Forum Thermomix
Questions Doubts and Requests => Questions? Technical Issues? The Survival Guide => Topic started by: dede on November 30, 2013, 07:54:00 pm
-
I know this is nothing to do with Thermomix, but I'm after other peoples input on what cars are good and what cars I should avoid.
I'm downsizing from a people mover to a car :o
After having 7 seaters for quiet a few years now I'm finally going to downsize to a 5 seater.
I'm looking for something that's cheap to run but not going to fall apart on me in a few years time.
I was looking at possibly a diesel car or a cheapie brand new car, but size wise I'm not sure the little cheap cars would quiet be big enough.
I like the look of the Holden Cruze diesel cars, but from what I have read their reviews can be a bit mixes.
Am I better getting a brand new cheap little car with a warranty? Or a second hand low klm diesel car with no warranty?
I'm confused and just thought I would ask other people opinion.
-
Probably no help Dede but I would never go for brand new car as they depreciate in value so much the minute you drive out the door and you can still get a lemon. Have you thought of a demonstrator model? Sometimes you can get them at a good deal and they normally haven't been driven far, otherwise I would go for a good second hand car that is maybe only 12 - 24 months old.
-
Yeh I think your right Wonder, they certainly loose value very quickly.
I think my biggest problem is that there are so many cars to choose from, much different to looking for a people mover as there are only a few to choose from.
-
I've driven the new style Ford Fiesta for the last five years (in Feb) and been very very happy with it. We bought three at the same time for work and decided to keep my one for when our son (FINALLY!!!) gets his license. Touch wood, we have had no problems with any of the three...the other two have now been traded for utes (more practical from a tax point of view for salespeople) but mechanically the fiesta's have been spot on. I'm seriously looking at a focus turbo for my next car (although the hyundai veloster and toyota 86 are tempting...I finally don't have to do practical)
-
I bought a new kia rio and I love it. I have a toyota yaris and hyundai i20 at work and the kia rio is much better IMHO. It has 5 years warranty and capped price servicing and that is mainly why I bought a new car :)
-
Dede with 7 in the family you can eliminate a lot of models. Do you need to tow the caravan when finished? That will narrow it down. Diesel or petrol. More gone. Seating for 7 ? Now you have narrowed the possibilities. Storage space??? More is less so now you are down to just a few models that cover it all. Oops? Under $50,000. more gone. Under $40,000? Not many left now. Under $30,000 just a couple that meet your needs and forget about anything under $20,000 that seats7 no matter how small they are!!
So there you have it . Job done. Now what colour Madame?
Gert
-
It sounds like you only want a small car for yourself and perhaps a couple of the kids at a time Mandi. I just love my 3 year old Toyota Corolla which was our first ever brand new car and hopefully it will see me out with the limited mileage I do. I remember our motor mechanic recommending either the Corolla or the Hyundai i30 as the best small cars at the time. Lots to choose from, have fun making the decision although it can be a bit of a headache.
-
Oh dear yes Judy Dede may want a small car.
Well.... seating how many? Do you need storage space ? 4 WD or 2? Will the kids be driving it? Think insurance? Under $30,000? Under $25,00. Under $20,000. Are we getting near?
Got a trade?
Gert
-
I agree with others. I have slowly come to the conclusion that buying a new car is a waste of money. The last two cars were both second hand. One from a 84 year old friend of ours who did not want two cars and another from a older person who could no longer drive (from carsales.com.au) - if you are a little bit flexible in terms of brand of car you will find some real bargains. When we tried to sell our car online we had quite a few inter state enquiries - so don't think you have to buy locally.
-
Dede, we have never owned a new car, only demo models. These are worth looking at as the often have extras that are expensive to buy, included in the price.
-
Be very careful if selling or buying cars on line especially interstate. There are a lot of scammers out there. My DDIL nearly got caught.
Gert
-
I have aVW Golf, bought it as an ex demo car love it. My previous car was a VW Golf too.
-
Thanks everyone for you advise so far.
Gert I only want a 5 seater, but saying that I would like something big enough to seat 3 in the back without being to squished.
I want something that's cheap to run as with work I do a lot of traveling. And I'm happy to buy secondhand maybe something that is 3 years old or younger.
I'm selling my car privately because I know the car yards will offer me almost nothing for it.
White is off the list because my car now is white and I would like a change in color lol. :)
My budget is $15000.
I like the i30 diesel but there are not a lot of them about. And I'm not sure on the space in the back.
The back of my car with all the seats set up is not very big anyway and I have coped with fitting fortnightly groceries in it ok. And most hatches and sedans boot space are pretty good compared to the space I have anyway.
So many choices. But I'm scared of buying a lemon as my car has been very reliable in the six years i have owned it.
-
This is the car on the top of my list so far
It's a 2010 Holden Cruze diesel. Very nice looking car, but I'm worried about some reviews I have seen so I'm still looking.
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/01/y8azaqe6.jpg)
-
Dede we differ from everyone in the face we always buy new. Our thoughts are not to buy anyone else's problems. However a demo car is different to that and I am sure would be good. We have had diesel cars for years.
A friend has the i30 diesel and he and his parents love it, but would it be big enough.
Are you a member of the motoring club in Tassy? (RAC here and NRMA in Vic). They could check it over for you.
Good luck and don't forget to post a photo of it.
-
We are going through much the same at the moment. We bought a tarago when we had the 3 dfc's and now want to sell 2 cars to by one. We are thinking a Camry - very economical, not yet decided though. My 2 DD's drive I30's good safety wise. Always hard to choose,no one wants a lemon.
-
Dede, I have a Mazda 3 hatchback. Love it! Suited us well when the boys were little. It's starting to get a little cramped now that there are growing up. Will have to get another one eventually.
Good luck with your shopping. Fun :)
-
I going to test drive some cars this week to get an idea on what's going to suit. That should help if I can check them out for size and comfort.
My sister has a Mazda 3 diesel and my mum has a Holden Astra diesel, they both love them :)
-
I don't want to step in where I shouldn't but my husband and I run a mechanical workshop so I do get to see it from the other side of the coin.
If you are looking for trouble free motoring, avoid anything European, ( that includes the Cruze ) look at, Subaru and Toyota and the Hyundai ( the i30 is a great car ) the Subaru and Hyundai both have great diesels the Subaru Forester Diesel may be a good size car for you coming from a mini van. Our workshop does specialize in Subaru and Volkswagen's ( and we work on other stuff too ) unfortunately I can't really recommend late model VW's for reliability, they are lovely to drive ( and cheap ) but are plagued with electrical problems.
The new Hyundai's have come along was and the ones that we work on so far have been totally trouble free. Subaru's have always been trouble free.
Hope this helps
Dee
PS. Sorry if I have trod on toes...I can only give my opinion on what I see on a daily basis at work
-
Good feedback, Deeau. Ta
-
We need this sort of honesty Deeau and where better to get it from than a mechanic's point of view. This is why we listened to our personal mechanic.
-
Thank you deeau. This info is very helpful.
Gert
-
Deeau, you have just echoed what my mechanic recommended, with the exception of Honda. DH has a Honda and I have a Toyota corolla, and neither of us have had any mechanical problems with them, and have been very happy with them for a number of years.
Dede, I wish you all the best in finding a car that suits your needs.
-
Deeau I appreciate the advise. My poor brain is hurting thinking about it, I'm so confused lol.
I had a look at several cars today but nothing stood out. Going to have another look tomorrow with a friend and see if anything might suit. I though buying a new car was supposed to be exciting not stressful :( and I don't trust car salesmen (well a lot of them anyway)
Will keep you all posted :)
-
DD had many years of trouble free motoring with a Corolla.
-
Yeh can't beat the good old corolla :)
I have had pretty good run with cars except for a commodore wagon we once owned that was a complete lemon. Had nothing but issues with it. We found out later from a local police man that it had something like 14 owners. Must have been a lemon straight off the factory floor.
-
Seen the strangest thing yesterday while at car lovers washing my car.
There was a guy washing his car (not strange you think) well it is when he's washing the inside of his car with a high pressure hose :o
Why would anyone do that?
Maybe someone threw up inside the car Mandi and this was the only thing he could think of to get rid of the smell :-))
-
Our mechanic also warned us to steer clear of the European cars, and when we bought our 2007 subaru outback 2years ago he was most impressed. the Subaru's are also very economical, we tow a Cavalier camper trailer and whilst it would be wonderful to have all the grunt of the bigger klugers etc (that pass us on the highway towing massive caravans) I baulked at the amount of petrol they would use on the school and supermarket run in town. the only thing might be the size of the back seat is a little tight for 3 adults, we only have 1 preteen so no problem. A number of friends have the forrester ranging from early 2000 models to late 2010 all very happy. They tend to hold their value well too. - all in to the mix. I wish you well, it can be a mine field, we had to choose quite quickly and were fortunate with our Outback being on price and available at the time.
-
I think I found my new car today a 2010 Ford Fiesta turbo diesel. As soon as I got in it I felt comfortable and safe, and after a test drive I was convinced this was the car. The asking price was $15990, I got the car salesman down to $15500 and I also get either a $500 fuel voucher, $500 Coles Myer gift card of a $500 BBQ. Think I will go with the Coles Myer card. :)
The fuel consumption is an average of 4.4L per 100klm which is the best I have seen. The reviews are really good too. (My Kia carnival has an average of 12.1L per 100klm)
Overall I'm happy with my hopefully soon to be new car.
I took a friend with me, and after looking at several other cars, taking a couple for test drive and being refused a test drive on a Hyundai i20 unless I was going to purchase the car today (very rude car salesman) we both agreed that the Ford Fiesta was just perfect, and being Turbo Diesel it will suit me perfectly. :)
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/03/edupe4yn.jpg)
-
Well done Dede. Good choice. Nice Chrissy present.
Gert
-
Great looking car Dede.Fiesta's are very popular here in the UK.
-
That didn't take too long to decide Mandi, nice one.
-
Luckily I don't have to keep looking now. I have been researching for a little while now but only just started actually physically looking for the last few days. I think I was just at the right place at the right time as the fiesta only just come in the day before. :)
-
That is great dede. The Hyundai dealer sounded rude and deserves to miss out on a sale.
-
Woohoooo! Very nice Dede :)
-
Congratulations Dede. What a great Christmas present, I'm sure you will love it.
-
Congratulations Dede. A nice Christmas present for you.
-
Paid a deposit today, now just have to wait for the rest of the money to come through and it's all mine :)
I'm looking forward to it, but I'm not wrapping it and putting under the Christmas tree lol :)
Oh and the car even has Bluetooth and voice control :o, that could be fun
-
My DH loves the Bluetooth in his car. Saves him getting all uptight if someone phones while he is driving.
-
Woohoo just sold my car today. Only took me less than a week to advertise it. Very happy with that. The old car gets picked up Thursday so hopefully I can get the new car around then too otherwise I will be driving DHs Land cruiser to work everyday :)
-
Things are going well for you Mandi, that's great news.
-
Well done Mandi, sounds perfect.