My Car Page
My Very First Car
My very first car on the left a 1985 Honda Civic. The other car was my parents car at the time.
Make: Honda
Model: Civic EX
Year: 1985
Colour: Light Blue
Body Style: Sedan
Engine Spec: 1.3 L 60 hp
Transmission: 5 Speed Manual
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Extras: Radio/Cassette, Tachometer
Purchased: March 1997
Sold : July 2000
What I Liked About This Car:
It was a very economical car to drive like I was able to fill the car up for only $30 back in 1999 when petrol was 80 cents a litre. The most I ever paid to fill this car was $40 when the price of petrol went up to $1.10 a litre. Could drive all the way to Christchurch from Invercargill on a tank of petrol. Even with the price of petrol at $2 a litre this car would cost around $80 to fill compare that with having to pay over $100 to fill a 2l car. I also liked the fact it was manual, apparently the auto version of this car was real crap like only a 3 speed manual. Another thing that was good was the steering like for a car that didn't have Power Steering the steering was pretty good.
What I Didn't Like About This Car:
The biggest thing I didn't like was the manual choke this was a common thing in the New Zealand assembled Honda Civic from this era, my Grandma had the later 1990 model and this also had a manual choke.
Overall:
I have to say this was a good choice for my first car and was certainly much nicer than driving my parents Toyota Hilux Ute that had a column change gearbox. This was originally my older sisters first car she opted to sell it to me and this made a great car for commuting 45km to school every day.
Model: Civic EX
Year: 1985
Colour: Light Blue
Body Style: Sedan
Engine Spec: 1.3 L 60 hp
Transmission: 5 Speed Manual
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Extras: Radio/Cassette, Tachometer
Purchased: March 1997
Sold : July 2000
What I Liked About This Car:
It was a very economical car to drive like I was able to fill the car up for only $30 back in 1999 when petrol was 80 cents a litre. The most I ever paid to fill this car was $40 when the price of petrol went up to $1.10 a litre. Could drive all the way to Christchurch from Invercargill on a tank of petrol. Even with the price of petrol at $2 a litre this car would cost around $80 to fill compare that with having to pay over $100 to fill a 2l car. I also liked the fact it was manual, apparently the auto version of this car was real crap like only a 3 speed manual. Another thing that was good was the steering like for a car that didn't have Power Steering the steering was pretty good.
What I Didn't Like About This Car:
The biggest thing I didn't like was the manual choke this was a common thing in the New Zealand assembled Honda Civic from this era, my Grandma had the later 1990 model and this also had a manual choke.
Overall:
I have to say this was a good choice for my first car and was certainly much nicer than driving my parents Toyota Hilux Ute that had a column change gearbox. This was originally my older sisters first car she opted to sell it to me and this made a great car for commuting 45km to school every day.
My Second Car
My second car in 2002 a 1989 Mazda 626.
Make: Mazda
Model: 626 GLX
Year: 1989
Colour: Blue
Body Style: Sedan
Engine Spec: 2.0 L
Transmission: Automatic with Overdrive
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Extras: Power steering, Air Conditioning, Central locking
Purchased: July 2000
Traded In : September 2002
What I Liked About This Car:
Well I have to say it was a very nice car for it's age, this car was 11 years old when I bought it and it looked almost new. This car was certainly a big step up from my last car like it felt like I was driving a much more modern car. It was nice now having a car that had an automatic choke unlike my last car, and central locking, the Air Conditioning and Power Steering were a big bonus too.
What I Didn't Like About This Car:
The fact it wasn't a Honda was one thing, also the fuel economy was a bit of shock for me going from my Civic to this car and at a time when petrol prices were at record levels. It was a shock to go from putting $30-$40 of petrol in my Civic to paying $60 to fill this car. Also this car required Premium Unleaded fuel but I still ran it on Unleaded 91 as Unleaded 96 was too expensive.
Overall:
This was a nice car and I wished I had of kept it longer instead of buying my next car. When I traded it in there was a bit of damage to the paint work and a couple spots of rust but nothing serious I still ask myself why I got rid of this as it was such a good car and I could of easily got another couple years out of it before trading up to something way better than what I bought next.
Model: 626 GLX
Year: 1989
Colour: Blue
Body Style: Sedan
Engine Spec: 2.0 L
Transmission: Automatic with Overdrive
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Extras: Power steering, Air Conditioning, Central locking
Purchased: July 2000
Traded In : September 2002
What I Liked About This Car:
Well I have to say it was a very nice car for it's age, this car was 11 years old when I bought it and it looked almost new. This car was certainly a big step up from my last car like it felt like I was driving a much more modern car. It was nice now having a car that had an automatic choke unlike my last car, and central locking, the Air Conditioning and Power Steering were a big bonus too.
What I Didn't Like About This Car:
The fact it wasn't a Honda was one thing, also the fuel economy was a bit of shock for me going from my Civic to this car and at a time when petrol prices were at record levels. It was a shock to go from putting $30-$40 of petrol in my Civic to paying $60 to fill this car. Also this car required Premium Unleaded fuel but I still ran it on Unleaded 91 as Unleaded 96 was too expensive.
Overall:
This was a nice car and I wished I had of kept it longer instead of buying my next car. When I traded it in there was a bit of damage to the paint work and a couple spots of rust but nothing serious I still ask myself why I got rid of this as it was such a good car and I could of easily got another couple years out of it before trading up to something way better than what I bought next.
My Third Car
My previous car in late 2002 taken outside my flat at the time. (Ignore the date stamp this was wrong)
Make: Honda
Model: Rafaga
Year: 1994
Colour: Silver
Body Style: Sedan
Engine Spec: 2.0 L G20A-5 Straight-5 (5 Cylinder Engine)
Transmission: 4 Speed Automatic
Country of Origin: Japan (Used Import)
Extras: None as this was the bottom model. Power Steering, Air Conditioning, Electric Windows, Electric mirrors were all standard.
Purchased: September 2002
Traded In : October 2008
What I Liked About This Car:
Well it was a step up from the Mazda in the sense that it had some better features like Electric Windows. This car did have quite a bit of grunt like you certainly could take off very quickly and great for overtaking other vehicles also great on the open road. The remote locking was great until I lost the key and found it would cost $400 to get another remote locking key, I never bothered and just got another spare key cut.
What I Didn't Like About This Car:
Now where do I start, I think the body looked quite ugly actually especially the front and I still ask myself why I chose to buy such a car. While the inside was quite nice I think the upholstery on the seats wasn't that nice either in fact I put racing seat covers on it to impove it's look. The back seat had very little leg room and the boot was hard to put items into mainly due to the Air Conditioning unit at the back. The fuel ecomony was slightly worse than the Mazda the only real advantage was I could run it on Unleaded 91 ok. This car cost me around $50 to fill in 2002 when the price of petrol was hovering around $1 a litre and cost over $110 when the price of petrol was over $2 a litre.
Overall:
I still ask myself why I ever bought this car especially when I had a perfectly good car and especially now that I have a much nicer car. I was looking for a newer car when I bought this like something under 10 years old but I don't think this was the right choice at all. There is a bit I could of done to this car to make it nicer like adding better wheels a better exhaust and lowering it but by the time I could afford to do that I felt it was time to move up to something better. The only reason I kept this car longer than my last ones was because I bought a house.
Model: Rafaga
Year: 1994
Colour: Silver
Body Style: Sedan
Engine Spec: 2.0 L G20A-5 Straight-5 (5 Cylinder Engine)
Transmission: 4 Speed Automatic
Country of Origin: Japan (Used Import)
Extras: None as this was the bottom model. Power Steering, Air Conditioning, Electric Windows, Electric mirrors were all standard.
Purchased: September 2002
Traded In : October 2008
What I Liked About This Car:
Well it was a step up from the Mazda in the sense that it had some better features like Electric Windows. This car did have quite a bit of grunt like you certainly could take off very quickly and great for overtaking other vehicles also great on the open road. The remote locking was great until I lost the key and found it would cost $400 to get another remote locking key, I never bothered and just got another spare key cut.
What I Didn't Like About This Car:
Now where do I start, I think the body looked quite ugly actually especially the front and I still ask myself why I chose to buy such a car. While the inside was quite nice I think the upholstery on the seats wasn't that nice either in fact I put racing seat covers on it to impove it's look. The back seat had very little leg room and the boot was hard to put items into mainly due to the Air Conditioning unit at the back. The fuel ecomony was slightly worse than the Mazda the only real advantage was I could run it on Unleaded 91 ok. This car cost me around $50 to fill in 2002 when the price of petrol was hovering around $1 a litre and cost over $110 when the price of petrol was over $2 a litre.
Overall:
I still ask myself why I ever bought this car especially when I had a perfectly good car and especially now that I have a much nicer car. I was looking for a newer car when I bought this like something under 10 years old but I don't think this was the right choice at all. There is a bit I could of done to this car to make it nicer like adding better wheels a better exhaust and lowering it but by the time I could afford to do that I felt it was time to move up to something better. The only reason I kept this car longer than my last ones was because I bought a house.
 Front view of the Honda Rafaga October 2002. |
 Back view in October 2002 weeks after someone stole the Rafaga badge off the car. |
 The interior of the Honda Rafaga with my racing seat covers and my headunit. |
 The Rafaga Engine a 5 Cylinder Engine |
My Current Car
My current car a 1999 Honda Torneo SiR. Taken parked up at the Ascot Heights Development in November 2008.
Make: Honda
Model: Torneo
Year: 1999
Colour: Pearl White
Body Style: Sedan
Engine Spec: 2.0 L DOHC VTEC
Transmission: 4 Speed Automatic with Triptronic
Country of Origin: Japan (Used Import)
Extras: Sunroof, Satalite Navigation (doesn't work in NZ), TV (also doesn't work in NZ), CD Stacker, ABS breaking, Traction control, Alloy wheels, Rear Spoiler, 1/2 Leather interior
Purchased: October 2008
What I Like About This Car:
This car is a big step up from my last car. It looked almost like a brand new car when I bought it the paint work was in mint condition as with the interior. The car had only 65,000km on the clock when I bought it. What I like the most would have to be the overall look of the car like this is a nice car. I found the Triptronic to be great for driving up and down hills, this came in very handy on a few trip to Dunedin in 2009 where I was driving up and down a lot of hills.
What I Don't Like About This Car:
I have had a few small problems with this since I bought it such as the boot leaking and when you driving I find if you try to take off too quickly the car jumps a bit certainly not as smooth as the Rafaga was.
Overall:
The car appears to be way more economical to run on fuel than my last 2 cars. I am running this car on Unleaded 95 as the car appears to run better on 95 than 91. In comparison to my last car, the fuel light on the Rafaga usually came on after 420km of town driving where this car the fuel light comes on after 450km and the gauge has not reached E yet. I have tried 98 Octane in the and there doesn't seem to be any differnce to running the car on 95 Octane.
Model: Torneo
Year: 1999
Colour: Pearl White
Body Style: Sedan
Engine Spec: 2.0 L DOHC VTEC
Transmission: 4 Speed Automatic with Triptronic
Country of Origin: Japan (Used Import)
Extras: Sunroof, Satalite Navigation (doesn't work in NZ), TV (also doesn't work in NZ), CD Stacker, ABS breaking, Traction control, Alloy wheels, Rear Spoiler, 1/2 Leather interior
Purchased: October 2008
What I Like About This Car:
This car is a big step up from my last car. It looked almost like a brand new car when I bought it the paint work was in mint condition as with the interior. The car had only 65,000km on the clock when I bought it. What I like the most would have to be the overall look of the car like this is a nice car. I found the Triptronic to be great for driving up and down hills, this came in very handy on a few trip to Dunedin in 2009 where I was driving up and down a lot of hills.
What I Don't Like About This Car:
I have had a few small problems with this since I bought it such as the boot leaking and when you driving I find if you try to take off too quickly the car jumps a bit certainly not as smooth as the Rafaga was.
Overall:
The car appears to be way more economical to run on fuel than my last 2 cars. I am running this car on Unleaded 95 as the car appears to run better on 95 than 91. In comparison to my last car, the fuel light on the Rafaga usually came on after 420km of town driving where this car the fuel light comes on after 450km and the gauge has not reached E yet. I have tried 98 Octane in the and there doesn't seem to be any differnce to running the car on 95 Octane.
 Back view of my Honda Torneo in November 2008. |
 The interior of my Honda Torneo the day I bought the car. |
 A side shot of the interior taken in November 2008. |
 The centre console with the SATNAV/TV and factory stereo. |
 Where my car came from, the SATNAV shows somewhere in Japan. |
 The centre console now showing my new headunit. |
 The SiR model has a blue engine and is a DOHC VTEC. |