A tale of three cars...

So, we have not even been here two weeks yet and we are already on our third car!!

I can already guess what some of you are thinking, but no I have not had a prang and neither has Amanda. Just had a bit of bad luck, or in hindsight, some good fortune.


Car 1: Nissan Avenir 'Salut'

As some of you know we put a small deposit on a car out in NZ. The car ticked all our boxes and was being sold by a friend of a friend, 'D', and so, we thought, would mean less hassle. Even better the owner kindly offered to pick us up from the airport in it (and has also been very helpful since).

When 'D' pulled up at the airport pick up point the car looked as good as it did in the photos (less sniggering at the back - you know who you are) but despite our jet lag we could not help but notice how filthy the inside was, nor the strange pong.

This should have been enough, warning but twas nothing a good valet would not take car off and we decided to buy it anyway.

However, when we tried to pay for the car we could not due to our UK money still being in the ether and a few days away from our shiny new NZ bank accounts. Very graciously 'D' let us have the car with a further small deposit, with the balance to pay.

The bank delay, while cursed at the time, turned out to be a hand dealt by lady luck herself. We soon noticed, several small, but irritating problems and this prompted us to get the car inspected. The car would require a $1K+ of work minimum and had not been well looked after. We called 'D' to negotiate but he refused to even talk about it over the phone, preferring IM over Skype and we were soon returning the car. He very decently returned our extra deposit, however; but also blocked us on Skype.

We have burnt our first bridge in NZ!

Car 2 : Nissan Sunny Sedan

We were now without wheels and since we had recently moved to the burbs to stay with Amanda's cousin we needed some again in a hurry.

First stop, was getting a rental car to get about and view cars to buy. After spending a good hour visiting rental shops we finally found one with reasonable insurance and now had use of another Nissan, the good ol Nissan Sunny, again in white. Not as useful as the wagon, but all the windows worked and best of all it was clean and pong free!

Car 3 : Toyota Corolla Sedan

Now to find our new car. Thankfully, this purchase was a lot smoother. We were recommended a local mechanic who also traded cars. We met him shortly after collecting the hire car and got a good vibe from him.

The very next day we were the owners of a tidy ex-rental Toyota Corolla. The first things Amanda checked were the windows and the smell. Check and check. It has lots of miles on the clock, but regularly and frequently serviced,and comes with new oil, brakes, tyres and a solid reputation for reliability; but again in white...gaaarggghh!

It's no looker and as a 1.5 auto no speed demon but it gets us on the road and for just over half what the original car was going to cost! :0)

Let's hope it lives up to it's reputation for uber-reliability...