New Car for Project 2014

Over the past few months we have been starting to think about what things we are going to take with us camping.  Whilst we have survived well enough camping for a a week or two, when travelling for 12 full months, there is going to be a few additional things that will be necessary to make the trip enjoyable.

And it was beginning to dawn on us that our ever faithful and dependable Terracan was probably not going to be able to fit us all in.

So we started thinking about what capability did we really want in a vehicle.  The list of course continued to grow, and ended up looking something like this:

• Dual Cab Ute (cab chassis)
• Steel Tray
• Towbar
• Water and Dust proof canopy with jack off legs
• Steel Bullbar (winch compatible in case I get lucky and find a free winch somewhere!)
• Snorkel
• Comfortable for ALL of us touring
• Under warranty for our trip - meaning a 2012 model vehicle

And so the hunt was on.  There are many dual cab utes on the market that were worth considering, including the new Toyota Double Cab 70 series - all the way down to the offerings by Great Wall.  The decision wasn't going to be easy - and indeed it wasn't.

I wont bore you with the details.  We whittled down the contenders to a shortlist of three - and then after sitting in the back seat of our chosen few, settled on the Volkswagen Amarok.

Now deciding on the Amarok and becoming the proud owners of one we soon realised are two different things.  We tried Private Fleet - affiliated with NRMA, they claim to provide fleet discounts to private customers.  We gave them a detailed specification sheet, and they found a vehicle for us.  We agreed on a changeover price, signed on the dotted line, and settled down to relax over Christmas, looking forward to our new car arriving on a truck earlier in the new year.

Alas on calling in early January to confirm final payment details I was regretfully informed that the vehicle had actually been sold, and Private Fleet were trying to source me another.  What the???  (I suspect Private Fleet were as surprised as I was by this regrettable event).

So over the next week or two www.carsales.com.au/ become our friend.  The difficult thing was trying to make sure we were comparing apples with apples.  We found two vehicles that were close to matching our requirement - and had been given an estimate on the trade for the Terracan.  We had a price, we had found a car - and for a better price than Private Fleet too.

Then I thought I would give the local bloke a chance to better them.  And he did.  Michael at Lennock Motors in Phillip ACT had a 2012 Dual Cab Amarok Cab Chassis in stock - in the right colour - and would fit a steel tray and tow bar for us.  The only drawback was the four week wait for the tray to be manufactured.

Sold.

So we are due to pick up the new Amarok (already nicknamed by the boys Rocky) in two more weeks (15 Feb).  

And that also explains why there are no photos of the new car... yet.  I did sneak a couple of extra purchases on e-bay though, that I will give to the boys - so all three of us will have a new Amarok at the same time!

The Amarok had better be ready on the 15th, as we are hoping to head off camping with a group of friends that weekend and I would love to take the new toy.  I just fitted an electric brake controller to our Subaru just in case it isn't ready in time - so we will get there, we just might be a little slower than everyone else!

Oh, and know anyone who wants to buy a well loved Terracan?  If you read this blog - you will know its history as well as anyone.  The advertisement is here:  http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/gundaroo/cars-vans-utes/2005-hyundai-terracan-wagon/1012544665