MIG Cars

Trusted car dealership, Motor Import Group (M.I.G), offers quality service, cars and people.

From sedans and hatchbacks

SUV’s and vans, MIG Cars has a great range of pre-loved vehicles. Customers say the team is knowledgeable and very helpful. Not only are they a licensed car dealership, they also offer services such as basic lube services, a premium service as well as panel and paint services.

An MIG premium Lube services include an engine oil and filter change as well as a coolant and fluid top up for $120. MIG Cars also offers a transmission service and a tyre fitting and balance service at a competitive price.

MIG Cars have their very own panel and paint shop which helps keep the quality of their cars to a high standard. The team are also very happy to help individuals out with any of their own panel and paint needs. MIG Cars offer assistance with insurance claims.

The company works along MTF Finance to ensure you’re able to achieve all your vehicle needs. MIG can provide you with a range of interest rates and finance terms, repayments to suit your budget, full disclosure around how repayments are calculated, ability to use your trade as your deposit and options if you don’t have a deposit or trade. Applications for finance are quick and easy and you can apply online whenever you want to.

With two offices in the Christchurch region, MIG Cars are easily accessible. Their locations are in Sydenham and Addington, both of which have a great range of vehicles to choose from. The Addington location specialises in electric vehicles and has a great range of models. If you buy an EV from MIG Cars, you get a three-year Mechanical Breakdown Insurance for free (T&Cs apply). This insurance includes the battery.

Features of one of the Nissan Leaf models MIG can provide includes an English stereo and dash which shows the distance remaining and the estimated charge time required to full charge and a New

Zealand certified charging cable. MIG Cars offers EV’s, hybrids and plug in hybrids within their EV range. MIG Cars also offer EV specialised services. This includes vehicle services, a battering reconditioning service, a battery State of Health (SoH), battery replacements and small to medium paint and panel repairs. The battery’s SoH is used to judge how much life is left in a used EV. It describes the overall condition of a battery, not the current charge.

For the best in used cars in Christchurch, look no further than MIG Cars. Found at both 140 Wordsworth Street, Sydenham and 313 Lincoln Road, Addington, Christchurch. Visit the website for more information. www.migcars.co.nz

For a while now, our industry has been dominated by fossil-fuelled vehicles that rely on petrol and diesel.

As the world looks for more sustainable vehicles to cut damaging emissions and preserve the environment, hybrid, electric, and hydrogen vehicles are becoming increasingly popular.

That means for young New Zealanders wanting to enter the industry, there’s never been a better time.

There’s going to be increasing demand and rewards for people skilled in these new vehicles. It’s an opportunity to not only work with cutting-edge technology but know you’re making a difference – while racking up good income, not student debt.

MTA and the Motor Industry Training Organisation (MITO) can help give information on how to become an apprentice and the range of interesting courses available.

Our communities depend on service stations, repairers and panel-beaters to keep them safe. Without them, unsafe vehicles would be on our roads, putting lives at risk.

As we come out of the Covid pandemic, all those businesses need staff to carry out their important work. So, if you love cars or motorbikes, the automotive sector has the job for you, right now.

And we need people from all walks of life and sections of the community.

Many of our members would say it beats working in an office – no two days are the same, you’ve got great people around you and the opportunities are endless.

There are jobs for petrolheads who love getting their hands dirty and jobs for computer whizzes who love technology.

A lot of young people who join the industry end up owning or running the business, so there’s a real career pathway.

You’re probably already familiar with MTA. The bright blue MTA badge is displayed proudly on most member businesses in our communities.

MTA takes its responsibilities to communities seriously. We’re proud of that badge and what it stands for. It’s not given out lightly. Members are bound to strict standards, which means that when you use an MTA member, you can expect to receive the highest quality service.

MTA also has a disputes service if a problem arises and MTA repairers provide a free Repairer Warranty on their repairs, so you can be sure that they will stand behind their work. And because sustainability and caring for the planet are becoming increasingly important, MTA is embarking on a programme to ensure we are playing our part in keeping our country beautiful for us and future generations. We’re also a source of information for motorists about road safety, and we sell vouchers and gift cards that can be used by selected MTA members.

And to make sure the government has motorists and road safety firmly on its radar, we advocate and work with the government and its agencies on important automotive issues.

The motor trade industry contributes directly to the nation’s GDP by about $6.8 billion a year and employs around 80,000 New Zealanders. Why not join us?

For more information about MTA and our range of services, or to find an MTA member near you, visit www.mta.org.nz CT

Article written by Motor Trade Association media and public relations manager, Simon Bradwell. Photos kindly supplied by the MTA. Motor Trade Association 0800 00 11 44 mta@mta.org.nz www.mta.org.nz

027 438 6285 www.scrs.org.nz

Sharing your space with others

Whether you live in a residential suburb or in a complex with retired people, sharing space with cars and pedestrians will always be a challenge. Everyone has an opinion about who has the right of way in a village setting. The ultimate conflict is between people who believe pedestrians have priority or people who believe cars have preference. What do you think?

When we regard the access road to our unit/home as a driveway, we immediately consider pedestrians (including people in wheelchairs or other mobility devices) and pets as vulnerable. You would not drive at a faster speed than 5-10km/h. This principle applies to mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs. Any heavy moving object poses a risk to people and pets.

Exiting your property on a busy street

“I live on a busy road and find it hard to safely get out of my driveway due to the high traffic volume”. Does this sound like you? There are a few things you could consider. Reversing will always be more demanding than driving forward. Unless you have space inside your property to turn around, you will have to back out at some point.

It is difficult to back out onto the road when your visibility is limited. It is better/safer to reverse into your garage or driveway when you can see what is out on the road or footpath. This way, you allow other road users to see your intentions and react. It will take a bit of practice, but it will pay off.

Stop and signal, as you would do when you parallel park. Check that the road and footpath are clear. Proceed carefully to reverse into your garage or driveway. At first, it will take a bit longer, but as you do it repeatedly, you will master it in less time.

Keep the sides of your garage clear of objects to give you a bit of room.

Before driving forward, remember to toot briefly to warn pedestrians of your intentions. You have to give way to them.

Could you give it a go? It may not be for you, so do it the way you feel comfortable doing it.