I Need Help Choosing a Car (Budget $20000)

Gobi2020 on 24/11/2020 - 04:59
Last edited 24/11/2020 - 06:16 by 1 other user

Alright, I’ve been looking at buying a car for the past 2-3 weeks. I’m overwhelmed with the options and I just don’t know enough.

The missus has started working and I need a car to pick up and drop off the kids at daycare. I’ll also use it to take them to activities on the weekend. My 2 kids are both in car seats so a bit of space would be good. I currently drive a Mitsubishi ASX Aspire and I don’t enjoy it. We’ve had it for 7 years and plan to run it to the ground.

My budget is about 20k. In our search we have bounced from Skoda, CX5 and even thought of buying a small car like a Hyundai i30 for the missus to use while I continue using the ASX. Yesterday we looked at Mazda 6 and found these two

We are happy to pay the extra 7k if the value is there. But we don’t know. We would be happy to get any feedback or input. This is quite agonising for me.

Automotive

Comments

  • ceejt on 24/11/2020 - 05:24
    +7

    Hi there,

    I'm no car expert but at that price point, I'd prefer a brand new Kia Cerato over a used Mazda 6. 24k drive away for the S (pre negotiation). Kia cars also come with a 7 year warranty period.
    https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/kia/cerato/victoria-state/u….

    or if you are looking at SUVs, you've got the Mazda CX3 or Kia Seltos or Toyota C HR (the last one is a little bit more expensive I think).

    Hope this helps

    • [Deactivated] on 24/11/2020 - 08:54
      +1

      or if you are looking at SUVs, you've got the Mazda CX3 or Kia Seltos or Toyota C HR (the last one is a little bit more expensive I think).

      No, no, no and no.

      Those cars are all tiny. Well the Seltos maybe not, but the other two for sure. It's like people don't even read the OP. Have fun getting two car seats into a CX3 (read: a Mazda 2 with cargo pants on) and being able to drive.

  • Euphemistic on 24/11/2020 - 05:55

    There are many models to choose from. You say you don’t enjoy the ASX so ultimately it is gong to be hard to recommend anything, you need test drive and see what ‘sparks joy’.

    There is nothing wrong with choosing a Mazda 6.

  • whitelie on 24/11/2020 - 06:17

    I would say between those two, the Atenza is a no brainer. Very low kms for it's age, plus a decent amount of safety features over the GT as found here. Definitely worth an extra $7k IMO.

    In that size and 25k mark, I would look at the Cerato, Liberty, even a Camry if you want a hybrid that's really cheap on fuel.

    I'd much rather have a sedan or wagon over a mid size SUV. I wouldn't be trying to fit 2 car seats in small SUV's like the CX3/C-HR as above. My mum has a C-HR and it struggles to get 1 seat in it when she has our little one. The Octavia RS wagon would be an option you'd probably like driving, they can be found a bit cheaper with a few more kms on them.

  • modsec802 on 24/11/2020 - 06:52

    Brand new Skoda Octavia wagon - 28,990 drive away before any negotiation includes 5 year warranty, adaptive cruise, digital dash and electric tailgate.

  • pegaxs on 24/11/2020 - 08:48
    +2

    If only there was a thread already about “what car should I buy for around $20,000”

    Happy to pay up to $27k? Get a demo/new old stock/low km Toyota Corolla Hybrid.

    Edit: Thread is 4 hours old and no suggestion of "Tesla" yet. Fanbois must still be in bed.

    • Euphemistic on 24/11/2020 - 10:17
      +2

      Edit: Thread is 4 hours old and no suggestion of "Tesla" yet. Fanbois must still be in bed.

      Sensing. You are becoming a little jaded wth this forum. It’s ok, it’s just the internet. You can’t fix all of it.

    • leiiv on 24/11/2020 - 12:41

      Obviously, Tesla is out of the budget..

      • pegaxs on 24/11/2020 - 13:06

        Yeah, one would think that, but it still doesn't stop them from spreading the good Lord, Bhagwan Musk's spiritual message

        • Euphemistic on 24/11/2020 - 16:24

          Maybe they could up the budget to an electric MG? At least $20k less than our saviours base model.

          • pegaxs on 24/11/2020 - 17:12

            @Euphemistic: You see, that is a lot more realistic. In a few years from now when I need a replacement, these MG's are going to be very affordable and I can see them being reasonably low km units with warranty left over as well, so I'll be jumping on the band wagon when someone else has eaten a majority of the depreciation.

            If OP is happy to spend up to $27k, for a little bit more than than that, a low km demo MG EV could quite possibly make sense if they plan on keeping it for at least the length of the warranty.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/11/2020 - 08:57
    +1

    Subaru Liberty sedan. Good enough to drive, heaps of room. You can get a practically brand new one for around 20k these days cause no one wants sedans. All the safety equipment, decent looking, very comfortable, big boot, legroom in the back, you're laughin. People forget you don't need an SUV for kids, and if you want something that drives better than an ASX you'll want to look outside SUVs and into wagons, sedans, and hatches.

    Here's one with the premium pack, super nice seats etc.

    Here's one that's two years old.

    • Gobi2020 on 24/11/2020 - 10:09

      would tehse be more spacious than a mazda 6?

      • [Deactivated] on 24/11/2020 - 10:56

        You'd have to look in person I'd say, but they look like a fairly similar sized car, I would wager it would be very similar inside. Look at the pics for backseat space.

        It's also worth noting that the Mazda 6s tend to have the Mazda turbo diesel. You'll hear a lot of folks talking about it exploding at around 100,000km.

  • pantsparty on 24/11/2020 - 10:21

    Toyota Camry, low mileage, something like this:

    https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2016-toyota-camry-r…

  • wallet72 on 24/11/2020 - 11:10
    -3

    what about an MG3? I had a look at one on the weekend and it looks pretty good, the price is good too.

    • Gobi2020 on 24/11/2020 - 11:26

      Other than the price, i havent heard anything good about MG.

      • wallet72 on 24/11/2020 - 11:58

        Like what? The reviews for the 2019 and 2020 model seem to be positive.

        • pegaxs on 24/11/2020 - 12:04

          Got to agree here. I was sceptical about them until my cousin brought one. After the initial hyperventilation from laughing for a good solid hour, she took me for a drive in it and I was pretty impressed with it considering the price of it.

          To me, MG are on a seesaw. They are either going to keep improving and become another greatly improved vehicle manufacturer like how Kia and Hyundai started out, or they are just going to go backwards.

          • wallet72 on 24/11/2020 - 12:29

            @pegaxs: yeah I'm going to take the plunge with the MG3. 7 year warranty and 7 year roadside assistance is a bit of a deal maker for me, especially at the price.

            • pegaxs on 24/11/2020 - 13:15
              +1

              @wallet72: That's what I don't get. Even if it is a shitbox, it has a 7 year warranty on it. I can't imagine it being that much worse than some of the worst cars available already on the market that have much lower warranty periods and cost considerably more than an MG.

              I would certainly consider an MG over any French or German schießewagen. You could afford to take the MG to the metal scrappers after 7 years and dump it and still have lost less in depreciation than what a VW or Audi would have cost you.

          • Muzeeb on 24/11/2020 - 16:19
            +1

            @pegaxs:

            until my cousin brought one

            Where did she bring it from?

            China (it's pronounced Ghina)?

            • pegaxs on 24/11/2020 - 17:16
              +2

              @Muzeeb: Hahaha. Cool typo. What I meant to say was;

              "Brungeded it to me house."

  • Oofy Doofy on 24/11/2020 - 11:28

    The ASX will outlast almost anything else you purchase second hand, might even outlast a corolla/camry.

    I would probably pick up a dime-a-dozen Outlander, a safety pack edition or ADAS.

  • Gobi2020 on 24/11/2020 - 19:18
    Merged from Kia Cerato Sport with Safety Pack

    Dealer has said his final price for a Kia Cerato Sport with Safety pack is $27200. Should i take it or walk away? Ive done some research currently and it seems reasonable based on prices on carsales.com.au. Just wanted to know if anyone bought it for that recently?

    • spackbace on 24/11/2020 - 19:28

      So you have 2 kids, want an economical car with safety features and room…?

      2018 Camry Hybrid

      • Gobi2020 on 24/11/2020 - 19:36

        Decided to get the Kia Cerato. The ASX will be sufficient for us for now.

        • spackbace on 24/11/2020 - 19:40
          +1

          Decided to get the Kia Cerato.

          Why? Besides being a new car

    • pegaxs on 24/11/2020 - 19:36

      Something something *link to Whirlpool car price forum* something…

      Ive done some research currently and it seems reasonable

      If you are happy with the car and the price, then buy it. Doesn't matter if we are happy, it's not our money. If you want to pay less, offer less and see how it goes.

      • Gobi2020 on 24/11/2020 - 19:38

        Id want to pay 0 if i could. Just want to know whats a realistic figure and what discounts people have been getting out there.

        • spackbace on 24/11/2020 - 19:39

          If the dealer is prepared to discount heavily, then congrats you picked a slow-selling car that will likely have bad depreciation.

          New cars are selling before they arrive at dealerships, so negotiation isn't huge.

          Are you looking at a 2020 or 2021 vehicle?

          Looks like current promo price is $27,990 plus metallic…

        • pegaxs on 24/11/2020 - 19:43

          If you have to ask "is this a good price" you are obviously not happy with the price. If your goal is to pay $0, then you need to put that to the dealer. Otherwise, pick a realistic figure that you are happy to pay and see if they go for it. If they don't, then either walk away, or readjust your expectations and try again.

  • fossilfuel on 24/11/2020 - 21:15

    Some posters recommended a Toyota and second hand Toyota's are very good.

    You could check out the Pickles website. Either a second hand RAV4 or Camry. You could probably get a 2015-2017 model with very minor issues e.g bumper scratches.

    People dislike Toyota's because they're "boring" but honestly they reliable, don't break, maintenance and parts are cheap and drives well. If you plan to sell it, the value will hold up and there's plenty of buyers looking for second hand Toyota's.

    I think when buying a car, it's best to save yourself the headache of constant breakdowns, expensive maintenance and having a car that's difficult to sell later.

  • randomusername2017 on 24/11/2020 - 23:18
    +2

    I’m overwhelmed with the options

    20-28k in 24hrs.. flexible budget

    • whitelie on 24/11/2020 - 23:27

      Not sure why the original "budget" was 20k when they were already looking at a car for 27k.

      • randomusername2017 on 24/11/2020 - 23:46

        Confused ;)

        ASX Aspire and I don’t enjoy it

        2020 Honda Civic Type R was fun to drive.. should be within budget in the next 7 days

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