We owned a perfectly good tow vehicle, a 2015 Isuzu MU-X that we took to New Zealand. High shipping costs and a confusing Australian tax and duty system meant it could not return. We sold it and required a new vehicle.
Selling the car wasn’t originally part of the plan and the dent in our budget was going to hurt. Whatever tow vehicle we bought would be our only car at the end of the trip. We loved our MU-X and an all new model was due for release. At the time, the information available on the new model was light on detail. Basically, it would be better than the last one. Overseas models gave some clues but not many. The dealers (in either Australia or New Zealand) didn’t have much more to add.
A warning from Abby’s sister about the long lead times for new vehicles forced our hand (semi-conductor shortages). We quickly checked for some alternatives, but the competitor’s prices were crushing. Better the devil you know(ish) and we ordered a brand new 2021 Isuzu MU-X LST pre-release. We ordered through a Brisbane dealer, with no specifications, over the phone from the side of the road in Wellington. Our contract had no final price or firm delivery date but got us a place in the delivery queue.
We collected it shortly after we’d done our mandatory quarantine period and immediately loved it. The little things we wished were better in the old vehicle were improved with some great new additions as well. But we also knew it would need some work done before the adventure begins. It couldn’t handle the weight of towing and all our gear, it needed some front end protection (those damn animals), a few extra things for safety and some other improvements so it all worked as we’d like.
