Hello NZ PHers

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Discussion

A44RON

Original Poster:

483 posts

95 months

Monday 11th April 2016
quotequote all
Hello,

Thought I'd introduce myself, having returned to NZ after 5.5 years back in the UK beer

A bit of background; I moved to Christchurch with my parents aged 19 back in 2007, spent two years at journalism college and a year writing for New Zealand Autocar mag, before getting itchy feet for Europe and went back August 2010. A rather silly decision, considering a recession was still going on at that point...

Anyway. I then spent the next couple of years working in Life & Pensions IT saving up for a Master's degree in Automotive Journalism, which I somehow completed & landed a job at What Car? and Autocar a couple of years ago as staff writer. Moved back just before Christmas, due to missing family too much and my dad suffering health-wise.

Since being back in this beautiful country I've been pondering what would be the ideal car for NZ's roads - South Island, in particular - and this is where your input will be valuable, too!

With fuel being much cheaper than I'm used to, roads a little wider but bumpier, and speed limits/traffic-flow lower (I'm pining for proper motorways already), I think a comfy barge is in order; a 2005-2007 Audi S4 4.2 V8 saloon is currently leading, but also an FG Falcon XR8 2008-2010 seems rather appealing. A strong preference for aural drama over outright performance given NZ's interesting speed tolerance laws...

The used car market here continues to baffle me. Trying to pick up a half-decent fun motor for less than $5k is a challenge in itself, while some tidy used Europeans $15-25k out there seem pretty good value-for-money (Merc C55 AMGs, S4s, BMW 330CIs etc). V8 HSVs and FPVs by comparison appear eye-wateringly over-priced; I almost pulled the trigger on a 2004 HSV Clubsport R8 until I spotted the $24k price tag. I'd rather have the S4 at that price.

Look forward to your thoughts and getting to know you all on here. Hopefully I can get along to an NZ PistonHeads meet beer

ringram

14,700 posts

247 months

Monday 11th April 2016
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The Aussie v8's should hold up pricewise very well considering they end of production there over the next 18 months or so.
They will give you the authentic experience.

CR6ZZ

1,313 posts

144 months

Monday 11th April 2016
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I went from a Falcon XR6 to a 4.2 S4 a few years back. Have not regretted it for one instant. Still, the Aussie V8s (either Ford or Holden) are reasonably bullet-proof. Another one to consider would be a BMW 540, and Alfa 159s are currently surprisingly good value (in my opinion).

Tony Starks

2,089 posts

211 months

Thursday 14th April 2016
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CR6ZZ said:
I went from a Falcon XR6 to a 4.2 S4 a few years back. Have not regretted it for one instant. Still, the Aussie V8s (either Ford or Holden) are reasonably bullet-proof. Another one to consider would be a BMW 540, and Alfa 159s are currently surprisingly good value (in my opinion).
Sshhh, I'm keeping a watchful eye on these. So the less people that buy the good ones the better rofl

A44RON

Original Poster:

483 posts

95 months

Monday 18th April 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the input. I've decided on a Merc C55 AMG saloon, in all its hand-built 5.4-litre V8 gloriousness.

Large naturally-aspirated engine in a relatively small car beer