Daily For $2.5k

[x-hobo]

Hey guys, looking for some advice on a daily for my brother:

- Budget around $2.5k

- Not too small (at least 4 doors, though you're welcome to try and sell me on a ute)

- Auto

- P plate legal (even though he's almost 30... )

- Should be decent on the highway (lives a couple of hours out of Melbourne)

- No mechanical knowledge on his part, so should be cheap to run/fix

- RWD/FWD not important

R31s had crossed my mind (of course)... any of the camrys, magnas etc worthwhile around that price range? Any suggestions would be appreciated, cheers.

[defari]

early 90's corolla, easy to work on, runs on the smell of an oily rag, cheap to fix, plenty of parts

[predator]

I have one of those as my daily, has broken lots of small annoying things, and presently off the road with a blown HG... but true, most parts are pretty easy and cheap to find.

[GTR-N1]

- No mechanical knowledge on his part

1.8l Corolla +1

1) fuel fill cap behind rear left door

2) conquest sticker helps one feel impregnable

3) boot release lever near right heel

4) low fuel light tells you to bring out oily rag

5) still runs when hub caps fall off

6) bonnet release lever is near.....aaah forget it. Better take it to the mechanic.

[Tomek]

Buy an X-cab.

Picked my AU ser ll up for $1200... Auto, rwd, gas, power windows, cruise etc.. On the road for under $1500

[mad082]

commodore or falcons will fill most of the market of cars under $2500. but otherwise n13 pulsar (go for a 1.8L)

[VB-]

falcodore on gas

[Mohsen]

hilux wagon..

park it under a nuke and itl still be good

[JiN_MaN]

early 90's corolla, easy to work on, runs on the smell of an oily rag, cheap to fix, plenty of parts

Agreed, Serviced mine for the first time in about 2 years just last week. They take everything you give them, cost nothing, run on nothing and hold their value fairly well.

Also, 4 doors with power steering and a GREAT A/C

Edited December 16, 2009 by JiN_MaN

[predator]

I think it's misleading to make out old cars need "nothing done to them".. It's the small things like alternators go, radiators go, bushes get worn, wheel bearings wear out, they get annoying oil leaks, etc, etc. All of these things can cost a bit to get fixed when you add them up over time. Yes, even on corollas. I've had plenty of daily drivers over the years, and they all need things done to them, and it's a pain in the arse having to fix this and that on the daily, when you have a car you'd much rather be spending time and money on.

If your mate is not mechanically minded and able to fix things himself, then he'd probably want something newer.

[x-hobo]

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys.

Re corollas (+ pulsar), I do get their reliability, but they're a little smaller than I was thinking (he has a fairly large dog to ferry around) and the auto paired with the 1.8l might be a bit of a chore - I suspect it's not ideal for long stretches on the highway either.

I checked out the hiluxes but they seem to be almost exclusively >$5,000 or at least approaching it.

Are AU falcons still a good buy these days or are they really starting to deteriorate? Also mid 90s magnas seem to be within reach (might be able to stretch a little to late 90s, not sure), anyone got experiences there?

Also just to clarify on the mechanical knowledge side of things, I think he might struggle to put air in the tyres without help...

[(OO)SKYLINE(OO)]

Toyota Corolla

KE70

AE71

AE86

[VB-]

^ thats alright if your a wannabe drift hero like me (i've nearly bought heaps of them at one point or another lol)

for a young non car guy though, they are just a grandpa's car, and they were built in the dark ages haha. i bet his brother wouldnt like em

[Silvia GTR]

Dirty one fo sho

[evil_weevil]

my u13 bluebird in sydney is up for sale

2.5k cash its yours

[Peter89]

a friend bought a VP commo on gas, $40 for 500kms and considering how dirt cheap parts are for commos, seems good. however, finding one is a different matter.

i would go r31, petrol wont be perfect but at least its a half decent car.

[Guest trikdoutvl]

i got a 2001 vx commodore he can have for 3g firm. body is a bit ugly but drives great

[iseekool]

2.5k is really a small budget - The price of the car may end up being close to 4 to 5 k over time after replacing this and that

If he can stretch the budget to 5k - he probably could get a better/newer car, especially with the distances he will cover.

V6 VR/VS commodore or newer...

- Parts are cheap

- Many mechanics know how to work on them - therefore more choice of workshop/competitive pricing.

- Most are auto and have A/C

- Run on regular unleaded

- Do not require expensive fluids/oils

- Safer than smaller cars of the same era

- I wouldn't bother having it on gas - LPG systems require more maintenance and add another layer of complexity... Your savings will be negated...

[jrh001]

Are AU falcons still a good buy these days or are they really starting to deteriorate?...

'Current market value' of an AU is around $3500 to $4000. There are some decent AU's on the market but you'd be looking at over $4000 for a good one.

iseekool's list above also applies to an AU.

JH (AU owner ... as well as a Skyline!)

Edited December 17, 2009 by jrh001

[GTR-N1]

my u13 bluebird in sydney is up for sale

2.5k cash its yours

Now we must market a'hem embellish this beautiful car properly Chris...

1) red/white/blue Nissan '80s livery (makes rust imperceptible)

2) signed autograph on bonnet by 'evil_weevil' (improves desirability to future owner)

3) suitable for any castle (where no more, does king Kerrigan say, "Tell him he's dreamin'!")

There we go..., 2.5k cash its yours