Would Love Some Car Advice - Budget $50K

I turned 30 this year, I'm single and no kids. All my cars have been used Camry's from the 90s and I decided I am going to get a new to near new car.

I really like the Subaru BRZ, but I really want a 4 door as my brothers and I like to go on road trips together ( there's 2 of them, and they're big guys )

My budget would be a max of like $50k, any suggestions? I am looking for something a bit sporty. I am not sure if I would prefer manual or auto.

Also I have a legal question. Is it illegal to accelerate fast? Or so long as you stay under the speed limit it doesn't matter? I have never had to worry about it before haha

Comments

  • +20

    here have some car advice

    • +1

      Oh thanks heaps for that :)

      • +1

        What sort of car are you looking for in terms of body type? Like a hot hatch or sedan?

        • I'd much rather a sedan

          • +19

            @[Deactivated]: i30n Fastback

          • +17

            @[Deactivated]: There's not much "fun" cars that come in sedan. Your options are either Ute, Hatchback, or SUV…. that's where the industry is at.

            The Utes such as the affordable Triton, all the way to Navara, Hilux, Ranger, Raptor, Amarok-V6 come as giving you fun by going off-road and carry heavy loads for camping with your mates. It's very practical for carrying bikes and whatnot. So it's certainly ticks the "fun" metre from that pov.

            Then you have SUVs. Some people like the Jeep Wrangler, others prefer a Honda HRV. I think a RAV4-Hybrid might be good fit for you, as it's still adequate for country roads, but much more user friendly driving locally than the Utes. And the boot is big enough for dogs, or gear for day trips like hiking, fishing, etc etc.

            Hot-Hatches is where the real "fun" is at in terms of spirited driving. Here the i30N shines, with other competitors like VW GTi, Yaris YR, Fiesta ST, Clio Megane, etc not far off. These options will be great for you 80%-95% of the time, but on those off-times it will feel cramped in the boot and inside if your mates are big.

            But you can (usually) get more bang for your buck if you buy used "relatively new" instead. Might step up to a Focus RS, Golf R, Audi S6, which are awesome cars imho.

            If you're thinking Sedan, there's the Kia Stinger GT, which is a fan favourite. Not as great but still good are the WRX, WRX STi, Toyota Aurion, Holden V8, Ford XR6/XR8. I don't recommend it, but there are a few Euro options too like the BMW 335i, BMW 530i, and Audi S8 cars.

            The mid-90s to mid-00's JDM cars are too old, too slow, and way overpriced now. The Toyota 86/BRZ is also not a good fit for you. The models in bold are probably ones you should consider first.

            • @Kangal: Triton out of stock for at least 6 months. GSX manual discontinued.

              • +1

                @[Deactivated]: I don't believe any of this crap dealers are spouting. It might be a 6 month wait for a factory order, but if you rung up all the dealers in the city weekly, they'll get an allocation at some point.

                • +1

                  @[Deactivated]: The dealers will be more than happy to take your order and deposit and have you wait. As far as they're concerned, the last thing they want you to know is about delays.

                  I agree however, see what you can get.

      • -3

        To give you proper advice, what gender and ethnicity are you?

    • I guess he should have specified he wanted good advice, as opposed to whatever advertisers want you to hear as per that crap you posted.

      • +3

        Carexpert is much better, I agree Caradvice after the Nine takeover is absolute crap

  • +8

    Is it illegal to accelerate fast? Or so long as you stay under the speed limit it doesnt matter?

    it can be, based on conditions and car control.
    Pretty easy to be done for negligent driving if you want to drive like in a way that might draw attention

    • +2

      With a true sports car, there's not much opportunity to accelerate fast for very long without it being illegal (unless you plan on taking it to a racetrack).
      In urban settings, you will be at the speed limit from a dead stop in a few seconds.

      E.g.
      Kia Stinger GT - https://fastestlaps.com/models/kia-stinger-gt
      Acceleration (kph)
      0 - 40 kph 1.6 s
      0 - 50 kph 2.0 s
      0 - 60 kph 2.3 s
      0 - 80 kph 3.6 s

      I used to love getting a red light in a 80km/h zone so you could accelerate fast (the only time I'd actually like getting a red light), anything less and it was over too fast, any faster you don't usually go straight to without a rolling start at a lower speed limit.

      • Which is precisely why too many people get sucked into the numbers game. It's an easy way to market cars because it seemingly quantifies performance, but not only is it a one dimensional number, it's also meaningless to most.

        A fast 0-100 time gets boring pretty quick, and a quick way to get you into trouble.

        I'd take a slower car with a manual gear box that handles well, over a faster, more modern car with 8 speed autos, electric steering, rev hang and a handful of other "modern" electrified tech that's taken away the feel from the driver.

        You don't need to take the former to a racetrack to have fun, nor do you need to break the law. Go for a nice spirited drive through the hills or some windy country roads and it'll be a lot more fun than putting your foot down and going in a straight line for a few seconds.

        But that's my 2 cents.

  • Waiting for pegcarpedia to reply.

    • +1

      Well he is in lockdown so unsure why he hasn't replied yet. Probably still stuck on the last screensaver thread.

      • +3

        Probably doesn’t care, because there are 40 of the same threads already on here…

        “Buy an i30n…”

        NEXT!

        As for the “acceleration” question… so long as it doesn’t cause excessive noise, smoke or loss of traction… have at it.

        • +3

          I think I will agree with getting the i30 N Performance. A really good performance car, high practicality, and low maintenance costs.

          • -3

            @burgermaniac: i30N is a performance car? Hm…

        • I was mainly wondering because where I live, people accelerate incredibly slow when the light turns green.

          • +1

            @[Deactivated]: Good for petrol economy. True ozbarginer

          • @[Deactivated]: 'where I live, people accelerate incredibly slow'

            incredible - 1. impossible to believe, 2. difficult to believe; extraordinary.

            so - you find it extraordinary where people don't plant the pedal from the green light ?

            that's incredible … ;-)

  • +11

    Is it illegal to accelerate fast?

    Yes, if you break traction / skid the tyres.

    I am looking for something a bit sporty. I am not sure if I would prefer manual or auto.

    Get a manual if you want sporty in a sub $50k car

    I really like the subaru brz

    New BRZ/86 due out soon. Wait for them first.

    • +8

      BRZ/86

      Would need a 2JZ engine swap to break traction.

      • +2

        Would need AWD to gain traction
        .

  • +4

    Is it illegal to accelerate fast?

    lol. what a question.

    You cant do what is called 'exhibition of speed' or breaking traction.

    But really, if the cops arent around, people do whatever.

    I notice around here every bro in an AMG A45 or Audi S3 etc. is all banging thru the DSG like its turn 1 of Bathurst.

    As long as you're sensible and dont do thinks in view of the police you're gold.

    Sporty for $50k? And largish as you want your bros inside.

    I would go Kia Stinger myself but its hard going for $50k.

    I dont think theres that much Euro or Jap that interests me as a $50k performance option.

    Skoda FWD shit is VAG shit.

    • I dont know much about cars to be honest, how much should I be looking at instead of 50k then ? Do you pay a luxury tax still - which is stupid seeing as how no one makes cars here now.

      • For the 50k budget you wouldn't have to pay LCT

      • 'I dont know much about cars to be honest, how much should I be looking at instead of 50k then ?'

        you should send the money to me instead.

        a work colleague once asked me for car-buying advice, I told him

        'buy the cheapest car your ego can afford'

        if you need a shiny new expensive car to feel OK about yourself, too much may not be enough.

        if you don't need to spend money you don't have on things you don't need, to impress people you don't like

        you could invest the money on growth assets rather than depreciating (aka 'losing value') conspicuous consumption

  • +5

    Look up a hot hatch comparison from your favourite car review website and pick a few to test drive.

    Things like Golf GTi/Focus ST/i30N/Octavia RS/Civic Type R can be had for around that money, be a lot of fun to drive and will fit in the boys.

  • One more question guys. What kind of fees do you have to account for with a 50k car? Is changeover and all that alot?

    • stamp duty is the big one

      3.5%?

      usual rego shit but hopefully you get driveaway deal

  • +16

    Is it illegal to accelerate fast?

    My brain just blue screened

    • +14

      Sorry for asking a question.

        • +27

          Ok

          • -5

            @[Deactivated]: mate my dads being driving for longer than i been alive and i doubt he knows this rule

            if you keep to the basics you dont need to know this shit

            however, do you guys not observe how other people drive?

            do you not notice people driving and realise, hey there's some shit you can get away with??

            i have done some really insane stuff when no one is looking

            have you not witness stuff like V8 Commodores dragging V8 Falcons at the lights?

            if the cops arent around i dont give a shit and some people in performance cars dont

            • @tonyjzx: Thanks heaps.

              This is a genuine question as I live in the country and never visit the city. Are there cameras around they can record and watch you for this exact reason? Or do they really not see anything unless theres a cop there in his car recording it?

              Like if you almost go thru red light, and no cop is there, do the lights record you?

              • +9

                @[Deactivated]: All traffic lights has cameras that monitor all drivers. They all do history checks on drivers and check rego too. Some of them have laser beams that instantly disable your car if you’ve got outstanding warrants.

                • @Euphemistic: Nah that goes against their protocol to pretend to send letters out if there's a warrant on you so that they can sting you decades later for late payment of fines.

              • @[Deactivated]: if a tree falls in the forest and no-one is there to hear it, does it make a sound ?

                if you speed in the country and no cop/radar/camera is there, do you get a ticket ?

                at my country town high school, one of the students went for a joy ride, braked on the gravel edge at 70mph, rolled the car, and was killed.

                He was a popular boy until he was killed.

                'do the lights record you?' - oh dear, you sound like a NESB immigrant

                OK - in Sydney speed or red light cameras tend to be in boxes on footpath posts with glass windows just before the intersection - often maybe two posts - one may have a flash gun for night, the other has the camera, so if you speed through a red light as many do to try to beat the orange, then you get double demerit points and something like a $400 fine

                the clue at night is 'flash-flash-flash' as the car passes the red light - takes 3 photos to record your changing position in case you actually stopped just over the line (not bad) - or continued through (bad) - or speeded through (bonus points!)

                I use free HERE Maps on my iPhone for GPS navigation - it gives an audible alert beep on approaching known speed or red light cameras - but more recent NSW mobile camera legislation (like Qld had 50 years ago) means that's no guarantee of locations which may not be recorded.

  • +5

    V8 Holden of choice (Redline, hsv etc), though they're asking kinda silly prices now.

    Room for the mates, easy to get more power, won't break down outside warranty

    Brz/86 will be horribly disappointing. Yes, you'll find yourself making excuses ("oh but it's great in the corners!"). Also only good as a 2 seater

    • +5

      this ^^^

      in a normal pre covid world where we made cars it would be a V8 Commode or turbo Falcon.

      The end.

      But 2nd hand I personally wouldnt bother. Too many people wanting $45k for a V8 w/ 100,000km on the clock.

      • V8 Commode

        Nah mate, they're sh*t.

  • +2

    Sedan is a bit trickier in that price range. The i30N fastback is making a limited run, with an auto transmission. That's probably your best bet.

    Otherwise, 2nd hand or brand new Kia Stinger? (Though you could only get the base model brand new, which isn't that fast - maybe that's a good thing if you're concerned about breaking the speed limit)

  • +2

    A near-new Stinger would be a good option if you want something new-ish and reliable. There are a whole host of used euro and Japanese options if you're after something that you're willing to spend some $$$ on in relation to maintenance.

  • -6

    BMW F01 750i

    • +2

      potentially the least reliable V8 of all time, lol

      • +1

        Op never mentioned reliability.

      • +3

        Only surpassed by the BMW S65 V8 as the least reliable V8 perhaps.

        All BMW V8s eventually fail because despite having timing chains, they timing chain guides are made of plastic which eventually degrades and breaks, basically it means that the chains are as reliable as belts. Such poor design.

    • +1

      No on liked that suggestion? How about a Bentley turbo R?

  • not quite near-new, but 2016-2019 BMW 330i or 340i is a brilliant sedan, reliable engines, fits in the price range (except for the later 340i's). Maintenance will cost a bit more than the Japanese/Korean stuff though.

  • +5

    Alfa Giulia or Renault RS280 - couple of years old

  • +9

    WRX

    • +4

      Totally. Look after it and it will hold value very well.

      Or maybe a Levorg if he will accept a CVT.

    • +1

      Mate of mine has one and loves it. Manual not CVT as he reckons it's sh*t

    • -1

      The STi was good about 15 years ago. Now….meh.

    • Im highly considering it, is it a pain to maintain though? Should I get the manual?

      • +1

        No and yes

      • As MS paint said no and yes.

        Look at dealership lot and test drive both. I have the current get STI, i didn't mind the CVT but manual was more fun.

        New Model will be unveiled next week.

      • +3

        Have current gen wrx- do at times wish I went for the sti but it is a much older engine and for the amount of km I drive daily thought I would be spending much more on fuel. The wrx is a great daily, can easily fit 4 people. Hardly a pain maintaining but I do a minor service roughly every 7k km (~$200 every 6 months?) definitely get a manual

        • +1

          WRX is a 2L twin scroll direct injection modern engine, boost starts at 2K. STI 2.5L port injection motor, boost starts 3.5K.

          For a daily WRX hands down, STI I can confirm can be a bit annoying in traffic. I have a daily twin scroll turbo in manual and thats much better in traffic.

          • @Bid Sniper: Yes they are old tech but still very reliable and much fun to be had my old Subaru is pushing 30 years old but still plenty of fun when boosting… So easy to maintain as most parts can be interchanged from any WRX

            • @Willco88: Also the handling is great being AWD

            • +2

              @Willco88: Yeah no complaint with the EJ257. Huge aftermarket support and easy to extract more power from. I only did an intake, downpipe and dyno tune, 30% increase in power and torque. STI 6MT is bulletproof.

              My old EJ205 had to do all the bolt ones to get near that power, full TBE, turbo, fuel pump, injectors, intake, TMIC, then dyno tune. Had that for 15 years no problems and its been tracked, back then little could keep up with that wagon.

              People complain its old tech, but now things like hydraulic power steering and manual gearbox is now a selling point (also theft deterrent) lol Just good classic formula, Subaru know what they're doing and us fans love it.

              • @Bid Sniper: Yeah nothing beats the feeling of actually driving a car yourself without all the tech doing it for you. Actually feeling the steering and the torque

                • +1

                  @Willco88: Everyone has different values when it come to what they want out of a car. Some people are happy with a microwave on wheels.

                  Subaru are not the best but they're have a lot going for them, more so considering the price. I do love how they drive.

                  • +1

                    @Bid Sniper: Absolutely love the way they grip the roads with their AWD system

                    • @Willco88: Yeah my fav part is driving in the wet, its such a non issue.

                      Handling overall is great with subies. Current STI DCCD is next level, where the money goes going from WRX to STI is the drivetrain.

  • +1

    If you can be patient, I'll wait till next year as IMO car prices will start to drop and you can be more clearer on type of car and buy for a good price. Everything is inflated now.

    • ohh I have gone through this with my pc too haha.

      Yeah ill wait, itll be a 2022/2023 purchase

      • It depends on need vs want.

    • +3

      That’s what everyone first thought when covid hit. Then prices went up. Then everyone thought it would go down this year. It hasn’t.

      • It takes time for the full effect to occur. Covid is still not at a controlled level. Once covid is under control and cars start to be manufactured and imported, I predict mid next year prices will start to drop. An approx. 50% price increase on a used car within a year is not sustainable.

  • +1

    C'mon this is Ozbargain: Camry RZ

    • GR…

      • +1

        Noone can here can buy a GR knowing they missed out on the 40k deal, the pain of a missed bargain will never wash off

        • Haha I think about this every time a friend mentions it

    • +1

      In all seriousness, the current generation Camry I'd say is pretty good when you consider what you are getting for the price and is a fair bit ahead of the previous generations. Either the hybrid or the V6 will satisfy the OP's needs of taking off from the lights quickly.

      It's atleast worth taking them for a test drive and OPs budget will mean they can look the better specced variants.

      • V6 is discontinued…

        • Doesn't mean they stopped selling used ones….

  • +2

    W204 C63 AMG

    /thread

    • Used BMW M3 from 2011 up is pretty damn good as well.

  • The new i30N hatch is the best value for money car that you can buy in this price range if you like something sporty. The exhaust note of the car rivals that of cars double its price and it is a lot faster this year with the new 8 speed wet clutch automatic. Doesn't use a ton of petrol compared to cars like Stinger and Mustang, insurance is cheap and, has fantastic resale value and it also looks amazing in my opinion. If you like loud cars just search New i30n stock exhuast on YouTube and you'll fall in love.

    • The crackles and pops are just obnoxious though! Everything else about the car is definitely thumbs up though. Great value for money

      • The good thing about the i30N is that it is one of the most customisable cars on the market and almost everything is adjustable. You can turn the engine to N mode or Sport mode and the exhaust to economic if you don't like the pops and bangs, I personally love them!

  • +1

    For $50k, you could get an Abarth 595… no, make that two and use them as roller skates :D

    • What no Fiat 500 suggestion? 😂

      • +2

        You might want to look up what an Abarth 595 is there, old sport. 🎼🎵🎶🎵 *insert funky roller skating music*🎶🎵

        • +2

          Next when you mention Abarth 124 spackbace will say "I'm surprised you didn't suggest the MX5"

  • +1

    GR Yaris?

    • +2

      as much as i like this thing i cannot think of a worse long trip car

      imagine being cooped up in this thing with your family

    • This car is amazing if you enjoy driving, but the cabin noise is a deal breaker.

  • What is the sedan version of a car like a brz?

    • camry rz

      lol

      there is none

      there really isnt a nice handling reasonably priced rwd car w/ manual option

      • auto is fine if theres one

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