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car hunt challenge: $5k

PranK

By PranK,
in General Automotive Discussion

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PranK Grand Master

PranK

Posted
Posted

My neice is getting her P's soon and needs a car. She has a budget of $5k...

I'm going to try and work with her to get more budget but if we stick to amounts around this and considering how my sister drives 😬I'm going to want something safe. Very very safe

The best I have so far is a bk Mazda 3. Preferably the maxx (two x's for coolness) or the sp23. The latter having lots of airbags, abs and traction control. For this price though they all have been to the moon a few times.

Maybe an AWD subie? An Impreza RS has a bunch of safety stuff but I'd be worried about maintenance costs and general reliability.

In Nissan's corner there is the woefully under equipped Tiida or a Micra which looks good but is tiny. Can get a auto SSS N15 Pulsar! But it has no safety features at all.

What do you think is the best option here?

 

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Murray_Calavera Mentor

Murray_Calavera

Posted
Posted

When it comes to crash safety, I think the most important factor is having the bigger car in the collision. 

If a 100 series Landcruiser with a bull bar and a late model Mitsubishi Mirage were involved in a head on collision, I would much rather be behind the wheel of the Landcruiser, despite the Mirage being 20 years more modern with a higher safety rating. 

Having said that, my vote would be for a mid 2000's Camry/Falcon/Commodore/etc. It's the best combo of large vehicle/modern vehicle that I can come up with. 

  • Like 1
trel Mentor

trel

Posted
Posted

Mazda 3 is my vote, we've had ours 6 years without any trouble, regular servicing and she goes and goes and goes.

They're bulletproof. If you do look for a BK and it's automatic, the only thing that could fail with them is the TCM, not an expensive fix but something to be mindful of. Very safe car too. 

 

  • Like 1
soviet_merlin Experienced

soviet_merlin

Posted
Posted

Maybe one thing to consider is that you have to be quick. At least on carsales a good deal in that price range might be sold literally within the hour. The ones that are still listed are the ones that don't sell because they are priced too high for what they are.

It needs notifications enabled in the app and funds ready and basically be willing to put on a deposit straight away with no questions asked.

I found it depressing when I was looking a few months ago. Also because I imagine that a lot of them get sold to people who flip them. Because what normal person buys a car in that way?!

Good luck! :)

  • Like 1
funkymonkey Grand Master

funkymonkey

Posted
Posted

Lowball this car with cash money instant decision

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2006-volkswagen-golf-gti-v-auto-my07/SSE-AD-14191028

high k’s but that’s the trade off

Or this:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2007-audi-a3-s-line-auto-quattro/SSE-AD-14142541
 

Or this:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2010-bmw-1-series-125i-e82-auto-my10/SSE-AD-14191693

 

or buy this:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/385344262708

  • Like 1
PranK Grand Master

PranK

Posted
  • Author
Posted
10 hours ago, funkymonkey said:

Lowball this car with cash money instant decision

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2006-volkswagen-golf-gti-v-auto-my07/SSE-AD-14191028

high k’s but that’s the trade off

Or this:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2007-audi-a3-s-line-auto-quattro/SSE-AD-14142541
 

Or this:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2010-bmw-1-series-125i-e82-auto-my10/SSE-AD-14191693

 

or buy this:

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/385344262708

100% no on any cheap, used euro. :D

Otherwise, I'll be the one trying to maintain it for her ...

BK Grand Master

BK

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, PranK said:

Yeah I was thinking about just getting something big. Not sure how keen she'll be on that.

Territory is not big big like a Cruiser and actually feels a lot smaller and nimble behind the wheel than you think. Lots of safety gear for the time - remember they were Wheels coty when they came out.

My missus drives our AWD one around like its our Rex.

The Bogan Grand Master

The Bogan

Posted
Posted

If size matters for a first car, Toyota Camry, boring, but excellent

I bought my daughter a Yaris because she wanted a little car that was cheap to run, she has not had 1 issue

Well.....she did hit a kangaroo doing 80kph, she was find, and the car cost $1500 to fix

Luck, yes, but still

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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niZmO_Man Grand Master

niZmO_Man

Posted
Posted

Yuck VAG.

I recently went through this. Hatches/small cars were heavily inflated. I found Accord Euro to be a good deal. CL9s easily go for less than $10k, I bought a base CU2 for $11k last year (130k km, serviced at Hani's or whatever that Honda garage near Cabra is called). My cousin picked up a half decent CL9 for $7k.

Auto or manual, (if looked after) reliable, can get the luxury with sunroof and HID headlights.

 

  

On 16/01/2023 at 6:14 AM, Duncan said:

Used to be you could get a R32 GTST for that budget, not so much any more

I bought my black GTS-t Type M for $6k back in the day, was immaculate and stock. R.I.P.

funkymonkey Grand Master

funkymonkey

Posted
Posted
5 hours ago, PranK said:

100% no on any cheap, used euro. :D

Otherwise, I'll be the one trying to maintain it for her ...

Don’t pretend like you don’t have the spare parts!

most safety and comfort features any new driver should have are standard kit on 2010 vintage euro at that price point, but most asian cars you’d struggle

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