What are you driving?
.
Blue Commodore wagon with some off-road capabilities, Blaupunkt stereo with dodgy volume knob, and backseats that fold down to fit guns, longboards, or guitar and amps if that's your bag. Spare parts at almost every wreckers, though that's more comfort than convenience as I haven't needed it yet. Cost $1,500. Use the balance for a trip to Kamchatka. Totally recommend it.
Blaupunkt stereo -- styling!
Does it have a removable face plate that you carry with you into parties, like in an '80s movie?
No, but it has a knob whose movements bear no relation to the volume currently playing. Sounds great when played loud but you cant easily turn it back down.
Land cruiser Troopcarrier.
You’ll fit everything you own inside it , including yourself and the missus whilst you sleep in comfort.
For $25K you’d be styling. That’s your house , transport and storage system and it’ll go fucking anywhere. It’s what get when you realise that #vanlyfe is for domesticated suburban pretend surftrips.
Stu, sounds like a steal! Don't see why you'd want to turn the volume down anyway...
You haven't had any mechanical issues with it?
And where the hell is Kamchatka? Russia?
Blowin, not sure if I'd be able to get the missus onside with that one.
Then again, our lease is up in a couple of months...
Hyundai i30. Back seats fold flat so can easy fit boards up to 7'6" in between the front seats. Fold the front passenger seat back and 9'4" mal fits. This thing is like the Tardis.
Not great if more than one occupant though.
oh and it goes anywhere because it's a company car :)
How's she go on the highway, Jezza?
Had a getz a while back (ripped the a/c grille out so the nose of my gun could poke through to fit); it was great in town but not too happy going over 90.
Buy your current car back from the insurance company. That little patina doesn't effect the car's ability to get you to the surf and if some shithead bangs your door in the carpark it doesn't matter. You will still be able to insure it, best bargain you will find. Oldmate did it to his Holden hit by hail in Brisvages, still on the road 8 years later ..... here's the good bit, lets say your car was valued at $8,000 and now its write off value is $1,500, if you buy it back from your insurance company for the $1,500 they still pay out the $6500 difference to you. Now act quickie quick
Yeah, I've heard of a few guys doing that GuySmiley. Mightn't be the worst option... I'll see what the assessor's report says. One of the pillars on mine was a little buckled, so I'm a little worried about the structural damage. Wasn't a normal hailstorm - 30 minutes of baseball-sized (or bigger) hail.
if you and your insurance company are open to the idea of buy back get that pillar assessed to determine whether it will stop you getting insurance before proceeding.
Which state are you in Pops ?
IF NSW Likey to be classed as a statutory write off...you can buy it back but as wreck..
vin num recorded - never to be re regoed Aust wide
W.O.V.R.
light hail damage may be o.k./ but repairable write off laws changed about 5 yrs ago.
Very light hail damage may be o.k.
Goes really well on the highway Pops, just set the cruise and relax. Actually got a bit of toe for the size.
Prefer this one which is a bit older to the new ones we have as company cars. The 7 speed auto in the new ones is a bit funky.
I have driven a Getz and they are way smaller.
I'm in NSW, Udo. And I wouldn't call it light damage. Thanks for the heads-up.
Thanks Jezza. I'll have to take one for a test-drive.
Pops, Swellnet did a forum topic on what surf beast you drive/drove. Might be worth a look.
I like GS's idea of the buy-back from Ins company... all the dimples on the sheet metal might also make airflow more efficient over the car and give you better fuel economy.
Plus, no one will steal it!
Otherwise I will default to the AUII-III or VY wagons, the "Kingswoods" of our times, and keep 17-22K...
Holden Adventra Wagon
They might be 10+ years old but if you can find one in good nick it won't cost too much and save you dollars for other things
I had one as a company car for 6 years
Plenty of ground clearance, AWD, change the standard 17 inch rims and low profile tyres with 16 inch rims and high profile tyres, let some air out and you can drive them in soft sand
I used to drive mine on the beaches north of Newcastle to get to uncrowded spots
All the fishos with the 4 x 4's on the beach would be looking and going WTF how does that drive on the sand??
Pump the tyres back up and you're on the highway cruising at 110 no probs with the V6 engine and all the mod cons.
Plenty of room inside for boards or sleeping.
Thanks VJ, I'll go look for it.
Yeah both cars do kinda look like golfballs blown up! Or were you thinking of this?
Haha yes!
Here's a quick link to my favourite extreme weather reporter: it appears crazy hail is becoming more common:
Of course I will get into trouble for that one, but there it is...
& CMC those Adventras are pretty impressive cars, cheers for the 16s/high profile/lower pressures tip. I figure they would be handy for their large storage, AWD for the snow, nice to know they can do more!
Yeah, thanks for the tip CMC. Bet the fishos would have been pretty curious.
VJ, I've done a quick bit of digging on the extreme weather that video talks about and it seems likely that a lot of the (northern hemisphere) events cited could be attributed to shifts in the jet stream, rather than changes in solar activity - though I'm no expert. But this probably isn't the forum for a discussion on climate science.
X-Trails are a bit underused as a surf vehicle, get the one with 4x4 abd you're set.
Since it'd be rude not to finish the story...
Both cars were declared statutory write-offs (so buying them back wasn't an option). And the missus insisted on a list of features that ruled out most of the suggestions here (sorry guys! But happy wife, happy life).
Ended up picking up a 2015 AWD Hyundai Tucson 1.6 turbo petrol for about 15% less than advertised (paid the deposit this morning). Was a pleasure to drive when I test drove it, the wife's happy, so smiles all-round.
Until I get to work in 15 minutes, two hours late...
Anyway, thankyou all so much for your suggestions and advice.
let us know how it goes as a surf vehicle pops
Post up a photo of it fully flexed out .*
* I only discovered that’s a “ thing “ not so long ago when I stumbled across a bunch of 4wd lovers in the middle of nowhere , all wearing driving gloves and taking photos of each other’s shock absorbers whilst the cars went over a series of washouts.
Funny old world out there.
Will do. It's going to be a while before I get to go on a decent trip, but I'll post an update when I do.
Sure thing Blowin
'Morning Swellnetonians,
There's a fair chance that within the next week one or both of the missus' and my cars will be written off (hail damage), and need replacing.
So - what are you driving, and would you recommend it?
I'd be looking for something that I can fit my step-up inside (6'10 - but I will be getting roofracks for the longboard), is reasonably comfortable for the odd freeway roadtrip, and doesn't mind dirt roads. Probably going to have to avoid utes due to needing to haul my guitars and amp every now and then. Budget would be somewhere around $20-25k.