You Are a Young Male Adult with ~10k to Spend on Your First Car. Which Would You Get and Why?

Considering the following aspects:

  • fuel efficiency
  • good safety standards of car
  • low maintenance/ basic repair costs
  • good performance wise
  • doesn't take away from my masculinity e.g. nissan micra

Any advice in terms of buying a car for an unexperienced individual such as myself is also much appreciated.

Comments

  • +32

    Corolla, because they are cheaper to run and maintain.

    • Corolla for sure~

      • +5

        What, any year and variant of the Corolla? Including the Sportivo turbo they released in 2001?

        Here's an RAA chart that shows running costs for 2009 models. RAA=Royal Automobile Association.

        Given his 10K budget, these are the small, fuel efficient cars to consider without getting too girly with the smaller Mazda2/Yaris/Jazz.
        Note that they're all automatic transmissions on this chart.

        Of these, the Hyundai i30 is the pick. You can find them ~10K and under. My sister just bought a 2011 SX auto with 87000km for $8500 last weekend.
        It still has balance of Hyundai 5 year warranty too.

        doesn't take away from my masculinity e.g. nissan micra

        Well, it's not a Micra at least!

        Chuck on some decent mags and tyres, happy days.

        • +6

          what did you just say about my mazda 2? :P

        • +2

          The turbo Corolla was a bit of a missed opportunity for Toyota Australia. It sadly it had a f series economic head instead of a more performance based g head. That's a personal purists opinion. If looked after they should be very reliable. Worth noting the ae111 I suggested below isn't turbo but probably embrass the bigger 1.8L turbo

        • +1

          what did you just say about my mazda 2? :P

          You just need bigger mags ;)

        • Completely agree.

          It seemed a little cynical to me. They had to get approval to modify an existing car locally and put it to market.

          And I think that's the point — to give local Toyota/TRD people something to do.

          I drove a 2000 model Seca manual during the Sydney Olympics. It didn't seem lacking to me!

        • I own a Yaris never had any problem at all best car i own.

        • +1

          @mcmonte: And he didn't mean them [Teddy Bear mags] (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/ExonicJay/media/MiataPicture…) …

    • +2

      My money goes to the Corolla too. I have owned more than most people. Very hard to go wrong with them. I would recommend the imported ae111 Levin BR-Z. The revvy 20v backed with a 6spd makes a beautiful drive. Despite being an import it's only a 4cyc natural aspired 1.6L. Therefore insurance should be reasonable

    • +3

      Agreed,Corolla All the way. I owned one actually now , it's my first time car since I learn how to drive. The paint might NOT be pretty (dark green) and the sun damage make it even looks more ogleeee (ugly). BUt who cares? I already scratched my car with the wall, accidentally smahed my exhaust with the curb (blindspot, not my fault), some idiot reverse his hilux from his house ,stopped suddenly and a big (profanity) steel cage (2m at least) fell of from his rear side & heavily hit my left door and leave a really ugly & big smashed mark, yet the engine is still allright and runs very well.

      Aboslutely a carefree car, no headache to maintain , as long as the engine is ok (No worries at all m8 , mate). Definetely the best first car especially if you don't have experience in driving or hardcore driver (i hope you're not) , you just need to buy 3rd party insurance and you're good to go. If your car totally smashed / break , just buy another one which cost around AUD 2k-3k, no need to pay alot for comprehensive insurance , not worth it unless if you owned BMW or Mercy. and if you want to look for the spare part , go to car wrecker they got heaps of corolla lying around at backyard unused. Sometimes the car wrecker even give you the spare part for free

      DO you know that Top gear also test the Toyota Hilux 1988 "Killing a Toyota - BBC" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWKz7Cthkk.
      UNBELIEVEABLE , they try to smashed it in the tree , put it in ocean , throw the caravan park to it ,break it with wrecking ball literally, and leave it on the top of building (300m at least) which will be exploded and yet …… you know what's happening

  • +16

    Depends on what you're looking for.

    To be honest, for second hand cars, it's hard to look past Australian made cars, which tend to be undervalued on the second hand market. Look at an equivalent year and mileage Toyota Camry and Corolla. You'll find that, for example, a 2007 Corolla will be more expensive on the second hand market compared to a second hand Toyota Camry, despite the Camry being more expensive new and arguably a better car. People tend to buy small cars second hand more so than big cars. So if you buy a bigger second hand car, you find great value.

    Have a look at Holden Commodores, Ford Falcons or Toyota Camrys, all great cars, manufactured in Australia, easy to service, heaps of available parts. If you're not interested in servicing yourself, any mechanic will know these three cars inside out, given that they are the three most popular cars in Australia in their class. Given their popularity over the past 10 - 20 years or so, I think that says a lot about how good they are.

    Great reliability from all three of them. Very, very good safety standards compared to other cars. Of course, the performance is great, Commodores and Falcons are V6, so they'll take more fuel, but Camrys also come in a 4 cylinder version which is reasonable with the fuel.

    I drive with a Camry and whilst you can't expect the fuel economy of a small car, I would say that it's okay. Have a Google of the stats and I think you'll find that for highway driving, the Camry can nut up around 9L/100km. But of course, you get a punchier acceleration and a little more zip compared to smaller cars with those tiny 1.4L engines.

    I suggest a 'manly' car that doesn't take away your masculinity too. But not because I'm afraid of people judging, they tend to be nicer to drive, have better suspension = better ride, have punchier acceleration, better handling around corners and generally just a little more weight.

    I'm sad to see the car industry in Australia go, they produced great cars compared to a lot of the plastic stuff so many people are buying these days.

    • +3

      fuel efficiency
      good safety standards of car

      Falcodores fail on those two criteria.

      They aren't fuel efficient, thus they're being practically given away on the used market.

      Commodores and Falcons are V6

      The Falcon has a straight 6.

      Most fatal accidents you see on the news involves a RWD Falcodore. The script usually goes like this:
      The driver lost control [on a bend / in the wet / whatever] and left the road, hitting a [tree / pole / house / shop / fence / etc].

      good performance wise
      doesn't take away from my masculinity e.g. nissan micra

      They meet these, but then so would a ten year old WRX. And I can't recommend that for similar reasons.

      • +2

        The falcodores are safe… let's put it this way, you stay in a corolla and I'll go with a falcodore and we smash each other… Where would you rather be?

        There is a disproportionate number of hoons on Falcodores that is why they are involved in a lot of accidents. A hoon would rather be dead than be caught driving a corolla.

        • +4

          Falcon is 5 star rated. Bonnet is huge, you're as far as can be from the collision.

      • +1

        Falcodores fail on those two criteria.

        What research have you done to show this is the case?

        Please have a look for yourself - http://www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au/

        • Camry - 5 Star Safety Rating since 2006
        • Commodore - 5 Star Safety Rating since 2012, 4 stars long before that
        • Falcon - 5 Star Safety Rating since 2008

        Most fatal accidents you see on the news involves a RWD Falcodore. The script usually goes like this:
        The driver lost control [on a bend / in the wet / whatever] and left the road, hitting a [tree / pole / house / shop / fence / etc].

        Usually a hoon speeding.

        Also, fuel efficiency isn't as bad as you might think. The newer Commodore V6 engines are great, you're never going to get the fuel efficiency of a Corolla.

        Go have a read yourself. Commodores sit at around 8.3 litres per 100km, Corollas at around 7 litres per 100km. 18% more fuel. You spend $50 on fuel per week on the Corolla, you spend $60 in the Commodore. 52 weeks in a year, you pay $520 more. You keep the car for 5 years, you pay $2,600 more. You can find a equivalent Commodore for around $1,500 - $2,000 less than a Corolla.

        So you end up paying $600 - $1,100 more after fuel is taken into consideration over 5 years for a safer car, more room inside the car, better performance, a better driving experience.

        • Yeah we did similar maths when buying a new car a year ago. The supposed worse Calais fuel efficiency was easily outweighed in the cost of similar vehicles with similar features even if we kept it for 10, 15 or more years and now I'm finding its far more fuel efficient than quoted. I sit around 6.7-7L per 100kms on the highway…..can't complain about that. And with that slightly worse fuel efficiency we actually got a much bigger car as a wagon (some like the Mazda 6 add almost no interior room with their 'wagon' model.

        • -1

          Blah blah blah. Is this OzBargain or OzBogan?

          His budget is 10K, or did you conveniently forget that?

          So why quote 2012 vehicle data if it doesn't meet the budgetary constraints? Will you sell OP one of those cars for around 10K?
          Or perhaps just give him the balance. Might only be a couple of grand, given the depreciation of local product.

          Hoons painting themselves into the landscape is just one facet. They're not all under 30, not all drunk/on drugs or fleeing Police.

          They want to buy their first car. Say whatever you like, but RWD is not as safe as FWD or AWD. Even a 10 year old small car like a Corolla, Elantra or Focus will have airbags, most likely ABS and possibly TCS & VSC — they are the safety equalisers that don't require a 5 metre long car!!!

          And unless you go LPG, it's not as cheap to run or maintain a heavy local 6. But it's not just the fuel. Do the math; 6 spark plugs instead of 4. Bigger, wider tyres are also more expensive. All those little parts that are "so cheap" soon add up.

          The local cars within the stated budget just won't be as well made, as reliable or as cheap to run and own as something from Asia.

          I don't need research data to back this up. It's just common sense.

        • +5

          @mcmonte:

          Is this OzBargain or OzBogan?

          Seriously, not only bogans drive Australian made cars. Australian made cars are great. I bet you've never thought about driving one or looking at why they are loved by many people across Australia. I wonder why corporate fleets are usually Commodores. I wonder why the Police use them, government fleets use them and why lots of families choose Commodores as family cars. I wonder why most Taxis are Ford Falcons and I wonder why the Toyota Camry is a best seller year, after year, after year. It's because they're great cars.

          So why quote 2012 vehicle data if it doesn't meet the budgetary constraints? Will you sell OP one of those cars for around 10K?

          Where did I quote 2012 vehicle data?

          Hoons painting themselves into the landscape is just one facet. They're not all under 30, not all drunk/on drugs or fleeing Police.

          Evidence?

          They want to buy their first car. Say whatever you like, but RWD is not as safe as FWD or AWD. Even a 10 year old small car like a Corolla, Elantra or Focus will have airbags, most likely ABS and possibly TCS & VSC — they are the safety equalisers that don't require a 5 metre long car!!!

          Okay, you get into one of those small cars and I'll get into a large Australian made car with a heavy Australian steel chassis and we'll drive at each other head on. I'm telling you now, I'm going to come off better than you. No other way to look at it buddy.

          Australian made cars are sturdier, have stronger chassis, are generally heavier (meaning they exert more impulse on the opposing car) and hence, physics will dictate that they are safer. Provided the safety features such as ABS…etc. are the same, a larger car, by the laws of physics, will be safer.

          Think about it, a truck collides with a car, the truck will always come off better. Why? Not because the truck has better "safety features", but because it's bigger. That's physics mate.

          I don't need research data to back this up. It's just common sense.

          No, if you're making a claim, you need to use research to back it up, otherwise you could pull anything out of your backside and say it's right.

        • @mcmonte:

          Even a 10 year old small car like a Corolla, Elantra or Focus will have airbags, most likely ABS and possibly TCS & VSC

          Yes, as do Falcodores… plus they have the benefit of more metal - a disadvantage if you hit a concrete wall, but an advantage if you hit a Corolla.
          And you'll find that at 5+ years, the equivalent year Falcodore is significantly cheaper to buy than a Corolla.
          Many are already on LPG, so fuel costs are the same or better. So you're down to maintenance costs which you're right are slightly higher, but there's a lot of years to make that difference back from the purchase price.

        • Seriously, not only bogans drive Australian made cars. Australian made cars are great. I bet you've never thought about driving one or looking at why they are loved by many people across Australia. I wonder why corporate fleets are usually Commodores. I wonder why the Police use them, government fleets use them and why lots of families choose Commodores as family cars. I wonder why most Taxis are Ford Falcons and I wonder why the Toyota Camry is a best seller year, after year, after year. It's because they're great cars.

          Why? Seriously? Is this even a question?

          I'll tell you why.

          It was a vain attempt to keep the sheltered workshop we call the Aussie automotive manufacturing sector afloat.

          And they're cheap, I'll grant you that. You get a lot of metal for the money, no doubt.

          And guess what? Despite all that, it FAILED!

          So you tell me and everyone else: if they're so good, why are they pulling stumps?

          I've outlined running costs and safety elsewhere, I don't want to keep spamming this topic. Needless to say, you sound like a typical local product driver with

          we'll drive at each other head on

          Yeah, because 100% square head-ons are the most common accident type hey? Try finding THAT data. You can't.

        • +1

          @mcmonte:

          It was a vain attempt to keep the sheltered workshop we call the Aussie automotive manufacturing sector afloat.

          Perhaps that is why they won government contracts, but private sector doesn't care about the local automotive sector at all. Do you think a taxi company cares about where they source their cars? Do you think that car rental companies care either? And what about the average Australian?

          Have a look at this: http://www.caradvice.com.au/305763/new-car-sales-figures-aug…

          That's just for one month, look at the sales figures buddy, Australians buy these cars.

          So you tell me and everyone else: if they're so good, why are they pulling stumps?

          The cost of labour in Australia is too high compared to the rest of the world. People keep citing Germany. The average wage for a car manufacturer in Germany is lower than in Australia. Plus, Australian made cars are underpriced.

          You seem to like Japanese cars. A Corolla brand new is $25,000 (saw it in the paper, driveaway). A Camry is $27,000 (driveaway as well). Camry is made in Australia. Do you really think that it costs $2,000 more to make a Camry? Get in a Camry, look at the features and quality and then look at the Corolla. The chassis size is more than $2,000 in itself. The Australian car manufacturing industry does not make enough profits, the cars they make, even Toyota, is underpriced compared to the competition. The reason why this is the case is because of Australia's isolated geographic nature. Car manufacturers in Europe, for example, can export to billions of people in Europe, billions of people in Asia. All in close vicinity. Australian cars were not an export industry. We weren't exporting cars to anywhere in the world because we simply are too far away from everyone.

          It's not because the cars we produced were crap. It's due to the economies of scale and agglomeration. It's economics, not engineering. Finance theory tells us that you can only have export sectors and service sectors. Export sectors are where the money is made. It's an opportunity cost. Mitsubishi, GM, Ford and eventually Toyota all know they can have an export sector based somewhere else in the world, it's not good enough to have just a service sector in Australia making cars to sell within Australia.

          Yeah, because 100% square head-ons are the most common accident type hey? Try finding THAT data. You can't.

          They're not, but I've cited proper safety ratings before. I'm not making up this safety data. Go check it out yourself.

        • @paulsterio:
          Important to note that Safety data is based on collision with a solid object, not another car, so;
          1) More mass against a solid wall should be a disadvantage, but safety scores say otherwise, and
          2) more mass (and more crumple distance) in a head on is a huge advantage.

          Sum Total = a bigger, heavier vehicle with equivalent safety into a solid object is safer overall.

        • +1

          @scubacoles:

          Sum Total = a bigger, heavier vehicle with equivalent safety into a solid object is safer overall.

          Of course, it's physics! Ft=mv

          For those who don't like physics. Just think about a truck colliding with a car.

        • @mcmonte:

          So you tell me and everyone else: if they're so good, why are they pulling stumps?

          Because elitists like yourself who are convinced any car made in Australia is rubbish? I've had MULTIPLE people say to me "the new commodore looks nice, too bad I could never buy one". For whatever reason they've viewed as 'uncool' and as such quite a few people don't want to purchase them. The word 'bogan' has been thrown around quite a few times. Even OP "I don't want something girly", eliminated most of the car market right there. Most people are including emotion in their decision, they're not buying on value for money (vs fleets which are looking for value and buy so many Toyota/Holden/Ford).

        • -1

          @rochow:
          Go anywhere in the developed economies; you'll see their big fleets using local product.
          It's an indirect subsidy — they have a choice of what to buy, yes. But they don't have to buy the best/cheapest/most reliable because they only keep them in the fleet for 2-3 years.

          So that makes the choice easy. Local product.

          It's not elitism to dissuade a novice driver from misery and despair. Or is it? Am I not playing for Team Australia because I recommend something that's cheaper to buy, insure, maintain and ticks most of the other boxes?

          The only truly masculine cars are muscle cars. Plus some Brits and their derivatives like the AC Cobra. Sports cars (in general) are seen as limp-wristed by some, but not I.

          But look, he's free to buy whatever gives him a stiffy. We're just throwing suggestions out there.

        • @mcmonte: "OzBogan" I recall being said by you ;) I only skimmed the rest so not sure who said what. Commodores etc are fine, they get a lot more flack then they deserve.

        • -1

          That's just for one month, look at the sales figures buddy, Australians buy these cars.

          So if the sales are so great…? It seems such an injustice that they've failed, doesn't it?

          The cost of labour in Australia is too high compared to the rest of the world. People keep citing Germany. The average wage for a car manufacturer in Germany is lower than in Australia. Plus, Australian made cars are underpriced.

          And here we were being mislead by that Commie mouthpiece (ABC) that had industry analysts telling us the exact opposite — that German auto workers were higher paid than Aussies.
          WTF?

          You seem to like Japanese cars.

          Oh yes. I own two. You can't imagine my superiority complex as I cruise past idiots feeding the insatiable thirsts of their SUVs and big cars.
          But I also like some Korean cars (not Holdens). I like some Thai cars (not Hondas). So there you go.

          Australian cars were not an export industry. We weren't exporting cars to anywhere in the world because we simply are too far away from everyone.

          Oh, so I was dreaming the GM deal for the Monaro and VE variants being exported to UAE and America? We could call that dream Coming To America but I think that name's already been used.

          As for Ford? They had a good product but Detroit made a poor business decision. They were crying out for a modern replacement for their ancient Crown Vics. Ford Australia dropped the ball with the Territory. They only released the diesel ~5 years after launch, and only after sucking money out of the Commonwealth Green Car Innovation fund.
          The fruits of those gifts over at Fishermans Bend? Four cylinder shutdown in the V8s (cost them practically nothing, they already had it in the US). Oh, and the Cruze. Whatever that is.

          Should we reward bad business decisions in the name of patriotism?

          It's not because the cars we produced were crap.

          I reckon they are. Korea hurt everyone. If you can't beat em, join em, or so Holden thought as they dropped their Euro imports. They fire up their Korean factory and give us garbage like…the original Cruze.
          The Malibu. Piss off Holden.
          And why? Because fuel had eclipsed $1/L a few years prior and they knew small cars would soon outsell bigger cars.

          You have to applaud their uncanny ability of taking something decent like the Insignia and turning it into a steaming turd.
          Mid-size comparo…Malibu wooden-spoons

          Knee-jerk product planning (not just-in-time, but always too little, too late) won't cut it. We have a terrible habit in our lazy, apathetic, fast-food eating developed economies of sitting on our hands until something becomes a crisis. Then we panic.
          Not smart.

          It's due to the economies of scale and agglomeration. It's economics, not engineering. Finance theory tells us that you can only have export sectors and service sectors. Export sectors are where the money is made. It's an opportunity cost. Mitsubishi, GM, Ford and eventually Toyota all know they can have an export sector based somewhere else in the world, it's not good enough to have just a service sector in Australia making cars to sell within Australia.

          Translation:
          They needed more robots on the production line.

          They're not, but I've cited proper safety ratings before. I'm not making up this safety data. Go check it out yourself.

          Mate, 5 stars NCAP rating is 5 bloody stars. If you're in the accident that occupies your fantasy, or a real-world accident, what are your priorities?
          As you're being hit, do you think
          Gee, I hope this will buff out!
          ?

          No. In a serious accident, no matter the car, it will likely be written-off. Who cares how much bonnet you have left or how many pieces your headlight shattered into? The important thing is occupant safety. So I repeat: 5 NCAP stars is 5 NCAP stars.
          There are numerous small and medium cars that achieve this.

        • +3

          @mcmonte: You've conveniently ignored my most important point.

          Ignore Holden, you don't like them, fine. Ignore Ford, you don't think they've made good decisions, fine.

          Take Toyota. You recommended a Corolla, so you obviously like Toyota. That's good, I do too, I drive a Toyota.

          Take a Toyota Corolla, $25,000 driveaway, promotion I just saw. Made in Japan.

          Take a Toyota Camry, $27,000 driveaway, promotion I just saw. Made in Australia.

          I'm not sure if you've ever been inside either of these cars, but you'd be nuts to try to justify that a Camry is overpriced in this situation. It is well, well underpriced. The difference between a Corolla and a Camry is much more than $2,000. Go to your local showroom and check it out for yourself. Promotion is still running, so buy a car whilst you're at it too.

          Australian cars are great value. That's the truth.

          No. In a serious accident, no matter the car, it will likely be written-off. Who cares how much bonnet you have left or how many pieces your headlight shattered into?

          I do.

          The more bonnet you have left, the less damage done to you. It's not that hard to understand. If your bonnet has completely flattened out, you will get crushed. If you have half of your bonnet left, chances are, your drivers' compartment has not gotten crushed yet.

          It's physics mate. If you were to be in an accident, would you choose to be in a truck or in a small car? You'd choose a truck. Why? Because a truck has more mass.

        • @mcmonte:
          5 stars NCAP means they're equivalently safe when they hit a stationary wall…
          In a head on with a bigger vehicle, a smaller vehicle will likely be shunted backwards (ie bigger car occupants go from 100 - Zero Kph, smaller car occupants go from 100 - minus 15 - zero, they also experience this greater quantity of deceleration in a shorter timespan, cause when their car starts going backwards (ie they've already gone 100-0), the bigger car is still going 30kph (ie only gone from 100-30).
          In hence why NCAP is only a guide to safety.. Hope this laymans physics lesson helps your understanding. :-)

        • @mcmonte:

          $10,000.00 for a stiffy?!

        • @ankor: For that kind of money you'd hope to get at least a few finishes too.

        • @ankor: For that kind of money you'd hope to get at least a few finishes too.

        • @rochow: One more time, i liked it.

        • @paulsterio: just fyi, Australian automotive manufacturers do export cars
          http://mobile.news.com.au/finance/toyota-passes-1-million-ex…

          Holden cars are sold as Chevrolets overseas.

        • +1

          @paulsterio:

          The more bonnet you have left, the less damage done to you. It's not that hard to understand. If your bonnet has completely flattened out, you will get crushed. If you have half of your bonnet left, chances are, your drivers' compartment has not gotten crushed yet.

          I'm sure you just rushed this comment trying to make your case, but a bigger 'crumple zone' generally increases your survival rate in the event of a severe crash. You generally DO want the front of your car flattened in a crash - otherwise the jerk on your body would be so high such that your aorta will tear off your heart and you die from internal bleeding (Common cause of death at speeds > 80km/h). Yes, older aussie cars with super hardened bodies will look better after a crash, but your body takes the shock instead.

          Two cars of equal mass and speed colliding into each other is theoretically equivalent to hitting a wall. Its not an easy thing to say who would fare better in a large vehicle hitting a smaller vehicle - its more often the generation of crumple zone design against another.

          Modern cars will generally be a write off in a severe crash - this is actually just done to protect the driver and its occupants - more crumpling usually means the car is dissipating most of the force from you.

        • -1

          @paulsterio:
          Okay. We DO have consensus on the locally made Camry. I rode in a nearly-new hybrid Camry taxi last year. Was mightily impressed by it.

          But I don't recall explicitly recommending a Corolla, just that I hired one for a week or so. It was nice enough, but the interior looked like a skinned elephant, such was the expanse of grey plastic. It was otherwise comfy and performed well.

          OP could easily afford that series (99-02) with his budget.

          As for local, I'll leave you to ponder this…

          Show me a 20 year old Commo (VP?) or EL Falcon that's registered, roadworthy and running on public roads. It's not easy!
          And yet, I can go for a drive and within 5 minutes see imported cars 20+ years old happily trundling about. Often, they're not smokey but if sporting metallic paint, the clear has peeled.

          Are you too young to remember the dirt contaminated paint that beleaguered our local dross until the late 90s?

          Again, the argument about safety is fine in theory, but in the real world what matters is occupant safety. Car designers know this, and to achieve a 5 star result need a strong passenger cell. The extremities, as other(s) have noted, are considered expendable. That is, they're designed to buy time; to slow the deceleration of the car.

          It's physics mate. If you were to be in an accident, would you choose to be in a truck or in a small car? You'd choose a truck. Why? Because a truck has more mass.

          I suspect you've missed the point of the topic. The kid wants a car. Are you now recommending he get a truck because you believe it's safer?

        • Sounds like simple confirmation bias to me: they believe that certain brands of cars are involved in accidents therefore anything confirming this belief eg news reports is consciously noted and anything else which might disabuse one of the belief eg. seeing different makes of car on the news report is unconsciously discounted.

          Happens to us all. Even if we know it happens.

        • @Diji1:
          Another Commy.
          https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/a/26122114/four-killed-in-horr…

          I should make a new topic on this.

      • +2

        Three letters. LPG.

        Find a Falcon already converted to gas and you're paying small car fuel bills with the comfort and power of a big aussie 6. Parts and cheap and everywhere and they're generally pretty reliable (look at what all the taxis use until recently). And because they depreciate like a bowling ball off a cliff you'll get a much newer example than a Japanese car. For a <$10k first car it's a great option.

  • +1

    Aurion. Reliable cheap to maintain and not asthmatic

  • -1

    I favour a Civic type R, but will be hard to get one around $10K
    If I will probably but a corolla sports manual of course

    • +9

      Yeah, if he likes to pay a heap for insurance

  • +2

    Mitsu 380 on Gas..
    Cheap to buy, decent safety, cheap to run, cheap to maintain, heaps of power, heaps of room.

  • +10

    remember to have some $ stashed away for insurance.
    My first premium was $2k!

    • +2

      A good reason to delay owning own car until over 25 or so. Perhaps go for a motorbike if you can't get public transport.

      Much cheaper.

      • +4

        agree with you wholeheartedly. however my bachelor lifestyle does not.

        • +3

          ;-p the ladies dig the bikes man. If you're greedy you can always sit the second one on the fuel tank if she's game.

          What are you inferring? You drink and drive?

      • +14

        I wouldn't ride a bike on Australian roads, just too unsafe. Australian roads aren't suited to motorbikes and too many drivers are just unaware of motorbikes on the road.

        Seen it all happen to friends who ride bikes, I'd just pay the extra to own a car.

        • +3

          Some people have low risk tolerance and miscalculation of probablities.

          Difference between an active rider and one that just lazily cruises along unaware of potholes. This is Australia not Africa, how bad are they roads where you are?

          Yes, the car drivers are pretty bad here, but they are most other places where motorbikes are on the road too.

          It's a sad state of affairs when car drivers think they're the only ones on the road and bike riders have to resort of fluro vests and flashing LED lights etc. Texting whilst driving needs to seriously stop, that'd help a lot.

        • +3

          @adamren: It's not an issue with the condition of the roads themselves. Where I live, the roads are great, but it's more the conditions on the road which don't lend themselves to riding a bike well. You've highlighted driver behaviour and that car drivers are bad. That was the line I was thinking along, that Australia simply does not have a motorbike or cycling culture.

          I don't think it's even an issue with carelessness or negligence as many bikers and cyclists make it out to be. A large part of the reason why it's an issue is because there is absolutely no driver education regarding cyclists and motorcycles. Most drivers on the road can get their license without ever encountering a cyclist or motorcyclist on the road (cyclists are uncommon where I live, very suburban area).

          It's the small things that count. An example of this is doing headchecks when changing lanes. If motorcycles weren't on the road, my side view mirror is pretty decent and I don't have to fully headcheck because even if a small car is in my blindspot, I can either see his hood out my side window or his boot in my side view mirror (i.e. my blindspot cannot cover an entire car).

          However, my blindspot can fully cover a motorcycle and I had no idea about this until my friend (who rides) told me about it and I've actually found it to be true on one occasion where I simply had to turn my head back to see a motorcycle travelling beside me, couldn't see him in the mirror, couldn't see him by looking across my window. I've never even considered that and I've never been taught that either.

          That's the problem, nobody teaches drivers how to drive, yes, we do a great job of teaching the law and how to not get a fine, but the driving tests are so easy and simulated that anybody can get a license without knowing much about safe driving at all. We're all aware of other cars, but so many people aren't aware of other road users. We need better education if we want the road to be safer for all.

        • @paulsterio:
          Yeah. I think that driving is one thing you don't get better at the more you do, it becomes easier to do but crap drivers will stay crap unless efforts are made to change poor behaviour

        • +1

          @paulsterio: you should always do shoulder check when changing lanes. Weren't you told that when practicing for your road test?

        • @maolin95: Yes, of course, but we all pick up bad/lazy habits don't we? I've driven in the next lane to small cars to see if they can be fully in my blind spot, which they can't, so I've lost the shoulder check habit as I've moved along.

          But either way, I do it now, because I know there could be motorcycles hanging around in there.

    • +3

      Put it under your parents' name until you're 25 if insurance premiums are a concern!

      • Note that you risk ruining their NCB if you have a prang, though.

        • As long as it wasn't your fault…. Well that's what happened when someone did a hit and run on my parked car and it didnt affect my parent sNCB

        • @taQ:
          Note that I said you risk ruining their NCB, not you will ruin it?

          Also, if it worked out for you, that's great, but not all insurers retain the NCB for 'not at fault' claim.

          Also worth noting that (youngest) driver age and claim and infringement history (so, your behaviour) can affect the cost of (parents) insurance premiums in the future.

    • +3

      Why bother with comprehensive on a $10k car?

  • +2

    First ask if you really, really must have a car. Can it be a motorbike?

    Is it just to commute? In nearly every case in nearly every city a car is a liability and money pit compared to public transport - if you're close to train and workplace is near train station. Plus you'll get exercise and can do other things like read a book or work for those 30mins or so.

    Pretty sure most young men have a smart phone and have heard of uber. So stick the $10k in some interest bearing account that allows withdrawals. Then whenever you must get somewhere without exposure to rain/elements then load up your uber app and hail your private cab.

    Depending on how often you use it, you might just come out ahead and have little risk of wrecking your own depreciating 'asset'. Plus insurance premiums just keep going up.

    Not sure of current figures but it can work out to be over $5/km to run the average car. Tyres, servicing, insurance, personal health affects etc. Not that cheap.

    Ha, a 'manly car'? Don't let your car define you. You've been brainwashed by your peers and advertising. If you're the only one amongst your peers not losing money, or in debt and providing for others then that makes you a real man. Turn it around and laugh at them for wasting money on flashy V8s and buy investments on your savings and retire young with 'flash' holidays.

    A choice between a Nissan Micra and be financially independent (as well as just independent for not being a sheep) or a hot V8 and in debt and can't use it much due to high costs, then I'm sure most OzB would choose the former.

    • $5/km LMAO … I'll bet you aren't sure of those figures.

      • Here's a plus for you Diji1. $5/km lol. We run 12 vehicles of from 4.5 tonne diesel vans to nissan micras and turbo falcons and i think your figure is slightly wrong.

  • +1

    Mazda 3
    Ford Fiesta
    Honda Civic
    Ford Focus
    Mitsubishi Lancer
    Subaru Impreza
    Suzuki Swift

    Not a fan of Toyota's in general that's why I can't recommend them personally.

  • +1

    Toyota Yaris, Corolla
    Nissan Pulsar
    Mazda 2, 3

  • +1

    Do anything but don't buy Korean or american cars. Japanese built car is your best bet. Honda, Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan.

    Suzuki Swift, SX4
    Honda Civic, City
    Toyota Corolla

    • +9

      That's pretty harsh on the more recent Hyundai and Kia's.. I'd still keep well clear of the Daewoo-Holden's though.

      • +2

        Didn't want to sound harsh my friend but that was my experience with old Hyundai Sonata and a very new Hyundai Elantra. Ignition problems, very bad seating position, parts were not cheap and when you compare it with any Japanese made cars, you can tell that it looked cheap in every possible way. I developed a lower back problem with Elantra;s seating position and now I am a very happy camper with Suzuki SUV. (wont recommend for a first time buyer though).

        Swift is a rally car and is also one of the most popular cars around the world. Ford Fiesta is not bad too.

        Oh yeah absolutely agree with you. Stay well away from Daewoo, Holden and if you can stay away from Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Proton, Great Wall, Saansyong, Renault and Peugeot. Some of these are very expensive to maintain.

      • +2

        true, in order or the best to worst
        Japanese cars
        recent Koreans cars
        European cars
        Aussie/american cars

    • +5

      Japanese built car is your best bet. Honda,

      Hondas are made in Thailand unless you go waaaay back to around 2002.

      Do anything but don't buy Korean or american cars.

      You're spot on regarding American cars. But you're talking rubbish about Korean cars!

      The biggest 2014 owners poll in the UK rated the Kia Rio 5th overall. It beat the Prius and many other Jap and Euro cars.

      The Kia Cee'd made the top 10. It beat BMWs and the Mazda 3, among many other "fancier" cars.

      The Hyundai i30 was designed in Germany and manufactured in the Czech Republic. You know, where Skoda (which topped that list) is also made. According to that poll, the i30 and 40 didn't disgrace themselves either!

      The perception of Korean throwaway cars isn't helped by GM. They decided to drop their mediocre Euro-made range in a "if you can't beat them, join them" strategy.
      Because they're run by bean-counters, they can't even make a decent car in Korea — witness the Malibu being the dud in its class as an example. Cruze — I rest my case.

      But Kia and Hyundai have come a long way since ~2004, more so from 2007.

      • +5

        Honda Accord Euro.. made in Japan.

        • +4

          But not available for $10k unless it has statospheric mileage

        • @scubacoles:
          I bought my 2004 honda accord euro for $9,500 from a dealership with all onroad costs included. Had only 128,000kms on it..

        • @benox:
          Euro or Maz6 seem to be an ideal compromise. They're less feminine than a smaller hatch, but will be dearer to run and keep in good nick.

          Did you know…
          The Accord Euro has greater boot capacity than a VE Commodore.
          ?

          I didn't until flicking through an old mag.

        • +1

          @benox:

          Yeah, but it's 10 years old!
          No matter what the Km's, at ~10 years things start to head downhill.

        • Yeah, but it's 10 years old!
          No matter what the Km's, at ~10 years things start to head downhill on local product.

          FTFY.

          You obviously have zero experience with Hondas :P

        • +1

          @mcmonte:
          mcmonte, you have a thing against Australian Made cars, which is fine (it's your opinion), but you're kidding yourself if you think Honda are infallible.

          I don't care who makes the rubber components, 10 years of ageing even parked in a garage is going to result in deterioration.
          CV Boots, window and door seals, hoses.
          Sure, you may not notice anything, but hidden away, cracks are starting to spread and at some time in the not too distant future (2-3 years) those components will fail.

          Plus at this pricepoint we're not comparing a 10 year old Australian car, with a 10 year old Honda.. it's more like a 5 year old Australian with a 10 year old Honda.

        • @scubacoles:
          Silly me.
          I went and bought a 15 year old Honda in 2004. I knew its history, it was a club circuit car. It had the thermostat bypassed to keep the thermo fan running, to prevent overheating as it was kept above 6000rpm for 2 years of its life.

          We drove it Perth-Melbourne in 2007 and around Tassie. Silly, stupid me. I gave it an absolute caning for five years, on public roads.
          Until…

          A bimbo in a Ford Territory Ghia backed into me at an intersection. Her tow ball damaged my radiator. Apparently, paying top $ doesn't guarantee the reverse camera will work.

          I took her insurance money but didn't fix the car. It kept running until I finally killed it, 8 months later.
          Had I repaired it, it would still be running. It was manufactured in 1989. It was made at the Honda factory in Suzuka, Japan. Same as the Accord Euro.

          My first experience with this model? Took it to the drag strip and made the finals for my class. I beat Holden V6s, V8s (including a HSV 185), Ford 6s and random 4 cyl cars.
          In my 1.6l Honda CRX.

          So you see? Local is useless even when it's new.

        • ExpressCoffee said

          Honda Accord Euro.. made in Japan.

          Then scubacoles reckoned

          But not available for $10k unless it has statospheric mileage

          Then mcmonte wiped the board clean with:

          Here's one that isn't 10 years old. It's an auto 2008 model for $9500 from an SA dealer:
          http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Honda-Accord-Euro-…

          If it has FSH, most reasonable people would not consider 152K statospheric (sic).

      • +1

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpPNVSQmR5c

        VW Boss is like WTF why doesn't the i30 make this squeaky noise when they adjust the steering wheel but ours does…

        • Funny vid!
          He asks for the tape measure after checking distances with his arm.
          Love the parting comments:
          Luxury, eh?
          Luxury, yah.

          How times have changed.

  • -1

    Holden Statesman.
    You can probably get a WL for under 10, it's a slight larger, more luxurious commodore.

    …and was worth about $60,000 8 years ago.

    • Doubt it's economical. And unlike a Japanese model would require more repairs and be pricier to service.

      • Meets every point except fuel efficiency (which isn't specified)

        It doesn't use much more than a Commodore (It uses less than some)

  • +4

    Something that cost 5k

    • +11

      ^^ What he said
      $5k gets a hell of a nice first car these days compared to what previous generations are used to, hell, I am in my 40's and drive a $5k car, not because I cant afford better as I surely can but because I cant justify much more for the limited klms driven.(about 600klm/week)
      I have power steer, blistering cold a/c, factory sheepskin seatcovers, electric everything,black tint, tricked suspension and plenty of ponies in my well maintained ex detective commodore.

    • +4

      Yeah, I'd go for $5 to $6k for a first car….Considering it's your first one you never know what might happen to it..Until you're more experienced driver…I'd say put the left over in savings for a better car down the track.

      I did this and my first card was a Ford Laser - I had no issues with it until it started to REALLY show it's age but that was just for wear and tear over the years. Now days you'll get some better than what I got that's for sure..And I only paid around $6.5k.

      • Best option is spend $5k… Everyone sells first car in 2-3 years… Don't spend money on mags or accessories. Never get anything back on it.

    • +11

      Bad advice right there ^^

  • +1

    Japanese or hyundai. My pick mazda 3.

  • +1

    Get a Mitsubishi lancer. Cheap to run and on parts. Don't expect much power though. In your first car you are likely to get a couple of dings as you gain skill. I didn't have any dings but my mates did in theirs. I bought my lancer for 2500 and sold it 2 years later with an extra 20k on the clock for 2800 so I actually made money. Avoid Toyota like a plague as their cars have no driver feedback from the road and your skills will take forever to develop in one. Additionally many toyotas are being recalled and some are even made in Indonesia now so yes they are a Japanese brand but do you want to risk an Indonesian car?

    • +1

      If you value driver feedback, I wouldn't recommend buying a (non-EVO) Lancer!

  • +4

    Skyline GTR
    anything else will take away from your masculinity

    • +18

      and the police in your rearview mirror

  • +1

    Fuel efficiency and good performance wise probably don't exist within that budget.
    However fuel efficiency and good fun might.

    Anyway…

    Decide what you are using the car for.
    Basic transport?
    Station car?
    How many people would you need to cart around?
    How many doors - 2 or 4? This will affect your insurance.

    Where do you live, and where will you drive to?
    Smaller car - easier to park, cheaper to run, not as good in an accident.
    Larger car - more room inside, can cart more things around.

    You may need to keep some money aside for insurance, rego, fuel, maintenance.

    Have a look at this website for car safety comparisons of older cars
    NRMA Used Car Safety Ratings Buyers' Guide

    Also realise that despite having cheap maintenance, many older cars will still need parts to be replaced due to the age of parts.

    I would recommend getting people who know cars to help you with inspecting the car before purchase.
    This free PDF from NRMA will give you some things to think about.
    NRMA used car buyers checklist

  • +1

    get a ute, chicks dig utes

    • +36

      Ute's are terrible!
      You spend every other weekend helping people move house! :-)

      • +5

        But free pizza and beer

        • But pay more for rego

  • +1

    Considering you may get into a prang in your first car I'd go for a cheapie. An old Toyota Yaris or mitsy lancer. Bike is a bad idea for a noob

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