Decent Used Car for around $10k?

j05h on 22/09/2017 - 10:39

In light of ILikeThis124's recent forum post, what would be considered a decent used car for about $10,000?

I recently sold my '08 Impreza which was a lemon and am looking for a suitable car to replace it. I replaced the 02 sensor, Oxygen sensor, some emissions regulator chip, fuel pump (twice - luckily the second was under warranty), fuel pump wiring, a couple of fuses went bang. Then, to add salt to the wound it was due for the major (timing belt) service and needed new brake pads x4. And I only owned the car for a year!

So, i'm looking for something cheap to run, cheap to service and something that isn't prone to breaking. I was thinking a 2011-2012 Commodore as there seem to be plenty around, and parts seem to be cheap if anything were to go wrong. I do travel a couple of km's of dirt depending on which way I travel, but I mainly do highway km's.

Help greatly appreciated :-)

Automotive

Comments

  • Slippery Fish on 22/09/2017 - 10:41

    All cars break.

    • j05h on 22/09/2017 - 10:45
      +1

      I do understand that all cars will break at some point. But (statistically) some don't break as often (or as much) as others.

      I've also owned a MINI. Fun to drive but it seemed like every time I drove it there was a new problem…

      • Slippery Fish on 22/09/2017 - 10:46
        +1

        I'd put my money into a carola or CRV but that's just my 2cents and based on nothing but my likes.

        • plowry1977 on 25/09/2017 - 06:42

          +1 for CRV, 7 years on and never had problem. Get good price on last model as new shape out now

    • Cheeper on 22/09/2017 - 11:00
      +4

      Some break more than others.. a lot more..

  • k-rokfm on 22/09/2017 - 10:51
    +3

    I wouldnt buy a commodore unless you needed it for the (room/towing/family etc). But if a impreza sized car was suitable definitely not worth upgrading. Commodores are solid cars, but then they hit a wall and need constant repairs.

    Go for another impreza (if it hasnt put you off, cause they are normally really good cars), lancer, i30, corolla etc.

    • j05h on 22/09/2017 - 11:01

      Thanks. The impreza was always comfortable and drove well (when not broken) and I suppose that every car brand will have a lemon every so often, no matter their reputation. Impreza is also a good size as 95% of the time it's just me in the car. I have looked at Corolla's as they seem like good cars. Are i30's solid, or am I being influenced by 1990's Hyundai?

      • Euphemistic on 22/09/2017 - 11:17
        +1

        I'm not sure your impreza was a lemon. It sounds like the one fault relating to engine/fuel that needed several turns at fixing it. Sure the timing belt needs doing and the brakes, but all cars have that issue. If the other fault is fixed now, it might be good for another 10 years. I had a forester with over 200,00kms on it and it didn't cause major dramas over about 4 years until the centre diff went, but I fixed it for about $350 when the mechanics wanted about $1600.

  • yoonibear on 22/09/2017 - 10:51
    +1

    Personally, I'd go Falcon, Commodore and Camry - mostly because they're quite good cars for highway travel

  • Cheeper on 22/09/2017 - 11:03
    -1

    Camry… job done.
    In saying that i suggest you still be very careful, even the best of cars can be turned into never ending trouble by careless owners.

    • Presence on 22/09/2017 - 12:06
      -4

      FWD cars are atrocious on dirt. Especially something that big and heavy.

      • Cheeper on 22/09/2017 - 12:57

        Really? Depends on how you drive… RWD loose the tail very easy on gravel.. well at least they did in my rallying days.

        • Presence on 22/09/2017 - 19:46

          RWD loose the tail very easy on gravel.

          But when you do its entirely controllable. Either way id suggest an AWD vehicle.

  • boomramada on 22/09/2017 - 11:05
    +2

    lancer is a good car and made in jap.

  • LongJohn92 on 22/09/2017 - 11:26
    +4

    You see plenty of Mazda 3's running around. Mine was $8,000, with 82,000km and a 2010 model. This was just over a year ago, and have now put 13,000km on the clock. Still going strong.

  • inherentchoice on 22/09/2017 - 12:01
    +1

    I'm a fan of Korean models.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/09/2017 - 12:41

      Then you shouldn't be giving car advice.

  • Freitag on 22/09/2017 - 12:02

    I've got a Honda accord euro and very happy with it. Maybe also consider a mazda 6 or camry.

  • redvaldez on 22/09/2017 - 12:15
    +1

    You could probably find a low kilometre Mitsubishi 380 for around $6k. They're thirsty, but not much worse than a Commodore. I sold my 380 this year in favour of a 4WD but despite having nearly triple the kilometres, my 380 gave me far less grief than my parent's VE Commodore does to them.

  • Findo on 22/09/2017 - 12:37
    -3

    E46 BMW or W203 Mercedes. Bulletproof, solid engines and nice cars, can be somewhat cheap to run and maintain if you have a good independent mechanic.

    • [Deactivated] on 22/09/2017 - 12:39
      +3

      Why are you giving BS advice like this? The W203 was notoriously unreliable. It was the car that prompted Mercedes to reevaluate their entire production process.

      • Findo on 22/09/2017 - 12:44
        +1

        What about a early 2000s Jaguar?

        • [Deactivated] on 22/09/2017 - 12:44
          -1

          What does that have to do with you speaking BS?

        • Findo on 22/09/2017 - 12:51

          @Burnertoasty: the W203 suffered mostly from electrical problems, anecdotal evidence on the interwebs and friends/family have claimed the later versions didn't have much of the problems of the earlier year models.

        • [Deactivated] on 22/09/2017 - 13:33
          +3

          @niggard: Oh anecdotal evidence, I must be mistaken.

        • altomic on 22/09/2017 - 13:46
          +3

          @Burnertoasty: I knew some with a w203. They got food poisoning whilst on an overseas holiday. So, if you own a w203 then don't go overseas.

        • [Deactivated] on 22/09/2017 - 14:27

          @altomic: Noted. Pretty sure that qualifies as a Medical study also. You should probably submit this post as a thesis.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/09/2017 - 12:44

    OP, as far as reliability goes, unfortunately, your Impreza model is generally considered a reliable car. That fact is that you are looking for very old cars, at a very low price point. You are going to struggle to get something 'reliable' as mechanical parts in cars wear out. I suggest you spend more money on a car. If reliability is your key concern, get a new car under warranty. As much as it hurts me to say it, as I loathe Korean cars (because they are rubbish, but reliable), a cheap i10 or i30 is probably your best option.

    • Euphemistic on 22/09/2017 - 14:04
      +1

      I reckon you can still get a pretty decent car for $10k. Sure, they are used, but it is possible to pick up a basic, common model and enjoy quite a few years of relatively trouble free motoring. It really helps if you have some mechanical ability and a willingness to research solutions to problems yourself though.

      I'd avoid dealers for a $10k car, their profit margin will take a much higher percentage of the price the car compared to a more expensive one - again, you will need some mechanical knowledge to pick a decent car though and you wont get a warranty.

      Google search what ever you are thinking about buying and find out what common faults are, really helps the decision process.

  • TheMoDz on 23/09/2017 - 00:35

    see them taxis around, theyre tanks, Falcon, Commodore or Camry

  • varunynr on 23/09/2017 - 08:31
    +1

    I bought a 2013 60k nissan pulsar st sedan for 10k, total on road cost of 11k from pickles auction. Was a ex government car and with log book services. It's been going well for 8 months now. There is always a risk element buying at auctions. Give it a thought of you are up for it. Cheers

  • bradsmrbetty on 23/09/2017 - 08:56

    Hyundai i30, stable mate Kia Cerato, Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla are all fine.

    Ford Falcon FG Series II, LPI is a good for highway and freeway driving, it produces more power and torque than the 4.0 petrol but with a lower running cost due to gas. (if you get one in your price range)

    Get the car inspected by NRMA or RACV pre-purchase check. Factor in your total cost of ownership with petrol, servicing and warranty left (Kia do 7 years factory warrenty)
    It might be worth paying more upfront to save more in the longer run.

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