When it comes to buying a vehicle, what are the deal-breakers for you? Price? Safety rating? Fuel economy?
My brother and sister-in-law have just moved to New Zealand after years living in the Caribbean and needed some wheels quick smart as they were driving hire vehicles.
Though my brother owned a ute in Trinidad, and was excited about owning the facelift version in New Zealand, the three-month wait for the model he wanted was too long for him.
It was his deal-breaker.
He was after a large vehicle as it would be used for towing a boat; he wanted diesel (after struggling with the petrol prices in NZ compared to the low cost of gas in Trinidad); and needed a safe vehicle for transporting the family.
In the end he fell for a large SUV. Black. Diesel.
It had a reversing camera (needed for his narrow inner-city driveway), and he upgraded to 20-inch black alloys.
Before he paid for it I made sure he took it overnight to see whether could fit in his garage (nope), or be parked by the side of the house (yes).
My sister-in-law drove a medium-sized SUV in Trinidad and was keen to upgrade to the new model.
But the version she wanted was out of her budget.
Deal breaker.
The next compact SUV she spotted had no integrated satnav (and being new to Auckland she needed help to get around).
Deal breaker.
But an ex-fleet small SUV was in her budget and the dealership could add an after-market infotainment screen with satnav.
And, as with my brother, I made my sister-in-law take the vehicle overnight — and this family vehicle did fit in the garage.
Deal.