Might be buying my first car tomorrow
2005 Holden Astra CDX Automatic
207,000kms
Seller is moving so selling cheap
Questions
Is this a good first car
I have heard of timing belt problems?
I have been looking for a car for a while something reliable cheap etc and I just wanna hurry up and get one lol
Any input welcomed band needed urgently cuse I'm looking at it tomorrow
Whoops didn't even realise she is moving way and said she will do $2700 with rego until may 2015
I know I have heard of the issues but I'm just wondering for the year is it a good price
Never ever buy a car from a person who is 'moving overseas, must sell.' If you believe that 85% of lemons on carsales have owners moving overseas. A Holden Astra is not a reliable car, the one you are looking at had plenty of inherent problems, and will likely spend more time in the garage than on the road. 206k is also an awful lot. $2700 is nothing for a car, so there is likely something very wrong with it, If I had to buy it (which I wouldn't) I'd offer $1500 and factor in $5k for repairs. Even then it would probably break down, because thats just what Astras do.
what do they get out of saying that there moving overseas?
It creates a sense of urgency for the buyer, makes them think they need a jump on the deal quickly or the opportunity will be lost. Simple marketing techniques :)
Is that the Ah model? I had a 05 wagon but CD model. Great car. Sold it at 120k km with no problems. You can do the timing belt every 100k on these. So check if it's been done again.
I loved the model so much I got the same again but an 08. It's now at 120k km and has had no probs at all. I must have been lucky twice as everyone seems to have bad experiences with them.
I'm not sure of the going price of an 05 at those high kms. But if they are desperate offer under $2000 for it.
It was like a hangover from the 1980s.
Your parents need a good walloping allowing you to drink before the age of 10. In any case, don't trash the XF Falcon.
I drove a manual and an auto
You drove an Astra for the first time and it had both transmissions? No wonder why you thought it was dangerous to drive, that car must have been heavily modded. There are some cowboys out there!
See the word 'an'? It implies 2 cars
Is this a good first car?
Seems OK, Don't forget to factor in running costs such as petrol.
I have heard of timing belt problems?
The Timing belt should be replaced every 100,000k? Pls correct me if I'm wrong, so I am wondering if she has replaced it recently? If not, you should factor that into the price.
I have been looking for a car for a while something reliable cheap etc and I just wanna hurry up and get one lol
The car seems cheap, but what thorton82 said is pretty sound advice. If I was you I would get a Japanese car as they are more reliable and cheaper to repair. Check out this thread
60000 timing belt change on the astra.
As another has indicated - Being in a hurry is going to be an issue. Many a decision made in haste is regretted. It always puts you at a disadvantage in negotiation.
A $2.7K car with 6 months rego means the car is worth around $2K (rego and CTP = 600)
Astra's are nice looking cars, but are European and often repair costs are highest for Euro cars
As others said the timing belt needs changing at 200K and I doubt if this has been done, Check carefully - See receipts not just a verbal confirmation. On this point also find out how long she has owned the car. If its a long time that is a plus. If its short she maybe getting rid of it because of issues.
Many S/H cars are sold because there is a fault. Not an issue, but you do need to keep some of your money to pay for some fixing up. If there is no faults you are ahead, but if you dont allow for this your budget is going to be impacted.
Mileage is high, but looking at where you are - Tweed Heads it's hopefully mainly longer trips.
Check for water damage, there were a lot of cars in SE QLD that got flooded. Being an older car they may not have had insurance. Look at the floor mats for water stains.
Was/is the car QLD rego. They dont have the same rego checks as NSW. Not a biggy but changing to NSW if it's QLD will cost you
Personally I would avoid the Astra, especially if you are a first time buyer and have no mechanical ability.
A professional pre purchase inspection costs $100-$120.
Agreed, but doing this on every car you look at is expensive.
If you have a friend with a little mechanical knowledge, maybe have them inspect it with you, then you can eliminate the ones that are really bad, and have any that is then a potential inspected.
Be wary, any car with that many Klms will have many components that will have reached the end of their working life and need replacing, let alone an Astra. Make sure you get a mechanical inspection like the ones from RACV, NRMA. remember any repairs will be costly, I am thinking gearbox, electronics and timing belt. You will drop $1000s each repair so better off getting something more expensive, better quality and newer. That said you are getting a lot of car for your money with many modern safety measures. Of course it is nearly 10 years old. Research is your friend. Check the service record, good luck.
I'd be careful of any holden TBH. I've got little Astra experience, but take the Holden Cruze… I have driven the car in Melbourne for a week or so (with about 10k on the clock), the same car in the USA for about 3 weeks (with about 30k on the clock), and the same car again in China for a small bit (don't know how many klm, but it was unwashed and in Xian… so it looked 100 years old).
The car from China and the US felt similar, except the US one had some more kick to it (likely due to a larger engine). Otherwise both were responsive and tight feeling. The one from here however was sluggish, had spongy brakes, a clunk in the otherwise unresponsive steering, poor quality trim, etc, etc… It was a dog. It may have been a lemon, but having seen so many poor quality holden's around the place, I'd never spend my money on one.
You'd be better off spending your money on a Japanese car… Or for more recent years, you could go Korean too.
If you're after a car for under 3000 grand go for a camery or corolla. I have personally owned a au falcon,fg falcon, suzuki swift, hyandai i30 and two toyota corollas.
I am currently driving a 2011 Holden.
Both toyotas had a their timing belts changed, and where serviced regularly never ever broke down. Bought it at 250,000 and sold it 350,000 kms. The kms wasn't too much of an issue to the guy that bought it as his had done 500,000 and was starting to fail.
Toyotas do break down like every other car however, the older models are still one of the most reliable cars out there in general.
My two bobs.
under 3000 grand
I.e. Just about any car lol.
The price and k's on that astra are way too high.
Look at camrys and corollas even if it means spending a little more and work your way down from there.
Don't get excited. You will find after you calm down you have bought a piece of junk in a hurry and there will only be one person to blame. >> You.
Do pay a mobile mechanic to inspect it and most important, don't drive it without third party property insurance. You will never regret it.
Buy a Japanese car. It will be a better buy even if you need to buy and older car.
From personally experience, I purchased a 2003 Astra before i bought my Civic hatch… that Astra was the biggest mistake… cost me $10k to get everything on the road and I think i spent an extra $3k to $4k on it before i said enough and traded it in.
This was a couple of years back.
Like many have alluded to, the Astra was a lemon.
On 17/10 my sister emailed me a carsales link to an as-new 2005 Astra with only 30,000km on it.
www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Holden-Astra-2005/SSE-AD…
I checked just now, guess what?
Still for sale.
As someone who knows a lot about cars told me. Never buy a Holden that ends in a 'A'.
Adventra Astra Barina Berlina Calibra Camira Captiva Epica Frontera Nova Piazza Tigra Torana Vectra Viva Zafira
You missed Omega …whats left? Only Commodore?
And Omega
Opel? lol no thanks
What's your budget at the moment?
I would rather spend extra money to get something more reliable and with less KM than that.
I bought a honda civic 1995 for 1.9 k cold hard cash with 240 000 kms. I have been driving it for two years now and it's still doing good. I suggest you to buy a honda, they are reliable and cheap. Parts are cheap as (profanity) as well.
Check the engine for Oil Leak and ask when the timing belt/spark plugs/coil packs were last changed.
Everything else is good!
How much are you paying ?
Check out this OZ Bargain discussion (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/120281)