Simons Holden page |
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Trade-in
As explained on the Neon-page did we get the idea, after the accidents, that this car might turn costly once it age would start causing some repairs.
This is why after 2½ years (with the car being nearly 3 years old) we though it would be a good time to start looking to trade in. Hopefully with 2 more years of new-car warranty and low mileage we should be able to get a good deal.
So what did we want to replace it with: a locally produced car for starters, to keep maintenance costs down, and also big enough to support the expanding family. That limited it to a Mitsubishi Magna, Ford Falcon or a Holden Commodore. The latter two are locally designed and produced whereas the Magna is also locally produced.
Fortunately do these cars fall right in the middle of the popular lease-bracket with plenty of second-hands around. Lisa knew from the experience of her colleagues with the various makes and models that the Commodore would be the most reliable. After narrowing down the choice to this brand we also thought we really wanted a wagon. If we ever would get a dog (something we are thinking of in addition to the cat and baby), this would be the best way to travel with it.
Of course it also should be too old (3 years max.) and not have gone too far (about 50.000 km’s) so that really narrowed it down. When we received an ‘invitation’ for a 40th anniversary of a car-dealer with ‘deals-of-a-lifetime’ we thought we would have a look.
The salesman latched on to us and recognising us for the rich people we would like to be, he tried to sell us a new car (rather than a suitable second-hand -which they didn’t have-). The car was a real good deal (it had been set-up with all kinds of goodies for a specific customer, but he reneged the deal), but when it came to trade-in value we were shocked by the value he offered.
After explaining that the difference was too much to overcome, he said he would ‘check it again’ and would you believe came back that they had a mistake and the Neon was in fact worth $2.500 more !! Still too low for our budget though so we left, but the next day he called with the story that someone walked in after us, looking for a Neon (would you believe it, at a Holden dealer ?) and was willing to pay another $2.000 more.
Although getting close, he still had left a gap of a couple of thousand dollars and despite his good advice ("that is not that much per month …" or "see it as an investment …" and even "wouldn’t you like to give your wife a new car to go with the new baby ??" to which I replied that I thought my wife would kill me if I paid that much for a car !!) we left empty-handed.
The next dealer though took a look at the Neon and directed us (to our surprise) to a one-year old with only 24.000 kilometres. We discussed the amount we wanted to pay and he thought we could do it for that amount. So next was the test-drive and a RAC-check to be sure it wasn’t a lemon or previously damaged (even though it still has 2 years new-car warranty).
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As mentioned above is the car a Holden Commodore wagon. An ‘VT Series II Executive V6’ to be exact. VX is the model that has just been released and the VT Series II is the one before that. ‘Executive’ is one of the 3 luxury standards (the lowest one). |
The car is from July-1999 and currently has 24.000 kilometres done. It silver colour. The engine is a 3.8 litre 6-cylinder. A huge block (and car as well) for me who is still used to European sized cars. For Lisa’s comfort (although I have to admit it is pretty comfy) we have chosen for an automatic. |
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The Executive is the lowest luxury standard, but funnily enough still comes with thing like electronic driver-seat adjustments & trip-computer, this while something as basic (in my opinion) as electric windows are missing. Air-conditioning is not standard for the model, but it is standard in all West-Australian cars (you wouldn’t want to live without it during summer). There are some nifty features such as:
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And our car even has a dog-rack (luggage-barrier) already installed !!
Australia maintains the English tradition of driving on the 'wrong' (i.e. the left) side of the road and of course I had to adjust to that. Sitting in the car (on the right side) it is strange to have so much of the car to your left, whereas your rear-view mirror (normally on the right) has been replaced by a window (and the sidemirror), but I managed to avoid most of the curbs.
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Fortunately the roadrules are basically the same (give way to the right) and besides most crossings are regulated with STOP-signs, traffic-lights or a roundabout. The only difference is that on a T-junction the ending road gives way to the ongoing one whereas in the Netherlands you always give way to the right. |
I keep being surprised by the space: wide road and hardly any traffic jams. Every morning I used to pass the busiest point of Perth and I was still at work within 20 minutes. Quite different from the 5 quarters-of-an-hour it took me on the 40 kilometres in the Netherlands. Lately though I take the bus (see on my work-page).
| Another way of
transportation is a bike. A Dutchman without a bike is
unthinkable and so I have bought one (June 1998). Because
of the hills it is some form of a mountainbike (with 21
gears, and you actually need the smallest one). In Australia it is obligated to wear a helmet, so I have also purchased such an aerodynamic basket. I still think it is a nuisance and that it is my own choice if I want to fall myself a concussion ! |
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