I don't drive... but... In New Zealand?

Kristoph · 7 Mar 2008 at 16:05

I'll probably not be driving until I'm out living in New Zealand in 2010 after I finish uni in 2009.

Is it easier to pass my test out there?

What is the insurance like out there? I noticed a lot of youngters driving Imprezzas and Skylines, it was like that was their equivelant of the Saxo or 306.

It's strange though, because all my dream cars will become much more distant! I'd struggle to get an R32, or an Audi S3 when I got to a situation where I could afford a nice car.

What does NZ and the surrounding countries have to offer car wise? Bearing in mind I have always set my mind on a VAG car.

thecremeegg · 7 Mar 2008 at 16:35

New Zealand can be expensive for cars when bought new...no idea what second hand prices and insurance are like though. In New Zealand the M5 is £90,000 for example......

mjt · 7 Mar 2008 at 16:59

lots of japanese imports.
and lots of Holdens
altho it's not as cheap as australia for motoring
and the speed limits are horrendously low

nyzrox · 7 Mar 2008 at 19:04

Dont they have crazy types of licences? like one is you cant drive at night with a passenger?

kieranv · 7 Mar 2008 at 19:25

importing cars that havnt previously been imported to the country is a pain in the behind.

Even if it's a different model of the same car. For example they only have 5dr almera's over there. There is a guy who just spend 2 years going through all the paperwork and stuff to get a 3dr model imported. they have to crash test them and everything...at your expense (you have to buy another car to be crash tested).

jamoor · 7 Mar 2008 at 19:27

kieranv said:
importing cars that havnt previously been imported to the country is a pain in the behind.

Even if it's a different model of the same car. For example they only have 5dr almera's over there. There is a guy who just spend 2 years going through all the paperwork and stuff to get a 3dr model imported. they have to crash test them and everything...at your expense (you have to buy another car to be crash tested).

What's so special about a 3dr almera that means he has to buy 2 to get 1 crash tested?

Why not just stick with the 5dr model?

tigerstyle · 7 Mar 2008 at 19:32

nyzrox said:
Dont they have crazy types of licences? like one is you cant drive at night with a passenger?

yup! that's the equivalent of our 'provisional' license, for the first year of driving/passing your test it's zero alcohol and no passengers at night, but it's NZ! So everyone bends the rules and doesn't give two hoots anyway

VAG cars are common over there, odd thing is when you do see a Euro car it's usually pretty top of the range because people over there that really want one would only bother with a top spec model, not sure on the second hand prices but trademe.co.nz will give you an immediate heads up!

kieranv · 7 Mar 2008 at 19:53

jamoor said:
What's so special about a 3dr almera that means he has to buy 2 to get 1 crash tested?

Why not just stick with the 5dr model?

Couldnt tell you tbh, it was a fairly special and rare vz-r model he got but still, a lot of effort for not much car really.

ste_bla · 7 Mar 2008 at 21:28

thecremeegg said:
New Zealand can be expensive for cars when bought new...no idea what second hand prices and insurance are like though. In New Zealand the M5 is £90,000 for example......

However jap imported cars are cheap and plentiful

There is no need for insurance as the govt covers all persons you only pay out for the car (ie no whiplash etc) when i did get insurance for a impreza 2l (old though) was only ~£200

License takes forever to get as you have to wait a certain period between taking it (2 lots of 6 months iirc), just get one here and then as long as you've had it for 3 years you can just do a theory test and you get a new nz license

Also 50kmph over the limit is a instant ban

tigerstyle · 7 Mar 2008 at 23:28

ste_bla said:
Also 50kmph over the limit is a instant ban

142 is a $500 fine

also they run a demerit system pretty much the same as out point system, I'd fled the country by then anyhow

Raymond Lin · 7 Mar 2008 at 23:36

My friend lived in NZ for a year and she told me nobody buys insurance over there !?!

tigerstyle · 7 Mar 2008 at 23:40

Raymond Lin said:
My friend lived in NZ for a year and she told me nobody buys insurance over there !?!

it's not compulsory, as has already been said it's covered in your car tax, but only injury to people is covered. You hit someones car = You pay for it to be fixed! That and ins is dirt cheap anyway, you'd be a fool not to by it.

And there must be something in the water as every other shop over there is a bodyshop/smash repair centre - no joke!

The kiwis always blame this on the high percentage of asian drivers on the roads there, I just think they can't drive

mjt · 7 Mar 2008 at 23:44

thepedster said:
The kiwis always blame this on the high percentage of asian drivers on the roads there, I just think they can't drive

no, it's the asian drivers that can't drive

well, that's what i was told in the US, so it must be true

ste_bla · 7 Mar 2008 at 23:45

thepedster said:
142 is a $500 fine

also they run a demerit system pretty much the same as out point system, I'd fled the country by then anyhow

Not bad value for money if you think about it, with the current rates £200!

Also you CANT get points from cameras, however red lights are optional over there

thepedster said:
it's not compulsory, as has already been said it's covered in your car tax, but only injury to people is covered. You hit someones car = You pay for it to be fixed! That and ins is dirt cheap anyway, you'd be a fool not to by it.

And there must be something in the water as every other shop over there is a bodyshop/smash repair centre - no joke!

The kiwis always blame this on the high percentage of asian drivers on the roads there, I just think they can't drive

Aye Chinese get given a Chinese license for sod all tests and then they can drive on it for upto a year

Also you can get fined for anything, parking facing the wrong way (opp side of road) is a $80 fine, also backing into a parking space is illeagl unless your unloading, and a reverse around a corner ends up with locals going mental

tigerstyle · 7 Mar 2008 at 23:50

ste_bla said:
Aye Chinese get given a Chinese license for sod all tests and then they can drive on it for upto a year

hmmmm cheap takeaway deliverys, trade of is manic roads!

yah, parking on the 'wrong' side of the road seems to strange to me now, didn't know about your last 2 parking edits though, must have been lucky regarding those!