New spin for Wanganui car dealer

After eight years' managing Wanganui's Toyota dealership, Marty O'Fee is looking for a new challenge.

Resigning in August, he finished up at the dealership on Friday and says he has some things to tidy up before Christmas but will be nurturing ideas and looking for that next challenge in the new year.

He says he will miss the people the most from his Toyota years but still retains a fondness for cars.

"I will always have an allegiance to the motor trade in some way, whatever I do," he said.

For the past eight years, Mr O'Fee had been in charge of 19 staff and up to 60 cars, across the Wanganui and Raetihi dealership. The Raetihi branch does mainly parts and servicing but it can sell new cars as well.

Toyotas were still the number one selling car in New Zealand, he said, despite the company's recent problems with sticking accelerators in some models. The supply of Toyota vehicles has also been limited by the earthquake in Japan and flooding in Thailand.

There is now a waiting list for some models, especially the Hiluxes.

Mr O'Fee's replacement may be the owner of the Wanganui and Raetihi Toyota franchise, Lance Wagstaff, who sold the Hawera franchise he also owned in October last year.