If you drive a small car, or are thinking about downsizing to a lower fuel use, more efficient smaller car for around town use, then you need to see the Hyundai Accent. This zippy little hot hatch has it all! Small on size but massive on features across the model range. We have a wide range of quality used vehicles like this one in our central Nelson Yard. Click here to find out more.
Last Friday evening we held a casual get together at our newly refurbished Bowater Toyota branch in Motueka.
We invited customers, neighbours and locals alike to come in and see what all of the excitement has been about down in our neck of the woods. The Bowater Motor Group has been on this site since the 1970's, so every few years changes get made to bring the functionality up to current requirements. This time the changes have been quite significant with some walls moved to accommodate relocating some workshop equipment, and opening up the showroom to create a lighter and more spacious feeling.
The sun was shining, the Old Mout Cider was cold, the music was on and the cars sparkling.
We had a great turn out, which is always nice, and were very happy to give away a superb spot prize of a nights accommodation at an outstanding local Motueka luxury lodge, the Stonefly Lodge to locals, and Bowater Toyota customers, Daryl and Edna MacLean.
South African race driver Deon Joubert shakes down a Toyota 86 at Killarney before discussing the finer points of the newcomer with South African auto magazine "CAR's" Juliet McGuire and a very grumpy Ian McLaren.
If you like to see an expert drift an 86 with glee, check out this video, with superb in-car commentary and trackside footage too!
This is what this whole car is about - fun, it is funny how many times the test driver uses the term. And check out his smile!
The end result for the review......
Horrible weather last Saturday did little to dent the enthusiasm of 16 former refugees who attended a 90-minute car maintenance course organised especially for them at Bowater Honda.
The session covering the basics, including changing a tyre, was organised by Nelson Multi Cultural Council Ignite worker Dev Mehta and run by Bowater Honda automotive technician Martin Stevenson.
The former refugees from Bhutan and Burma gave the session top marks.
Bharat Timsina said by learning some simple skills, the men could save money.
‘‘Most of the people here don’t even know how to change the water or oil, to be honest and they have to pay for it,’’ he said.
Useful skills: the crew at Saturday’s Nelson Multi Cultural Council’s car maintenance workshop for former refugees. Clockwise from centre left, co-ordinator Dev Mehta, Bharat Timsina, John van Lian, Govinda Regmi, La Guie, La Quare, Khuri Maunghlg, La Ruan, Ngun uk Thrang, Caw Tu, Biak Hlawnceu, Narayan Timsina and Bowater Honda automotive technician Martin Stevenson. PHOTO: MATT LAWREY
Ngun uk Thrang said it was a very good idea.
‘‘There are lots of things I want to learn. I want to learn everything,’’ he said.
Lexus has lifted the covers on the second version of its LF-LC sports coupe concept at the Sydney Motor Show and hinted that it may go into production in some form.
The car, finished in a stunning Opal Blue - to match the natural base colour of the Australian gemstone, updates the first concept, revealed at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year.
Lexus is using many of the lessons learnt in its high-tech LFA supercar's construction, particularly merging carbon fibre and alloys to create a strong but extremely light body, and as we all know with our experience with the amazing Toyota 86, light kerbweight equals superb handling and performance.
It also features the next-generation of its Lexus Hybrid Drive powertrain, imaginatively named Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive, but making up for it with a smaller high-energy battery pack that helps combines with petrol power to make 372kW, and 500bhp, that's 60bhp more than the LS600h, making it the most powerful Lexus Hybrid in existance.
