Buying First Car- Tips?

Ljrh1205 on 20/03/2018 - 12:44

Hi everyone
Looking at buying my first car. The car will be an everyday car, driving to uni mainly and anywhere else i need to go.
My parents are helping me in terms of money so ive got a budget of 8k-11k. Since I'll be driving it quite a bit im looking at 1.8L-2L cars (nothing smaller coz my ego is too big)
Currently looking at:
- Honda civics 2006-2011
- Mazda 3 2008-2012
- Mitsubishi Lancer 2008-2012
- Subaru Impreza 2007-2010

Any suggestions on any other reliable cars around the same price mark?
Also what are the big things I should be checking for when buying the car? Obviously if it sounds like a lawnmower I'll go the other way but does anyone have any useful tips to make sure i dont get screwed over? I've heard people get NRMA to check the car for a couple of hundred bucks (depending on the car), is it worth it?

Automotive Car

Comments

  • npc on 20/03/2018 - 12:49
    +2

    Corolla and Camry is something to consider as well.

    • jrh1205 on 20/03/2018 - 16:13

      completely forgot to mention corolla, considering those too. my parents have a 2016 corolla and it just seems like a solid reliable car

      camry is a bit too big

      • Kangal on 20/03/2018 - 18:42

        Corolla's and i30's added to your list, but don't forget to check prices and the conditions of your car.

        I would probably recommend you to look at getting a post-facelift (BK 2) ~2008 Mazda 3 Maxx Hatch.
        Look for one in good condition for around $5k for good value.

        It will be slightly lower quality than a Corolla, but its much useful interior space and quite similar size from the outside. And its got lots more styling so it won't be a "bore machine" as some put it. To get a better overall car, you'll really have to pay more for it.

      • Bearbear15 on 21/03/2018 - 08:10

        Camry’s are the best… you should buy mine! It’s gotten me through uni, work and all that jazz.
        Plus it’s red!!! Red cars go faster haha

  • Slippery Fish on 20/03/2018 - 13:07

    Camry.

    If you have a bad back like me a suv is nice though, easy to get in and out.

    • Euphemistic on 20/03/2018 - 14:10
      +1

      too big for OP's spec.

  • CMH on 20/03/2018 - 13:07
    +3

    I can vouch for the corolla being built like a tank. Mine has just refused to die… Going strong since 2004, without any major hiccup.

    • jrh1205 on 20/03/2018 - 16:16

      leaning towards that right now, only thing holding me back is looks but i cant be that picky i guess

  • buckster on 20/03/2018 - 13:24
    +3

    If you're buying private make sure to do a PPSR https://www.ppsr.gov.au/
    to make sure there is no money owing/debt on the car that will be transferred to you upon purchase. Costs $3.40

  • Seraphin7 on 20/03/2018 - 13:33
    +1

    A Corolla or Camry will probably give you close to the lowest total cost of ownership for the sort of vehicles you're looking at.

  • Euphemistic on 20/03/2018 - 14:13
    -4

    Go and do some research on buying a used car. The answers are out there, particularly in the NRMA etc websites as informed and reputable tips, unlike random internet persons tips. Random internet people could tell you to ensure there is a service history for the blinker fluid but you'll have a hard time finding that.

    If you have no idea on mechanicals (sounds like you don't) get a reputable mechanic or NRMA etc to check it over for you.

    Get a green one, they are better for the environment.

    • pjetson on 20/03/2018 - 14:31
      +2

      Random internet people could tell you …

      Just because random internet people make suggestions doesn't make them any less sensible.

      Sites like the NRMA aren't usually a lot of help either.

      • Euphemistic on 21/03/2018 - 09:27

        Yuo end up with random internet person saying "I bought an XXXX. It's awesome, don't buy anything else" when in reailty that person has not driven much else to compare, and will be biased toward their decision to confirm they made the rigth choice. Occasionally you might get someone who say "Don't even think about buying a YYYY, they are nothing but trouble" based on a sample size of one when there are thousands of YYYY's driving around trouble free.

        Random internet people are just that, random and may or may not have had real experience.

        • pjetson on 21/03/2018 - 10:13

          Random internet people are just that, random and may or may not have had real experience.

          There's been at least some good information here from randoms:

          • Toyota Corolla - Boring but economical and reliable.

          • Holden Cruise - Avoid.

        • Euphemistic on 21/03/2018 - 12:21

          @pjetson: true, but nothing that hasn’t been said before elsewhere.

  • Medrad on 20/03/2018 - 14:19
    +1

    I think your list is pretty comprehensive for that price range.

    Definitely don't discount the Hyundai i30, newer car for dollars spent, holds its' own against the Japanese cars.

    Also, look into the slightly larger variant of those cars, nearly same size footprint, more space inside. Harder to find within costing, but who knows.

    Don't forget the Suzuki range, Nissan (if you don't mind a Pulsar hatch) and even a Focus.

    • Euphemistic on 20/03/2018 - 15:26
      +1

      but not an auto (DSG) focus. Manual should be fine.

      Avoid a Holden Cruise

    • jrh1205 on 20/03/2018 - 16:28

      i didnt consider hyundais but ill look into it. my dad has a grudge against nissans (not sure why) so he refuses to help me buy one of them ahah

  • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2018 - 14:38
    +2

    For your budget, I'll pick a car solely on running cost and reliability. Every other aspect such as sportiness, power, response… All out the window. Buy a car that you know you can maintain and survive until you finished your junior working years.

    That same car will serve as your beater to transport fish and cement bags in future.

    • jrh1205 on 20/03/2018 - 16:37

      yeh thats the main reason i looked into japanese cars. not much fun but i know i wont have to worry about the car too much

      • dcep on 20/03/2018 - 16:41

        old vtec yo!!!

        • jrh1205 on 20/03/2018 - 16:42
          +1

          vtec loading…

  • inherentchoice on 20/03/2018 - 14:41

    what are the big things I should be checking for when buying the car?

    Get someone to start the car cold and watch the exhaust pipe for any smoke or steam. A little steam after just starting is okay, but anything else could be a sign of a very expensive problem (e.g. head gasket)

    If you're interested definitely do a test drive and test some hard acceleration and braking. Also get the car up to 100km/h.

    Plus do the PPSR check as someone mentioned. That saved me $1000s once when someone tried to sell me a statutory write-off.

    There's a heap of good videos on YouTube about inspecting a used car. This one might be good…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDv5bUR_Plo

    • jrh1205 on 20/03/2018 - 16:54

      thanks a lot
      completely forgot that youtube actually has useful content

  • EFC94 on 20/03/2018 - 16:16
    +1

    If you're a young male don't get a Corolla. Sure they're economical and won't break down, but they're boring as batshit to drive.

    • Euphemistic on 20/03/2018 - 16:23
      +2

      If you're a young driving enthusiast don't get a Corolla

      FTFY

      • jrh1205 on 20/03/2018 - 16:40

        what car would you recommend then? (given i dont have a big bank account)

        • outlander on 20/03/2018 - 16:54

          That would probably depend on your personality. Do you see yourself taking impromtu road trips, camping, moving furniture, taxi-ing friends around bars etc? That determines the size you need. Otherwise, smaller is better for parking

          How many Km's would you do in a week? Fuel efficiency is important, but if you only plan to drive 10km to and from uni each day, clocking 2500km a year, even a car that is 50% less efficient than the next choice will only end up costing a few hundred a year extra.

        • jrh1205 on 20/03/2018 - 16:58

          @outlander:
          probably will end up driving friends around quite a bit but it wont be a full car so size shouldnt be much of an issue
          uni is almost 50km from home ahahahhah. 1 hour and a bit each way. i take public transport some days but i have work after some days so i need the car.

        • EFC94 on 20/03/2018 - 17:39

          I'm 22 and bought a corolla about 18 months ago, I've been planning a new car for around 12 months but haven't been able to afford it yet. I haven't driven many other cars so can't really comment on what's fun to drive and what isn't fun. But as the other guy said, think about what you might use it for in the next 5 years or so and buy something to suit. Personally I'm looking at a ute because it works for my lifestyle.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/03/2018 - 16:21
          +1

          @jrh1205:
          If you're driving friends around a fair bit, maybe your budget should be $25k. You know, since they need their home boy to fetch their broke ass, they should be chipping in.

          I say you hit up power point and make a kick ass presentation.

          Slide 1 - picture of spring break party and lots of chicks.

          Slide 2 - chick magnet car with them low riders and pimpin hoops (rims).

          Slide 3 - picture of 8 grand in 50 dollar bills scattered on a table

          Slide 4 - picture of old corolla with flaky paint

          Slide 5 - sad party with, all sausage, no girls

          Slide 6 - here's where you need some sick pie charts with strong colours your $8k, they all chip in like $4k a piece and somehow you end up with…

          Slide 7 - a slick bitchin chrome wheeled flame decaled pimp mobile in front of a party… With chicks.

  • kolorijo on 20/03/2018 - 16:24

    Test drive different cars to see which one do you like

    • Euphemistic on 20/03/2018 - 19:08

      Don’t be silly. You can just ask the internets. Then you will know which car is right for you. No need to go and test drive.

  • justaperson on 20/03/2018 - 18:42
    +1

    I had a TD series (2009 - 2013) Kia Cerato as my first car. More power than all that you've listed above and a much more engaging drive in my opinion. The 6 Speed manual box is slick although not as good as the Civic's, and on the auto side the 6 speed auto is just as good as the others if not better in terms of drive ability. Handling is good also for the price, plus they're super reliable. I'd go for an SLi model if you can, you get much better upholstery and interior amenities than the lower models, plus being at least a 5 year old car trim level doesn't make it much more expensive than the base models. Fuel economy is pretty good too.

  • HeWhoKnows on 21/03/2018 - 08:42

    Save yourself as heap of money and go the the older CH Lancer 2005-2007.
    Very strong built, very reliable, very cheap to service too - you can do it yourself - so easy!
    Also very well equipped including ABS brakes and cruise control

  • Sensiekatie on 21/03/2018 - 11:13

    My last vehicle purchase was from a dealer.

    I paid for an RACQ check (Qld equivalent to NRMA) that included a more comprehensive check by a technician (mechanic) with A full written report. As well as you basic safety and mechanical check, there was identification plate checks against registration details, accident panel damage and alignment check, overall condition of both paint, interior, and underneath; suggestions of work required immediately and in the near future, comparison of price to value, and things I probably forgot to mention here.

    Also attached to my email with the reports was the PPSR, and another report which was way more comprehensive than the PPSR.

    SO i knew where and when the car was first registered (which proved useful - see later on), insurance claims history (nil for the vehicle in any state as it was first registered in Vic), and many other things.

    The most important thing about this report was that it checked all odometer lodgements against that vehicle. I do not know all places that this is recorded. However, it alerted that there was a possible odometer rollback.

    In Qld when trading in a vehicle you have to sign that the odometer is correct and that no work has been done on it. The salesman rang the mechanic she said had serviced it for her (well he said he did) and he said he only serviced in once. Previous owner told him she had purchased it from a dealer elsewhere in Brisbane but it was too small for her - that was at trade in time.

    He got no further with his supposed investigation. I had sent the reports to a friend in NZ who is a technician and we had a long talk. In NZ the dealers send their service records for the cars to the NZ head office of the variants (Ford, Honda etc). I found this not the case for that variant in Australia - though I know it happens in other countries.

    The vehicle is a wheelchair accessible van and I had glanced through the various books and manuals while my husband was driving - I had already driven it. I had noted with concern there was no service booklet and had voiced my concern to the salesman at the time.

    I remembered the name of the modification and the company that sold it (on that paperwork). I googled it and found that the seller no longer existed as a seller of new vehicles but he was semi-retired and still selling 2nd hand modified vehicles.

    I emailed him and was not expecting anything. He rang and I gave him the VIN number. It was missing from his database. I gave him the engine number and verified the VIN again. At the time he bought 20 or more vehicles at a time direct from the variant company. It was the only one not there in the series. He said the odometer is probably genuine as some people with disability do not use it much.

    Then a few hours later he rang me back and said he had found it. He gave me enough information to get an idea which dealers to contact and I hoped they had serviced it at a dealer. He also said that he had been wrong in the first call - it could have much more km than on the odometer.

    I did not think the potential service dealer would talk to me, so the salesman contacted them. The vehicle had had a second hand odometer installed by them but purchased by the owners. They were supposed to send a detailed email but failed to.

    So I emailed and emailed until I finally got a written record of when it had been serviced by them and the km on the old odometer and on the 2nd hand one when they installed it and the date of installation. I asked for specifics as to any non-log book work and was told their records could not provide A detailed list. However, he said there had been non-log book work done. I have all this in email written form.

    I did buy the vehicle - the out of pocket cost to me was $2500 as I received a subsidy. We decided it was worth it at that outlay, I have owned it since December 2015.

    In summary, don’t save a few bucks by not getting this vehicle fully checked out. If I had not spent extra, I would not have found the odometer issue.

    Additionally, some dealers and private sellers already have a PPSR. My son’s girlfriend found this in a recent private sale. When I advertised a vehicle n 2016, I could include one in my listing (for a fee).

    • Euphemistic on 21/03/2018 - 16:38

      If you had not found the odometer issue would it have made any difference to the vehicle? I suspect not, you still have it.

      • Sensiekatie on 28/03/2018 - 10:34

        I would not have known and 5hought kms genuine.

        However, it was flagged in the report so mute point. We gambled on 5he van because I needed it and our personal outlay was small.

        I used my experience to illustrate that these report# pick up lots of things.

  • [Deactivated] on 28/03/2018 - 14:04

    2010 Lancer cant go wrong

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