Vehicles that interest you.

[Basil]

This looks interesting but the price is a bit of a show stopper.  Got a spare $310,000 "loose change" lying around ?
https://www.autocar.co.nz/mercedes-amg-enters-a-new-era/

[Shareguy]

Wow. What a car alright.  A bit much of a car for me though.  Am considering upgrading the wife's car for a hybrid suv, but not a lot to choose from. Don't want a full electric yet.

[Basil]

Toyota Rav 4 hybrids are extremely popular.  Mrs B is up for her vehicle being replaced before mine and that's what I am recommending for her.  Good balanced review of the updated model here.  Refreshed model arrives here mid 2023.  Have to order a whole year ahead ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rH26W-l-Q4
https://www.toyota.co.nz/new-car/rav4/RAV4-AHAX-SI6/?skuCode=RAV4-AHAX-SI6-3T3-20

[Shareguy]

Thanks for that. Showed the wife this morning and she does not like the inside. Back to the drawing board.

[Basil]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmCnU3DEXgc
Subaru Outback's interior is a bit more upmarket but without the Euro price tag. 
Not cheap though, (top spec version is $59,995 and no really effective hybrid option and pretty average warranty at 3 years).

[Basil]

https://www.autocar.co.nz/haval-debuts-cool-dog-suv/

This could be something you might like Shareguy.  New Cool Dog might come to N.Z. 👍

[Ferg]

I shouted myself a 2.5l AWD Mazda CX5 18 months ago - the price was about 15-20% less than it is today.  It's pretty good and I recommend it.  I love the heads up display on the windscreen plus it uses about 20% less gas than my old Holden.  It's my first SUV and I don't think I will go back to a regular car.  It feels a lot safer.
https://ultimatemazda.co.nz/vehicles/cx-5 

Something that caught my eye for my better half which is a bit smaller is the CX30 which is like a car body on an SUV chassis:
https://ultimatemazda.co.nz/vehicles/cx-30

[Shareguy]

Wife likes this. In New Zealand later this year



https://www.autocar.co.nz/tucson-hybrid-pricing-confirmed/

[Basil]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoDIoQJ2l-Q

Good comparative review.  Tuscon certainly has a very modern look and upmarket feel.  If its based just on looks and modern stylish interior its no contest but I think the comparative review makes some other very good points.  Possibly worth noting In addition in N.Z., price, servicing costs and warranty terms are very different in N.Z. between the 2 brands. 

On the Mazda CX5, my sister in law has one in that bright metallic red.  Pretty sharp bit of kit too I reckon.  Her's is the high end diesel version.  I had a good drive of it and was quite impressed.  The price of diesel now though + RUC is something that I would think is driving people towards EV's hybrid's and PHEV's.

[blackie]

This looks interesting but the price is a bit of a show stopper.  Got a spare $310,000 "loose change" lying around ?
https://www.autocar.co.nz/mercedes-amg-enters-a-new-era/

"In waft drive modes, like Comfort, they're not activated and ......."

doesn't that just sound delicious.
darling, i'm just going to waft into town, then perhaps whiffle out past the beach before I fang it back home.

now where is that fang button

[Basil]

A very warm welcome to the cool people's forum.  As a former owner of an S Class Mercedes I can tell you the comfort in waft mode is absolutely sublime.  The one I owned was diesel powered so didn't do the fanging thing well so I had a supercharged V8 FPV with 500 horsepower specifically for that purpose.

Oh the indulgences of mid life crisis were so nice.  Unfortunately now I am a bit older I realise how much money I tore up on those toys.  S Class Merc cost me $175,000 in 2007 brand new, sold ten years later for $20,000, losing $155,000, that's high end European depreciation for ya !!  Once bitten with losses like that, twice shy LOL

[Minimoke]

Timely conversation as I have just been shopping. For me cars that interest is simply a process.

I am not into buying depreciating assets if I can avoid it - so that is new cars off the list. I'll let someone else take the first few years hit.

I've never had any complaints about parts of my anatomy - so I dont need anything to compensate on that front.

I'm not into electric. Too expensive, range anxiety, I cant reconcile burning coal for electricity and not digging rare earth resources with the "feel good" virtuousness of an EV.

Price of fuel has never been a concern - its the cheapest thing you'll ever put into a car.

I was after something that met my life needs. So that was a soft roader that would get me off the beaten track but I wasnt going to full four wheel drive as that is a bit risky. So AWD was on the list. I was after height (ground clearance and seating so I can see some around some of the corners/fords I have to negotiate. Safety - may as well nowadays. And diesel because I like the torque and to be able to thumb my nose at greenies. Had to have space in the back for all the different gear I carry.

I looked at Subaru Outbacks but already have a few of them in the family so wasn't going to be a copy cat. The XV was an option but sounds under powered. Mazda CX5 was an option - but didnt have a spare tyre.

In the end settled for a second hand low mileage Hyundai Tuscon. 6 speed auto, heated front / rear seats, electric lumbar support, Brake Assist System (BAS), Active Locking Operation, Proximity Key, Traction Control, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, ABS braking with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution (EBD), diff lock, 6 Airbags, Anti-lock braking system (ABS), Blind Spot Detection, Downhill Brake Control, Electronic Park-Brake (EPB), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Engine immobiliser, Front seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters, Full Size Spare Wheel, Hill Start Assist, Keyless entry with anti-theft alarm, Rain Sensing Wipers, Rear Cross - Traffic Alert, Rear parking sensors, Reversing Camera, Fog Lamps, Front and rear parking sensors, Automatic dusk sensing headlights, Handsfree Bluetooth, Android Auto, Cruise Control On Steering Wheel blah blah blah.

But more importantly very comfy ride. Soaked up potholes nicely. Tons of power going up hills. Perfectly adequate acceleration from a stop and at 100kph. And engine braking is superb - stick the tiptronic in 1st and it  goes down a very steep hill at a constant speed /revs - gravity doesnt win.

So process has all boxes ticked. job done.

[Basil]

The new Tuscon looks very "sharp"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fajNlyKUSc
Not sure the previous model was so "cutting edge" but whatever floats your boat mate.

[Minimoke]

Floating my boat is not on the list of requirements. Function over form - much better

[arekaywhy]

https://electrek.co/2022/08/01/jaguar-i-pace-catches-fire-another-bolt-ev-battery-fire-situation/

Size of the oof