A new car for the old man.

[wally]

OK team, I need your help. My slightly aging father wants to buy a new car but he has no idea what he wants since he doesn't know one car from another and never has. So I've offered to help by putting a short list together of potentially suitable models for him to go and look at. Trouble is... the parameters are very broad. It needs to be shorter than the 2002 (NM?) V6 Pajero that it's replacing to give him more room in his new garage - also more economical. It needs to be able to seat adults in the rear seat with some degree of comfort. He needs to be able to fit golf clubs in the boot, and get them in and out easily (he doesn't have much shoulder strength due to having polio as a young bloke - and age I suppose). It has to be auto, does not need to be 4wd, and I think parking sensors would be a good idea. It will be used as a town runabout primarily but needs to be a reasonable highway car too so he can drive the nine hours or so to visit me. He doesn't know how much he wants to spend because he doesn't know what they're worth but he's not a man who's into cars so I'm thinking boring, probably Japanese kind of mid-spec, but I haven't got much beyond that. I'll visit some dealerships next week for some inspiration but in the meantime...how about some ideas?

I suggested a Defender but he didn't seem too interested.

[dullbird]

Grand vitara....

Rav4

[abaddonxi]

Subaru Forester GT.

[Yorkie]

falcon/dunnydore on gas.... or for soom european styling golf/peugot307 deisel.

cheers
yorkie :)

[series3]

If a 4wd isnt required, it opens up mountails of options. do you need any form of offroad ability? (ride height, clearance etc).

On the cheap you could get something like a Holden Cruze (new sedan not crappy little suv thing), they are relatively small but not cramped for more than 2 occupants.

Step up to Japanese, Civics are eye-wateringly expensive but a good car. fantastic little motors, fun to drive and reliable.

Go up again to european, will be worth a bit more, and there are many divided opinions about whether it is actually 'worth' it. If he doesn't give much of a hoot, it probably wont.

These cars are small (but not too small), will be able to cruise well at highways speeds and should ony sip a little fuel. Parking sensors are options on a majority of small-medium cars these days i imagine. Aftermarket kits are available fro Jaycar as well.

Maybe a Td4 freelander is the go? fits all of the requriements i think...

[wally]

Subaru Forester GT.

He'd kill himself.

[wally]

If a 4wd isnt required, it opens up mountails of options. do you need any form of offroad ability? (ride height, clearance etc).

On the cheap you could get something like a Holden Cruze (new sedan not crappy little suv thing), they are relatively small but not cramped for more than 2 occupants.

Step up to Japanese, Civics are eye-wateringly expensive but a good car. fantastic little motors, fun to drive and reliable.

Go up again to european, will be worth a bit more, and there are many divided opinions about whether it is actually 'worth' it. If he doesn't give much of a hoot, it probably wont.

These cars are small (but not too small), will be able to cruise well at highways speeds and should ony sip a little fuel. Parking sensors are options on a majority of small-medium cars these days i imagine. Aftermarket kits are available fro Jaycar as well.

Maybe a Td4 freelander is the go? fits all of the requriements i think...

No, there's absolutely no requirement for any offroad ability. I know that opens up mountains of options. Maybe that's the problem. There's no need for him to spend the extra on European stuff either. He's just not that discerning. If it can do the things listed above and delivers him from A to B without incident he'll be happy. I don't think the economy thing is a big deal either (the Pajero has only done 60000km in almost seven years!), and realistically any car that fits these criteria is going to be more economiacl than the Pajero. A Td4 Freelander would indeed fit the requirements but he doesn't need to go that expensive. I'm still thinking Japanese. A Civic...maybe. Enough room for four adults? Golf clubs?

[rangieman]

Suzuki Jimmny;) 7ltrs/100

[series3]

You might be suprised by the pricetag on a Civic, they are quite expensive when compared on paper with other models. They are a good car though.

Have you looked at the other Asian offerings? Something like a Mazda 3 or (shoot me now) Toyota might fit the bill. A Corolla may be too small, but a Mazda 3 has bit more space I think.

A VW Jetta or Golf VI is relatively cheap, biggish, economical and don't have a bad general reputation. You could squeeze a golf bag into a Golf I think

There are masses of options, especially without any sort of allegiance to a brand/continent/drive type. You're advantage at the moment is that it's a great time to be buying, you should shop around and get a feel for what is out there.

[Sprint]

whats the budget?

[series3]

Sorry, another one just popped in my head. Have a look at a Suzuki SX4 sedan or hatch, they are reported to have a very big boot (bigger than falcondores) for their class.Cheap and easy to run, and a good all-round painfree car for the older folk.

[Defender=1st]

As Series3 said above Suzuki SX4's are supposed to be a very good little car..we often service then at work with a contract matinance thing we have going with a company we work in with..and they give them a flogging and are all still going.

[DiscoDan]

one of the guys at work has just downsized from a Paj to a VW Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan > Volkswagen Car Models > Volkswagen Australia (http://www.volkswagen.com.au/vwcms/master_public/virtualmaster/en_au/New_Cars/Tiguan.html)

He is stoked with it, and it will hold golf clubs as seen them:) and he keeps raving about the lack of fuel it uses, 6 or 7 litre per 100kms

[chuck]

What about one of the new 3 door Pajeros?
Being a bit higher than a sedan they should be easier to get in & out of for the elderly.
The doors on a three door are bigger which again means they are a bit easier to get in & out of.
The new diesel is powerful & economical & can be had in auto.
They have long warrantees - which I wish Landrover would introduce.
My Father who is 76 has one (earlier model) and he loves it.

Regards

Chuck

[fraser130]

If it's not too small, i'd suggest a diesel golf. Dead reliable, VERY good on fuel, I haven't read a bad report/review on them yet.
I guess your budget is equally important.

Fraser

[PAT303]

Go the VW Golf,build quality is second to none. Pat

[Psimpson7]

Yep Mk5 Golf is very good.

Also worth looking at the Ford Focus, and the other european-esque small/medium cars.

[BigJon]

Go the VW Golf,build quality is second to none. Pat

Don't believe the hype.

My sister has a brand new Passat wagon, been back to the Dealer for warranty fixes a couple of times... in the first fortnight!

[B92 8NW]

Uni friend of mine has a new turbodiesel Golf. If the parking sensors are important, they once didn't pick up on a cast iron pole in Swanston St and the bumper is a little worse for wear as a result:D.

[V8Ian]

If he's happy with a fridge on wheels ............hard to go past a Camry

[PAT303]

Don't believe the hype.

My sister has a brand new Passat wagon, been back to the Dealer for warranty fixes a couple of times... in the first fortnight!

There has been about a dozen VW's through my family in the last 15 years,there is one Golf,one Bora and one Passat as I write,I had a Polo from new for 10 and all have been first class.I don't know what the engine looks like,I never had to lift the bonnet.My inlaws see it all the time driving around Cessnock,the most solidly built reliable car I have ever owned. Pat

[Newbs-IIA]

New model Falcon... Easy as that :)

Fits all the criteria especially getting adults in the back, towing and highway driving.

How many of you have sat in the back of a Golf? Pretty sure a falcon has alot more room.
It also can comfortably tow a good sized boat
Parts are easy and cheap to get.
It will be shorter than a Pajero.
Can be optioned with front and rear parking sensors.
Has a 5-star safey rating.
I'd like to see a small car tow a boat plus 4 people plus luggage down the highway and still get 8L/100kms.
Boot can be optioned with a rubber mat which folds out to protect your bumper when loading golf clubs in and out of boot. Also boot is not high off the ground.

Don't bother with euro cars - buy an Australian car, desigened and made in Australia for Autralian conditions.

All the above applies to the current model commodore aswell. Go to your Holden/Ford dealer and they will probably cut you a very good deal as they are desperate for sales at the moment.

Falcons/Commodores are designed to do exactly what you are describing!!! An average bloke who does a bit of this & that, likes a bit of space and some good easy to use technology. AND It won't cost the earth!!!

Hope I have helped - BUY AUSTRALIAN :D

[PAT303]

Yep have had a couple of foulcans and bomberdoors in the family too,didn't last long,only the yanks make bigger POS.I like the ''made for Australian conditions line'',the Euro makers all test their cars here,in my travels I have seen Volvo's,Audi's and VW's between Woomera and the Alice,one of the Volvo's was towing a trailer with a sail on it I think to load up the drivetrain.Have got 2 Volvo's in the family too,another make giving a good account for itself. Pat

[isuzurover]

New model Falcon... Easy as that :)

It will be shorter than a Pajero.


No it won't. Falcon is ~4.9m Pajero is ~4.65m



Subaru outback or impreza may fit the bill???
But it sounds like a small wagon or hatchback might be the best option.

[wally]

Right. I've just had myself a vasectomy and I'm not supposed to do anything physical for a little while so I have time to sit in front of the computer.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Everything from a Jimny to a Falcodore. Size is the first thing to consider here. He needs more room in his new carport. At the moment he can't move around the Pajero when it's parked in there. A Golf or anything of a similar size is definitely too small. But I looked at a parked Passat wagon the other day and that might be an option. The Tiguan is a good suggestion - I hadn't seriously considered that one, and they don't appear to be as expensive as I thought they were. According to my research the Pajero is about 4800mm long. Falcon, Territory, Commodore, and Camry are all longer. Tiguan is 4427mm long. Focus hatch is an option at 4341mm long. I think Isuzurover is right. A small wagon or hatch will probably be best suited. I'm off down to the Sunshine Coast for the next few days to rest my wounds so I'll do some sniffing around the dealerships and see what I find.