Hey,
fancy me having a Blog eh? Technology sneaks round behind ya and nips at yer heel doesn't it.
Never mind, I've started this to chronicle my purchase of an LDV G10 van.
The story starts a couple of days after Christmas last year as the Missus and I were heading home from the rellies. We got as far as Broken River, when my trusty old steed (1995 Toyota Hiace LWB 2.8L diesel) comes over all poetic and dies crossing the bridge. You can hear the phone call to the tow truck can't you, "What's happened?".
"I've Broken Down".
"Where are you?".
"At a Broken River".
"What happened at Broken Downs?".
"No, I've Broken down at the river."
"You're down which River?".
"Broken River".
"How did you break the River?!"
"I didn't, my van did"...
Actually I was just pleased I had good coverage, I dread to think how I'd have got on cutting out every second word. Actually they were brilliant and if you ever break down within a million miles of Springfield (NZ) call Brent on 03 318 4845.
All my plans of nursing the old dear into my retirement go out the window as the Engine Doctor explains the Cause of Death in chilling terms of A.R.G.H. or All-over Really Ghastly Halting!
'What Now? What Now?' I howled. To which my step-Dad simply said 'buy a new one'. Good idea, but which new one...
I need something affordable, good-looking and reliable so immediately rule out Toyota Hiace, Nissan Caravan and the Volkswagen thingy respectively (only in my limited opinion of course!)
But what's the go with these peculiarly badged vans getting about the place? They look ok, YouTube tells me someone thinks they're uber-maxi reliable and the price starts (key word that one 'starts') at about $18k under the nearest serious contender. LDV New Zealand
I've settled on a petrol manual, in no small part because that's as far as my budget will stretch, and because I've had to kit it out with a tow-bar, monsoons, a roof rack, LHS door window and a square of tarp to throw over the seats in order for it to be business-ready when it gets to my place.
The purchase. I think it would be Donald-Trumply rude to mention names but suffice to say if you're looking to buy a G10, "shop around!" holds for good advice. The first dealer I approached told me 'no discounts' with the usual monologue 'the prices are rock bottom already and there's nothing in it for us'. The next guy (person I mean, best I don't tell you his gender), knocked off $1,500 straight up. Which is to say I didn't haggle any further etc. etc... Besides, that'll keep me in coffees for like, a month!
In hind-sight (I haven't Evan got the thing yet...) diesel might have been a better option as this it what my numbers crunched like.
But hey, I don't do big miles and I don't need heaps of grunt, plus I'm hoping to get better economy than 11.5! They don't call me Old Granny Nana Pants Slow Coach for nothing ya know.
Excellent.
If I can remember my passwords (and that I Evan have a blog) I'll update ya when it arrives.
fancy me having a Blog eh? Technology sneaks round behind ya and nips at yer heel doesn't it.
Never mind, I've started this to chronicle my purchase of an LDV G10 van.
The story starts a couple of days after Christmas last year as the Missus and I were heading home from the rellies. We got as far as Broken River, when my trusty old steed (1995 Toyota Hiace LWB 2.8L diesel) comes over all poetic and dies crossing the bridge. You can hear the phone call to the tow truck can't you, "What's happened?".
"I've Broken Down".
"Where are you?".
"At a Broken River".
"What happened at Broken Downs?".
"No, I've Broken down at the river."
"You're down which River?".
"Broken River".
"How did you break the River?!"
"I didn't, my van did"...
Actually I was just pleased I had good coverage, I dread to think how I'd have got on cutting out every second word. Actually they were brilliant and if you ever break down within a million miles of Springfield (NZ) call Brent on 03 318 4845.
All my plans of nursing the old dear into my retirement go out the window as the Engine Doctor explains the Cause of Death in chilling terms of A.R.G.H. or All-over Really Ghastly Halting!
'What Now? What Now?' I howled. To which my step-Dad simply said 'buy a new one'. Good idea, but which new one...
I need something affordable, good-looking and reliable so immediately rule out Toyota Hiace, Nissan Caravan and the Volkswagen thingy respectively (only in my limited opinion of course!)
But what's the go with these peculiarly badged vans getting about the place? They look ok, YouTube tells me someone thinks they're uber-maxi reliable and the price starts (key word that one 'starts') at about $18k under the nearest serious contender. LDV New Zealand
I've settled on a petrol manual, in no small part because that's as far as my budget will stretch, and because I've had to kit it out with a tow-bar, monsoons, a roof rack, LHS door window and a square of tarp to throw over the seats in order for it to be business-ready when it gets to my place.
The purchase. I think it would be Donald-Trumply rude to mention names but suffice to say if you're looking to buy a G10, "shop around!" holds for good advice. The first dealer I approached told me 'no discounts' with the usual monologue 'the prices are rock bottom already and there's nothing in it for us'. The next guy (person I mean, best I don't tell you his gender), knocked off $1,500 straight up. Which is to say I didn't haggle any further etc. etc... Besides, that'll keep me in coffees for like, a month!
In hind-sight (I haven't Evan got the thing yet...) diesel might have been a better option as this it what my numbers crunched like.
But hey, I don't do big miles and I don't need heaps of grunt, plus I'm hoping to get better economy than 11.5! They don't call me Old Granny Nana Pants Slow Coach for nothing ya know.
Excellent.
If I can remember my passwords (and that I Evan have a blog) I'll update ya when it arrives.
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