Thread: small economical car?

Hi all,

I've been reading this thread with some interest, as last year I was in a very similar position...

I had an '89 Ford Falcon Ute, drank fuel like you would not believe (certain it was more than 20ltr/100km, think something was a little off!). Anyway, my girlfriend and I are obsessed with cars and decided we needed something new and cost-appropriate - we're both poor uni students....

We ended up with a new Suzuki Swift (manual), tomorrow morning it'll hit 30,000km's (in less than 11 months) and it has been absolutely perfect - drives fantastically. The only problem I've had is that it can look a little awkward for a guy to drive by himself (it suits more the Hello Kitty crowd at uni...). I think somebody mentioned these cars before, they're great.

The other thing we realised is that the Toyota Yaris is the most ridiculously over-rated car in the world. It pales in comparison to the Swift, and yet every car reviewer credits its brilliance to the vague 'Toyota Quality' metric - go sit in one and feel the quality :s

Good luck with the studies, apologies for the ramble!

Originally Posted by Tombie2

Get a motorcycle

SV650 would do the job admirably

If I had the confidence in my own riding and was happy to deal with most of winter bieng in the minusses when I'd be travelling I'd go the bike. I love my bike, goes well but..... for me it is to dangerous.

Originally Posted by Dmmos

Hi all,

I've been reading this thread with some interest, as last year I was in a very similar position...

I had an '89 Ford Falcon Ute, drank fuel like you would not believe (certain it was more than 20ltr/100km, think something was a little off!). Anyway, my girlfriend and I are obsessed with cars and decided we needed something new and cost-appropriate - we're both poor uni students....

We ended up with a new Suzuki Swift (manual), tomorrow morning it'll hit 30,000km's (in less than 11 months) and it has been absolutely perfect - drives fantastically. The only problem I've had is that it can look a little awkward for a guy to drive by himself (it suits more the Hello Kitty crowd at uni...). I think somebody mentioned these cars before, they're great.

The other thing we realised is that the Toyota Yaris is the most ridiculously over-rated car in the world. It pales in comparison to the Swift, and yet every car reviewer credits its brilliance to the vague 'Toyota Quality' metric - go sit in one and feel the quality :s

Good luck with the studies, apologies for the ramble!

Thanks, it was helpful. How much fuel does the suzi use and what year model? I don't want to go the toyota path. I was in a Yaris a while back and I felt ...... odd.... Dunno what it was.

I sat down and priced replacement parts, fuel, insurance and tyres and for a small car it is so much cheaper. It is just....... amazing. I don't think keeping the disco is neccessarily best and I'm playing with my options still....I have time so I don't mind going back and fourth... If I keep the D1 I'll have to camp out once a week near uni I think.

Xav

Its small, uber economical and comes in many different.... errr... well.... guises.....

A couple more!!

lol. I am wondering if you are slightly bored.

These are all actual body kits you can buy for the Smart 2 door!!! Seriously!!!!

The Carrera reminds me of those hotrod T shirts you used to buy with Munroes and GT's with huge tyres and massive exhausts hangin out the side!! pmsl

someone earlier mentioned opportunity cost...have you factored in how much you will save by investing the 10 to 15k that you will not spend on another car. In addition to that, the costs involved in keeping the disco accrue gradually over the 3 years and the initial outlay of this option will be lower than selling and buying now. This will provide an amount that is able to be invested/utilised until it is needed later on...another saving. You get what I mean...the ongoign cash flow scenarios need to be looked at carefully to compare the overall effects.

Yeah, I'm with you Eddo. I have factored this in. IF my calculations are correct It would take 2 years to get the initial outlay back. That's not factoring in if I decided to put it in a term deposit or anything.

My mechanic has a v8 D1 and he is considering doing the work for free and giving me his stuff and him taking mine. As I have new tyres, maxi drive etc... he is keen on getting all of that. So my initital outlay on doing anything to the disco may be very small.

I've asked him if I can look over his shoulder for things that I want done so I can learn a bit more about regular maintenance so doing the timing belt myself etc would be great.


This is my main concern
Despite the engine being recently rebuilt I'm concerned that it being a 14 year old vehicle something is going to go bang and then I'll be up the creek as I won't be able to get it done without a big outlay and missing several days of class. This worries me greatly. I suppose the thing I could do here is register the 2A again and get it running well and if anything does happen I can use that. Hardly Ideal but.... I'd be happy enough to do that. even if it meant loading camping gear on it and staying close for a couple of nights whilst the Disco was fixed.