Car Advice for 5-1/2 month trip to New Zealand
Jul 26th, 2013, 07:31 PM
#1
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Car Advice for 5-1/2 month trip to New Zealand
My spouse, our two young children and I will be traveling to NZ in December 2013 for a 5-1/2 month stay. We will travel the South Island extensively, then settle down in a surf town on the North Island and take mostly long weekend trips.
Could anyone advise on how to easily and economically purchase/rent/lease a car without breaking the bank or spending long days on either end to buy and sell the vehicle? I saw a great program with Peugeot Eurolease for New Zealanders going to Europe, but nothing like it for people from the US going to New Zealand. We need something reliable and safe and unlimited miles would help.
Most things I've read said to buy, but having never done this overseas before--with two small children in tow--is rather daunting.
Also, if you have advice on how to do this without a local address (since we will be traveling the first month), I'd very much appreciate it!
Could anyone advise on how to easily and economically purchase/rent/lease a car without breaking the bank or spending long days on either end to buy and sell the vehicle? I saw a great program with Peugeot Eurolease for New Zealanders going to Europe, but nothing like it for people from the US going to New Zealand. We need something reliable and safe and unlimited miles would help.
Most things I've read said to buy, but having never done this overseas before--with two small children in tow--is rather daunting.
Also, if you have advice on how to do this without a local address (since we will be traveling the first month), I'd very much appreciate it!
Jul 26th, 2013, 08:31 PM
#2
Take a look at Trade Me NZ's equivalent to E-Bay. There are many cars for sale, some are private sales, some are from dealers.
I am sure when you arrive though you would be able to go to a car yard and get a good deal. Backpackers do it all the time, but I would say you would have a bigger budget than they do!! Sell it on Trade Me before you leave, or just go back to a dealer.
Rental car companies to look at are Go Rentals, Apex, Avis, there is also Eurocars.
I am sure when you arrive though you would be able to go to a car yard and get a good deal. Backpackers do it all the time, but I would say you would have a bigger budget than they do!! Sell it on Trade Me before you leave, or just go back to a dealer.
Rental car companies to look at are Go Rentals, Apex, Avis, there is also Eurocars.
Jul 26th, 2013, 11:44 PM
#3
The problem with pre-owned cars is maintenance, and you may not know what you're getting yourself into by buying someone else's rust bucket.
The nice thing about APEX is that they offer older cars for rent... these cars are generally high mileage, pre-bumped and bruised, yet they're very well maintained, include roadside assistance, a low excess and unlimited mileage; all in all a very good value.
APEX offers a 'road trip special' for long term rentals - I plugged in some arbitrary dates and came up with this - for a 168 day rental of a 2000-2002 vintage car - $3,606. For a 2004-2008 vintage car for the same time frame - $4,368.
Ferry transfer included, no charge for picking up on one island and dropping off on the other.
No buying/registration/insurance/resale issues.
It's worth a look.
The nice thing about APEX is that they offer older cars for rent... these cars are generally high mileage, pre-bumped and bruised, yet they're very well maintained, include roadside assistance, a low excess and unlimited mileage; all in all a very good value.
APEX offers a 'road trip special' for long term rentals - I plugged in some arbitrary dates and came up with this - for a 168 day rental of a 2000-2002 vintage car - $3,606. For a 2004-2008 vintage car for the same time frame - $4,368.
Ferry transfer included, no charge for picking up on one island and dropping off on the other.
No buying/registration/insurance/resale issues.
It's worth a look.
