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Thread: Used Car Advice

  1. #1
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    Default Used Car Advice

    OK, so i'm not a car nut. I'm not overly fussed with fast, or stylish... But i do need to sell my Xtrail (its a lemon that my wife keeps smashing) and need to replace it with something...

    Criteria:
    - Under 12k (i only want third party insurance, wifes indiscretions in the Xtrail have shot our premiums through the roof!)
    - Preferably under 100,000kms
    - newish say 2010 or newer
    - room for the wife and little bloke (2 year old) and a dog (in the next few months)
    - Needs to be reasonable economical (preferably better than the Xtrail)
    - Needs to fit the cricket kit and esky in the boot
    - Bluetooth would be nice

    Any ideas?

    I'm tossing up between going back to a Mazda 3 (used to have a 2010 and loved it) or maybe a sedan, a Camry or something... like i said, not flashy, just want something half decent to get me through the next 3 years till my wifes insurance claims don't count against us anymore haha.

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  3. #2
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    Golf? My wife has one and loves it. It is nippy, excellent roadholding and easy to drive, economical, and surprisingly roomy. Better finish than the Mazda.

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

  4. #3
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    I'd plumb for the Camry Dibbers. Plenty of ex-fleet and ex-government cars available for auction in Sydney at attractive prices. 2012 models were a significant improvement on the previous model. These are a size up on the Mazda 3, but still very economical to run. They tick all your boxes.

  5. #4
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    I drive a 2013 Kia Rio 5door manual 1.6ltr, bought it second hand with 20k kms, now done 70k kms. Paid $10k for it, fits three kids in the back no problem. Cheap to run 5.8l/100km. Hasn't skipped a beat (touch wood) Bluetooth etc. fitted factory cruise control to it myself, I do interstate trips in it every school holidays. Just a great little car, worth thinking about.

  6. #5
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    thanks guys. Yeah im thinking something along the lines of a camry... the gilfs are nice but to many dropkicks in Sydney driving like nutcases in golfs... i wojldnt trusg a second hand one unless a 75 year old lady was the owner driver... plus arent parts/servicing more expensive? thats what ive heard anyway (i have to pay for people to fix my cars as i have no idea around engines). thats why i hate buying and selling cars, i have absolutely no idea whats good and whats bad... might have to bring one of my gearhead mates with me when its time to buy...

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  7. #6
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    Get an NRMA check done on the one you chose, yes it still costs you money for the test if it's a lemon, but much better to spend a couple of hundred to find out before you buy it than having to pay to fix a car after it's yours.

  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dibbers View Post
    OK, so i'm not a car nut. I'm not overly fussed with fast, or stylish... But i do need to sell my Xtrail (its a lemon that my wife keeps smashing) and need to replace it with something...
    I know it's a harsh question -- but what exactly is SWMBO's problem with the X-Trail?

    You need to resolve this before buying another vehicle, otherwise any replacement risks being
    too big
    too hard to steer
    too hard to see out of
    I hate his bloody car
    etc


    and that's before you get to express an opinion.


    also, if the little bloke is 2 now, the car you buy now will become the school run car in a couple of years
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  9. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by ian View Post
    I know it's a harsh question -- but what exactly is SWMBO's problem with the X-Trail?

    You need to resolve this before buying another vehicle, otherwise any replacement risks being
    too big
    too hard to steer
    too hard to see out of
    I hate his bloody car
    etc


    and that's before you get to express an opinion.


    also, if the little bloke is 2 now, the car you buy now will become the school run car in a couple of years
    We have a Suzuki Swift as well that she drives around now. The Xtrails just too big for her. She keeps dinging it in parking lots. And ive just paid 4k to get it fixed (2k mechanical unrelated to the smashes and 2k in insurance claims to get the dings repaired).

    When we bought it we wanted a bigger car for her to get around in with the pram etc and i used to catch a train to work. I got a new job at the start of the year so we now both drive to work, so the fuel economy is a big factor too. The little one doesnt use the pram much anymore either.

    The swift is just too small for us to use as our main car (putting groceries in the back is like playing tetris). So i figured that while i can still sell it and get some decent money for it, id take the opportunity to down size a bit and get something that isnt quite as thirsty (and hopefully doesnt have as many mechanical issues)

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  10. #9
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    if the little fella has ditched the pram -- a big tick to all three of you -- maybe you want something only a little bigger than the Suzi


    that is unless the "dog" or more kids dictate something much bigger.


    (written by a woodie and parent of 1, whose primary car for before kids was the wife's MX-5 -- so I know a lot about very small boots)
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by ian View Post
    if the little fella has ditched the pram -- a big tick to all three of you -- maybe you want something only a little bigger than the Suzi


    that is unless the "dog" or more kids dictate something much bigger.


    (written by a woodie and parent of 1, whose primary car for before kids was the wife's MX-5 -- so I know a lot about very small boots)
    The wife and I are both pretty set on no more kids. The way cost of living is going, its just not feasible... and our son still doesn't sleep at a little over 2 years old so i think thats scarred us permanently haha.

    Yeah I didn't want to go too much bigger than the swift. The Camry is a decent option and there are heaps around, i'd just prefer a hatch or a wagon... wagons are virtually non existent these days though. I'll probably go the Mazda if i can find a decent one, I've had one before and loved it so stick with what i know. Corolla is another option but the decent ones hold their resale very well so a little hard to find one in my budget with the features i'm hoping for.

    Might look at the newer hyundai i30s too or an i40... I just really hate buying used cars... its such a crap shoot...

    If only i could go back to being 16 again where my biggest worry was getting $5 together to buy Maccas for lunch hahaha

  12. #11
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    Consider a Mitsubishi ASX. They are smaller than an Xtrail and very frugal on juice. Good room inside and incredibly comfortable. I've just sold my 2013 diesel ASX after four years ownership, never had a problem with it and Mitsubishi are not shy in recalling for any faults, regardless of how old the car is. They recalled my ASX because they discovered the paint on the rear door lifters/dampers was a little thin.

    When in for a service they gave us a petrol model ASX as a loaner; again, excellent car and very frugal on juice. The battery died a few months before we traded it so we got the RAC out to replace it. We got talking to the RAC guy and he said in his experience the ASXs were pretty bulletproof, my sentiments exactly, great car.

  13. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by sacc51 View Post
    Consider a Mitsubishi ASX. They are smaller than an Xtrail and very frugal on juice. Good room inside and incredibly comfortable. I've just sold my 2013 diesel ASX after four years ownership, never had a problem with it and Mitsubishi are not shy in recalling for any faults, regardless of how old the car is. They recalled my ASX because they discovered the paint on the rear door lifters/dampers was a little thin.

    When in for a service they gave us a petrol model ASX as a loaner; again, excellent car and very frugal on juice. The battery died a few months before we traded it so we got the RAC out to replace it. We got talking to the RAC guy and he said in his experience the ASXs were pretty bulletproof, my sentiments exactly, great car.
    Thanks for the advice. I was looking at these the other day, they tend to hold their resale quite well and arent many around in my price bracket though... I'll keep looking though, i was considering one a few years ago when we bought the Xtrail

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  14. #13
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    I've a newer Mazda 3 (2 years old) brilliant car, My sister has a golf a little bit older -piece of crap. and I have to disagree with Derek on the comparison in the finish. Cricket gear would probably crowd the hatch's boot.
    We've also an older Mazda 6 , hmm it's about 12 -13 ish years old - we've had it since new also a great car - I'd offer to sell it to you but number 1 son wouldn't be happy. It takes a full Hockey goalies bag along with a usual hockey bag. In fact I was really annoyed when the new Mazda 6 didn't come in a hatch version
    I've always thought the camry suffered from "mass consumption" never really liked them
    regards
    Nick
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  15. #14
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    I would also consider a BMW 3 series 6 cyl.
    I bought a used one here in the US. A 325i from 2004, with almost 200000 miles, for 3500 US$. A great car! No problems. Drives great. Electric seats (with memory drive side), automatic headlights and wipers. Consumption is not greta but not a killer. The engine is concrete solid. Was really considering buying one when I get back to Melbourne, but I have my eyes on something else.

  16. #15
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    From your selection criteria I'd definitely vote for a Camry or even a Corolla Sedan, you'll be surprised how much space is in a Corolla.

    Hard to beat Toyota brand, they're Australia's most popular brand, which means plenty of parts around if you ever need it. Plus due to the number of them floating around there's heaps of people who can competently service/repair them.

    Have nothing against Mazda or VW, but if you're not after anything flashy no point IMO going with these brands. Toyota is simply hard to beat on value, however if you're after something with bit more flashy then consider other brands.

    VW is one of those brands that similarly to Toyota have a very large following, however their quality can be hit and miss depending on which model you get. Eg Tiguan's are made in Germany whilst Golf's are made in South Africa. So if you're one of the fortunate owners of a good one then happy days.

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