Seeking Advice for Which Car to Buy (Budget $3000 - $8000)

Guerilla89 on 06/07/2022 - 09:28
Last edited 06/07/2022 - 11:04 by 1 other user

I want to buy a car, I'm looking for:

  • Cheap
  • Can seat at least 4 people
  • Parts are easily available
  • Doesn't use too much fuel
  • Service/repairs are easy and cheap, i.e. lots of internal space in engine bay and changing timing belt doesn't require the engine to be removed (bad example but you get the point)
  • Something with less features/moving parts, i.e. if I could not have motorised windows I would because they seem to fail after 10-15 years and it's a pain
  • Don't care new vs used
  • Approx. price range $3000 - $8000

Can anyone offer advice?

Automotive Car

Comments

  • oscargamer on 06/07/2022 - 09:31
    +13

    You won't get a new car for $3-$8k……

    • Guerilla89 on 06/07/2022 - 09:32

      That's fine with me.

      • oscargamer on 06/07/2022 - 09:33

        Then a Toyota or Mazda. But cars at the moment are selling for high cost vs low quality (in your price bracket)

        • Guerilla89 on 06/07/2022 - 09:40

          I've currently got a Honda CR-V 2000 manual. I was under the assumption it would probably fail within the next 10 years. I figured it would be good to sell it and buy a car at roughly the 10 year old range.

          • Muzeeb on 06/07/2022 - 09:50
            +14

            @Guerilla89: Just drive your CR-V until it dies

          • o53djz7qTPY4der on 06/07/2022 - 09:55

            @Guerilla89: By this logic you have 10 more years with the Honda. Drive it. Wait and see what happens with the car market and EVs. You have 10 years, seems silly to spend money on a car now that will in all likelihood be just as bad as your current car, if not worse.

          • [Deactivated] on 06/07/2022 - 10:28
            +1

            @Guerilla89: it should not fail within the next 10 years if it has been maintained well and you keep up the maintenance, unless you are driving so many KMs that the engine just wears out.

  • Xistn on 06/07/2022 - 09:32
    +4
    • Don't care new vs used
    • Approx price range $3000 - $8000

    not getting new then.

    • pjetson on 06/07/2022 - 11:04

      And there's almost nothing in that price range with less than a quarter of a million kilometers already on it…

  • brendanm on 06/07/2022 - 09:39
    +9

    if I could not have motorised windows I would because they seem to fail after 10-15 years

    Yeah, those once every 15 year repairs are a nightmare.

    • Guerilla89 on 06/07/2022 - 09:41

      I get what you're saying but if I have to choose between spending $400 for a working window or just having a permanently shut window I'll pick the later. So really I'd prefer to just have windows I can actually use and not worry about them wearing out.

      • brendanm on 06/07/2022 - 10:41
        -1

        Hyundai i30 diesel, but it will have electric windows.

        • jjsnacks on 06/07/2022 - 11:56

          we had one, turbo randomly blew at 240k, always serviced etc

          • brendanm on 06/07/2022 - 12:04
            +2

            @jjsnacks: Truly terrible, $650 part dies after 240,000km 🙄

            • jjsnacks on 06/07/2022 - 12:27
              -3

              @brendanm: When the turbo goes it usually takes the motor with it.

              • brendanm on 06/07/2022 - 13:56
                +1

                @jjsnacks: No it doesn't. Those engines are so reliable, and very rarely give trouble, wreckers sell them for under a grand as they just have them sitting around.

                • jjsnacks on 06/07/2022 - 14:00
                  -2

                  @brendanm: That has not been my experience and fairly common from what I researched at the time.

                  • brendanm on 06/07/2022 - 17:29
                    +1

                    @jjsnacks: As a mechanic, I can tell you they are very reliable. You're welcome to check out engine prices for yourself. Must have nearly used up all your negs for the day.

  • kerfuffle on 06/07/2022 - 09:42
    +2

    Do you have anything in your shortlist or are you expecting people to research within your budget or specifications for you?

    • Guerilla89 on 06/07/2022 - 09:54

      I'm not looking for anyone to provide me specific results, I'm just looking for general advice from people, i.e. don't get a Great Wall or Ssanyong because blah blah blah or Toyota and Honda have low parts costs or Hyundai fail to provide parts for models older than 8 years, etc.

      I'm just looking for make and model recommendations, I'll track down the car by looking for the 6-12 months or until I find something I'm happy with. I've got a working car at the moment but it's getting old (currently 22 years old and 230,000K's on it and I don't want to be the person owning a car that fails. I'm not trying to hoodwink anyone into a failing car, it's been solid so far. I just can't afford to lose mine as I'm single and working. I'd imagine if a $2000 part failed I would probably have to throw good money after bad as I wouldn't be able to find a car quickly enough.

      • Keplaffintech on 06/07/2022 - 10:34
        +1

        General advice is very stereotypical and poor advice. There are good and bad models in every brand.

        If you want parts and ease of servicing, your best bet is choosing a more common car. The more common a car is, the more parts will be available and the more knowledgeable your general mechanic will be about the model. E.g. choose a Camry or an i30 over a Peugeot

  • TChalla on 06/07/2022 - 09:54
    +2

    Buy the one that goes fast and makes suuututu sounds.

    sKrtTtt

  • lppepper on 06/07/2022 - 09:59

    Honda Accord (Euro or Non-Euro, both are decent) 2005-2007. The 4 cylinder 2.4L engine. Has a timing chain so once it has been serviced on time and has a solid history shouldn’t really have to be changed. Engine bay is plenty spacious in the non-euro model as it’s quite wide and long. Comfy ride and strong engine. Bulletproof car once maintained properly.

  • Duckie2hh on 06/07/2022 - 10:02
    +2

    2000 Toyota Carolla

    • Guerilla89 on 06/07/2022 - 10:04

      thanks, solid car.

      • kerfuffle on 06/07/2022 - 10:15
        +3

        You're replacing a 22 year old car with another 22 year old car?

        • Duckie2hh on 06/07/2022 - 10:24

          Whats wrong with that?

    • oscargamer on 06/07/2022 - 10:14
      +4

      Also consider the Corolla .

  • singlemalt72 on 06/07/2022 - 11:08
    +1

    The running joke on VW/Audi
    Job: Replace windscreen wiper
    Consult workshop manual
    Step 1: Remove engine and transmission

    • dirtybigbjelke on 06/07/2022 - 11:30
      +1

      Well you do have to know how to put the wipers into service position and they are pretty expensive. However my MKV Golf OEM wipers lasted 7 years.

  • juzza87 on 06/07/2022 - 11:10

    Holden Commodore VE/VF - they're incredibly common, easy to get parts for and every mechanic would be experienced working on them.

    Or a Falcon, those I6 engines can last a million KMs.

  • Euphemistic on 06/07/2022 - 11:14
    +2

    Stick with the CRV and keep the savings for when it does actually die. Then buy something for whatever your revised budget is.

    There is no point ‘upgrading’ a working car for something in your budget unless you needed additional space/capacity or features. Anything you buy could turn out to be a money pit someone was offloading for a money pit reason.

    Do they even make cars with windy windows any more? I’d guess near everything has electric windows now.

    If you must, buy a common model from Japan or Korea. One that you see a lot of on the roads.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 06/07/2022 - 12:37
    +2

    in the current market you're not getting much for under 8k

  • Headless on 06/07/2022 - 12:42

    Mitsubishi Colt - a friend has an auto with 400k on the odo and still going fine

  • Speckled Jim on 07/07/2022 - 07:28

    I'm on the lookout for a Honda Jazz. For your budget, a second gen (2008-) is easily available.
    - cramped engine bay, but they use a timing chain
    - they had power windows, going back to the original Jazz in Au.

    An alternative for you might be the Hyundai Getz, one of the few cars of the past 20 years with manual windows. From 2006 IIRC (gen 2) they all had power windows. Like Jazz it's also more fuel efficient than your CRV. Interior is small but 4 people will be okay, especially if you get a 5-door model.

    • qwerty-4321 on 07/07/2022 - 11:00

      OP don't get the first gen Jazz. Ours drives well but has a terrible shudder that the mechanics can't seem to fix. Apparently it's a common issue with these first gen CVT engines.

      • Speckled Jim on 07/07/2022 - 12:13

        I should state specifically, a manual 1.5l Jazz (the iDSI 1.3 uses 8 spark plugs!) I agree Honda automatics in general are questionable.
        For the Getz, also manual and I'm not fussed which generation or engine, but I've only seen manual windows in some 02-05 first gen cars. Choices there are 1.3 or 1.5l.

  • Exec-Matrix on 07/07/2022 - 07:50
    +1

    Can't believe the ultimate NPC car hasn't been recommended. Toyota Camry.

    Parts available at KFC, reliable as anything, thousands around.

  • visca on 07/07/2022 - 08:14

    Hyundai i30 around 2010 mark would probably fall into that price range. It's nice to drive, relatively simply made and easy to maintain yourself. Plenty of spares available through ebay ans spares stores.

  • ColtNoir on 07/07/2022 - 10:00
    +1

    My 2019 Mazda CX-5 is currently selling for 2-3k more than what I paid for it new. I’m actually a little gobsmacked.

    Keep saving, keep your car until it dies and hopefully you get another year or two and fingers crossed the car market has normalised somewhat.

    I understand wanting to get something more reliable, but $3-8k when I got my first car in 2010 you were still risking a lemon.
    You’re more likely to end up with more problems by changing cars.

    • Euphemistic on 07/07/2022 - 10:21
      +2

      I understand wanting to get something more reliable, but $3-8k when I got my first car in 2010 you were still risking a lemon.
      You’re more likely to end up with more problems by changing cars.

      This. Lots of this.

  • bennythejet on 07/07/2022 - 10:54

    Not a big upgrade from your 2000 Honda CR-V but FWIW I bought a 2006 Toyota Camry (ACV36R) 18 mths ago for $3700. Had 170,000 kms on the clock. It was an upgrade from my 1995 Corolla.
    I had to replace a power window motor and a few other small things but it's otherwise fine and suits my needs.
    At the time I was looking at Corollas and Camrys under $5k. I chose the Camry as it has cruise control which was the deciding factor for me. Also a bit roomier than the Corollas.

  • Campbellske on 11/07/2022 - 01:00

    I would recommend a 2005ish Mazda 6. Mrs has one and it is a rock solid well built car

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