Looking for Advice for Buying a Car

teamfletch on 11/03/2023 - 17:59

Hey everyone, looking for a bit of advice.

We are a one car family, but it’s getting to the stage where we need to consider buying a second car.

Want something small, reliable, safe and cheap to maintain.
Primary purpose would be commuting to work, so ideally don’t want to spend too much, but also don’t want to compromise on reliability and safety.

Have been looking at 3-5 year old Corollas as I’m a big Toyota fan. However, they are quite expensive and I’m wondering if I’m better off ordering a new base model for $32k instead of paying $25k on a 5 year old car.

So OzB community, if you had up to ~$30k to spend, what would you buy? Cheaper the better without being a money pit with repairs and without putting my families safety at risk.

Automotive

Comments

  • kerfuffle on 11/03/2023 - 18:13
    +5

    Hyundai i30 (coming from someone who just bought a top-spec hybrid Corolla sedan)

    • teamfletch on 11/03/2023 - 18:15

      Interesting, I’ve never been a big Hyundai fan, but I do know the i30 is popular.

      What makes you say this?

      • kerfuffle on 11/03/2023 - 18:18
        +1

        You can get a brand new hatch for under $30K and it comes with decent tech that my $45K Corolla doesn't have.

        They've come a long way since the Excel days. The only other car I was considering was the i30 N-Line Premium

        • teamfletch on 11/03/2023 - 18:20
          +2

          Yes that’s the downside of all the Toyota models. We have a Rav4 Hybrid Cruiser and it’s tech isn’t great compared to the competition.
          But the low cost of ownership and the reliability is where Toyota can’t be beaten.

          Thanks for your comment, I’ll look into the i30 more.

          • powerhead on 13/03/2023 - 01:03

            @teamfletch: Had the RAV4 hybrid for a while, just wondering what does the competition have that the rav4 lacks?

            Didn’t even look at anything else when ordering the replacement couple of months ago :-/

    • GourmetFoodie on 11/03/2023 - 19:22

      I30 is definitely my choice too. 7 year warranty if you buy new and if you buy second hand you can usually pick one up that’s still under warranty.

      • kerfuffle on 11/03/2023 - 19:23
        +1

        Isn't Hyundai only 5 years warranty? Kia is 7

        • GourmetFoodie on 11/03/2023 - 19:29

          Sorry you’re totally right. 5 years is still good though! Kia picanto 7 year warranty. Super small. But great price.

          • teamfletch on 11/03/2023 - 19:52

            @GourmetFoodie: Will definitely have a look at Kia, have seen the Cerato mentioned a lot, and balance of a 7 year warranty would be a big plus

            • ylukman on 14/03/2023 - 15:54

              @teamfletch: Cerato is a nice car. I own a hatchback with safety plus. Didn't want to pay for the upper end just for leather seats, seat warmer, electric chair & different wheel as I didn't feel the need for that.

              However, there are things I would like to change if possible:
              1. Can't lift up wiper without lifting bonnet. Would be nice to lift up the wipers durimg hot day to preserve the rubber.

              1. No roof rack connector like Mazda. So you're limited to clamp version.

              2. Bad rear camera when it's dark.

              3. Would be nice if the ground clearance can be 5 cm higher.

              I added the window rain cover myself. Other than that everything is ok.

  • afoveht on 11/03/2023 - 19:23

    Second car just for commute? New Jazz, Picanto, etc. $16Kish, 5-7 year warranty - that's a few grand per year for a guaranteed ride in a new car that's easy to park, drinks little and is otherwise cheap to maintain.

    • teamfletch on 11/03/2023 - 19:41

      Thank you, I hadn’t considered either, I’ll have a look.
      My concern with the cars that small is safety though.

    • 82norm on 12/03/2023 - 17:48

      Honda Jazz (new) are no longer sold in Oz.

  • AustriaBargain on 11/03/2023 - 19:46

    How much do used Rav4 hybrids go for?

    • teamfletch on 11/03/2023 - 19:48
      +2

      Wayyyyy too much. Pretty sure the one we have we could sell for $10k more then we paid.
      Would love a second one, very happy with ours.

      • AustriaBargain on 11/03/2023 - 19:49

        How old are your kids? 10 years from now could it make a good first car for them?

        • teamfletch on 11/03/2023 - 19:51

          Nice thought, they are 4 and 2, so not a consideration but I appreciate the comment

  • sumyungguy on 11/03/2023 - 19:47
    -1

    Small, reliable, safe and cheap to maintain. Auto? Seats 4 or 5? You can get a used Suzuki Jimny for ~$32K but none in Melbourne at the moment

    • teamfletch on 11/03/2023 - 19:50

      Sorry I left a few details out. Yep auto, ideally big enough to put two child seats in, so Corolla/i30 size probably ideal

      • sumyungguy on 11/03/2023 - 19:54
        -1

        Obscure suggestion: Ford Focus ST-Line SA Auto MY21. Three-cylinder engined cars are awesome (e.g. VW Polo)

        • teamfletch on 11/03/2023 - 19:59

          Cheers I’ll have a look. Nice looking car, wonder why they have been discontinued

          • sumyungguy on 11/03/2023 - 20:03

            @teamfletch: Because Australians no longer rate small and city cars, they want SUVs. Car makers are delighted, they're selling more expensive cars at higher margins

        • Boioioioi on 11/03/2023 - 21:34

          Jimny has a pretty crummy safety rating, and Polo doesnt quite match criteria of cheap to maintain… In australia at least

    • Euphemistic on 11/03/2023 - 22:25
      +3

      Jimmy is NOT a commuter car.

  • dtc on 11/03/2023 - 21:26

    Most Asian small hatches are fine-i30, Corolla, Impreza, Mazda 3 etc (or the next size down). they are all reliable and much of a muchness in terms of driving. Basically they are 90% the same. The 10% difference isn’t one being better or worse, it’s just what you prefer. One has slightly more tech or gadgets, one slightly bigger, one slightly more powerful.

    Have a look at demo models as well, save a few $1000 on new

  • Euphemistic on 11/03/2023 - 22:27

    Drop your budget too $15k. Get a 5-8yo corolla. It’s modern enough to be pretty safe and will lose less in depreciation. Then you can save and get an EV once they start getting to reasonable prices.

    • kerfuffle on 11/03/2023 - 22:30
      +1

      You aren't gonna get a 5 year old Corolla for $15K in this climate. I got paid $13K for my written-off one back in April (but mid-spec and just over 100K km)

      • Euphemistic on 11/03/2023 - 22:34
        +1

        Fair enough but I’m reasonably sure I could get a good car for commuting for $15k.

        Alternatively I just saw a 21 model MG EV with 22k km on it for $35k.

        • kerfuffle on 12/03/2023 - 09:49

          Sorry, I forgot to mention that said written-off car was 11 years old

    • teamfletch on 12/03/2023 - 09:06

      This is what I was originally thinking, would prefer a cheaper car that I don’t I don’t car so much about if it gets carpark dings etc.
      But for $15k, I’d be looking at a 10 year old Corolla.

  • [Deactivated] on 11/03/2023 - 22:30
    -3

    Want something small, reliable, safe

    Want safe get big heavy car. No small car is safe.

    • Euphemistic on 11/03/2023 - 22:32
      +1

      Big cars aren’t safe either, just differently unsafe.

      Small cars might be less safe in a collision with a larger car, but they are also able to avoid collisions easier because they are lighter and handle and stop better.

      • [Deactivated] on 11/03/2023 - 22:51
        -2

        I will dig the actual stats tomorrow. Stay tuned.

  • pegaxs on 11/03/2023 - 22:34
    +3

    Hyundai or Kia.

    I would say “Get an MG and pocket the change if all you want is a cheap run about” but you know… “negs” and sheep.

  • yellowfever on 12/03/2023 - 14:06

    Mazda 3 2017-2019.

  • 82norm on 12/03/2023 - 17:51

    Bu new, save yourself hassle of faults, repairs.

    • teamfletch on 12/03/2023 - 17:52

      Definitely a consideration, wait times might rule that out though

      • kerfuffle on 12/03/2023 - 18:59

        If you're after an i30 hatch, someone on Whirlpool managed to get a cancelled order. Ring dealers up and ask them

  • kiwiyonip on 17/03/2023 - 18:01

    So OzB community, if you had up to ~$30k to spend, what would you buy? Cheaper the better without being a money pit with repairs and without putting my families safety at risk.

    No car is safe esp in a head-on collission…

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