Full Size Sedan under $50k with Low Maintenance Cost

LSydBargainator on 07/07/2016 - 17:17

Hi,

I'm new to the automotive car and would like to spend under $50k for a brand new car for hassle/problem free in the long run.

Using Postcode where I live in ULTIMO NSW 2007, Can anyone here please suggest me which car is better in terms of low cost to maintain ?

Honda Accord VTi-L (2.4L)
Mazda 6 Atenza (2.5L)
Toyota Aurion Presara (3.4L)
Holden Commodore SV6 (too many model)

It would be nice to have all electronic & computerized feature (Collision alert, Lane departure, blind spot warning, etc..) to assist me in driving safely, so if I there is a car with some outstanding safety features that you've found helpful, let me know what is the car model and how much does it cost.

Thanks,

Al

Poll Options

  • 62
    Toyota Aurion Presara
  • 37
    Mazda 6 Atenza
  • 17
    Holden Commodore SV6
  • 17
    [Other]
  • 8
    Honda Accord VTi-L
Automotive

Comments

  • spackbace on 07/07/2016 - 18:32

    What do you want out of the car? How many people is it carrying? What are you driving now?

  • SydBargainator on 07/07/2016 - 19:31

    @Spackbace: I do not have a car at the moment, so this is will be my first one.
    So far I'm just myself with my wife. So Ideally I would like to get a car for long term when I have kids.

    I occasionally drive interstate, but yes would love to if need be.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 08/07/2016 - 21:34
      +10

      I occasionally drive interstate,

      In what car?

      How much driving experience do you have?

      It would be nice to have all electronic & computerized feature (Collision alert, Lane departure, blind spot warning, etc..) to assist me in driving safely, so if I there is a car with some outstanding safety features that you've found helpful, let me know what is the car model and how much does it cost.

      If you're an inexperienced driver it might be more prudent to buy a more basic second hand car and invest in some driving lessons from a qualified instructor. That way you'll learn the driving skills you need for life without becoming reliant on driver assistance systems.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2016 - 12:19
        +1

        If you're an inexperienced driver it might be more prudent to buy a more basic second hand car and invest in some driving lessons from a qualified instructor. That way you'll learn the driving skills you need for life without becoming reliant on driver assistance systems.

        He is absolutely right, you should listen to him. Buy cheap basic car, save money, learn to drive well.
        You'll thank him later.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/07/2016 - 18:42
      +3

      Test drive Kia Optima Gt. Comes with 7 yr warranty and capped price service.

  • RobMel on 07/07/2016 - 19:42
    +2

    Toyota's have a great track record of low running costs. Repairs, service etc.
    Also good retail.
    Not a great fan of Mazda.
    Honda could be a bit pricey to run (service) , great car. loved my Honda.
    Not a Commodore fan. Bit too common for my taste and dated design.

    • supaderp on 09/07/2016 - 07:09
      +7

      I just think Toyota jacks up their initial prices to compensate for the low maintenance cost. 24k for a brand new corolla sport.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2016 - 12:21

        Not a great fan of Toyota… They are too common, it feels so cheap, like driving a taxi…
        I'm especially referring to Camry.

        The 86 is good though.

        At that amount of money you should be able to afford some made in Europe cars, like Ford Mondeo, VW Passat…

    • Flowerbomb on 09/07/2016 - 11:09
      +1

      hi, interested to know why you don't like mazda. was recently considering a mazda 3.

      • RobMel on 10/07/2016 - 08:19

        Talked a couple of independent mechanics.
        They suggest for reliability: Honda, Nissan, Toyota.
        Toyota usually having the lowest maintenance cost in the long term.
        Not an expert myself, but trust the guys.

        Having said that I bought my car for how much I enjoy driving it and I am happy to pay the price hehe.

        • educalifa on 11/07/2016 - 12:10
          +3

          Funny to read that… I have at least 5 good friends who are independent Mechanics and they all swear by Mazdas. 3 of them even own one!

          My gf is on her 3rd Mazda and all of them saw at least 150K before being traded in, all trouble free too.

          That's why I bought a Mazda6 GT diesel and 50ks on I couldn't be happier

        • Abaddon on 11/07/2016 - 15:42

          Mechanics I've spoken to have had a similar list (except with Mazda)

          Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, Honda.

          Although mine added that if I'm buying anything with an automatic gearbox to drop Honda off the list as their auto gearboxes have been rubbish for years.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2016 - 12:23

          @Abaddon: Most Japanese cars are amazing… Toyota recently have poor reliability with lots of recalls. Mazda gains lots of traction since the launch of their Skyactive engine in 2012. However the Mazda needs 6 months servicing….

          Don't know much about Nissan or Honday, but Japanese cars are reliable.

        • calypso on 12/07/2016 - 21:14

          @fm: Servicing for Mazda cars is every 12 months now.

      • Excelsior on 11/07/2016 - 13:55

        Speaking from personal experience, I was tossing up between the 3 and the new Civic but I found the Mazda had a noticeably noisier engine and generated a lot more road noise. I also wasn't a fan of the infotainment system that sits above the dash. To each their own I guess. Ended up getting the Civic instead.

      • LlamaOfDoom on 12/07/2016 - 19:09

        I do not recommend the Mazda 3 if you are having infants.
        With the rear facing baby seat (for kids <8 months) its basically impossible to sit in the passenger seat.
        It is OK with baby seat in the middle but that is not ideal for my wife to load/unload the boy.

    • PVA on 09/07/2016 - 20:35
      +1

      unless they recently increased the service costs a lot Honda was really good with their fixed price servicing (4 years ago)

    • spackbace on 07/07/2016 - 21:59
      +2

      If buying a Genesis, don't buy new! These things are depreciating heavily, no one is spending that much on them new and they haven't found the market they were selling for.

  • altomic on 07/07/2016 - 22:20
    +1

    Get a slightly used model I.e. with <20,000kms on the clock and you'll easily save upward of 25%. Also you'll know (looking at service history) whether anything has gone wrong with the car straight from the factory. Buying new sounds great but depreciation kicks in the second you leave the show room.

    • SydBargainator on 07/07/2016 - 22:24

      Altomic,

      Assuming that I'm buying second hand car, How can I see the service history ?
      Shall I ask the seller for the log book or some sort ?

      • altomic on 08/07/2016 - 00:26
        +1

        Yes, log book. There should be an initial service already. Also if there has been any "official" repairs. As it will be a newish car and still under warranty then you could safely assume that the seller would have gone back to the dealer for any issues.

        My last car purchase was in 2013 for a 2013 Mitsubishi outlander. The car was only 6 months old and had 14,000 kms on the clock. It was still the current model and top of the range. Aspire DID. Price for new was $52k. We paid $37k or $34k (can never remember). Car has done an extra 40ks since then and apart from a factory recall for a possible transmission issue (covered by warranty) it was been totally fine.

        • [Deactivated] on 12/07/2016 - 12:26

          Official repairs are not noted in the logbook, is it?

  • Banana on 07/07/2016 - 22:36
    +3

    I have an Aurion Persara, every aspect of it is great…good looking interior and exterior,it's stable and smooth with a relatively powerful engine. But sometimes I look at my petrol receipts or tiny parking space and think why, why eould a tiny girl like me ever need a car that big?

    Apart from that, it's a great humble car!

    • zeomega on 09/07/2016 - 21:49
      +3

      Good looking interior? I guess it's a personal preference thing. IMHO, the Aurion/camry has, whilst mostly functional, one of the most boring and cheap feeling interiors in its class.

      • Banana on 10/07/2016 - 20:49
        +1

        I can't comment on other model but mine has black leather and wood grain, pretty good for the price I paid.

        • zeomega on 10/07/2016 - 23:04
          +3

          Jump into a Mazda 6 and maybe you'll understand where i'm coming from. The build quality and the design of Mazda is IMHO better than toyota by a fair margin.

          The "wood grain" trim is tacky, and to be honest, most are, including the current euro makes unless you sit in something high end, like a bentley/RR or similar where REAL wood is used.

  • IceCreamBandit on 07/07/2016 - 22:36
    +5

    +1 for buying slightly used.

    E.g. 2015 Aurion Presara 7000km $39000 here. A new Aurion Presara is $55000 driveaway.

    Go to various dealerships and check them out, and they should be able to provide the logbook on request. The example I used is one owned by Toyota and only serviced by Toyota dealers so far.

    In 2014 I bought a 2013 Aurion ATX for ~23000 (New was $36000+). Low km (10000 I think) and it was owned by Toyota. Still had 2 years of the new car warranty (and $130 capped price servicing) to go and it's been great. Very spacious and comfortable, and plenty powerful if needed.

  • spackbace on 07/07/2016 - 22:36
    +10

    Realistically a 1yo Calais-V, either the V6 or V8 would tick the boxes. As good as it might be to get something as out there as the Genesis, a car that 'rare' is gonna have higher parts costs and higher insurance costs. Not to mention the questionable resale.

    The Calais-V has all modern features I can think of (front and rear sensors, blind-spot monitors, remote start etc), cheap servicing, reliable engines. The VF is definitely Holden leaving on a high

    • Forskin on 09/07/2016 - 16:12
      +3

      +1 for the V8. Truly an amazing experience to drive every day

    • andyc26 on 10/07/2016 - 14:08
      +2

      Couldn't agree more with this. Bought a 2014 Calais-V V6 end of last year and it has everything. All 3 of the features the OP specifically mentioned, plus my fav being the heads up display with speed and speed limits. Has more than enough space for a family. Also just a pleasure to drive.
      It's converted my Dad to Holden who's been a long time Ford man!

      Holden definitely left the best to last, it's just a shame that they can't shake off the cheap and nasty tag a lot of people associate with them when promoting the VF. Even after showing people the quality and features of the VF the usual response I get is "But it's still a Holden".

    • Kangal on 11/07/2016 - 14:10
      +1

      I wouldn't recommend the V8 version.

      It has more power, but more like wasted potential as the buyer doesn't really mind performance.
      Not to mention, this sounds like a novice so a V8 is somewhat dangerous, especially in the wet.

      Toyota's are okay, but they always have cringe worthy styling.
      Some of their parts are only available through Toyota, unlike other Jap cars.

      Holdens are greatly under-appreciated. But that also means they lose their value very quickly.
      So buying new is mostly bad, but a good condition used (2 year old?) can be great value.

      The new Mazdas are fantastic all-round. Except for performance. Very off-putting, for me anyways.
      If the performance is good enough, go for it. Mazda's are usually a bit pricier than Holdens and Toyotas, but in line with Hondas.

      I think Honda's are the safest bet. Great quality. Abundant and cheap parts. Easy service.
      Look for the Accord Euro models. Even some models from 1-2 years ago are still nice.
      And doesn't depreciate as quickly as other models like Holden, Mitsubishi, Nissan etc etc.

      The wildcard is Subaru.
      A bit more "unique". Parts and service price not too bad. Usually good quality.
      Styling and Performance are good. But initial pricing is usually higher.
      Depreciation can be high/low, depending on which model and initial cost.

      So my recommendation:
      Honda, Holden, Toyota, Subaru, Mazda.
      And remember these change from model to model, so do your homework.

      These are just generalisations.
      But I can say, stay away from European cars (Audi, BMW, VW, etc) unless you know what you're doing.
      Lot's of people that get them have buyers remorse because they don't understand their purchase.
      I say this because the OP sounds like a novice.

      • SydBargainator on 18/07/2016 - 21:00

        Yes Andy Kangal,

        I am a real novice and this will be my first real car after the old 1995 Volvo sedan during my University era.
        So far it is now between Mazda 6 Atenza and Toyota Aurion Presara :-)

        I've been browsing the carsales.com.au website and I can see that the second-hand price of those two models is not that cheap either year 2015 priced between $38-42k.

        Mostly they are in outside NSW. So I guess I have to fly to interstate and drive it back home for the real test drive.

        • Kangal on 18/07/2016 - 21:55
          +1

          Okay, first thing first… go and see those models in person, and go have a test drive.
          Feel free to go to the actual Mazda/Toyota car yards for this service.
          And ask a lot of questions, but be careful of their salesman tactics.
          You are there to evaluate, NOT buy.

          Once you've seen, smelt, touched, drove, tasted (?) all the cars you had on your shortlist, comes the next step.

          Choose what car you liked better.
          Was it the Mazda? Was it the Toyota?
          …now comes the difficult part…how MUCH more did you like it??

          Obviously if the Toyota is only a little worse than the Mazda (in your preference) BUT it is priced $10,000 cheaper…
          …obviously the better buy for you is the Toyota because its a little worse but much cheaper.

          So the next thing to do is to set yourself some (realistic) limits.
          Example/
          It has to be black
          It has to be Auto
          It has to have extras package (sound, gps, or whatever)
          It can't be over 20,000 kms
          It's price has to be $38,000 or less

          The last thing is to go shopping.
          Now you might come across the car you wanted for $38,500… but NO! you cannot buy it because it is above your limit.
          If you start shifting your limits, you might get gambler's conceit, and end up far off from your target.
          You might find one that is $37,000 but has 55,000kms… again leave it.
          You might even find one that is $38,000 but comes in pink…again leave it.
          Stick to your limits. Be realistic. And be patient.

          It's not a good idea to fly over to a car that you might not buy. And have to RISK driving it back a long distance.
          Trust me on this. Look for cars that are in a 2hr drivable radius to you.
          It also helps if you have a mechanic friend, or a friend who knows about cars to go with you
          (and trust me there's lots of guy friends out there that are like "yeah I know a lot about cars" but they don't)

          ^If any of that was confusing, just write back and I'll try to clarify it.

          Good Luck!
          PS Let us know what car you end up with and how you go.

        • SydBargainator on 18/07/2016 - 22:35

          @Kangal: Thanks Kangal, the reply is very much clear :-)

          but one thing remains confusing me is that, why all of those second hand cars is cheaper outside NSW ?

          Ever since I rent a car from Thrifty, Budget and Avis, the license plate is always outside NSW (eg. QLD or VIC mostly).

          hence I'm thinking that I might need to fly to visit the dealer interstate to get better pricing.

        • Kangal on 19/07/2016 - 02:08
          +1

          @SydBargainator:
          It could just be a demographic issue.
          Maybe the car didn't sell well in Sydney.
          Remember, Australia's market is pretty small compared to the likes of USA/European countries, so the spread is more likely to be uneven.

          Another explanation could be that people is Sydney/NSW are satisfied with their new Mazda 6/Toyota Aurions.
          Or that they don't have the financial means to switch cars as often.

          I wouldn't read too much into it.

          PS:
          If you post up details of what your limits are, the community here can help you by posting up gumtree/carsales links that match your description.
          Eg/ What's the max kms you can accept? How many years max old will you accept? Auto or Manual? What are your colour(s) preferences? What price you like to pay for the Mazda 6? What price for the Toyota? etc etc

  • captobvious on 07/07/2016 - 23:24
    +4

    Holden have a pretty good deal on the commodore sv6 black $38990 drive away or SS Black $55k drive away. Good value on a new large sedan

    http://www.holden.com.au/cars/commodore

    comes with heads up display, parks itself,
    Satellite Navigation
    Unique 18" Alloy Wheels
    MyLink Infotainment system with 8" Colour Touch-Screen^
    Front and Rear Park Assist
    Passive Entry and Start
    Blind Spot Alert
    Colour Head Up Display
    Rear View Camera
    Automatic Park Assist
    Reverse Traffic Alert
    Cruise Control
    ISOFIX Child Seat Anchorage System
    Sports Suspension

    I own toyotas…. yawn boring.

    • SydBargainator on 07/07/2016 - 23:31

      Hi Capt,

      Which one is Commodore VFII ?
      I cannot view the pricing from: https://secure.holden.com.au/buildprice/cars/commodore/model…

    • spackbace on 07/07/2016 - 23:37

      Yeah the sat nav and HUD are the main extras of the black edition.

      But I still love the Calais-V :) electric seats with memory (pretty sure they're heated too), sunroof etc

      The number one thing I love about VF is the remote start on the autos. It works really well and gets your aircon going

      • captobvious on 07/07/2016 - 23:48

        I recently took delivery of my new genf2 clubby which I waited months for.
        The commodore has come a long way and Holden is going out with a bang!!
        But I think its way out of the ops price range, sv6 or ss would be the go.

        • spackbace on 07/07/2016 - 23:50
          +1

          Worst thing about hsv right now is they keep upgrading the engines lol I wonder how many people are waiting for 2017 purchases! '1 of the last ones' etc

          Enjoy though, definitely a lot of car :)

          (I work in a holden/Suzuki dealership just fyi)

        • captobvious on 10/07/2016 - 17:26

          @Spackbace:
          Couldnt wait, had to get one now while petrol is dirt cheap.

        • spackbace on 10/07/2016 - 17:35

          @captobvious:

          I can understand :) I didn't mean you should've waited btw, was just making the comment :)

    • Scorpiogirl on 12/07/2016 - 17:08

      You have said what i have always thought. Each to their own of course. Drive a Holden SSV REDLINE and if u dont enjoy the ride, get a Toyota i guess.

  • His_Holiness on 08/07/2016 - 00:15
    +1

    My 2003 Hyundai Elantra had terrible AM reception, so I swapped out the head unit for one with digital radio a few years ago. I'm now in the market for a new car and after having digital radio in my car for a few years I don't want to go back to analogue radio or waste my mobile data on some of the new entertainment systems manufacturers are pushing.

    After looking into it, it's pretty surprising to see how few modern cars actually come with a digital radio. Toyota do include digital radios in their top of the range Camry (Atara SL) and Aurion (Presara and the previous generation Sportivo ZR6). Pretty much for only that reason I'm looking at getting a ZR6 as I prefer design over the Presara but otherwise am sold on the Aurions.

  • spurf on 08/07/2016 - 08:20
    +9

    I personally wouldn't buy a full size car as your first car to accommodate future kids. I would buy a smaller (used) car that meets your needs now and upgrade later. By the time you have 2 kids and might need the extra room your $50K car will be worth less than half that and you will have paid significantly more in fuel and insurance.

    We managed fine with 1 child in an old Astra…in fact I still have the car as a secondary car and can fit 3 full size kids seats across the back. The main family car is a Mitsubishi Outlander which has been a great car so far. Purchased 18months old with less than 30,000km for around half of the price it was new. For kids I'd go the SUV route over a large sedan as the boot is far more practical. At least get a station wagon if you are serious that you want it to accommodate kids or you will be disappointed once you put a full size stroller in the boot!

    • Jackson on 10/07/2016 - 14:46
      +3

      Agree with all this except the SUV part, they are unfortunately killing the wagon market

    • SydBargainator on 08/07/2016 - 09:33

      @Shaybisc,

      Thanks for the reply.

      The NRMA Operating cost website is truly and eye opener :-|
      Owning a new car is expensive, not to mention the parking fee, Car Rego, Insurance and petrol.

      I'm very much surprised that the Average Total WOL Cost/weekly for those cars is way above $220 per week.
      While I can hire / rent the same car in Thrifty using my Coles company benefits for under $60 daily (Full Size Car).

      I'll create another thread for the alternative of owning a car like GoGet, etc…

      • spackbace on 08/07/2016 - 12:03
        +2

        I'm very much surprised that the Average Total WOL Cost/weekly for those cars is way above $220 per week.
        While I can hire / rent the same car in Thrifty using my Coles company benefits for under $60 daily (Full Size Car).

        Just a note:
        Those weekly cost charges don't take into account that you still have an asset you can sell in 5yrs. And you need to allow fuel costs for your Thrifty car.

        So really you're falsely economising the cars.

  • aranciata-oz on 08/07/2016 - 09:16
    +2

    Just adding my 2c based on my regular company taxi trips in the latest (and previous gen) Camry hybrids, where DAB+ radio is sometimes standard Toyota equipment … a number of drivers have commented to me they don't bother using the DAB+ in the car and just revert to the analogue radio, because of the spotty DAB+ reception. Those of you (like me) who love DAB+ radios in the home will know what this spotty DAB+ dropout is all about - not the usual hissing and volume variation with analogue radio when reception is poor, but a complete on/off experience with reception when the radio is moved to different areas of the home. I would imagine a moving car would only exacerbate this! So DAB+ in a car may still need some refinement in the time ahead - something to consider if it's wise making that the number 1 priority for your car purchase.

    Also +1 to spurf for wagons (not necessarily SUV's) if you want a good balance of ample boot space and practicality.

    • SydBargainator on 08/07/2016 - 09:35

      Aranciata,

      Hm.. yes, you are right.

      Since I do not like to drive large cars (SUV) due to fuel consumption & higher pricing, I guess Wagon is the only better choice.

    • His_Holiness on 08/07/2016 - 20:57

      Probably depends on the city but here in Perth digital radio in my car is perfect and never "spotty".

  • HeWhoKnows on 08/07/2016 - 10:20
    +1

    Comes down to personal preference and needs as what someone recommends here you may not like for some reason. Also depends on convenience i.e Location of dealerships. Generally speaking the larger the engine the more fuel it consumes. So your best bets are the Honda and Mazda on that basis. But then you should also compare servicing costs and insurance costs ans these can add significant costs over and above fuel consumption. After a couple of phone calls you will have your answers. Some of the car sale web sites also give you indicative running costs. For example the tiny Mitsubishi Mirage costs around $15,000 to buy new and only $13/wk to run and its ideal for your area as its very easy to maneuver and park. But may be too small.

  • spackbace on 08/07/2016 - 10:51
    +3

    Ok based on what you're saying I'm going to suggest something I sell, so bias ahead (but feel free to do your own research instead…!)

    New Suzuki Vitara, ideally the Turbo model.

    Now, it doesn't have lane change warnings (I don't know the last time I needed to rely on a warning I was outside my lane), blind-spot monitoring (but does have big side mirrors = reduced blind spots).

    It comes in at at $30k drive away, considerably cheaper than your budget.

    It gives you average fuel of 6L/100km, with a real world under 7L/100km.

    Servicing will be $249 every 6 months/10,000km, so about $500/year, but this is capped over 5 years/100,000km. It has a timing chain not a belt, so the 100,000km service is $249.

    Maintain that capped price servicing and you get a 5yr/140,000km warranty

    Features:
    LED headlights
    Front & rear sensors & rear camera
    Keyless entry/keyless start
    GPS/Bluetooth/USB/Voice recognition
    Cruise control
    Climate Control

    All you have to do is look up any list of 'cheapest to own and maintain' cars and there's always at least 2 Suzuki models - Celerio/Alto & Swift. Suzuki know how to make an economical car.

    • spackbace on 08/07/2016 - 12:00
      +4

      Lol I knew I'd get a neg, but hey I'm not even in the same state as OP so I have nothing to gain.

      Just a suggestion that has room for a kid or 2, and won't cost an arm and a leg to run

    • SydBargainator on 08/07/2016 - 16:52

      Thanks for the suggestion mate, I will consider this too.

    • airzone on 09/07/2016 - 13:59
      +1

      I heard that the headlight fluid for LED headlights is incredibly expensive… Is it included in your service costs?

      • spackbace on 09/07/2016 - 14:00

        I'll have to check, I know the flux capacitor gets inspected and replaced if necessary under CPS

        • airzone on 09/07/2016 - 14:03
          +1

          They have flux capacitor's in Vitara's these days? Man, I'm out of touch - I thought the last car that had them as an option was the Delorian. People just never really had the time to use them on a daily basis.

    • PVA on 09/07/2016 - 20:37
      +1

      Saw one of these on the road this week, great looking vehicle I think.

  • OldSchoolHarry on 08/07/2016 - 11:22
    +1

    Look for demo models from dealerships. They usually have less than 5000kms on the clock and you will become the first owner. Especially in the case of toyota aurion, you'll see that nothing changes in first few thousand kms. And you'll save around $5k.

    • SydBargainator on 08/07/2016 - 16:53

      Harry,

      yes, that's a good idea.

      So how to get noticed when the dealers tries to sell the demo car ?
      I guess car dealer is different than the Real Estate agent where you can subscribe into certain criteria.

      • Banana on 08/07/2016 - 21:58

        From my understanding that demos are always for sale, you can look on carsales! I have been told that they are only good deals when they start to have kms on them..or something like that! Spackbace do you know anything about demos?

        • spackbace on 09/07/2016 - 00:24
          +2

          Genuine demonstrator is approx 4000kms or less. Anything more than that is a press car, used for reviews etc (though some dealers advertise them as 'ex-Holden owned etc).

          Demonstrators aren't always available, nor are they always on Carsales.

          Sometimes a new car can be bought for near the price of a demo, negating the need to buy an already driven car.

        • greatlamp on 09/07/2016 - 16:35
          +1

          @Spackbace: Personally I would rather buy second hand than a press car.

          5000k of 'road testing' is going to be a lot more wear and tear than a 1 year old car driven normally

        • spackbace on 09/07/2016 - 22:04

          @rememberme:

          People don't realise that's what they're used for as they're not advertised as such.

          Hell I've seen cars from The Block sold in our dealership!

      • OldSchoolHarry on 09/07/2016 - 10:40
        +1

        Basically just go to a dealership and ask for demo models or just search for demos on carsales. com. From personal experience, Aurions pretty much stay the same until a few tens of thousands of kms if driven nicely. So I don't see a problem with buying demo if you're getting a good deal and given that you've tested it properly.

        • SydBargainator on 18/07/2016 - 21:02

          Harry,

          How do you test second-hand cars before buying it ?

        • OldSchoolHarry on 19/07/2016 - 23:01

          @SydBargainator: dealer demo is technically not a second hand car. You test it like you test a new car because with less than 5000kms, it pretty much a new car and still has warranty of a new car.

  • rong on 08/07/2016 - 22:13
    +6

    Cannot believe no Ford Falcon, test drive, and you won't enjoy driving a car with less than 4000cc engine,again.

    • StewBalls on 09/07/2016 - 12:03
      +1

      If they weren't deleting the model, I'd wholeheartedly agree with you, Falcons are brilliant to drive & cheaper to own than their build/engine sizes would suggest; but since after this year there will be no further Falcon models, that kinda makes it difficult to recommend a new one.

    • Forskin on 09/07/2016 - 16:19

      Nah mate the barra has nothing on an LS

  • Normal-Paper on 09/07/2016 - 01:24
    +3

    I didnt know that Collision alert, Lane departure, blind spot warning features even existed, I think it is safer for the driver If the aren't reliant on these features

    • mrluke on 09/07/2016 - 02:08
      +4

      Called eyeballs and a neck where I come from.

      • greatlamp on 09/07/2016 - 16:38
        +1

        I don't find it necessary myself, but I wouldn't be against it being standard on all cars.

        Might save me being hit one day

    • Jackson on 10/07/2016 - 15:04
      +2

      I don't feel like they are necessary, but the same things were said about ABS especially in motorcycles. The fact is these feature Es prevent accidents, while I wouldmt base a buying decision on them, I think the more safety features are made standard the better

  • vivasawadee on 09/07/2016 - 06:51
    +1

    Remember when you could get a Full Size Sedan with Low Maintenance Cost under $30k???

    Good times.

    • PVA on 09/07/2016 - 20:44

      I remember well under $20k. But wages were heaps less too.

  • Millikano on 09/07/2016 - 09:31
    +7

    Big plus for the Mazda 6. In my opinion, they look great and feel like they're worth what you pay, plus they still feel a little bit sporty and tend to last a long time. As all have said before, it's often worth looking at used models if you're not too picky, as you'll likely save up to 20% on a vehicle that's only a year old. I've got a Subaru myself, and if I were buying today it would be either a Subaru or Mazda for the combination of quality, character, performance and value compared to similar Hondas, Toyotas and entry level Euro cars.

    I would also throw the Mazda 3 into the ring, as 'smaller' cars these days are as big as a large car from 10 years ago. The lower fuel costs are great, they still have heaps of room for 2 kids (or 4 adults if need be), and you could opt for the top-end model with all the fancy features for a fair bit less than your budget. Lower overall depreciation and ease of manouvering and parking are also pluses.

    Good luck deciding.

    • lozbargain on 09/07/2016 - 10:19
      +2

      I agree with Millikano regarding the Mazda 3. Our Corolla is much bigger than you'd think for a small car. Plenty of room for 2 kids under 4 in the back.

    • bathuu on 10/07/2016 - 06:56

      Has Mazda sorted out cabin noise problem nowadays with their cars?

      • Kangal on 11/07/2016 - 14:14

        Yes.
        Mazda was notorious for the cabin noises, as was Suzuki.

        I can say the new models have finally nixed that issue.
        But the new Mazda 6 is very under-powered.
        It's quite off-putting for me.
        They say they are VERY fuel efficient, but no, they are only better than average.

        But having it under-powered might be a good thing for the OP, who sounds like a novice.

    • Dsquall on 10/07/2016 - 23:57

      If you're going for the 3 though, it some models have a 2.5 L engine (same size as the mazda 6 and the engine size I personally went with) it does use quite a bit more fuel, I get around 8.3 L/100km (but I don't drive very conservatively_ whilst my mate who has the 2.0 L engine gets 6.8 L/100km. I personally regret the purchase, given the traffic in Sydney, I never get to enjoy any extra engine power.

      The added safety stuff is also definitely worth it, stopped me hitting another car as I was looking for my sunglasses whilst going up a parking lot ramp.

      Also, the cabin is still slightly noisy but unless you're driving on gravel roads you hardly notice.

    • SydBargainator on 18/07/2016 - 21:06

      Hi Mili,

      So how does it compares when driving all-wheel drive car with either front or rear wheel drive ?

      I assume the difference would be the fuel consumptions and better cornering / traction in high speed drifting down the hill ?

      I didn't think of Subaru because somehow I heard that the insurance cost more on Subaru than those I mentioned on the voting panel.

      • Millikano on 19/07/2016 - 11:08

        Hi,

        All wheel drive can be really confidence inspiring, with generally better traction than front wheel drive cars (particularly in wet weather). The trade off is, as you mentioned, fuel consumption. That being said, my Subaru Impreza averages about 8.5-9 litres per 100km with a mixture of freeway and city driving. That's probably one litre more compared to a front wheel drive car driven the same way.

        The other interesting thing I've found is that my tyres have lasted a lot longer on my Subaru than previous front wheel drive cars, where I've managed around 50000km per set on the AWD compared to around 35000 on the FWD.

        Overall, the fuel/tyres thing and handling improvements would have me suggesting the Subaru, and I think they're generally very well made and last for a long time with good resale value to boot. I doubt insurance costs are much different between a new Mazda or Subaru for similar equipment levels.

        Hope that helps!

  • peterw1 on 09/07/2016 - 10:09
    +5

    a subaru liberty would fulfil your requirements either 4 cylinder or 6, the only problem being factory service costs, but you can service them elsewhere cheaper and maintain your warranty.

  • QQPenguin on 09/07/2016 - 20:33
    +1

    Family bought 2016 aurion presara 43.5k drive away with around 500 accessories and also upgrade alloy wheels. Traded in 2013 presara 60000km for 23k. So just over 20k loss 3 years. We have Mazda cx7 i30 and Camry. Aurion is quietest one of all. All the bells and whistles, without the euro badge.

    • peterw1 on 10/07/2016 - 18:25
      +1

      20k loss over 3 years is a lot of money to bin ie 6666 per annum for us ozbargainers, thats a lot on eneloops. Its like throwing away a new hyundai i30 auto every 3 years and they are not a bad car.

      • StewBalls on 11/07/2016 - 20:40

        they are not a bad car

        They're not a good one either! ;)

  • PVA on 09/07/2016 - 20:43

    I thought out of your list only the Holden is a full sized car, the others are mid size aren't they.

    If you don't even have kids yet I suggest something smaller.
    Our Honda Civic was fine for years with our todler and all the stuff like stroller etc went in the boot easy. Small to mid size is fine.
    Take a new Camry for drive , they look pretty good not idea about the options you want though (I wouldnt worry about them myself) or spacbace's suggestion.
    Drive lots and see what you like.

    • Kangal on 11/07/2016 - 14:18

      Also hatchbacks can be just as wide, and long as sedans…. but they have a much larger cargo/boot space.
      The biggest reasons to not buy a hatchback so far has been "They don't look good".

      Keep that in mind, when looking at something like a Ford Fiesta or Mazda 3.

  • Serapis on 09/07/2016 - 22:41
    +8

    2016 Subaru Liberty premium with the Eyesight system for drivers assistance

    Around $40k

    http://www.subaru.com.au/liberty?gclid=Cj0KEQjwwYK8BRC0ta6Lh…

    • CMI on 10/07/2016 - 11:45
      +2

      Can't believe this hasn't been suggested sooner. Exactly what I have and I love it. Found it much nicer than the Mazda 6 with a lot more features too

      • patinadiary on 12/07/2016 - 10:57
        +2

        Exactly my thoughts too. We got latest top of the range Mazda3 and a 6 yo Subi Liberty and i still reckon the build quality of the Subi is far better than even the latest Mazda. The only thing mazda trumps Subi on are is features and Subi's are a bit traditional when it comes to styling.

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