L 190-200hp motor

Jonski

265 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 31

#1908505 27-Nov-2017 14:58

Thanks for all the input. After more thinking, we're probably going to go the Mazda CX-5 way, probably the 2.5 AWD version. It comes down to load space as much as anything else- after looking more into rental costs for a large vehicle I realise that would be uneconomical after more than a few days' rental.

Luckily after doing the sums my budget has gone up too, so we're confident we'll get a reasonable vehicle now.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!
- Adam Savage, Mythbuster

MikeAqua

8024 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3817

#1909541 29-Nov-2017 13:03

Jonski:

Thanks for all the input. After more thinking, we're probably going to go the Mazda CX-5 way, probably the 2.5 AWD version. It comes down to load space as much as anything else- after looking more into rental costs for a large vehicle I realise that would be uneconomical after more than a few days' rental.

Luckily after doing the sums my budget has gone up too, so we're confident we'll get a reasonable vehicle now.

We test drove the Mazda CX-5 for a weekend to compare to a 2.5L Mazda 3. It's a very, very nice vehicle.

Mike

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2153
Inactive user

#1909546 29-Nov-2017 13:09

Jase2985:

Honda accord euro wagon, with the 2.4L 190-200hp motor

Very good car. Very reliable. Boss has one currently and never given any trouble, Looks quite nice and american bulky too. Excellent road trip car.

kryptonjohn

2523 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 953

Lifetime subscriber

#1909564 29-Nov-2017 13:53

Maybe should be in a different thread but... we are soon going to need a car for our 17 yo to get his licence in...

Needs to be cheap to own and run and safe - airbags, ABS etc and maybe 5* ANCAP? Needs to be automatic trans too. Don't care about size but something that manages to be small and collision safe, if that's possible, would be the ideal.

Any suggestions?

TIA

JohnO

Batman

Mad Scientist
30012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1909576 29-Nov-2017 14:27

kryptonjohn:

Maybe should be in a different thread but... we are soon going to need a car for our 17 yo to get his licence in...

Needs to be cheap to own and run and safe - airbags, ABS etc and maybe 5* ANCAP? Needs to be automatic trans too. Don't care about size but something that manages to be small and collision safe, if that's possible, would be the ideal.

Any suggestions?

TIA

JohnO

Depends on how much you want to spend. I can recommend you a new Volvo V40 for example, it has all that you want.

Jonski

265 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 31

#1910616 29-Nov-2017 16:25

kryptonjohn:

Maybe should be in a different thread but... we are soon going to need a car for our 17 yo to get his licence in...

Needs to be cheap to own and run and safe - airbags, ABS etc and maybe 5* ANCAP? Needs to be automatic trans too. Don't care about size but something that manages to be small and collision safe, if that's possible, would be the ideal.

Any suggestions?

TIA

JohnO

A small, common, popular hatchback would be best. Small for ease of handling. Common for finding on TradeMe. Popular for holding resale value.

Suzuki Swift, Toyota Corolla hatch or Mazda 2 would be my first thoughts.

Edit: Or just anything cheap with airbags because a teenage boy will have it written off in under 5 years?

I reject your reality and substitute my own!
- Adam Savage, Mythbuster

1 | 2