Difference between the years of the car? Budget of 25k or under

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  RockyRaccoon on 28/03/2015 - 21:41

  Why are you even looking at a secondhand version of these cars?

  The Camry Altise 2014 is currently $26490 on the road NEW 2.4Litre (The Corolla is a 1.8L and is $23990 On the road) The Camry will handle 5 better than the Corolla

  If you cant stretch to this price, then you should be able to pick up a 2013 for under 25K. If not find a dealer who can, given it should drop at least 2-3K after 6-12 months. Keep in mind Toyota have also capped price servicing for 3 years (or 60K)

  I bought my 2013 from Mosman Toyota last year and its been great, I think the 2014 has some extras like reversing camera included. Mosman Toyota will give you passes to The Zoo when you get the car serviced and will drop you off and pick you up.

  Earlier than 2012 and the shape isnt current (it's also IMO uglier) Present shape is called Toyota K platform.

  It's not a spectacular car but its very pleasant to drive and rather economical on long runs

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    shadow131 on 28/03/2015 - 23:51

    Is it possible to have reserve camera added onto a 2013 model? or is that stupid move financially speaking

    • 

      RockyRaccoon on 29/03/2015 - 07:37

      +2

      Yes it's possible. I have no idea on cost. Plus the newer model has a better Radio/CD display which also acts as the reverse camera display. Mine only has the more traditional B/W station only display, which doesnt support any camera/video input. So it will cost you to add this plus you have to find a neat place to put the camera, which is difficult. All depends on the savings between the cars.

      If you get the 2013 higher models (Atara) this may be included.

      I know this is Ozbargain and you need to consider your finances and each of us puts different weights on whats value for money etc. Consider also what GK below says.

      These are factors I consider when buying a car. New vs 2ndH

      1. How long I expect to keep the car. (My prior to the Camry car was a very reliable 2004 Corolla, which is now our second car). If it's longer then buying new means I have control over the treatment of the car. I expect the Camry to be the second car in 10 years time, and being retired in 20 like the Corolla.
      2. What difference the 2ndH car price is to the new car price at the time of purchase. Also what is actually available at the time I want to buy. Buying new does give me an option on the car colour more than the 2ndH car. Small point but another factor.
      3. What types of 2ndH cars are likely to be. 2-3 year old cars are likely to be fleet cars especially with Camry's. Here NSW you see Camry's as police General purpose cars, the Hybrids are Taxi's. So they have gone for the government and fleet markets. Now that will be a negative for longer term resale. a 2004 Camry sells about the same as a 2004 Corolla.
      4. Point 3 is something to consider if you are selling after 3-4 years as you will be competing with fleet car sales.
      5. As I said before the Camry is a bigger car and will be more comfortable for a family of 5. For example we drove from the Central Coast to Blackheath with 7L/100K consumption with 5 adults. (Using M7 and staying no more than 5kms over speed limit - according to speedo) Middle backseat adult changed on return as it's not as comfortable as the other two back seats - but we are talking adults here.
      6. Higher mileage 2ndH will lose the advantage of warranty and fixed price servicing, and if a fleet car, this isn't always carefully done. Not that you can guarantee any dealer service is that great either, but you at least have some control over it.
      7. In my case if I found a low mileage Camry (20K) at the time I bought for $4K less, I might have considered it. But they weren't available then.
      8. The Camry is better suited for towing should you need to do this - nothing over heavy, Box Trailer etc

      Hope this helps.

      • 

        shadow131 on 30/03/2015 - 21:16

        I have no plans on resale of the car, however I've been reading around on the net and other websites, seems like the corolla is the more popular of the two (corolla v camry) how did you pick between the two apart from interior space?

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        RockyRaccoon on 30/03/2015 - 21:51

        @shadow131: Easy, as I said before. The Camry has the 2.4L engine, the Corolla 1.8. The Camry has mag wheels, the base Corolla doesn't, plus the reversing Camera etc.

        So its better appointed for the base price. When you add the mags etc to the Corolla the price is almost the same for the same kit.

        The Corolla has the variable speed transmission (CVT) while the Camry is the more standard 6 speed. Older Corolla's (2013) were just 4 speed

        The best thing is to have test drive of both as new cars to compare, the size. I am assuming you are comparing the same year models as once you go to different years the differences change.

        I totally accept that the Corolla is more popular especially when it comes to secondhand. That's why the time you keep it becomes important as well. If it's shorter then the Corolla will depreciate less. But the New Camry's are discounted so much, as I said with more kit, they are almost the same price to buy, so if at resale, they are again the same price, there isnt any difference then.

        Previously you paid $5-6K more for a Camry over a Corolla, that's why the 2004 car we bought was the Corolla.

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  GnarlyKnuckles on 29/03/2015 - 02:51

  +2

  Wow, 25K is a huge budget, you should be able to get something pretty awesome for that! Rocky seems to know all about this/have good advice (I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to cars), but I'd suggest that if you do end up going second-hand (say, a 2012 or 2013), just make sure it doesn't have an unusually large number of kays on the OD; i.e., that it hasn't been some sort of "fleet" car, driven everyday by lots of different peeps or something like that. I guess what I'm getting at is that a car that is three years old but has only done 20,000 kays/had 1 driver may well be in better shape than a car that is only 1.5 years old, but has done 70,000 kays/was used commercially.

  • 

    shadow131 on 30/03/2015 - 21:20

    Do yo have any insights on government fleet cars? they all seem to have relatively low ks around the 40 to 50 thousand.

    http://www.governmentauctions.com.au/

    Filter: Sydney, Toyota

    Is there something im missing here? are they warned out in some other way?

    • 

      GnarlyKnuckles on 30/03/2015 - 21:31

      I'm not that knowledgable about cars, but if they have low kms for their age, then probably OK; particularly as all the govt. fleet ones will have dutifully had all their regular services etc. But the govt. used to only keep fleet cars for 2 years then sell them; and 50,000 KMs is not actually that 'low' for a two-year-old car. Or maybe they keep them for longer now? This was in the 1980's… The other potential downfall is that they may have been driven by a lot of different drivers (and their kids, as it happens), at least some of whom may not have, erm, 'completely respected' the car as if it was their own car; cause it wasn't.

      • 

        shadow131 on 30/03/2015 - 21:42

        Oh ic ic I get your perspective!

      • 

        GnarlyKnuckles on 30/03/2015 - 21:45

        @shadow131:
        Mmyeah in some ways I'd consider it akin to buying an ex-rental car…

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  pao2x on 29/03/2015 - 09:47

  +1

  Given that a brand new Aurion is 30K and usually with a finance deal you do not need to look at second hand for your budget.

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  IceCreamBandit on 30/03/2015 - 21:25

  shadow131 have you considered an Aurion? Essentially a bigger Camry. Bought a 1 year old (2013) last year for ~$23000. Has a reverse camera as standard on even the base model ATX.

  Sydney City Toyota have this 2014 ATX for $23880 with 20000km.

  • 

    shadow131 on 30/03/2015 - 21:56

    Not really, I did pass it going my research.
    What concerned me was the lack of reviews and etc.

    I couldnt get an accurate read on fuel economy either.

  • 

    RockyRaccoon on 30/03/2015 - 21:58

    The Aurion and Camry are essentially the same size, its just the motor is bigger 3.5L 6cyl vs 2.4L 4cyl

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      shadow131 on 30/03/2015 - 22:09

      From my understanding, generally if the car is of the same weight and size, one car's CC/engine would be more optimal than the other? Or is the different so minimal it shouldn't affect my decision financially?

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        RockyRaccoon on 30/03/2015 - 22:33

        +2

        The Aurion will use more fuel, but give you better acceleration.

        I find the Camry is quite acceptable for power. No sports car, the Aurion would be a better performer. Its a Lexus V6 put into the Camry body. But is that extra performance worth the extra cost.

        Again compare like year cars to each other in making a decision on what you think would be right. It's simple take the test drive at the dealer.

        Then if you decide 2nd hand you have bench mark. Eg if its a 2013 Aurion for around $24K as the ICB says above, vs a 2ndH Camry for $23K then maybe the Aurion might be a better deal, but if its 20K for the Camry is the V6 worth it to you.

        The rest at this stage will just confuse you. Drive the cars as you may eliminate one, then the decison is easier.

      • 

        shadow131 on 30/03/2015 - 22:39

        +1

        Thanks! you three have been a real help! Ill get back to this thread in a week or so.

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  kronicmacstigator on 03/04/2015 - 14:59

  +1

  I just find 2nd hand cars that I either know VERY well or that have been looked after. You can grab some incredible bargains with cheap repair costs if you know what to look for.

  I've never bought from a dealer except for my 1st car.