Most Affordable Car Overall to Buy Used

LCheapskateNotFrugal on 10/11/2021 - 12:31

Hi all.

Long time lurker, first time poster here.

My current car is just about dead. As a result of this I am in the market for purchasing another car.

What suggestions would you have for a car that would be the cheapest to own overall? Taking into account purchase price, registration, insurance (3rd party only), servicing (by a mechanic as I live in an apartment), fuel, etc. I live close to the city in Perth so a lot of my journeys are close through the city to get to and from Uni and work with a lot of time in stop start traffic. I do also visit my family once a month or so who are a two hour drive down the highway. Any recommendations for what to look for and what to avoid would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Automotive Car

Comments

  • yellowfever on 10/11/2021 - 12:35
    +61

    If you're a long time lurker you would probably come across the Toyota Camry and Tesla Model 3 as the Ozbargain car of choice.
    Take your pick.

      • pharkurnell on 10/11/2021 - 14:57
        -8

        exactly… Camry drivers are the new Volvo driver too.

        • boomramada on 10/11/2021 - 15:01

          New electic Volvo actually much fun to drive than Tesla 😆

          • Ade99 on 11/11/2021 - 09:52
            +3

            @boomramada: Volvo just too 'Geely' ( aka Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd (ZGH)) for me.

            • boomramada on 11/11/2021 - 23:39
              +2

              @Ade99: I said fun to drive, technically they both made in China.

          • Naigrabzo on 15/11/2021 - 08:53

            @boomramada: LMAO Electric volvo is $80k.

    • CheapskateNotFrugal on 10/11/2021 - 19:51
      +2

      looks like it'll be a camry due to limitations of not being able to charge at home and the lack of superchargers around here :(

      • abuch47 on 11/11/2021 - 10:42
        +5

        turn that frown upside down, oh what a feeling toyota ;)

      • Juggernauto on 11/11/2021 - 14:23

        Just checked tesla charging map, heaps of options around Perth

        • CheapskateNotFrugal on 11/11/2021 - 15:29
          +1

          The only supercharger is around a 25 minute drive away and the only other smaller Tesla chargers are at hotels

      • Kangal on 11/11/2021 - 14:54
        +6

        The shortlist is Gas-Falcon, LPG-Commodore, Honda Euro, Camry, Corolla, i30, Model 3.

        …or a High Yield Investment 🤷

    • harrywwc on 11/11/2021 - 07:27
      +3

      I would add Toyota Corolla to the mix.

      As mentioned, not an "exiting" car to own, but dang, keep them serviced regularly and they will run practically forever.

      • Jackson on 11/11/2021 - 12:26
        +20

        What the point of driving somewhere if you can't even exit the car?

        • harrywwc on 11/11/2021 - 15:46
          +2

          typo - pre-caffeine - "exiting" —> "exciting" (which I suspect you got from the context :p )

      • fredk1000 on 11/11/2021 - 13:05

        I agree with the practically run forever with little maintenance, just change the oil at a minimum.

        • DarwinBoy on 12/11/2021 - 08:20

          Mates wife bought one new. Never changed the oil once. Think she got 4 or 5 years before the engine broke. This was about 10 or so years ago.

          • Naigrabzo on 12/11/2021 - 14:52

            @DarwinBoy: MY GOOD sir. If she changed the oil, it would run for 20. What a waste.

            • DarwinBoy on 12/11/2021 - 16:56

              @Naigrabzo: I know. My mate had recently married her when she complained a red light come on and the engine wouldn't start.
              Lucky my mates uncle runs a wreckers so he was able to get another engine shipped 4000km cheap.
              It was a good lesson for him and her.

      • Brianqpr on 11/11/2021 - 18:59

        If you can live with the blistering paintwork and faded headlights on older models.

  • bazingaa on 10/11/2021 - 12:37
    +8

    OzB Camry

  • Hithere on 10/11/2021 - 12:46
    +5

    the cheapest to own overall?

    https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-advice/australias-cheapest-…

    • CheapskateNotFrugal on 10/11/2021 - 19:52
      +1

      Insightful article. Thanks!

      • Euphemistic on 10/11/2021 - 21:26
        +4

        Those costs are for new cars. Once you’ve taken the major hr on depreciation the costs may change. For example a less popular vehicle may depreciate more inflating the overall costs initially. Once it’s older it’s quite likely that could change.

  • Brumby92 on 10/11/2021 - 12:59
    +21

    Used Corolla or Camry.

    • Jackson on 11/11/2021 - 12:28

      Came to up vote this, if you are budget conscious this is the way. If you are budget conscious and do your own maintenance and repairs you can expand the list, but they are still great since they are inline 4s and quite simple

      • Brumby92 on 11/11/2021 - 12:54

        I'm certainly no mechanic. But even I was able to change the valve cover gasket in my 04 Corolla. Relatively simple car to work on.

    • LSGH on 12/11/2021 - 10:42
      +1

      and once you buy either one…just change the oil, coolant, transmission fluid, brake fluid, powersteering (for older ones) fluids.. and it will run another 100,000kms.

    • Cave Fire on 12/11/2021 - 19:02

      Corolla, unless you want a larger more powerful sedan. Not much difference in the Corolla, but am guessing they are better on fuel, easier to park etc.

  • pegaxs on 10/11/2021 - 12:59
    -2

    Tesla. They are more expensive to buy used than new… But dont worry, they will pay for themselves in 3 years…

    • Oz8argain on 10/11/2021 - 13:18
      +5

      LITERALLY FREE MONEY

      • pegaxs on 10/11/2021 - 13:24
        -8

        When they release full self driving, Tesla cars will "to the moon" and used ones will cost $600,000 because "RoBo TaXi"

      • abuch47 on 11/11/2021 - 10:42

        cost you money not to!

  • GG57 on 10/11/2021 - 13:30
    +11

    I would recommend doing some math on your realistic driving needs, factor in some public transport use, and then compare something like GoGet for when you actually need to drive.

    • diazepam on 11/11/2021 - 12:43
      +3

      Fully agree. Used to have a brand new car in the inner CBD of Melbourne and it was the most useless thing out, because I would take PT to work anyway. Depreciation hit like a B as well.

      The car hire companies often have reserved parking as well (i.e. easy free parking in the CBD and most suburbs, and they're pretty cheap when you consider that they pay for petrol, maintenance, insurance, etc.

      Wish I held off for a little while longer - have since moved into the suburbs with a slightly outdated car that I paid the premium of new for… oh well. I do love my car so only minor regrets there!

  • USER DC on 10/11/2021 - 13:32

    It used to be commodores the cheapest to buy used before holden closed.

    • Antikythera on 10/11/2021 - 23:07
      +5

      2012 LPG Commodore checking in.

      cheap to buy and service. half price fuel.

      • dixy on 12/11/2021 - 07:54
        +1

        And also half fuel performance compared to petrol

    • grammarstickler on 11/11/2021 - 12:05
      +5

      Falcons were even cheaper. Price per kilo, those second-hand Australian cars were a bargain I shall miss the next time I am in the market.

      • Jackson on 11/11/2021 - 12:29
        +1

        Yeah, it's getting harder to find good examples that aren't v8s and turbo that are appreciating

        • Icyraindrops on 11/11/2021 - 13:31
          +1

          People are now buying up the V6s thinking they're a future money maker like the V8s are, even the base model commodores are going up in value.

          • CheeseBeans on 11/11/2021 - 17:58

            @Icyraindrops: They're going up in asking price. Realistically I don't think the sales support it, and they're the same POS now as they were before covid.

            i6 BA falcon was my worst automotive investment. It had more problems, and I lost more on it in depreciation then every single other car (7) I've owned…

          • Euphemistic on 11/11/2021 - 18:57
            -1

            @Icyraindrops: Pretty dumb considering we are on the edge of petrol disappearing. No one is going to want a V6 when petrol becomes really expensive. Some might still want a V8 or other special model, not a bog stock fleet vehicle though.

      • MintBerryCrunch on 12/11/2021 - 16:05
        +1

        My falcon has never broken down in the 9 years i've owned it. Serviced regularly at 10k. No major issues. Never been left stranded or unable to start.

        • smartazz104 on 12/11/2021 - 16:50

          Guess it depends more on the driver and not just the car…

          • MintBerryCrunch on 18/11/2021 - 12:40
            +2

            @smartazz104: haha yeah. I barely rev past 3000rpm (The falcon has plenty of power for day to day driving). Only changed tyres three times in 170,000km… that's how chill I drive. It's a daily commuter. Serviced on the clock. With some optional maitainence (eg ATF fluid and filter change).

    • Supercool on 12/11/2021 - 08:07
      +1

      Aurions seem better value these days.

      • USER DC on 12/11/2021 - 18:49

        I highly doubt that, on 2nd hand market all toyota cars are an extra 20-30% cost + an extra 20,000-60,000 km run compared to any other average car in market. No doubt toyota has reliability, but at there extra hyped up cost I wouldn't call them worth it

        • Supercool on 12/11/2021 - 20:59

          I recently bought a 2017 Aurion from fleet. 40,000km on the clock for $21k. $23-24k for falcadore with 100,000km more on the clock. All similar spec.

          • USER DC on 13/11/2021 - 03:44

            @Supercool: I was thinking of a lot older vehicles like 2000-2010 models, you can lookup most toyota's got like 200,000 +kms and still ask for $5000+ a lot ridiculous BS, when other similar cars like i20, falcons, getz, swift, barina, pulsar etc all got a lot less mileage and still $1000-$2000 Cheaper than toyotas.

            Let alone you'll see many 2018 models with like 130,000Km + (those that have ran the car 13x what a typical person drives in a year to them driving in e.g. 3 years) still asking for $16,000+. that's how ridiculous market is atm.

            In my opinion toyotas are overhyped in used market. in Newer model ofcourse the price difference is not much is terms of %.

            It's just like Oneplus they used to be great in terms of price and quality but as their product started to be top range with so much popularity, they racked up their prices to the roof at which point it has been not so good choice for consumers in market

  • brendanm on 10/11/2021 - 13:34
    +9

    Hyundai Getz.

    • John3000 on 11/11/2021 - 09:55

      Absolutely, I have 2 of 'em…practically anything with Hyundai in the name. 😉

    • Brumby92 on 11/11/2021 - 12:56

      Not a bad little runabout car. Had one for work and I was pretty impressed.

  • bohn on 10/11/2021 - 13:47
    +4

    Honda Accord/Euro

    • Tambani on 11/11/2021 - 21:01
      +1

      There was a time that was true. The Euro isn't sold in Australia any more and the newer Accords are ballooning in size with outdated technology. Ageing Hondas are expensive to repair too. I say this as an ex-owner of two beloved Accords.

  • Euphemistic on 10/11/2021 - 14:02
    +4

    There is no single answer to this question.

    Firstly you need to determine what you want to use the vehicle for. This will help determine size and shape you want. Then you can look at the cheapest to run in your chosen category.

    You have also given no indication of your potential budget

    The biggest cost in newer cars is depreciation so buy an old car, especially if you need to add in finance costs (including mortgage repayments you could be making). Other running costs are similar across vehicles.

    Otherwise, buy the smallest cheapest second hand car you can find, insure it third party property only and be prepared to take a loss if you crash it.

    Possibly one of the cheapest ownership models is buy $1k car with rego. Don’t transfer the rego, then when rego runs out sell it for $500 and get another one. Don’t service it either.

    • sackrace on 11/11/2021 - 05:31
      +3

      The money saved goes towards your early funeral!

    • [Deactivated] on 11/11/2021 - 07:51
      +6

      Don't transfer rego? Why so the original owner can cancel it then you need to get a rwc on a 1k car good luck lol

  • Stopback on 10/11/2021 - 14:04

    The avg annual cost of a car (small) is : $8,203 (car loan+fuel+insurance etc)

    • bio on 10/11/2021 - 14:58
      -1

      Yes, because transport is free if you don't have a car.

      • baldur on 11/11/2021 - 07:33

        Much less than that.

        • brendanm on 11/11/2021 - 07:45
          +10

          About $100 a week to get the train from gold coast to brisbane, so $5k ish. So 2/3rds of the price, and that only takes you to one place and back, 5 days a week. No flexibility to go elsewhere, whenever you like. No thanks.

          • esq on 12/11/2021 - 14:22

            @brendanm: Almost impossible to get tailgated by old mate in his lightly modded work Ranger/Navara while sitting on the Robina express though. In the 60km/h roadworks stretch past Logan that everybody and their nan insists on doing 75-90 in.

            • brendanm on 12/11/2021 - 14:26

              @esq:

              In the 60km/h roadworks stretch past Logan that everybody and their nan insists on doing 75-90 in.

              That's because the roadwork speed there is 80 last time I checked.

              • esq on 12/11/2021 - 14:28

                @brendanm: Yeah I'm just riffing mate I live well up the coast these days.

    • Dogsrule on 11/11/2021 - 10:12
      +1

      Those cost calculations are based on buying a new car and suffering the associated high depreciation and comprehensive insurance costs. Buy a $5 banger, insure it with 3rd party and you're down to $5k per year or less depending on how much you drive. Service and repair yourself to bring down costs even further.

    • nigel deborah on 11/11/2021 - 11:24
      +5

      8200 is really worst case scenario, though. It can be a lot less than that, even with conservative estimates based on 5000km per year.

      $700 ($7000 for a 2014 suzuki swift, worth $0 after 10 years, $700 depreciation per year)
      $1000 ($300 service 2x year + 50% to cover the more expensive logbook services)
      $350 (third party insurance, depends on the person)
      $845 (rego metro melbourne)
      $200 ($600 dollar set of tyres every 15kkm)
      $560 (5000km of fuel at 160c/L and 7L/100km)

      Total $3655
      Versus public transport 4x per week 2 ways; $1872

      Very rough, but done intellegently owning a car doesn't have to be super expensive. There is always a chance for large unexpected expenses though e.g. write it off in a crash or have some major problem that needs to be fixed.

      • [Deactivated] on 11/11/2021 - 18:52
        +2

        If your tyres are only lasting you 15,000km you should probably get that checked lol

        • nigel deborah on 11/11/2021 - 19:08
          -2

          Just being ultra conservative to make a point. Servicing is also very unlikely to cost you 1000/yr.

          If you drive like a hoon and buy chinese garbage then you can probably hit 15,000 without too much of an issue.

      • Brianqpr on 11/11/2021 - 19:18
        +1

        Why service twice a year if only driving 5,000km?

        • nigel deborah on 11/11/2021 - 19:24
          +1

          You should change your oil every 6-8 months if you are using non synthetics, especially if you don't drive often. Most people don't change their own oil, so taking it for a service is required.

          EDIT: obviously balance the risk of damage from contaminated oil with the value of the car, not suggesting you pay to have the oil changed in a $2k car twice yearly

    • Hangryuman on 11/11/2021 - 13:40

      'The avg annual cost of a car (small) is : $8,203 (car loan+fuel+insurance etc)'

      I expect that's for a new car where depreciation (loss of value) is a major cost - OP asked about used cars

      my 30yo Honda Civic just cost me nearly $1658 to re-register for another year - $447 CTP Green Slip insurance, $290 rego renewal, $179 TPP insurance, $42 rego check, and after much deliberation I ponied up $690 repairs for new left driveshaft rubber boot, front brake pads, rocker cover gasket kit, engine oil change/service and new spark plugs, having spent only about $100 on maintenance in the previous 3 years. Depreciation is about zero now.

      Over 18 years of ownership since buying the as-new 12yo car, my spreadsheet tells me my TCO is about $41K including the purchase price, or an average of about $2.3Kpa - including fuel and service - but then again I've only driven about 56000km in 18 years.

  • pformag on 10/11/2021 - 14:16
    +7

    Corrola for a small car. Reliable and cheap to service.

    • Naigrabzo on 12/11/2021 - 14:54
      +1

      Not cheap to buy second hand though.

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 10/11/2021 - 14:30
    +12

    I have a 2011 Mazda 2 manual. Cost 6.5k to buy second-hand in 2018 with 90,000km. No loan.

    Comprehensive Insurance: $50pm
    Petrol: $40pm
    Rego: $800py
    Servicing: ~$300py

    Total: ~$2200py.

    Currently sits on 170,000km. I was driving heaps for work, but now with WFH for the last 18 months I barely drive. I've thought about a new car but really, this is so cheap I can't justify it.

    • sien on 10/11/2021 - 15:34
      +2

      Yep.

      My mechanic said that Mazda's were one of the most reliable cars he looks at.

      Impressively you can even get a bike in the back seat with the front wheel removed.

      A reliable Mazda 2 is about the cheapest decent car on the market. Maybe a Kia Rio might be another ?

      Even in the current climate with high used car prices : $7K in WA for this one :

      https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2011-mazda-2-neo-de…

      95K done.

      • BOGOF on 10/11/2021 - 17:09
        +12

        Impressively you can even get a bike in the back seat with the front wheel removed.

        Wouldn't the car just tip to the front side rendering it impossible to drive?

      • Ade99 on 11/11/2021 - 09:55
        +1

        removing the front wheel may cause some steering issues!

      • Hangryuman on 11/11/2021 - 13:28

        Mazda 2 has historically been noisy on the road - not something I want - but the used ES300 Lexus I really liked but didn't buy was a size too big for the missus …

    • Stopback on 10/11/2021 - 16:21

      Servicing: ~$300py - Wait till you need to replace brakes/tyres/or general wear and tear we

      • brendanm on 10/11/2021 - 18:28
        +1

        It's a mazda 2. Brakes are probably $300 an end, $400 for 4 tyres for good ones.

        • TEER3X on 10/11/2021 - 21:29

          Sounds expensive for brakes, just get them on sale and diy. Not that hard.

          • brendanm on 10/11/2021 - 21:37
            +1

            @TEER3X: That's if paying someone to do it, which most people will do.

        • Naigrabzo on 12/11/2021 - 14:56

          Brakes should cost about $120 tops assuming replacing the pads. It will take you 30 minutes for the first one but after that much faster!!

  • Tiredman on 10/11/2021 - 14:38

    A budget will be helpful.

    • GG57 on 10/11/2021 - 14:49
      +1

      OP just wants the most affordable. No real need for a budget to be stated, elsewise we go down the rabbit hole of which car is 'best' for the money etc.

  • pharkurnell on 10/11/2021 - 14:58
    +3

    I'd highly recommend the Ferrari 458

  • andresampras on 10/11/2021 - 15:08

    can you drive stick

    • pharkurnell on 10/11/2021 - 15:11
      +23

      Probably easier to drive car than a stick

      Oh you mean a manual gearbox?

      • andresampras on 10/11/2021 - 15:13
        +1

        you're in a funny mood. eat some sugary treats to cure your 3:30itis

      • YRT on 10/11/2021 - 15:23
        +3

        He probably meant riding a stick, or possibly a broom

        :)

      • CheapskateNotFrugal on 10/11/2021 - 19:54
        +3

        Manual? Yes
        Stick? Unfortunately I'm not tall enough

  • Euphemistic on 10/11/2021 - 17:21
    -1

    Pick the right vintage car and value will increase.

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