Used Car Suggestions for a No-Frills, Point A to Point B Vehicle. Other Requirements inside

starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 16:15

Hi all, Happy New Year!

So lifestyle creep has finally caught up with us and we're in the market for another car. Currently own the 2010 Mazda 3 Maxx Sport and quite happy with it.

Looking to limit my searches to the typical Japanese and Korean manufacturers, for a no-frills point A to B vehicle. Prime emphasis on reliability and frugal running costs
- Budget 15k, but can extend to 18k
- Year min 2014
- KM's max 100k
- Automatic Transmission

Good to have
- Reversing Cam

I've listed some of the options I've seen available for these in the poll, but please feel free to provide your thoughts on which other ones I should consider.

My ultimate goal, would be to get an electric in 3-5 years and get rid of the ICE cars altogether, just waiting on charging infrastructure in the home, outside and better pricing on electric cars… I know it could be more than a 3-5 years wait.

Thanks for your help.

Poll Options

  • 1
    Hyundai Accent
  • 1
    Kia Picanto
  • 1
    Subaru (Please suggest Model)
  • 4
    Mazda2
  • 5
    Toyota Yaris
  • 5
    Others?
  • 6
    Honda (Please suggest Model)
  • 7
    Kia Rio
  • 19
    Hyundai i20
Automotive

Comments

  • brendanm on 10/01/2023 - 16:17
    +8

    Keep your current car?

    • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 16:17
      +1

      yes, this will be a second car

    • HeWhoKnows on 11/01/2023 - 16:37

      OP could simply plug this criteria in any used car search engine and get a whole lot of relevant results.

      I recommend CarSales and Gumtree cars

      Whats most important in this situation is NOT to look for a specific make and model of an 8 year old used car but rather a car's age and overall condition, kms travelled, service history, one owner and amount of remaining rego.

      Its pointless chasing down a specific model with OPs criteria if its not for sale or too far away.

      Just go to Gumtree and carsales.com.au and plug in your criteria and pick the newest cars with the lowest kilometres, which are being sold by ONE OWNER and offering full service history. Long rego is a bonus

  • GG57 on 10/01/2023 - 16:19
    +4

    Won't this poll only provide an indication of voters favourite car?
    If you are in the market, you would be comparing year of manufacture, kms, features, price, of specific cars that are available to buy.

    • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 16:53

      In an ideal world yes, but based on the criteria and budget I've listed, those are the only options available. Between the available options, I'll definitely compare the year of manufacture, kms, features, price

      • HeWhoKnows on 11/01/2023 - 16:43

        I agree with GG57.
        People will vote for the car they drive or a friend drives or one they like
        I suggest you see my post above and do some proper research that will bring you relevant and usable results

        In the end a used car is only as good as the way its owner looks after it.
        It has little to do with brand once it leaves the showroom

  • megaalc on 10/01/2023 - 16:25
    +1

    from your list - Honda Jazz, but prices unfortunately gone nuts (

    • dcep on 10/01/2023 - 16:34
      +2

      be wary of past gen. cvt models

      • megaalc on 10/01/2023 - 17:03

        Of course

      • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 22:26

        when you say past gen, which specific years should I avoid for the Jazz?

    • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 16:54

      Unfortunately, not available in my budget/search filters.

  • GLO on 10/01/2023 - 16:35
    +1

    your partner wont be happy with the 'no frills' option whilst you have the Maxx Sport !

    Maybe say its just the 2nd car for you both, but you always get out the door first and take the MAXX Sport keys with you!

    • dcep on 10/01/2023 - 16:46
      +1

      2021 Mitsubishi Mirage with 5 years warranty

      Absolute no frills A to B car for OP to torture his partner

    • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 16:55

      TBH, it will be shared between the 2 of us. We'll both use whichever is available and not really fussed who gets which.

  • GG57 on 10/01/2023 - 16:47
    +3

    Why not buy another Mazda 3 Maxx, there seems to be a few online for sale.

    • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 16:55

      Ohh I would love to buy it if its available. Unfortunately with the used car market the way it is, I won't get it in my budget.

  • wordplay on 10/01/2023 - 17:08

    Suzuki alto.

    • dcep on 10/01/2023 - 17:14

      Ahh yes! the $12k car sold brand new. I think it might have appreciates in value, high yield investment there.

    • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 22:27
      +2

      Too small. I'm on the taller side, so a bit difficult this one.

      • wordplay on 13/01/2023 - 11:22

        woah, must be on the really tall side, bought the last one from a guy who was 6'3ft and said he had no probs driving it. good luck.

  • Overclocked91 on 10/01/2023 - 17:20
    +2

    Toyota Corolla

    • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 18:09

      Not an option for the budget

        • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 22:35
          +1

          that's a good idea. Thanks!

      • Overclocked91 on 11/01/2023 - 07:35

        I think you could definitely get one in your budget. There is always wiggle room with private sellers. Drivability, resale and reliability are worth a lot more than the other cars mentioned in my opinion. Also, a better size. We have a 2014 corolla and it's one of the best cars we have ever bought.

        • starbearer on 11/01/2023 - 08:21
          +1

          Yes, definitely worth considering. Thanks!

  • payless69 on 10/01/2023 - 17:59

    No frills?
    Search for a Citroen 2CV.

    • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 18:07
      +1

      Not very keen on European makes coz of lesser reliability

      • payless69 on 10/01/2023 - 19:58

        They say that my Kia was made in Slovakia. No complaint with build quality.
        Suzuki was the one brand we had with best build quality.

  • andresampras on 10/01/2023 - 18:03

    OP are you looking for a car to drive to the train station everyday? Any longer distance / highway driving?

    • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 18:08

      Some highway driving. But mostly within Melb metro region. Less than 5k kms per year

  • Euphemistic on 10/01/2023 - 18:06
    +1

    Pretty much any of those, go test fit and drive a few and see what you like.

    Subaru won’t have a small model similar to the others though and can cost a little more to run being AWD.

    • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 18:09

      Thanks! Any of those which you'd personally recommend?

      • Euphemistic on 10/01/2023 - 18:10
        +1

        Nope, haven’t driven any. IF I was in the market for a small car such as you seem to be I’d stick with Japanese or Korean brands and go and sit in a few and drive them to see what felt the best to me.

  • CheapandUsed on 10/01/2023 - 18:29
    +1

    Could you simply add the missing desired features to your current car?

    Pretty sure the 2010 Mazda 3 takes normal head units so adding a reverse camera & car play/ Android auto is relatively easy.

    If there are parts from the higher trim models you want the wreckers would have a decent amount of stock by now, even as far as adding the SP23/MPS wheels to the car.

    • starbearer on 10/01/2023 - 22:24

      Not sure if you read the OP. We need another car. Can't do with just one anymore.

      • brendanm on 11/01/2023 - 17:20

        You weren't very clear that you were after an additional car. Op sounds like you want a different car.

        • starbearer on 12/01/2023 - 09:33

          ahh ok i see, my apologies to both yourself and CheapandUsed

  • Drakesy on 10/01/2023 - 19:17
    +2

    I don't get everyone's apprehension to getting a car with high k's.

    If it's a diesel and it has low k's i'd almost be more wary as it may not have been taken on the highway enough to clean out the dpf.

    I've had a Kia bought for $6k with 69,000k's, this cost me approx $3000 in servicing over 5 years

    Currently driving a newer model Kia that i purchased for $5k with 280,000k's and it's cheaper to service than the previous model. At least by this stage you know anything that could've gone wrong has gone wrong. Mechanic says everything has plenty of life and it runs better than the previous car.

    Looking to get a BYD in the coming year or two

    • mskeggs on 10/01/2023 - 21:48
      +1

      I also typically buy Japanese/Korean cars over 100,000kms, (not Euro brands that only are designed for 150k imo).
      The only downside is older/high km cars will be brittle plastics at the end of their life - fine if that is a bit of dash plastic, bad if it is a water pump bracket requiring an engine removal to reach!
      The European cars seem to be infested with things that wear out and break after 150k, in my experience a Toyota or Mitsubishi still have little niggles of things going wrong, but they are comparatively inexpensive to fix/replace.

      Some cars have costly service requirements, especially for timing belts and other things like that, which have a limited life. I know plenty of Camry's and Corollas that missed the 180k timing belt change and are still fine at 300k, but if they die, they are dead.
      In years gone by, pre-COVID, those vehicles were $2500, so no big deal if they expired. Now they are $6000, so it is worth checking they have had the right servicing.

      • mskeggs on 10/01/2023 - 21:52
        +3

        Or to say it in another way - I would happily buy a 200k Toyota/Honda/Mazda/Hyundai which had all its services done by the book. I wouldn't buy a Merc/VW/Audi/Peugeot in the same boat.

      • RockyRaccoon on 11/01/2023 - 05:41

        I think you will find, Camrys or Corollas have timing chains, not belts. At least for 2002 on - 4 cylinder models, which more than covers the OP’s age criteria

    • Noblejoker on 11/01/2023 - 12:48
      +2

      OP doing 5K KM a year so lots of inner-city short runs - not ideal for a diesel right?

      • starbearer on 12/01/2023 - 09:34

        yea, exactly. I'm actually done with ICE cars in general but can't go electric just yet.

  • lenspizza on 10/01/2023 - 22:51
    +1

    I recently bought a second hand Mazda 3 2014 SP25 for $15k from a dealer, though it had a small dent. Looking at private sales good examples are going for the same price. This has has the 2.5L engine, almost all the trim, and it can be upgraded to Android Auto/Carplay if you do the right research and buy a $100 part (maybe $300 for a dealer to do it for you).

    Though considering a picanto is basically $20k and comes with a 7 year warranty, you're almost at the point of getting something better. At the very least it should retain more value over time.

    Edit: Maybe checkout redriven.com and their youtube channel, they do used car reviews and compile information about their reliability.

    • starbearer on 11/01/2023 - 08:25

      Hmm… Good thoughts. Will keep an eye out for these and adjust search filters accordingly.

  • Noblejoker on 11/01/2023 - 12:57

    @starbearer Hyundai 120 is very roomy for a tall / taller driver - I would start there

    • starbearer on 11/01/2023 - 15:43

      Thanks!

      Any thoughts on Hyundai Accent? Especially the 2015 to 2017 models?

  • Mark1159 on 11/01/2023 - 14:03
    +1

    At peak of covid got a three year old Cerato hatch ex rental for $15 k with 38 000 kms
    Still had 4 year New Car Warranty remaining but not unlimited (ex rental) reduced to 150 k
    Limit.
    Drove it round Australia - only problem was in Kimberly when it was 47 C - had to turn AC down cos it was too cold inside car.
    Fits bicycle in back without removing wheel. Brother’s Ranger can’t do that. Slept in it too. Six footer.
    Spare wheel, Car Play, fixed price servicing.

    • starbearer on 11/01/2023 - 15:44

      thanks for your response! Cerato isn't really coming up in my search filters but I'll try expanding them. A mate of mine does own it and is pretty happy with it but doesn't like the fuel efficiency.

      Any thoughts on the Kia Rio or Picanto?

  • nswnotill on 11/01/2023 - 19:01

    I recommend Kia Cerato

  • Series4Episode10 on 12/01/2023 - 21:31
    +1

    Well cared for AU Falcon, ugly AND indestructible!

    • Euphemistic on 13/01/2023 - 06:29

      I’d suggest at least updating to the BA model.

      • Series4Episode10 on 13/01/2023 - 11:57

        Does not have Teflon coated pistons

        Head gasket with changes made so the head heats evenly (the main reason straight OHC sixes were prone to head gasket issues)

        Does not have the limp home system written into Electronic control unit that allows limping home without overheating the motor

        There were a heap of changes that were unique to the "Ugly" Falcon that were discontinued at the end of production run

        Dudes on the forums give this advice often "go to the wreckers and get one off an AU"

  • GordonR on 15/01/2023 - 18:19

    Very difficult at the moment in that price bracket.

    I’m looking for small manual car for daughter.

    Used car prices (asking prices, in WA) around $15k mark are completely out of proportion to new car prices.

    Who wants to pay $15k for a 7-year old Suzuki Swift with 90000km or a 5 year-old Hyundai Accent Active with 95000 km, when a new Kia Picanto can be bought for $18.5k ?

    The only problem is that a Picanto won’t arrive for “6 to 9 months”.

    Basically, late-model used cars are commanding a huge price premium (over historical values and relative to new car prices) due to their immediate availability. But you pay this premium even if you, individually, don’t need one immediately.

    So if you’re not in a rush, I’d just order a new car and the time will go quickly.

    • starbearer on 15/01/2023 - 19:02

      Thanks so much for those insights. Yea the used car market is completely out of whack.

      Sadly, I am in a bit of a rush as we've tried to manage with just 1 car for the past year and the compromises / fights and reliance on shitty public transport are just not worth it anymore.

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