Recommend a Car at $15k

GordonR on 22/05/2025 - 22:30

Looking for a car for my daughter to be used almost exclusively in the city (Perth). She is uninterested in cars except for getting from A to B.

Something reliable, safe, and cheap to run, maintain and insure.

Around $15k budget and aiming for under 100k on the odometer and 2014 onwards (can stretch price for a good enough reason).

Seems to be better choice in manuals, where I can see Hyundai i20s, Accents, couple of Elantras, Kia Rios, some Mazda 2s, couple of Suzuki Balenos and really quite a lot of VW Golfs, some with quite low kms,

Thoughts from the OzB hive mind?

Automotive Car

Comments

  • Bruceflix on 22/05/2025 - 22:43
    +8

    G O G G O

    No, not the Dart

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 22/05/2025 - 22:47
      +4

      No one knows your passion like Shannon’s

      • mrhugo on 25/05/2025 - 20:45

        Actually it's a Yellow Pages ad.

    • Daabido on 24/05/2025 - 10:25
      +3

      They always think it's the Dart!

  • Kongzi on 22/05/2025 - 22:53

    NG

  • Wiadro on 22/05/2025 - 22:53
    +7

    bmw e39 530i

    • LanceVance on 23/05/2025 - 08:14
      +1

      Just for the beauty factor alone!

      • Wiadro on 23/05/2025 - 08:17

        id say get the V8 540i but people wouldnt like the maintenance

        • LanceVance on 23/05/2025 - 10:15

          Any E39 isn't going to be nice maintenance, unless it's recently had a thorough rejuvination all those bushings, gaskets, seals, ball joints etc are going to be at the point of failure. Very thankful there are people out there keeping them on the road though.
          V8's it's mainly the timing chains and their guides that fail right?

          • Wiadro on 23/05/2025 - 11:51

            @LanceVance: yeah the guides are made of plastic, and the tensioner is the main issue with the chain.
            a lot of them now have had a lot of work done to them.

  • MS Paint on 22/05/2025 - 23:00
    +9

    1946 Chevrolet pickup 4x2

    Located in Perth, 49k kms, $15k

    1965 Jaguar S Type

    Located in Perth, 57k kms, $15k

    • Nugs on 23/05/2025 - 09:14

      Chev sold, was it OP?
      .

      • Click_It on 24/05/2025 - 20:19

        That's the problem with threads like this, people always have their silly suggestions.

        1951 Studebaker Champion 3,582km on the odometer and $1,500 under budget. The good thing is, there's no shortage of things for that $1,500 to go towards once you have it.

        Failing that, just get the newest / lowest mileage Corolla you can find for $15,000. Solid cars.

  • altomic on 22/05/2025 - 23:17
    +5

    in the last 2 years I've bought 2 cars for my kids who have passed their driving tests.

    I look for airbag safety, and good fuel consumption.

    that said, I ended up with a 20011 VW passat , and a 2009 308 Peugot diesel.

    the passat has been faultless over the last 2 years,
    the VW has been in the mechanics for the last 2 weeks with a fuel delivery system.

    for $15K

    you can get a mazda 3

    for $8K you can get a low KM mazda 3 (at least here in Bris)

    • MS Paint on 22/05/2025 - 23:41
      +10

      with a 20011 VW passat

      Vehicle of the future. Is it Osmium powered?

    • brendanm on 23/05/2025 - 06:45
      +10

      the passat has been faultless over the last 2 years,
      the VW has been in the mechanics for the last 2 weeks with a fuel delivery system.

      The passat is the VW?

      • Gdsamp on 23/05/2025 - 09:51
        +14

        Schrodinger's VW

      • altomic on 23/05/2025 - 13:06
        +3

        don't write stuff when exhausted -

        2011 VW Passat has been faultless ,

        the Peugot is in the mechanics (but the first time in 12months - aside from a service)

        • brendanm on 23/05/2025 - 16:36

          Haha, yes neither of those things is a surprise. I assume the passat is a diesel?

  • shxhshzhz on 23/05/2025 - 00:05
    +11

    2016 Mazda 2 or 2014 Toyota Corolla are reliable, safe, and cheap to run and maintain.

    The Mitsubishi Mirage is a very fuel efficient small car that suits city use and is safe. Fairly recent, barely used ones can be found under $15k.
    2018 Mirage 50,795km $13990
    2017 Mirage 18,000km $14999

    • Lichen6420 on 23/05/2025 - 08:53
      -5

      Physics is a real bitch in an accident.

      The mirage weighs 900kg… you get t-boned by a 2500kg soccer mums Prado and your not going to come out of it looking pretty.

      • smartazz104 on 23/05/2025 - 10:06
        +24

        The state of things is screwed if people have to buy a large SUV on the off chance they get t-boned by an idiot.

        • Lichen6420 on 23/05/2025 - 13:13
          +1

          I don't think that's necessarily the case, but a 900kg is definitely an outlier and reduces your chances in a serious accident by a large margin.

          For context a Mazda 3 is approx.1,450kg

          • Euphemistic on 23/05/2025 - 19:21
            +5

            @Lichen6420: A 900kg car will also be easily to stop and steer away from a potential crash. Avoiding a crash is much better than being on one.

            Swings and roundabouts

      • pizzaforlunch on 23/05/2025 - 10:21
        +13

        don't walk on the streets, you get hit by a car you're not going to come out of it looking pretty.

        • Daabido on 24/05/2025 - 10:28
          +6

          There goes my plan for looking prettier.

          • Euphemistic on 24/05/2025 - 10:39
            +2

            @Daabido: Prettier is all relative. Wont be pretty. Could be prettier.

      • CocaKoala on 26/05/2025 - 10:12
        +4

        I'm sure that sounded intelligent in your head. I suppose the idea ends with every single person driving an SUV. Then we will all start looking at buying dumpster trucks because they weigh 33 tonnes instead of the puny 2.5 ton SUV.

  • Euphemistic on 23/05/2025 - 07:33
    +23

    Keep it simple. Japanese or Korean. Newest you can find in budget.

    Make sure your daughter has some buy in. That is, make sure she turns up for a test drive etc. No point buying a perfectly good low km car that she hates the colour of or cant connect her phone easilly etc. Despite not being into cars (not caring) she needs to not hate it so she will treat it with a little respect.

    • GordonR on 24/05/2025 - 12:46
      +1

      Newer car with more km or older car with fewer?

      Obviously newer cars tend to have better safety tech but if otherwise equal is a 2020 car with 100k preferable to a 2016 with 60k?

      • Euphemistic on 24/05/2025 - 13:44

        It depends! If you arent doing a lot of kms, getting a high k car will mean its more likeky to have average kms when you sell. Older cars that have been under used can have some issues if you start using them a lot. Aussie cars average about 13-15k km per year.

        Obviously newer cars tend to have better safety tech but if otherwise equal is a 2020 car with 100k preferable to a 2016 with 60k?

        Seems fairly unlikely youd find that compariosn that couldnt be determined by some factor. Less scratches, better radio, prefer colour of one over the other, price, better tyres etc. IMO modern cars that are maintained are capable of well over 200k km. No idea which id choose based on that simplified example but 60k over 10y isnt too low.

    • brad1-8tsi on 23/05/2025 - 16:54
      +2

      Get a VW Golf and she would enjoy the quality.

      On my 3rd Golf. I don't recommend them to friends and wouldn't let my kids have one.

      I've enjoyed every minute of the VW experience but they can be unreliable puss-boxes at times.

      • Daabido on 24/05/2025 - 10:29
        +1

        Das Puss-Box.

      • ef7411 on 24/05/2025 - 11:23

        In the process of either selling or fixing our 2016 golf atm due to suspected gearbox error. Brought it to 2 mechanics after losing all acceleration in the middle of an intersection perpendicular to Princes Hwy. Both said no error codes show up on the computer, so while it is now drivable, it is still not reliable.

        • mdell95 on 25/05/2025 - 07:02
          +1

          It is possibly just the Shift selector switch common issue but not expensive or difficult to fix.
          The fault code will show up in a VCDS scanner but not your ordinary one unless it's still present
          Example
          https://youtu.be/uBAnXG9pW64?feature=shared

        • brad1-8tsi on 26/05/2025 - 20:29

          If you are in Sydney try Wolfsburg Motors in St.Peters

      • Nugs on 26/05/2025 - 16:07

        " wouldn't let my kids have one."
        I drove a V6 Bora, now my daughter has had hers for 3 years.
        I've still got mine after it was rear ended so at least we have a parts car :)
        .

      • alanoki on 27/05/2025 - 15:32
        +1

        Could not agree more with this comment. I've owned 7 cars over the years, mostly Japanese, and the only one that really gave me trouble was my VW Golf GTI. I ignored all the common issues people warned about, only to get hit with them anyway.

        • khomeini on 27/05/2025 - 20:02

          I've never had a VW group car… (whilst typing I remembered our old Skoda Superb)…

          Other than that, are there any specific issues I should watch out for? I'm in the same boat as OP with near identical requirements. I'm looking at Audi A1 and think they're similar to VW golf/polos.

          • alanoki on 28/05/2025 - 14:26

            @khomeini: I had the usual water pump issue, which I believe is quite common. And yes, Audi owns VW, they share a lot of parts. I’d recommend checking out Redriven on YouTube for used car reviews, they’re very in-depth and helpful.

    • klaw81 on 26/05/2025 - 11:53

      I have a number of friends I have that bought VW vehicles citing "quality German engineering" and ended up with random $5k repairs.

  • samyall on 23/05/2025 - 07:56
    +1

    2014-2016 Mazda 2 or 3 (not base). Do the upgrade to Android Auto + Car Play.

    • Emphasise on 23/05/2025 - 09:15
      +2

      Surprisingly not too hard to DIY. The kit is around $90 on AliExpress vs $500 for taking it to the dealership.

      • Horacio on 26/05/2025 - 23:12

        Hairstyle checks out

  • pegaxs on 23/05/2025 - 07:59
    +3

    hAvE yOu cOnSiDeReD a PeUgeOt 3oO8. I mean, if you are going down the rabbit hole of pain with a VW, you may as well push your chips and go all in.

    Just get her the Mazda or the Baleno. You will thank yourself later.

    • Drakesy on 23/05/2025 - 10:45
      +1

      I've heard they're the most reliable of all of the Euros!

  • AustriaBargain on 23/05/2025 - 08:41

    I'm driving a Suzuki at the moment that can be bought for 15k, but I'd spend a little more tbh. It's a fine car but the engine age shows. I love the leather seats on it though. Feels great under your butt.

    • MS Paint on 23/05/2025 - 09:28

      I can guarantee the seats aren't leather.

      • AustriaBargain on 23/05/2025 - 10:46

        They are, Suzuki have it as I think an option on some of their cars. Or had it on their cars, mine is like 10 years old.

        • MS Paint on 23/05/2025 - 10:53

          Is it an S Cross?

          I think the upper trims came with partial leather but mostly just plastic.

          • AustriaBargain on 23/05/2025 - 12:51

            @MS Paint: Yeah, leather on the main contact surfaces. Still a treat on a budget car though.

  • Nugs on 23/05/2025 - 09:17
    +4

    "uninterested in cars"

    "Around $15k budget"

    that's a lot of bus tickets
    .

    • AustriaBargain on 23/05/2025 - 12:56

      You can get high as a kite or drunk as a sailor on the bus though. So you gotta pay a lot for a car that is close as comfortable as that.

      • Nugs on 26/05/2025 - 16:00
        +1

        and think of all the 'interesting' people you'd meet on the bus
        .

    • GordonR on 24/05/2025 - 12:55
      +3

      Unfortunately, buses won’t cut it for her schedule.. if you only want to go radially from suburb X to Perth CBD and back during regular hours then Perth buses are fine. If you want to go from suburb X to suburb Y, then you either have to go via CBD or wait for the infrequent circular route. If you have to fit in a 6am shift at a beachside cafe, then an afternoon at Uni, and then evening sports training 15km away, it literally cannot be done.

      • ProlapsedHeinous on 25/05/2025 - 19:53

        skip the sports training and jog from the cafe to Uni. you're welcome.

  • Emphasise on 23/05/2025 - 09:17

    Kia Picanto GT if you wanna drive manual. It's more fun to drive a slow car fast compared to a fast car slow. I gunned it on that thing and still averaged like 5-6L/100km if I remember right

    • plmko on 23/05/2025 - 13:57

      You won't find good ones for $15k. Everyone knows it's a long gone model.

    • derrida derider on 24/05/2025 - 17:18
      +1

      Manuals are cheaper in small cars for a reason - no-one sane wants them in city traffic however much fun they can be on a twisty mountain road.
      ESPECIALLY so for OP's daughter who is both uninterested in cars and a brand new driver.

  • OhMaJuck on 23/05/2025 - 10:50
    +2

    Buy a car with a 5 Star ANCAP safety rating and consider choosing at least medium-sized vehicles.

  • youfnc on 23/05/2025 - 11:04
    +9

    Can’t believe no one’s mentioned the GOAT. The only downside is that there’s no upgrading after owning one. It's reliable, spacious inside and fun to drive. It’s perfection.

    Honda Jazz

    • GordonR on 23/05/2025 - 13:03

      Yeah I have a 2002 Jazz for my own short trips and it’s pretty awesome though lacking in modern safety gear.

      The one you linked is pretty close - a little over 100k and auto rather than manual.

      What is servicing like?

      • brad1-8tsi on 23/05/2025 - 16:55

        Honda Jazz hybrid grey import thingy

  • jacklew15 on 23/05/2025 - 13:06
    +1

    $16K for a manual 2016 Ford Focus. This one has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reversing camera, keyless go, digital radio, and sat nav. They also achieved a 5 star ANCAP safety rating when they were new. Lovely to drive as well.

    • GordonR on 24/05/2025 - 13:00

      That is a very interesting idea that ticks a lot of boxes.

      All the online negativity for the Focus is for the automatic and otherwise it seems to have a good reputation even for reliability.

      I’ve sort of had this idea that turbo engines are more complicated, less reliable and expensive to fix, but I’m not really sure why I think that.

  • jackary on 23/05/2025 - 13:41
    +3

    VW Up! is an outlier if she can drive manual. I owned one for 200,000km and it owed me bugger all. Test drove the usual suspects at the time but the Up! just felt a class above, both in driving dynamics and interior fit and finish. Also better equipped than most of the little cars, with decent 6 speaker stereo, sat nav (optional but it was only $400 so most ticked this box), heated mirrors, you could even get them with heated seats (though they are a bit harder to find). Averaged 4.4L/100km in almost exclusive Brisbane city driving. Sub 4L/100km was achievable on road trips. I know I know, VW, but it literally has nothing at all on it to go wrong haha. No DSG, no turbo. Had a lovely local VW/Skoda/Audi mechanic who kept it running nicely on the cheap. Very safe for its age too, being pretty much the only small car at the time with AEB as standard. It’s also full of airbags. About as safe as small cars get, even in 2025. I bought mine for $6000, and sold it around 18 months ago for $5000. And even with 250,000km on the clock it felt as tight as a drum. I regularly got compliments on it, or had people come up and ask me “what VW is that?”, it’s a super charming and likeable little car, I still really regret selling it. Can you tell? But seriously - doesn’t get much better than that!

    • Clickbait on 23/05/2025 - 16:03
      +1

      Fascinating little car, and probably would have sold in bagfuls if they had an auto

      • jackary on 24/05/2025 - 14:48

        100% - no auto is what killed it for sure. I still remember when it was axed in 2015 our local VW dealer was running them out for $9,990 driveaway… and I think it still took them a while to clear their inventory. People just don’t want to drive manual any more… but is was insanely easy to drive, nice light clutch, superb short-ish throw gearbox, auto hill hold etc.

    • GordonR on 24/05/2025 - 13:00

      None for sale near me, but thanks for the idea.

  • Gdsamp on 23/05/2025 - 14:29

    Mitsubishi ASX

    • klaw81 on 24/05/2025 - 19:04
      +1

      ASX is just a Lancer hatch but worse in every way. Heavier, higher centre of gravity = worse handling, cornering and braking performance, more expensive tires, higher fuel consumption.

      Just get the Lancer, it's a better vehicle in every way unless for some reason you need those 2 inches of extra ground clearance.

      • Gdsamp on 25/05/2025 - 20:59
        -2

        nobody wants a sedan

        • klaw81 on 26/05/2025 - 14:22

          Me: recommends a hatchback
          You: nobody wants a sedan

          In case you missed the implication, the luggage space of a Lancer hatch and an ASX wagon are extremely similar in both capacity and utility.

          NB: there is also a sedan version of the Lancer if you're a "nobody."

  • Clickbait on 23/05/2025 - 15:55

    Try starting on carsales at State, 2015-2016, 80-100,000K, auto, then 1.0 to 2.0 Litre engine and then Keywords like bluetooth, gps, stubbie holder, and it will narrow your options so you can filter more. A fairly bland but feature loaded example in this range is the Kia Cerato premium.
    And you can compare features across Makes, Models and years on redbook.com.au

    • gezza90 on 24/05/2025 - 15:30

      Why auto?

      • Clickbait on 24/05/2025 - 15:49

        Just so he knows there is a choice button

  • Drakesy on 23/05/2025 - 16:15
    +4

    Suzuki Swift
    Toyota Corolla
    Mazda 3
    Kia Cerato.

    Manual resale value is pretty crapola these days with so few people having their license for them.
    Just stay away from anything european and you'll be right, oh and MG, even with their warranties i wouldn't recommend unless it was an EV.

    • MS Paint on 23/05/2025 - 17:20

      so few people having their license for them.

      so few people that know how to drive them

      FTFY

      In Victoria only P platers have the restriction. Fully licensed drivers aren't transmission restricted.

      • Drakesy on 23/05/2025 - 17:39

        so few people that know how to drive them

        because so few people sit their license for them, because there are now so few manual cars to learn on/ their parents only own an automatic

        Semantics

    • GordonR on 24/05/2025 - 12:36
      +1

      I was hoping the low manual resale values would be working in my favour as the buyer.

      Anyway I made my kids get their license on manual for maximum flexibility.

  • Rail Rider95 on 23/05/2025 - 16:41
    +3

    Suzuki Swift Sport is honestly an amazing car. (Coming from an i30 Sedan N)
    P Plate legal, plenty of power but not too much. Super comfy seats. The ZC33S (2018 model and up I think) might just be stretching youor budget, but comes with CarPlay and Android auto. It's a cheap little car to register and insure, sips fuel. Super safe.
    That said, there are probably plenty of other cars in budget that would suffice as well.

  • dontboopthesnoot on 24/05/2025 - 10:47

    Mazda 3 Hatchback

  • Zondor on 24/05/2025 - 13:32

    Hyandai IX35, it's a Tucson but without the Tucson name. Because of that it's not searched as much and therefore better price.

  • Pidapipo on 24/05/2025 - 13:32

    Asian cars are ideal for the first cars, especially for fuel economy if she mainly drives in the city.
    Toyota Corolla or Yaris
    Mazda 3 or 2
    Honda Civic or Jazz
    You can get an older model with low mileage and spend extra cash to upgrade the head unit for Apple car play and Android auto. Just make sure ANCAP rating is 5* and there're enough airbags.
    Reselling value for these cars are fantastic. My little soldier Corolla recently got totaled in an accident and insurance payout is more than what I paid for it 3 years ago.

  • Navgsc on 24/05/2025 - 15:04

    Mazda 3 Hatch - 2015-2018 Model - low mileage
    reliable, spacious and well-equipped

  • kbw on 24/05/2025 - 19:42
    +2

    There is genuinely no better option for her criteria than a Jazz. They're equal parts reliable, affordable and practical. When mine inevitably gets written off by some impatient Ranger driver I'll be importing the 4th generation one from Japan, I could never go back to not having magic seats.

    • jackary on 25/05/2025 - 10:03
      +1

      I work for an aged care org and a lot of the support workers on the road have Jazz’s. Never ceases to amaze me what they can get in the back of those things!

  • ReaperX22 on 24/05/2025 - 23:10
    +1

    Couple others have said it. But Honda Jazz 100%. Reliable, cheap to maintain and repair, fuel efficient, has the magic seats and it's surprisingly practical/roomy.

    Lol just noticed as I was typing OP has one! Older but still..

    Imo stick to something simple, basic engine, no turbos. Avoid DSG/DCT based transmissions. Some will say avoid cvt like the plague, but honestly they're generally fine. Owned a 2008 cvt lancer for a decade and never once had an issue. Sure it's droney but otherwise it was completely fine. Get the transmission oil service done a little sooner than manufacturer recommended and you'll be golden!

    (Lancer is another option, tonnes of aftermarket support and parts, easy to repair. But for a purely city car, get something closer to the 4m length mark. It'll make parking so much easier!)

    • mdell95 on 25/05/2025 - 07:05

      Cough Nissan CVT
      Avoid like the plague

      • ReaperX22 on 25/05/2025 - 08:24

        I'm aware the jatco cvts have a bad rep… But for whatever reason they appear to kinda just run better in lancers than in a Nissan. Maybe cooling is different? Who knows. I was part of a CJ owners group for that decade and it was extremely rare to see any cvt failures. I serviced mine in half the recommended time of manufacturer and never had a single issue.

        The SSTs on the other hand.. Without proper care and running in super sport mode.. Constant issues heh. (on the RAs and Evos)

  • Jackson on 25/05/2025 - 00:42
    +1

    Perfect for your use case is a Nissan Leaf. Make sure you have solar and you can go about 15 years without a major service and never pay for petrol again. Plenty around for 15k and perfect for a young person who's likely to not have as much disposable cash. Safe as houses and more reliable than a camry.

  • Lucky Lady on 25/05/2025 - 07:14
    +1

    Holden Astra would be perfect. Check out ex lease vehicles.

    • Randolph Duke on 26/05/2025 - 12:48

      The BK Astra is a great car (in particular the RS & RS-V models with the more powerful engine), but with Holden long gone and parts going to be harder to find, it needs to be factored in to any purchasing decisions.

      • Protractor on 26/05/2025 - 16:11

        I'm sure some OS parts would fit. Vauxhall something or other.Google would find a cost effective solution.

        • Randolph Duke on 26/05/2025 - 17:48

          It is a Vauxhall/Opel, but waiting for overnight spare parts from Japan Europe would get tiring.

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