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

[hummel]

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.

Would do exactly the same thing... if I had kids.

 

[Moopere]

Gotta be an aftermarket alternative?

Oh sure - I'm sure there would be, from equivalent drop-in to non branded but OEM parts, one could also probably pull a working unit out of a wreck or get a refurb ... any of these options would have to be almost a power of magnitude cheaper I'd imagine.

For me, the benchmark is dealer serviced and maintained with original parts - from there you look at your options.

On a slightly different tangent, but similar thought though, I am noticing some brands of vehicle are starting to offer 7 years warranty now, and even 5 is becoming more and more easily found ... 5 will probably become the standard basic expected warranty over the next little bit I'd expect. Is all this starting to move us towards cars/motoring as a service rather than an old style 'purchase and own' model? ie; you pay your yearly fee and drive your vehicle with servicing, repairs and whatnot all bundled in? A bit like a lease, but direct from the factory.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

You know you love your car when you spend a few hours washing and polishing it
No.. driving it to Qantas Valet doesn't count

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Oh... in case anyone was deeply concerned I did black the tyres after the photo was taken.. would hate for anyone to be lying awake at night concerned about my car cleaning skills lol

 

[Limewood]

Had a 2010 C class Merc, it sat in garage most of the time, we do a whole 2,500 kms PA, recently sold it for top $ privately and bought a little 2012 Honda Jazz with a mere 12,000 on clock to go to PO or local restaurants and shop few times a week, now what to do with the spare $20K

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Had a 2010 C class Merc, it sat in garage most of the time, we do a whole 2,500 kms PA, recently sold it for top $ privately and bought a little 2012 Honda Jazz with a mere 12,000 on clock to go to PO or local restaurants and shop few times a week, now what to do with the spare $20K

Buy champagne

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Had a 2010 C class Merc, it sat in garage most of the time, we do a whole 2,500 kms PA, recently sold it for top $ privately and bought a little 2012 Honda Jazz with a mere 12,000 on clock to go to PO or local restaurants and shop few times a week, now what to do with the spare $20K

F for two? On sale perhaps...

 

[Limewood]

We don't drink champagne, have two J trips OS booked n paid for, it's difficult

 

[Alanslegal]

Had a 2010 C class Merc, it sat in garage most of the time, we do a whole 2,500 kms PA, recently sold it for top $ privately and bought a little 2012 Honda Jazz with a mere 12,000 on clock to go to PO or local restaurants and shop few times a week, now what to do with the spare $20K

Ahh Honda Jazz I used to own the very first generation Jazz VTIS which I bought early 2003, the Jazz range had only been in Australia for a handful of months at that time. Four years later, 140,000 kms on the clock, it had absolutely no faults and the car drove like new! I even took it to Wakefield Park raceway one time for a bit of fun and managed to clock a personal best of 1m 20.9 seconds. Not bad for a tiny car designed purely for shopping runs. It's a solid Japanese built car that would last forever and it unbelievable interior space too. Too bad some drunk idio7 rammed into the back of the car one night and wrote it off.

 

[Limewood]

Reason we have a JAZZ now (after the Merc.) is my wife had one too back in 2003, first 5 weeks used a whole $35 in gas, its got great vision and Mrs Lime only drove the Merc three times if 4 years (didn't like it for various reasons), the Jazz she's driven it 5 times in past month, inc. home from restaurant last night!, I like it and she likes it .

 

[Deleted member]

I have decided to bring my MGB out of retirement. I suspect this could be expensive.
seen here where it spends most of its time

 

[Buzzard]

I have decided to bring my MGB out of retirement. I suspect this could be expensive.
seen here where it spends most of its time

View attachment 40137

I can see another trip to Siromet coming up

 

[Hamila]

I own an almost two year old Holden Captiva 5 diesel. I've found it to be a great car but the depressing thing is, since I bought it (brand new) almost two years ago, I've clocked up almost 70,000km on it. I'm beginning to think I should sell it soon before the resale value just becomes obsolete.

 

[Warks]

Just had a three week test drive (rental) of a Kluger (badged as a Highlander) in NZ. Good car all round with some features I now miss. However I think it's overpriced for what it is and the Pathfinder has more features for a price up to $10K less. It's part of the model cycle though - I would think the next Kluger would have them all.

Visibility out the back of these SUVs is poor in every one I've driven which is why you must have a reversing camera and reversing sensors IMHO. Finding it hard to adapt to my old bomb now! The back pain has returned...

 

[Princess Fiona]

Bump
Any X5 owners here ?
Took a 30d for a test drive on the weekend and absolutely loved driving it.

 

[robd]

Bump
Any X5 owners here ?
Took a 30d for a test drive on the weekend and absolutely loved driving it.

I drove the GM's X5 for a week and loved it. As long as you don't mind the service costs, which were ~$1,500 a pop for a regular service. It was a couple of years ago, but I would be asking the question on the service costs, unless you don't think it's OTT. YMMV.

 

[docjames]

Bump
Any X5 owners here ?
Took a 30d for a test drive on the weekend and absolutely loved driving it.

Have you driven the VW Touareg?

We cross shopped them when buying mrsdoc's ride (late 2013) - the current shape X5 had just been released.

The Touareg was better. And also cheaper. Not just better for the price. Better.

YMMV but would definitely suggest having a look.


(AMA also has a corporate pricing deal with VW if you happen to be a member).

 

[N860CR]

Have you driven the VW Touareg?

We cross shopped them when buying mrsdoc's ride (late 2013) - the current shape X5 had just been released.

The Touareg was better. And also cheaper. Not just better for the price. Better.

YMMV but would definitely suggest having a look.


(AMA also has a corporate pricing deal with VW if you happen to be a member).

I've had so many dramas with my Passat (and the subsequent awful service from VW) that I'll never touch the brand again. I may just have a lemon... But the general attitude of both the dealers and VW themselves in identifying an obvious fault (from brand new) has been terrible.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I drove the GM's X5 for a week and loved it. As long as you don't mind the service costs, which were ~$1,500 a pop for a regular service. It was a couple of years ago, but I would be asking the question on the service costs, unless you don't think it's OTT. YMMV.

I'll get free servicing for 80K/ 5 years through BMW Advantage.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Have you driven the VW Touareg?

We cross shopped them when buying mrsdoc's ride (late 2013) - the current shape X5 had just been released.

The Touareg was better. And also cheaper. Not just better for the price. Better.

YMMV but would definitely suggest having a look.


(AMA also has a corporate pricing deal with VW if you happen to be a member).

Need third row seats - not often but do need to have them.