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Hi We're looking for a small runabout car, mostly for town but may do some out of town trips now and then. We think we like the Ist and VITZ but we don't know how good (or bad) those models are. We're looking at spending $10-11,000. We are also a bit wary of the imported cars. Should we be? Thanks for your help

The two cars you mention, Ist and Vitz, are good vehicles but some have CVT transmissions fitted to them which is better avoided. Buying an import has some cost benefits and sometimes is in good condition. I wouldn’t write off the idea of buying a fresh import completely but obviously a NZ new vehicle has the benefit of traceable history. Imports are known to have poor service history overseas but if you do buy one you should have a service carried out to ensure you start off with a good NZ service record. Other cars to consider in this price range are Toyota's Corolla/Run X, Mazda Demio/2 and Suzuki's Swift 1.5L. An AA Pre-Purchase inspection is worth considering before purchasing a vehicle for some peace of mind.

Thanks for that. You say 'some' have CVT transmissions. Are you able to tell me if the 2003 1.3L auto vitz has CVT?

It would seem this model would have a 4-speed auto'box fitted but you should confirm this with the seller.