Phil-540i

I could see myself enjoying taxi hot-laps if Sabine Schmitz was driving..............immensely actually!!!

Product testing........side-airbags......... http://www.bimmerfest.com/news/732268/bmw-m5-ring-taxi-crash/ That ain't gonna buff out..............

Or a Mitsubishi.............

Its not a Volvo...............

Be discrete on how you do it would be my advice......... Diesel utes brought into NZ from the States as imports run into the miles vs kms hassle at times...........there used to be a box on the form for specifying whether it was kms or miles you wanted to purchase.........

Sounds weird - feel free to let us know what it is once its cured ae.......... If you take away the electronic side of things, all it really needs is spark, compression & fuel in order to go........... Its almost like its a relay or a fuse or a wire that been rubbing, given the bumpy road bit etc you described....... Has it got good fuel flow outa the pump, & up to injector line........??? Filter is ok?? Any odds you've picked up water with your fuel (bottom of service station tanks maybe) ?? Just some thoughts........

All sounds like its working out ok for you, which is good. I don't know what you know about diesel vehicles in NZ but I hope you clarified the RUC situation on the car before you brought it?? If it has been paying for km's, but registering 'miles', theres potentially a big gap there maybe, & if there is, RUC debts become the responsibility of the new owner - its one of the reason theres some incredibly cheap diesel powered vehicles on reTardme at times... In terms of the RUC mileage on it, make sure its always 'kept in credit', because if you happen to get stopped / checked & its over the maximum distance reading, the fine for that is the equivalent of 3x the amount owing. (Eg, 5000kms over on distance - fine is what 15,000kms RUC's would cost to buy, plus vehicle still needs brought into credit).

Loving your thoughts on the chromies................ditto here!!!

Lols - fair enough too. Bar Dunedin, Invercargill & Antarctica, 'everything / everywhere' is up north of ya................

Its already appreciating in value then...............

Wheres it going............??? Roughly.........?? Primo car for some-one........

Part of the problem is vehicles are becoming a 'world-wide market' spec, & I'm confident the Japanese Hilux DOES have stability control. All our imported utes with 'traditional Japanese names' - Hilux, Ranger, BT-50, Colorado, Triton are built in Thailand, & its been that way for ages. (Since 2005 on Hilux anyway). Some Navara models are sourced outside Thailand, to here, via Spain manufacture - Landcruiser is still made in Japan (Yay!!!!). The ANCAP ratings are certainly being taken in high regard in terms of H & S for work vehicles - as an example BHP now have a policy that unless a vehicle is for 'specific special purpose', all new fleet purchases are to be 5 star rating............

Ahh good, was gonna give ya some suggestions otherwise. Nice that a bit of brute force & 'pass me a bigger hammer' has worked - you might want to chuck those cheapies over your shoulder now & get some decent ones.......

It was definitely petrol that went in it, not diesel?? Pump handles hadn't been swapped around at the servo.........??? I know it sounds a silly question, but it happens regulary these-days.........

Hi - you got this sorted yet??

This chick, rocks....................... Sabine Schmitz in action, literally, laterally & figuratively. And has a awesome attitude...........!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtDwEmwWd4M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tG3Tx1e704 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a0mxWL3_Vg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L46sNaJ0dlw

Listed 20th June.......so not selling in any great hurry.

Its interesting in that part of the criteria for NCAP 5 star rating, it MUST have ESC...........

Link for ya Daniel.............. http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=613512

It can be switched off on a Hilux, if you hold the switch in continuously for 5(secs), hold your tongue the right way, align the planets, & remember that it switches back 'on' again every-time you flick the key....they're a dog of a thing in standard form though IMO. And it restricts changing tyre sizes, installing lift kits etc as well, making them now about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike in 4WD conditions.....

I woulda thought somewhere around 5kish would be good money for it, but, its also mint looking order, & is manual, & is NZ new, & unlike the one in Rotorua, hasn't been to the moon & back......... So in some aspects, its a supply vs demand thing too, as its rare enough as it sits IMO........so I guess it comes back to what its worth to you, to own it......

Any chance its maybe had LED bulbs put in it??

Ditto - totally agree it will have no effect or deterrent to those repeat offenders who drive with extremely high levels.........I think the penalties are there for it now, its just judges seldom use whats available to them scope-wise within the legislation. Being caught once over the 80mg limit, could be taken as 'a learning experience' maybe, or even classed as a 'mistake / wrong decision'. More than that, IMO, starts to indicate streaks of ignorance, arrogance & stupidity........

All good stuff, I'm grinning away reading!! True what you're saying Graham, but, to the point its now getting ridiculous on how low the parameters are being set on some ETC / ESP systems, in order to cater to the driver that is the dumbest / weakest link. As an example - new Hilux 4WD, is virtually un-driveable on gravel roads, at any sort of 'speed', with the whole equation worsening if theres any sort of trailer behind it - any older Hilux would run rings around it in terms of driveability. Theres been so many howls of protest from guys that have traded in say, 2010 model ones on new ones, that Toyota now has a program for reflashing the computer to 'raise the levels' on where it kicks in....... A case of a step forwards 'safety wise' maybe, but 2 steps backwards & sideways at the same time on vehicle usability...

I like what you've said here but this bit - "People these days don't need to understand cars or the basics of handling etc" - IMO they still 'need' to understand all that, they just don't though....... I still service my own vehicles once they're outa warranty........it fascinates me these-days as to how many guys are out there that don't know how to even check engine oil, change a flat tyre, etc........