So... what car do you guys drive when not flying?

[Buzzard]

Have either of you spent any time at lakeside? This is a post from a few pages ago

http://www.australianfrequentflyer..../so-what-car-do-you-28360-47.html#post1166080

AFF Track day meet anyone?

Never been to Lakeside. Have raced (cars) at Oran Park (long and short), Amaroo and Eastern Creek.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Reading the stories about Euro cars is amusing.

Back in the 80's when I was young and broke I loved Euro cars and had a couple, but now I'm older and wiser I'm am so not interested in Euro and the costs that go with them.

Now I'm wise it's Australian or Jap for me and love it when a big service costs me $275 and my mates are spending $4K on an Aldi, Benz or BMW.

I just think of that money coming off my mortgage.

Matt

Have to agree.. My commodores and my amazing mechanic make sure I don't spend $8k on anything.. Despite the 10 year age and 100s of 1000s of klms they have done.. One with towing..
Love my car And my inner bogan

 

[cove]

I have never bought a new car. A financial planner friend once told me that one should drive the minimum vehicle that your ego will allow as cars depreciate. I get mine at 40,000 kms and 2 years old for about half the new list price. That has worked ok for me.

 

[get me outta here]

That has been my approach too for the same reasons, up until recently until a recent grateful client bought me a new car and my older one went to my daughter. Edit: actually, the car purchase went across 3 of my credit cards too. Yes, I did have a great deal of trust in them paying the cards.

I have never bought a new car. A financial planner friend once told me that one should drive the minimum vehicle that your ego will allow as cars depreciate. I get mine at 40,000 kms and 2 years old for about half the new list price. That has worked ok for me.

 

[cove]

Don't let my conservative views influence you. Having been a CPA and Chartered Secretary for so many years I cannot help it.
I did get each of my sons a Toyota Prius with an I Tech pack and Mrscove has the Lexus 450h all bought from the new shop.
Mrscove changed colours from her old one and both have had the handy side cameras.

 

[Warks]

So are you better off buying a vehicle for $40K new or an $80K vehicle a couple of years old? From what I've seen in that range the price seems to come down to the badge more than the performance.

 

[docjames]

Reading the stories about Euro cars is amusing.

Back in the 80's when I was young and broke I loved Euro cars and had a couple, but now I'm older and wiser I'm am so not interested in Euro and the costs that go with them.

Now I'm wise it's Australian or Jap for me and love it when a big service costs me $275 and my mates are spending $4K on an Aldi, Benz or BMW.

I just think of that money coming off my mortgage.

Matt

Our two cars had their 15,000 service in two consecutive days in November.

Commodore: $185
VW: $575

:shock:

 

[lovestotravel]

Question from me :
Any GL350 owners with feedback for me ? I need a seven seater and not keen on people movers at all.
I'll be ditching my XC90 mid next year and thinking of getting a Merc. Likely a second hand one as its a bit exxy brand new. I've looked at the X5 but that's ugly and very little room in the back, same with the Q7.
What I'd really like is a Chevy Suburban but can't see a way to get that here , or park it in Westfield

The GL350, well I have driven the GL450 extensively... is a great car

The new X5 tries to come close but it's still not a GL

The 3rd row of seats is very comfortable and the car is a dream to drive

Q7 - Waste of time

You really need an Escalade.........

 

[Princess Fiona]

The GL350, well I have driven the GL450 extensively... is a great car

The new X5 tries to come close but it's still not a GL

The 3rd row of seats is very comfortable and the car is a dream to drive

Q7 - Waste of time

You really need an Escalade.........

I think I'm sold
I just need to convince the manager of finances (as he's driving around in a 7 year old Camry it is proving a little difficult )

 

[lovestotravel]

Our two cars had their 15,000 service in two consecutive days in November.

Commodore: $185
VW: $575

:shock:

Subaru $340

 

[docjames]

Looking at 7 seat "SUV-like" options (given you're looking at the MB I'll exclude stuff like SSanyong and Mitsubishi Outlander and excluding people movers...)

- LR Discovery
- Ford Territory
- MB GL
- Audi Q7
- Subaru Liberty Exiga (more of a wagon than SUV)
- Volvo XC90
- Lexus LX570

There's a few other 4wds (that i wouldnt recommend) and a number of people movers as well.

 

[clazman]

Prado surely has to make the list... reliable, reasonable price, great resell

 

[VulpesVulpes]

I think I'm sold
I just need to convince the manager of finances (as he's driving around in a 7 year old Camry it is proving a little difficult )

New cars for all!

I am eyeing off a 3-4 year old IS F - they just look and sound good. Also not just another E63

 

[Moopere]

8 grand for an a/c compressor???

Yeah, I checked and double checked as it just seemed completely ludicrous. I'm used to outrageous pricing that goes with servicing and 'normal' spares on the Merc now, but even so, this made me almost laugh with the stupidity of it all.

Mind you, not that it matters for most of us I guess, but all this price related chatter is a factor of Merc Australia / our government (of any flavour), its not really a fair or reasonable gauge of the vehicle itself. Taxes applied to these vehicles are piracy frankly, and the sparing/servicing/repairs costs are controlled by the local importer (Merc Australia) and all are subject to ... shall we say ... healthy margins

These types of vehicle purchased and driven in Europe are are much better proposition, even given some fairly well known taxation regimes over there.

 

[knasty]

Gotta be an aftermarket alternative?

 

[Warks]

My 2007 Commodore had the AC fail some months ago and needed a new compressor - even for a bog standard vehicle like that it was over $1300 which is well short of $8K of course. They got me a second hand one which still cost me $600 (installed) and that failed two months later! Then I got another one (under warranty at least) and it has survived. But nonetheless I'm in the market.

I'm using a car broker next month, will report back if anyone is interested.

 

[docjames]

VW aircon compressor was $535 in a 2009 Golf

 

[hummel]

VW aircon compressor was $535 in a 2009 Golf

My aircon compressor went in my 2007 polo gti.. i just put the windows down and sunroof open...

 

[JessicaTam]

My aircon compressor went in my 2007 polo gti.. i just put the windows down and sunroof open...

Yesterday I bought a new compressor for my NT Pajero. Mind you, it is going under the front seat for inflating tyres after heading off road, as the air-con works just fine.

 

[docjames]

My aircon compressor went in my 2007 polo gti.. i just put the windows down and sunroof open...

Sure, although mine died on the first hot day of summer (35deg) and minidoc who was <18 months old didn't really fancy the heat despite the interim solution I employed (same as yours).

I figured I could afford to have my child comfortable if I was driving a $40k car so "invested" the $500 off dollars.