Thread: small economical car?

Originally Posted by bblaze

Ok what would I do,
13 k will buy a decent small car BUT it will have all the modern things that can go wrong electriclly etc.

I can understand concerns about electronics on cars going off-road but I wouldn't worry about it for on-road use.

Electricity and silicon chips have been around for a long time now and are not new technologies.

I think it is misnomer that modern cars are less reliable. As a kid I remember that any time that the traffic ground to a halt coming back from the coast there would be cars pulled over from over-heating sitting in the traffic. You don't see that now. Likewise going up the range to Toowoomba or over the gap it was not uncommon to see cars over-heated.

G'day Xavie

I would seriously have a good think about what your main priorities are, first up costs, second distance, thirdly money outlay, and most importantly safety over the mountains during poorer winter conditions, 1st, you already have a constant 4x4 that you own.
2nd, a 300TDI usually does about 10l per 100K, driven sanely,
3rd, save the outlay and invest in maintainance.
4th, fully chassised vehicle,constant,4x4,high visability/road
stance.

And most importantly being in greater Sydney area you have a wealth of both technical support and parts service availability from the forum and it's members, and would most likley get roadside assistance from members if your Disco had problems, as there are members all through the mountains and on to Bathurst and at the end of your Uni course, you still have the Disco that you know, love, and are comfortable with, and driving and in a fender bender it will be Disco-1 === Econo box-0


cheers

I'd look at a Hyundai Getz -similar specs to the Jazz, Swift etc but much better value for money.

Can get a 2 year old one with 3 years warranty left (5yr, unlimited km warranty) for about 10k

They have dual airbags, ABS, 4 wheel discs, power windows, mirrors etc etc. Korean build quality these days is surprisingly good.

And drive surprisingly well also - will do about 170 km/h and return about 7 liters per 100.

We've just traded a V6 Pajero shopping trolley on a Getz and I've calculated that the fuel savings alone over 5 years would pay for the Getz, even if I torched the pajero and got nothing as a trade.

I have a mate at work who does a similar commute to you, also in a Getz and he has nothing but good things to say about it.

Suzuki Swift's are supposedly pretty good.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

I'd go an Excel also.

They are cheap, reliable and just keep going. I think Hyundai are an under rated manufacturer, probably because they are from Korea like other lesser manufacturers and that they are pitched at the budget end of the market.

FUnny thing is in the states they are one of the most awraded vehicles for customer satisfaction over 10 years!

I to am looking for a car >$15k and I am afraid I don't buy the thing about modern cars don't breakdown anymore. Maybe the tow trucks just arrive more quickly these days, so you don't see 'em on the side of the road as much.

Anyway, I have been looking at Laguna wagons - small displacement V6, so okay economy, 5-star safety with side curtain airbags and ESP and cheap as chips. Nothing else has this combo for the price. Just can't find a good one yet, so am thinking of looking at something else. Maybe Japanese.

Laguna I saw yesterday - one owner, Renault serviced from new - had been back so many times and had so many problems: example: ECU replaced, altred odo reading so reads 56,00km, car done 85,000km actual.

Four mths out of extended warranty, pulley dampener disintergrated, cause cambelt to jump, bent valves. Renault paid for the two new heads, but the owner wass till up for a $5k repair job. No coolant in overflow, so my guess is the head repair was not a good one, either.

I've looked at five Lagunas now and interior quality is awful. Look like Soviet grade plastics, just age badly it seems.

So to cut a long story short, my opinion is don't buy European unless you feel like taking a risk. If you want to watch the maintenance budget, go popular Korean or Japanese. If you want to take a risk - and love driving - then grab a Euro. That's what I'm trying to do.

And I feel your pain re carsales etc. I'm fast getting over it, too...

What's wrong with the KLE??

W

Well from a financial perspective I think you are going down an expensive and unecessary path....I would seriously keep the tdi but I would put standard size highway bias tyres on it...this will improve your economy a fair bit hopefully to around 10l per 100.. It will also make it nicer to drive on those hilly bitument roads. Then I would consider d-gas to further improve it if you want to.
You then get a 4wd to cope with the black ice, snow etc, keep your off rd wheels/tyres for off roading, avoid realising your depreciation, get to keep a Landy, and save yourself some headaches, maintain your landy lifestyle!

The only proviso for the above would be if you are up for some serious expenses on the Landy.

Cheers