Anyone seen a Car yard with an Aristo for sale in Auckland?

[Crampy]

Anyone in Auckland seen a car yard selling an Aristo (preferably the JZS161 model)? I want to take one for a test drive to see what they're like. I was thinking about getting a SV6 Commodore next year, but I'm liking the look of the Aristo at the moment.

Also, am I correct in assuming you can't import Aristo's anymore?

[dnalunchie]

Anyone in Auckland seen a car yard selling an Aristo (preferably the JZS161 model)? I want to take one for a test drive to see what they're like. I was thinking about getting a SV6 Commodore next year, but I'm liking the look of the Aristo at the moment.

Also, am I correct in assuming you can't import Aristo's anymore?

SV6 ftw... as long as its the VE shape

[sergei]

Aristo is far better vehicle than Commodore (in any shape and size).

[dnalunchie]

Aristo is far better vehicle than Commodore (in any shape and size).

must ... not start argument.... wont be helpful for thread..... must not.... ok sergei.......you are right I am wrong

[Crampy]

Well I was actually considering a V6 Commodore (old 3.8 buick) and then saw the newer V6 powered ones (3.6 ltire) and though "yeah, they look nice".

Now that I'm looking at Aristo's, a 1998 is worth the same as a 2004-5 Commodore. So the holdens certainly don't hold their value and I like the look of the Aristo better, even though it's 6+ years older.

Problem is finding one, as they are definitely a lot less of them around compared to the "Common"dore.

[JustinSpiderholden]

Aristo is far better vehicle than Commodore (in any shape and size).

must ... not start argument.... wont be helpful for thread..... must not.... ok sergei.......you are right I am wrong

Ok how is Sergei wrong?

Holdens have poor build quailty, so shocking in fact that the dealership in Nelson that my Dad brought his first and only commodore from actualy brought the car back

This was a brand new VT in the 1990s

Things that went wrong with a brand new car

1: Went through a car wash and it proceeded to fill with water
2: Jammed breaks on at stop lights and head lights decided to fly out
3: Entire rear suspension broken in half

The Aristo was build to be a 5 series bmw competior, you cant really compare a Commodore to an Aristo its just no fair on the Commodore

Falcons are built to higher standard that Commodores IMO

[ROBODISCO_20v]

If you're looking for a big car like the Commodore then how about a BF XR6 Turbo? Similar if not better handling than a VE. ZF 6 speed auto is far better than the SV6's 5AT. 245kW with the potential to make loads more.

Those JZS161 Aristos are very nice looking. You can bring in anything that has a GH chassis prefix, which is about '00 onwards.

[YeMs]

i had a 96 lexus gs300 (aristo equivalent) and it was an awesome vehicle. comfortable economical. it did have the leather interior and a set of platform adjusties in it, but it drove effortlessly even with a car load of 5. id definately suggest the aristo over the commode. iv worked on heaps of commodes and they arent really my cup of tea, have all sorts of issues and for the size of the car they arent that peppy.

[Crampy]

Yeah I am liking the Aristo option more and more now.
I like the later model (JZS161), as i think it looks better and it has the VVTi version motor.

Also, my mate has had a few Commodores and hasn't had to many problems with them. They seem to go ok for my liking, so I"m not after massive performance, more a cruiser than anything.

I have seen a few older ones at a good price however. I'll have to see how the money situation works out for me. Worse case scenario, I'll still be driving around in my AE82 FXGT hahaha.

[escortman]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 779930.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 143374.htm

either of those would be acceptable for you to own robin haha

if i had the money one would be sitting in my garage

[matt dunn]

Falcons are built to higher standard that Commodores IMO

LOL, you've obviously never worked for a ford dealership then.

When we were doing Targa with the focus we stopped at a dealership and they had enough parts for us to build a new XR6T engine out of parts that they had replaced under warranty, including blocks cranks pistons etc.

and that didn't included the complete car that was there to go back to Aussie as unrepairable.

[Crampy]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Toyota/auction-244779930.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 143374.htm

either of those would be acceptable for you to own robin haha

if i had the money one would be sitting in my garage

Cheers Matt. I've been keeping an eye on those. There are one or two others on Trademe I'm looking at as well. The Silver one (top link) is too expensive for my liking.
The only problem with the Blue one (bottom link), is the fact it has 20inch mags! It'd be a case of selling them and getting some 17s.... maybe 18s, depending on tyre replacement costs.
20 inch mags are dumb!

[Crampy]

There is this one as well:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 987137.htm

It looks good in white, but again with the big wheels, 19s this time.
It has been modified too, so maybe not my cup of tea.

[escortman]

hmm i think with a car so large 17s and 18s look to small

eg-http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Toyota/ARISTO/auction-250177431.htm

but that could also be the hideous kit also

[Crampy]

Well I'd say those wheels look better than any of the other ones to be honest. So it seems 18 are perfect, maybe 17s (would depend on the style though)
I like to have a bit of sidewall under me to take some of the knocks from the premium roading we a provided with here in NZ.

Super low profile tyres and stretched tyres FTL!!!

ps, yes that kit is quite hideous.

[dnalunchie]

one thing counting in the SV6's favour is the age.. the holden would at the least be 6 years newer than the toyota's. Just something to bare in mind

[Dell'Orto]

6 years down the track the Toyota will still be a nice car, the Holden will be clapped out and less than a 3rd the price of new

[S T E A L T H]

depending how much you are prepared to spend - I would definately look towards a E39 BMW 5 series (96-2002).
The 528 is the best overall (in my opinion) best weight balance and a compromise between handling and straight line power. Was definately one of the most sucessful cars that segment has ever seen..

it WILL cost more to run than an aristo/lexus gs300 - but it's an infinately better car. Unless you really love the aristo shape and you already have your heart set on it, I would at least take it for a long test drive over some more challenging roads to see if it's really what you want...

[rollaholic]

if you do decide to try a few BMWs out, avoid anything out of singapore like the plague.

NZ new is best

i wouldnt touch a commodore with a barge pole. overpriced underbuilt scrap metal imho. buying new or near new is like buying into a research program... 'lets see what goes wrong with this model!' something thats 6 or 7 years old, the market has had a chance to see what some common faults etc are

[Crampy]

I do like the BMW you mention, quite a bit actually. I'd probably never bring myself to buy one though. I've got a 318i BMW at the moment and it is such a pain in the ar$e. They do things so different with those cars. The stupid oil filter is a cartridge thing that sits in a metal enclosure, the coolant system is whack and other bits and pieces are just odd.

I'm used to Toyota and try to do as much work on my cars as possible.
At least with the Aristo I know I can do a lot of the work on it eg, servicings, belts, change this change that etc. As for a BMW, I'd be less inclined to work on it.

Not saying that the Aristo or BMW would be needing a lot of work done, just if the need ever came up the Toyota would be my pick.

I can't base my reasons for buying a car solely on how nicely it drives either. The costs of up keep, maintenance and reliablility will play a big chunk in my decision making. Money is another thing. The Aristo seems to be the limit of what I'd really want to spend on a car, so say 15-17g. Until now the most expensive car I've ever owned was my BZ-G which I got for $8g about 6 years ago. I still haven't sorted out if I can free up that kind of money, so this might all end up as a dream and never come to fruition.