car hunt challenge: $5k

[PranK]

My neice is getting her P's soon and needs a car. She has a budget of $5k...

I'm going to try and work with her to get more budget but if we stick to amounts around this and considering how my sister drives 😬I'm going to want something safe. Very very safe

The best I have so far is a bk Mazda 3. Preferably the maxx (two x's for coolness) or the sp23. The latter having lots of airbags, abs and traction control. For this price though they all have been to the moon a few times.

Maybe an AWD subie? An Impreza RS has a bunch of safety stuff but I'd be worried about maintenance costs and general reliability.

In Nissan's corner there is the woefully under equipped Tiida or a Micra which looks good but is tiny. Can get a auto SSS N15 Pulsar! But it has no safety features at all.

What do you think is the best option here?

 

[Duncan]

Definitely a Cima. Very cool, very safe, very reliable.

Used to be you could get a R32 GTST for that budget, not so much any more

[GTSBoy]

1 hour ago, Duncan said:

Used to be you could get a R32 GTST for that budget, not so much any more

Not so safe in a crash either.

[Murray_Calavera]

When it comes to crash safety, I think the most important factor is having the bigger car in the collision. 

If a 100 series Landcruiser with a bull bar and a late model Mitsubishi Mirage were involved in a head on collision, I would much rather be behind the wheel of the Landcruiser, despite the Mirage being 20 years more modern with a higher safety rating. 

Having said that, my vote would be for a mid 2000's Camry/Falcon/Commodore/etc. It's the best combo of large vehicle/modern vehicle that I can come up with. 

[trel]

Mazda 3 is my vote, we've had ours 6 years without any trouble, regular servicing and she goes and goes and goes.

They're bulletproof. If you do look for a BK and it's automatic, the only thing that could fail with them is the TCM, not an expensive fix but something to be mindful of. Very safe car too. 

 

[r32-25t]

Yaris or Corolla 

[PranK]

11 minutes ago, r32-25t said:

Yaris or Corolla 

Looked at the Corollas in her range, zero safety. No ABS even.

[BK]

Mid 2000s Ford Territory or Toyota Kluger.

[robbo_rb180]

Mazda 3, hyundai I20/30, corolla and use the left over budget on some driver training. Try and help get rid of bad habits from who has taught her.

[soviet_merlin]

Maybe one thing to consider is that you have to be quick. At least on carsales a good deal in that price range might be sold literally within the hour. The ones that are still listed are the ones that don't sell because they are priced too high for what they are.

It needs notifications enabled in the app and funds ready and basically be willing to put on a deposit straight away with no questions asked.

I found it depressing when I was looking a few months ago. Also because I imagine that a lot of them get sold to people who flip them. Because what normal person buys a car in that way?!

Good luck!

[funkymonkey]

Lowball this car with cash money instant decision

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2006-volkswagen-golf-gti-v-auto-my07/SSE-AD-14191028

high k’s but that’s the trade off

Or this:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2007-audi-a3-s-line-auto-quattro/SSE-AD-14142541
 

Or this:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2010-bmw-1-series-125i-e82-auto-my10/SSE-AD-14191693

 

or buy this:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/385344262708

[r32-25t]

They want reliable cars 

[PranK]

10 hours ago, funkymonkey said:

Lowball this car with cash money instant decision

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2006-volkswagen-golf-gti-v-auto-my07/SSE-AD-14191028

high k’s but that’s the trade off

Or this:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2007-audi-a3-s-line-auto-quattro/SSE-AD-14142541
 

Or this:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2010-bmw-1-series-125i-e82-auto-my10/SSE-AD-14191693

 

or buy this:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/385344262708

100% no on any cheap, used euro.

Otherwise, I'll be the one trying to maintain it for her ...

[PranK]

21 hours ago, BK said:

Mid 2000s Ford Territory or Toyota Kluger.

Yeah I was thinking about just getting something big. Not sure how keen she'll be on that.

[junkie]

If I was looking for something around 5k, i'd go for a J31 Maxima. Yes its a boat but also a lot of car for the coin

[BK]

1 hour ago, PranK said:

Yeah I was thinking about just getting something big. Not sure how keen she'll be on that.

Territory is not big big like a Cruiser and actually feels a lot smaller and nimble behind the wheel than you think. Lots of safety gear for the time - remember they were Wheels coty when they came out.

My missus drives our AWD one around like its our Rex.

[The Bogan]

If size matters for a first car, Toyota Camry, boring, but excellent

I bought my daughter a Yaris because she wanted a little car that was cheap to run, she has not had 1 issue

Well.....she did hit a kangaroo doing 80kph, she was find, and the car cost $1500 to fix

Luck, yes, but still

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[niZmO_Man]

Yuck VAG.

I recently went through this. Hatches/small cars were heavily inflated. I found Accord Euro to be a good deal. CL9s easily go for less than $10k, I bought a base CU2 for $11k last year (130k km, serviced at Hani's or whatever that Honda garage near Cabra is called). My cousin picked up a half decent CL9 for $7k.

Auto or manual, (if looked after) reliable, can get the luxury with sunroof and HID headlights.

 

  

On 16/01/2023 at 6:14 AM, Duncan said:

Used to be you could get a R32 GTST for that budget, not so much any more

I bought my black GTS-t Type M for $6k back in the day, was immaculate and stock. R.I.P.

[funkymonkey]

5 hours ago, PranK said:

100% no on any cheap, used euro.

Otherwise, I'll be the one trying to maintain it for her ...

Don’t pretend like you don’t have the spare parts!

most safety and comfort features any new driver should have are standard kit on 2010 vintage euro at that price point, but most asian cars you’d struggle

[niZmO_Man]

that is true, if you have the capabilities of working on the engines, the Passat et. al. is good value with heaps of features.