Why are Jeep importers Fiat Chrysler New Zealand (FCNZ) asking between NZ$16,000 and NZ$25,000 more than the Australians for the new Wrangler JL, a vehicle that is essentially an update of the outgoing JK model, albeit with more high-tech stuff? FCNZ has priced the premium Wrangler JL, the four-door Unlimited Rubicon, at NZ$92,990 – the Australians have it for the … [Read more...] about New Jeep Wrangler: the price disparity between NZ and Oz
Volkswagen's Piech
Kiwis miss out on special 70th birthday Land Rover
This is the Land Rover that a handful of New Zealanders wanted but missed out on, because all 150 special editions celebrating the company’s 70th anniversary were snapped up, many by international investors. Investors? The rough and tumble Defender is not exactly blue-chip stock. But here’s the thing: the price for either the three-door Defender 90 or five-door Defender 110, … [Read more...] about Kiwis miss out on special 70th birthday Land Rover
Commodore Greg Murphy and the ZB affair on Pukekohe track
Me and Greg Murphy were talking about nothing in particular at a Holden event late last year. “Driven the two-litre Commodore yet?” he said. I hadn’t. I had had a drive of the all-wheel-drive V6 but not the front-drive 2.0-litre. “You’ll have difficulty telling whether it’s front or rear drive,” he said. “It shows nothing of traditional front-drive characteristics – it’s so … [Read more...] about Commodore Greg Murphy and the ZB affair on Pukekohe track
Renault Megane RS has goods to be leader of hot hatch class
One of the automotive breakthroughs often lost amid the dizzying development of digital technology is that made in 2001 by French company Renault: it was the first carmaker to get a five-star crash rating for occupant protection. Beat Europe’s other big names, it did: Benz, Audi, BMW, Volvo, Saab, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Citroen. Modest car it was too – a five-door hatchback … [Read more...] about Renault Megane RS has goods to be leader of hot hatch class
Car industry last year registered 607 vehicles to itself each week
There were a record 161,495 new vehicles registered with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) in 2018 … but there is nothing on government records to show that almost 20 per cent were actually sold. Confidential records show that 31,567 of the 161,495 were registered not by actual buyers, but by the people selling them: dealers and/or distributors. They therefore registered to … [Read more...] about Car industry last year registered 607 vehicles to itself each week