NZ road trip

[willswitchengage]

Oh and has anyone experimented with E10 abroad? I had to buy 98 in France as I was unsure. Still cheaper than English 95 mind!

[hairnet]

only bought my kwak  on friday

 

ireland next sunday then cherbourg to ypres in september via hampshire

 

it doesnt get used much during to the week either

[willswitchengage]

still selling the NTV?

[willswitchengage]

Replaced all four tyres - 4 x TOYOs from Halfrauds for £157, not bad! Shows how cheap it is to run a small car. Realised running 25 year old tyres was getting a little dangerous, and I'm going on holiday to the Lake District with some chums next week and therefore want something a little more reliable. 

 

Also went to Amsterdam for a weekender, didn't get many snaps but it really is chod central:

 

P1050402 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1050343 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

Wonder when this last moved? (other than out of the canal)

 

P1050344 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

1.9 TZI estate, did these ever make it to Blighty?

 

P1050347 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

This was attracting a lot of attention from passers by

 

P1050349 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

Naturally, so was this

 

P1050391 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

Paging Junkman... sadly these V8s make a somewhat underwhelming sound

 

P1050395 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

The 90s called and wants its mopeds back

 

P1050398 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1050400 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

Absolutely no idea, anyone fill me in? Says "Carventa 50 FA" on the front

[hairnet]

caprice WIN

 

ntv got punted to billy who then sacked it off in favour of a spaghetti 125

[hairnet]

made by a company called barents

 

work wagon so councils and specialist works - bit like the road sweepers you get here with the tiny wheels that turn in like 0.6 feet

 

if you google that name and pick images that one again comes up with the 25 on the front

 

its also a volvo colour

 

edit crazy dutchman says thats a small one - bigger ones ( ) used as mobile shops

 

bit like vw gastraumwagens

 

he says theyre fairly ancient too

[willswitchengage]

I did a mechanical thing!!1 Finally had a spare weekend so invested the time in repairing the push-motor-bicycle. Turns out it was just a faulty needle valve in one of the carburettors that wasn't closing. £8 on ebay all fixed, but this did involve removing the carbs which I was WELL proud of. Started first time   so went for a ride

 

 

 

 

^Incidentally one of the smelliest/noisiest places I've been to. Standing 100 yards from the furnace you could feel the heat, incredible; I can see why people get so emosh about retaining heavy industry. On the way back in Helmsley I parked next to a line up of clowns in leathers on the £10,000 R1s and Fireblades and was like LOL I'M HAVING AS MUCH FUN AS YOU ON A CRAP BIKE!

[hairnet]

enough of the crap bike bolox

 

hopefully the biscuit tin noise mine is making will be gone on monday

 

then supercar sunday in limerick next weekend if weathers ok

[twosmoke300]

Er5 carbs aren't the easiest to remove are they ? It's the poxy fuel tap that's the most awkward bit

[brickwall]

Carventa do a lot of milk wagons, mobile libraries and such.

[willswitchengage]

Horopito Motors by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Monopolising on a glut in oil prices, I went on a road trip with one of my chums in a country that is a long way away and has very little in common with the UK. A beautiful country but one that feels like Britain in the 70s, or if UKIP won an election. Society is very decadent and divided, the country is very racist and not investing in the future. Anyway, you're only here to read about cars, right? (This post may be a little succinct as my 'saved draft' from the other night has failed to be recovered. Grrr)

 

What hire car did you get?

 

A 2000 Toyota Corolla Fielder 1.5 auto AWD at a pleasant 220000 km. Did the job, was comfy, high specced, felt solid and has ice cold air con. The VVT-i engine was pretty pokey once I'd figured out how to trick the auto box into behaving as I wanted it. The gearbox wasn't too bad, either, and I'm now partially converted. It was good on fuel, too. It was a bargain of about £300 for three weeks from www.nzdcr.co.nz

 

 

 

 

 

What were the cars like over there?

 

Old. Practical.

 

The average age must have been a few years older than the UK (I think it is eight here). This does make a massive difference! The value set is very different; no apparent desire to own a new vehicle. Premium and 'novelty' cars are totally absent. This makes their market look completely different to the UK's, which is dominated by Audi A3s, Fiat 500s, random crossovers and Citroen Cactii. 4x4s are very popular, but proper ones like old Patrols and Land Cruisers, and 4x4 models of normal road cars. Few daft soft roaders. The market is dominated by Japanese cars with 'mid range' full size Australian Holdens and Fords occupying the rest. All European manufacturers (except Seat) are present in very small quantities. Saw a few Chinese cars but in single figures.

 

Driving standards are poor (no/incorrect indicating and ignoring traffic lights primarily) and speed limits are religiously enforced, and very low. Driving is boring on tedious twisty hilly roads or dull, wide lengthy straights in the few plains that the country has.

 

Road surfaces are poor as they are not tarmacced. They are noisy but designed to be easily repaired. There are few potholes as most of the country is above the frost line.

 

Petrol was equavalent to about £1 a litre and diesel 70p.

 

The car modofication and classic scene was minor. No 'euro look' 'stanceworks' nonsense. Excellent.

 

I took over 2000 photos on two cameras; didn't get many 'spots' in but here is a selection:

 

Ford Falcon by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Holden Commodore by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Typical fuzz car. The country had a heavy police present and these were ubiquitous.

 

Daewoo Espero by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Security.

 

Nissan Patrol by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mitsubishi Sigma by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mitsubishi Mirage by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Honda Accord by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Ford Laser by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Old and new Beetles by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mazda 323 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Toyota Hilux by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mitsubishi Mirage by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Toyota Land Cruiser J40 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Datsun 1200 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mitsubishi Lancer A70 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mitsubishi Cordia by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Toyota Corolla by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Lada Riva by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Subaru BRAT by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Ford Cortina by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mitsubishi Corolla E90 Carib by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Austin metro by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mitsubishi Mirage by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Rover 200 GTI by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Daihatsu Charade by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Toyota Camry by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Nissan Pathfinder by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Holden Vectra by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

What were the vans like?

 

The Toyota Hiace, of various vintages, had 90% of the market. The remainder comprised Mitsubishi L300s and various Nissan and Mazda examples. There was a handful of Transits and European vans made up the market for large campervans. Those Chinese LDVs were dead popular too.

 

LDV Maxus V80 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

LDV SAIC V80 Maxus by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

SAIC LDV Maxus interior by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

The interior has been refreshed and looks quite good now.

 

Mazda Bongo by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mercedes-Benz MB100 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Toyota Hiace by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

 

[willswitchengage]

What trucks did they have?

 

This market was strange and varied. Light/medium trucks were all Japanese and a mix of Hino (Toyota), Isuzu, UD / Nissan Diesel (Volvo) and Mitsubishi Fuso (Daimler). Heavy trucks were a mix of Japanese, European and American trucks; the latter being designed for the Australian and South African markets. The configurations were typically eight axle drawbars or articulated. They all had mighty engines as the country is extremely hilly and I imagined the permitted tonnages are higher than what we're currently allowed. Trucks were typically a lot older and all were manuals - no new Actros or FHs here.

 

Dayworth cab sticker by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Daysworth tractor by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mitsubishi Fuso The Great by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Nissan Diesel UD Big Thumb by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mitsubishi Fuso Super Great by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mitsubishi Fuso ? by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Hino Ranger by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Kenworth by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

International 9800, South African model by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mazda Titan by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Freightliner Argosy by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Hino Ranger by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mitsubishi Fuso Fighter by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Nissan Diesel UD Big Thumb by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Mitsubishi Fuso Fighter by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Kenworth K108 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Isuzu Forward by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Hino Ranger by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Isusu Giga by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Kenworth K104 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Austin truck by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Freightliner Argosy by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

International 9800i by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Kenworth K108 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Kenworth T404 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Western Star by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

'Piggypacking' like this was common for empty trailers.

 

Mack by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1050563 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Interesting gear sticks...

 

Isuzu NPR by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

UD Condor by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

What were the motorbicycles like?

 

Generally there wasn't much on two wheels.

 

What were the buses like?

 

Midibuses were Japanese or British (we actually export stuff!) and the Japanese buses often had manual gearboxes, again. Full size buses and coaches were European with local bodywork.

 

Hino Rainbow by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Hino & Nissan Diesel by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1060494 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Optare Solo by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

6V71 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

The sound that this made made me semen everywhere.

 

What porn did you see?

 

Horopito scrapyard.

 

Horopito Motors by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Horopito Motors by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Horopito Motors by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Horopito Motors by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Horopito Motors by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Horopito Motors by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Horopito Motors by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Horopito Motors by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Horopito Motors by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Was the country pretty?

 

Nah, not really.

 

 

 

 

 

[MarvinsMom]

I did a mechanical thing!!1 Finally had a spare weekend so invested the time in repairing the push-motor-bicycle. Turns out it was just a faulty needle valve in one of the carburettors that wasn't closing. £8 on ebay all fixed, but this did involve removing the carbs which I was WELL proud of. Started first time   so went for a ride

 

 

 

 

 

Redcar's mighty blast furnace..... ACE!!!! 

 

It's only a few miles from home too, and much better now its back producing steel, even if it's now owned by the Thai's. Though they have now produced something like 5,000,000 tonnes of slab, and not yet made a profit? I dunno how exactly that works?? As long as they continue to employ the 1600 guys who rely on the plant then i don't need to! 

 

It's at its most photogenic in the evening during the cold weather, like now as the marshes on the other side of the road has steam rising from it too with the heat radiating out from the base of the furnace.

 

Originally there was supposed to be 2 furnaces the same size built at Redcar works and the second one it never got put together...

[Jon]

Should have told me or STUNO you were coming, as we both live locally to Rotorua. Here's hoping you enjoyed the trip, anyway. I'll try and clarify the reasoning behind some of your observations:

 

Japanese stuff is obviously very popular, both new and second hand; I think grey imports are about on a par with new imports. They took off when British cars faded and many were built in NZ. My 1991 Hiace was built in Christchurch, for instance. That all came to an end in the late '90's. Think the FWD Mazda 323 wagon was still soldiering on until the end.

 

Automatics rule over here sadly (I say this as most just put them in D and whirr away glacially everywhere), so couple that with a lax driving ethos and it can be frustrating at times. However, despite speeding being rigidly enforced, more rural parts of the country allow you to up the pace a bit. Local knowledge helps in this area, though.

 

I love the sound of the large motors and jake brakes or whatever they call them on American trucks, though it can get a bit tiring at times when they drive through the downhill section in town at 3am and observe the 50km limit but not the 'No engine brakes in town' signs. Axle/tyre weight limits are lower over here, hence more axles and a majority of trailers running twin wheels - very uncommon in the UK now. The weight limit is 44t but the trucks which carry a yellow H plaque (looks like a fire hydrant sign) can exceed the weight and I think length limits. Far more of these are being registered now and I think either that or the high proportion of HGVs on the roads are having an effect on road surfaces, judging by the large ruts on the highways around here. It doesn't help that the road surfaces are crap as mentioned, though time is of the essence when making repairs, as they don't have the luxury of closing off sections and diverting people. Most of the time there aren't any other roads to divert to! I must admit that local repairs have recently improved in terms of road noise, though.

 

The reason that piggybacking trailers on logging trucks occurs is that they have hubodometers and pay road user charges for every kilometer travelled. Trucks do too, as indeed all diesels do. They also pay a higher rate of road tax, as some spurious levy relating to their supposed risk factor in accidents and the cost of repairs to roads which they churn up. Feasible in HGVs but in cars? However, that's why diesel is cheap, as it isn't taxed. In terms of the lack of motorbikes, anything over a commuter bike has to pay something like £300 a year in road tax, again attributed to the cost of accident claims associated with them. Rather like the NHS, the public pick up the bill for all accidents, a service which we all pay in to. It even covers loss of earnings in the recovery period; as a result, the 'no blame, no claim' ethos is non-existent here and car insurance isn't compulsory, though is advised, especially as it's so cheap (I pay £7.50 a month each TPFT for the 205 and Visa).

 

I'm not as qualified as you to comment on the outlook of NZ as an economy and would agree on the racism issue, though it's usually a jibe at people's differences (Asians can't drive, etc.), rather than the BNP UKIP type ramblings you get on FB in the UK. Think BBC sitcom, 40 years ago. It's seemingly much worse in Australia though, according to some Kiwi's I've spoken to who couldn't hack it our there. 

 

All in all, a much more preferable country to live in, for me at least. Things are different out here but adaptation is key, otherwise I'm just another bloody whingeing Pom!

[Ghosty]

Do exucse me, I think I need to take a holiday...

[Junkman]

 

Nissan Pathfinder by 

 

 

Did that ultra-rare 1955 DeSoto floppytop in background elude you?

A mere 625 of them were ever produced, this one obviously having been imported after the mandatory RHD was lifted for classic cars.

 

For a country, whose

 

 

classic scene was minor

 

I'm actually more than well impressed, that an enthusiast was willing to part with what must have been in the neighbourhood of £60k to fulfill his dream.

You'd be hard pressed to find someone in the UK, who is savvy enough to plunk down that kind of dosh for rated septic tin/fabric.

 

This one even appears to have tinted glass all round, an option only available in conjunction with the prohibitively expensive Airtemp air conditioning.

How bloody rare is this???

 

Now go back there, and don't come back without it.

[Jon]

I'll let willswitchengage off here JM, as there's hundreds of US cars over here, to the point that they are border line mundane and in their sheer number, can go unrecognised. Early Mustangs are definitely the MGB of NZ, a default classic that those uninterested in cars would recognise and appreciate. That sounds like I've not time for US cars but I do. Many of them now sport huge chrome rims and overly new paint, though it just makes the untouched ones more interesting. Think of it as more of a first world problem that we just have to put up with....

[Junkman]

US cars here, US cars there. A 1955 DeSoto convertible is like finding a Blue Mauritius.

[willswitchengage]

Not really interested in 50s cars.

 

Interesting post, Jon. Thanks. My hire car itself was a grey import and although I didn't do any maths, I did notice a huge number of other vehicles were also.

[STUNO]

Not only the above from jon, but you even spotted one of my old drives, the green Optare. I did many kilometres in that.