Hi Ozbargainers,
I am looking to buy a hatchback for the missus around $20k +/- $2k.
I looked at Swift and Baleno that fits around the budget. Any reviews about these cars from the owners or any other recommendations?
Also, I found that the dealers are not negotiating at the moment due to the lack of stock. Can you suggest any strategies to get them to negotiate a bit?
Any help will be much appreciated.
Thanks
With a free tank of fuel.
You can use that tank for the rest of your life.
Nah don't waste ya money on an asthmatic suzuki
Subaru WRX hatchback or Focus ST
Secondhand of course.
Although a VW Polo while under warranty would be my safe bet.
imo Kia Rio is better than swift and baleno.
If you are looking at second hand cars, for that price you should be able to get a 2yo i30 or Cerato, possibly cheaper from pickles or manheim ex govt. auctions.
If you are looking at a dealer-advertised car and you are trading, shopping towards the end of the month might get you a better deal.
What does "the missus" prefer? That might be a good starting point, or doesn't she get a say?
Would love to ask her. Unfortunately this is a surprise gift for her. From our general conversation, she prefers a hatchback. Doesnt mind much which brand she gets. She used to drive an Alto before.
Does she know her husband is on Ozbargain?
She used to drive an Alto before.
If you decided on that car before, i don't think you should decide on this one! :p
My mum bought a 2014 Alto in 2015 for 8k. Now the same car with 30,000Kms is going for 12k. High yield invesment indeed.
Can you suggest any strategies to get them to negotiate a bit?
Currently no, with the current shortage of new cars coming into the country stealerships are cleaning up and some are even refusing to throw in 'free' mats etc.
Prices of new cars have risen up to $4000 in the last 6 months or so, some second hand cars even more, you couldn't have picked a worse time to be in the market
No.
Only 4 months ago your borrowing capacity was full, and your Mrs wasn't a full citizen…
Do you really need a $20k hatchback?
Think of the next 3-5yrs. Do you see marriage and kids? Because the small hatch will be redundant then. I would also argue what does a $20k hatch do that a $10-12k one doesn't?
Even more hilarious if you end up with Twins !
one double pram and my Prius-C's boot is full. Good thing they can walk a bit now.
Test drive, and see which one you like best, or that your partner prefers. If you get Japanese or Korean you can hardly go wrong.
Negotiating? Good luck, times are ‘interesting’ in the car market.
Ask your misses what she wants.
Is she a confident driver? I don't recommend small easily crumpled cars if the driver is more likely to be involved in an accident.
Safety first. Get something older but bigger.
If you’re not a confident driver please don’t get a larger death missile.
Everyone has to learn sometime. Believe it or not there was a time in your past when you weren't the elite driving machine you are now.
I'd rather an inexperienced driver stay a passenger. It's really unsafe for everyone else and bigger cars are harder to park.
Smaller cars are pretty safe nowadays and there's less energy in collisions..
I'd rather an inexperienced driver stay a passenger.
Don't we all? But the inexperienced needs to get their experience from somewhere!
She might be safe in that big car but that big car will kill someone in Micra or Mirage.
Skoda Fabia, could get one for $20k easily. I got my special edition monte carlo a number of yrs back for $20.5k out the door with $1000 gift card
What did you purchase with the gift card?
it was a caltex card so i got fuel for a almost 7 months for free. Not bad
2nd hand Audi A3 convertable in Black ($18k). https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2010-audi-a3-tfsi-a…
Nothing says cheap to run like an 11yo VAG!
Or illegal
Pretty sure trying to run an 11yr old vag is illegal.
Mazda 3 Hatchback
Corolla Hatchback
Owned them both, amazing cars. No headaches. just do regular service on time.
If she likes small hatch and driving manual (I think Alto was manual only), perhaps you could consider a 2nd hand 2012-2014 Volkswagen Up!
Drive review -> https://www.drive.com.au/used-car-reviews/20122014-volkswagen-up-used-car-review-20161101-gsfwq9]
I think Alto was manual only
Nup, auto too
And that article was written in 2016… There's really no need for a 7yo+, 55kw/95Nm car… OP may as well get the Mrs to get another Alto or Celerio
Kia Rio new or 1-3 yr old Kia Cerato hatchback second hand should fit that budget.
You need to find out what features she wants eg lane assist, Apple carplay/android auto etc.
I'm at this dilemna myself and really for me there's only two possible choices and I will probably pass as I dont want to support 2 cars.
Further I dont see the point in settling for a subcompact.
The winner for me is the Cerato. 7 yrs and the size is right.
However IMO its about $25k for auto driveawy.
As low as $22 for manual but who can drive manual now.
I was also interestied in the i30 Go but why bother when the Cerato exists.
I do get where people are going. POst covid prices are now dumb.
Mazda 3, Toyota Corolla, or Hyundai i30.
Driven all three, own a Mazda 3.
Corolla is a $30k auto hatch.
prior to covid you could get a new SP25 man, for $25k.
now its well well over $30k.
if you got in under $30k prior to covid good on you and yeah its vastly superior if you're a driver.
Corolla is a $30k auto hatch.
Corolla comes in manual
But still, isn't in OP's $20k budget
does the OP and his other half strike you as the type to buy manual?
How about a hatchback on stilts? We have a Hyundai Kona that's been nothing but brilliant… they're around the $22k mark for a used one.
Kona is ugly af. They made a big mistake with that ridiculous plastic cladding all over the bumpers with no functional purpose for a vehicle that only sees suburban streets and highways. The design makes it an eyesore.
is this an oxy moron - 20k new hatchback?
Ford Pinto ?