Astra VXR advice?

[pernod]

Hi guys, I need some help/advice.

After 8 years in the UK my wife and I have decided to come home. One of the hardest choices we have yet to make is do we ship a car home?

I have a 7 year old Astra VXR which I've owned since new. I know they didn't sell many in NZ, consequently I'm really struggling to work out what it would be worth in NZ.

Does anyone have any idea where I'd find old car adverts to see what they have been selling for?

Also does anyone have any experience importing a car and any advice?

Really not sure what to do so advice and thoughts really appreciated!

[pernod]

Thanks Oscar.

I've managed to track down that they sold a grand total of 18 - ouch!

Still not sure which way I'm leaning as it's a truely astounding car but not sure I want the hassle of importing it.

[pernod]

cheddar said:

The only one for sale that I can find is an ex UK, 80,000km, 2007 example, quoted as 'tidy condition' and priced at $20k.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/holden/a...

Thanks Cheddar, really helpful!

Even I can't see that selling for that much, but good luck to them for trying! I think mines only worth around £7k ($14k) over here

After a bit of research, only 18 were ever sold (under the Holden Astra VXR name) in NZ and a handful have been imported, so pretty rare on NZ roads.

I keep comming to the conclusion it's not worth the hassle of bringing it (and the $5k cost)... but then I go out and drive it again and I'm not so sure.

Still have a few weeks before I need to decide for sure so plenty of time to keep dithering on the decision.

[pernod]

Can someone remind me again, whats the deal with Diesel road tax in NZ these days? Are the economical compared to a petrol?

8 years ago when we arrived in the UK i was amazed at how cheap diesels were to run... but I don't know if that was just perception or if there are cheaper to run in NZ than I remember?

The reason for asking is, having looked at what I could buy for the same money, a M Sport 120D looks tempting.

[pernod]

I thought that was the case. Thanks!

It's almost a shame that the NZ system hasn't caught up with diesel technology yet. The low emissions and incredible milage of some of the modern diesels are almost enough to make a petrol fan an like me* consider making the switch here in the UK (as they are so much cheaper for surprisingly good performance).

I do have to laugh that our two 'fuel guzzlers' over here actually don't look bad by NZ standards



* I worked in a petrol station as a student for years... I swore then that I'd never own a Diesel as it's horrible stuff!

[pernod]

RobDickinson said:

I dont find used cars cheap here at all.

A 10 year old car in the UK ( unless it is special) is next to worthless. here it is $10,000+ , even older bangers seem to go for 2-4k. You can get a decent runner in the UK for hundreds, try that here!


But I wouldnt bring a warm hatch over here. Sell it in the UK and buy something else here. It does cost less overall to run a motor and there are some nice larger motors around or plenty of hot hatches, or 4x4 scoobs etc.

Interesting, I was coming to the same conclusion after looking at the various cars for sale there which are around $10k - you get a lot more here for the money.

I'm intrigued by the 'warm hatch' comment though... looking at the NZ specs for the hot hatches they seem to be scaled back from what we get here, or am I missing something?

My 180kw Astra seems to be right up at the top end of what you get there? (The Scoobs and Evos are higher but I don't really want the service intervals that come with them!).

[pernod]

RobDickinson said:

Why buy a hot hatch when you can buy a v8 holden or scoob?

Insurance here is much easier to get, cheaper and not legally required

There are hot hatches but I dont think its a segment that has exploded like Europe because of the more abundance of larger cars and far fewer tight cities with urban grind traffic.

What's not to love about a hatch! 8L/100KM on daily driving and a 6.4 0-100 time when you want it. I love being able to fold the seats down to put all the garden rubbish in the back and then get it to the dump in record time

We are leaning towards bringing it back for a couple of reasons now:

• if we don't then our couch wont fit in the smaller container (and loosing the couch is about 1/2 the cost of bringing the car!).
• we have had it since new so know it's been treated great; it makes no sense to me to sell it to buy another hot hatch which may have been trashed just to save ourselves around $1000. If I don't bring it then most likely I'll just buy something plain and boring instead...

[pernod]

RobDickinson said:

There are hot hatches but I dont think its a segment that has exploded like Europe because of the more abundance of larger cars and far fewer tight cities with urban grind traffic.

Actually you are probably a good person to ask about the state of CHCH roads these days? The astras suspension is rather stiff