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Hi there,
We have two cars at present and plan to trade them both for newer models as our family needs have changed.
We have a 2002 Toyota Estima that I mainly use for school runs, grocery shopping and the odd family trip.
My husband drives the 1997 Nissan Primera but both vehicles are past 100,000 K's now and the Estima is costing us a lot in petrol.
I was thinking of buying the newer model 1.4L Suzuki Swift as a economical option for a runabout but we ae stuck on selecting a vehicle for family trips and to be used for my husbands work vehicle. He has a tricky underground Parkin space at work so we don't want anything too long. We are considering SUV/Station Wagon/Sedan options but are not sure which will give our 3 boys the most comfortable ride as they all have those "not quite" middle seats or seem narrow. Any suggestions? We are looking for vehicles 10years old or less with up to 125,000ks.
Hi Mumontherun,
I think your suggestion of a late model 1.4 Swift is an excellent choice for a small runabout.
As for the second, larger vehicle, it really depends on budget etc, but as your husband has been a Nissan driver up until now, the Nissan Qashqai would fit the bill. It should be big enough for your purposes but without huge dimensions of a large SUV, so shouldn't be a problem negotiating tight spaces in the underground carpark.
A good potential medium/largish wagon or sedan you could consider is the Mazda6 (wagon or sedan). Honda Accord Euros and Toyota Camrys could also be possibilities.
Thank you for your reply.
We test drove the Nissan Qashqai today and it was a very nice vehicle all round but when considering boot space for holiday vacations it did not quite fit the bill. I will test drive the Mazda 6 that you have suggested and the Mitsubishi Outlander that I have seen mentioned favorably in other threads.
I am personally leaning toward the SUV option as I am used to the height of the Estima for good road visibility and the added ease of getting in and out of the vehicle - but they do come at a price. With a tight budget in mind for 2 vehicle upgrades, can you suggest where we are better to focus our spending - the Suzuki Swift for school/errands or the larger vehicle for holiday vacations/long distance travel? Also, do we go buy mileage or age of vehicle, nz new or imported?
And lastly, any advice regarding financing a vehicle as we may have to look at this as an option.
Thank you.
The Outlander has a great reputation and would be a good option if it's not too large to negotiate the basement carpark.
You'll definitely need a bigger budget to get a reliable, late(ish) model SUV with a reasonable mileage, although I'd still spend a reasonable amount on the small car for safety reasons.
Mileage needs to be one of your priorities and I'd sacrifice a year or two for lower mileage.
Whether to go for import or NZ new may not be such a big factor with an older used car as long as it's in good condition, although a good low mileage NZ new vehicle with a full service history is always the better option - but you're likely to pay a premium. Therefore it's a bit of a balancing act between model, age, mileage, price, NZ or import.
Regarding finance, there are numerous options including your bank, so you need to do your own research and see which option best suits your needs and can offer you the best deal. One that I'm aware of is AA Car Loans.