Buying a first car

[oh my florin]

Hey everyone

Well I am looking for a first car and just wanted to ask people for some opinions, advice etc.

In typical collector style I am looking for something attractive and exciting for under 10k ideally automatic.

Some models that I am looking at are:
Toyota Celica 2000 or later
Nissan 300zx 1990 or later (non twin turbo due to license restrictions)
Mitsubishi FTO 1990 or later

Some models I have excluded are:
Toyota Supra as they are nearly all thrashed
Mazda RX 8 as Two cylinder rotary engines apparently require engine rebuilds after 100km+ and are generally very expensive and difficult to repair
Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore (far too big for me)
Nissan Skyline nearly all modded in some way or another therefore hard/expensive to insure

Could anyone please give me some advice/opinions or models that I may have missed?

Also in terms of an appropriate amount of kms on a car I have seen cars between 120000-170000 kms which seem reasonable. Any advice on the relevance of kms? Like how much would you accept before it gets to much? 200000 + is too much for me

Thanks everyone for your help

P.s does anyone think PCGS will be able to provide their restoration service for $25? :angel:

[stevo1962]

Anything over 120000 km is starting to be due for timing belt replacement and
probably will also need other parts replaced so ideally finding something with
less km on the clock would be better

[serial]

How many km are you intending to do in a week?
How good are you with home mechanics?
Do you want a faster than normal car or a good looking car?
What is your weekly maintenance budget like?
Will you regularly have passengers?
Manuel or auto?
What sort of roads will you be driving on?
Need to answer these questions before making a decision

[Fulvio]

A LOT depends on how you intend using a vehicle, and how deep your pockets are.

I went from a Nissan Vanette to a brand-new Hyundai Getz because a) the van needed expensive repairs, b) the Getz was cheap to buy and to run, and c) after driving down to Bairnsdale to pick up my van with 4 people in one, none of us small, I realised its a bit of a TARDIS... bigger on the inside. I've often had 5 people in it, and there's not much you can't carry. You could even sleep in it in a pinch. It was $12k-ish new in 2009, and you'd get one now for maybe $5k-ish. Go for a later model, and it will still have some of the 5-year warranty left.

You probably wouldn't want to cross the Simpson desert in one, but the occasional rough surface is fine, and they're zippy around town, without being sluggish on the open road.

[Unicorn]

[ausproofs]

Hey OMF (like the shorter name ? )

You have a nice lot of cars listed there... One of the main things (I mean main things) to consider are,

1. Safety (ANCAP)
2. Safety (ANCAP)
3. Safety (ANCAP).

You get the idea ? specially when you are a new driver (Red P or Green P), you are more likely to have a ding or two (It goes down to experience). Please buy a car that is at least 4 stars. Some of the older cars are not that highly rated in safety.

https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings?show_all=1&sort_by=published_at&sort_direction=desc

Here are some of the choices you have ....(sorry link doesnt work, please go to car sales and filter with your criteria, include ANCAP 4 starts or higher... wallah ... you have the results)



I have seen so many accidents and young people suffer or at time worse.

You can pick up a nice Renault or a safe Toyota/Nissan for tad over $10K if you can afford it.

Sorry, I am a safety freak .... It is always better to be safe than sorry.

[Robster]

Toyota Corolla (Levin) is the sportier version of a very popular vehicle.

[oh my florin]

How many km are you intending to do in a week?
How good are you with home mechanics?
Do you want a faster than normal car or a good looking car?
What is your weekly maintenance budget like?
Will you regularly have passengers?
Manuel or auto?
What sort of roads will you be driving on?
Need to answer these questions before making a decision

Not many kms maybe 100 ks a week
Pretty good with mechanics learnt how to service a car from my dad
Maintenance wise I am good with around $75 a week
Passengers wise only really me or a plus one mate or girlfriend
Automatic generally preferable
Roads wise it would be suburban sydney and after a while South on the highway to uow

I am not really looking for a performance car (my parents make fun of me because I drive too slow lol) but I want something where you can not only go from a to b but enjoy the feeling of driving if you know what I mean.

[Triggersmob]

OMF,

I sell car parts, so I can tell you that most modern engines are pretty robust. Selling engine parts is almost a lost trade.
Stick to a common model and parts will never be a problem. Toyota Corolla is always a good choice. I drive a Mitsibushi
Colt VRX 2010 model. Stylish looks, goes well for a 1.5, especially in sports mode. I average 16km per litre. It has a
CVT trans, so never needs servicing and the newer model with 4A91 engine is chain drive, so no timing belt to worry about.
Happy hunting and what ever you buy, remember if you need any parts give me yell.

[Fulvio]

I sell car parts

Do ya now? A word of [off-topic] advice then, if y'please... I bought a new $450 (auto) flywheel/ring-gear for the Vanette, intending to get it back on the road since you really can't get a queen-size bed in a Getz (and motels are prohibitively expensive when travelling). Six years later, for a variety of reasons, its still in the box as the van slowly erodes away. What would you recommend to try and recover my 'investment'? I kinda doubt Nissan would take it back after this much time.

[Triggersmob]

I sell car parts

Do ya now? A word of [off-topic] advice then, if y'please... I bought a new $450 (auto) flywheel/ring-gear for the Vanette, intending to get it back on the road since you really can't get a queen-size bed in a Getz (and motels are prohibitively expensive when travelling). Six years later, for a variety of reasons, its still in the box as the van slowly erodes away. What would you recommend to try and recover my 'investment'? I kinda doubt Nissan would take it back after this much time.

Unfortunately the Vanette is not that common, so finding a buyer could be difficult. I guess E-bay would be your best option to reach a wide market.

[oh my florin]

Toyota Corolla (Levin) is the sportier version of a very popular vehicle.

Thanks everyone. Thanks for the suggestion robster though the only sedans I could find are sportivo levin? Pretty much a look a like of the Nissan Skyline but there aren't a lot of this type around (only 2 on car sales)

Thanks tigersmob for the offer

Found a car which is pretty good think 7000-7500 would be good for it
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Toyota-Celica-2001/SSE-AD-3535404/?Cr=10

[Basil]

Hey OMF (like the shorter name ? )

You have a nice lot of cars listed there... One of the main things (I mean main things) to consider are,

1. Safety (ANCAP)
2. Safety (ANCAP)
3. Safety (ANCAP).


Good advice,drivers airbag is a must these days,another factor is Insurance costs,just finished looking for a car for a Niece so she can attend Uni. and some of the cars previously mentioned here have Policy costs in the Thousands for under 25 drivers.

[oh my florin]

Hey OMF (like the shorter name ? )

You have a nice lot of cars listed there... One of the main things (I mean main things) to consider are,

1. Safety (ANCAP)
2. Safety (ANCAP)
3. Safety (ANCAP).

You get the idea ? specially when you are a new driver (Red P or Green P), you are more likely to have a ding or two (It goes down to experience). Please buy a car that is at least 4 stars. Some of the older cars are not that highly rated in safety.

https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings?show_all=1&sort_by=published_at&sort_direction=desc

Here are some of the choices you have ....(sorry link doesnt work, please go to car sales and filter with your criteria, include ANCAP 4 starts or higher... wallah ... you have the results)



I have seen so many accidents and young people suffer or at time worse.

You can pick up a nice Renault or a safe Toyota/Nissan for tad over $10K if you can afford it.

Sorry, I am a safety freak .... It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Hey OMF (like the shorter name ? )

You have a nice lot of cars listed there... One of the main things (I mean main things) to consider are,

1. Safety (ANCAP)
2. Safety (ANCAP)
3. Safety (ANCAP).


Good advice,drivers airbag is a must these days,another factor is Insurance costs,just finished looking for a car for a Niece so she can attend Uni. and some of the cars previously mentioned here have Policy costs in the Thousands for under 25 drivers.

Thanks Ausproof and Basil for the concern.

Yep I know safety on the road these days isn't just about how you drive but how everyone else drives as such I have generally tried to limit the cars to late 90s to 2000s models (now excluded the Nissan 300zx due to lack of safety features and earlier on I was particular to 70s designed cars) tho they have also been excluded now.) Airbags and EBD are necessary and ABS would be nice however in the city I don't think there would be much need considering roads and weather generally.

In terms of insurance it really is ridiculous (some idiots under 25 really make it hard for everyone else) however for the Toyota Celica I can get comprehensive insurance for 800-890 and may be able to try the QBE insurance box to get an even further reduced premium (compatabile with 2000 and later models) and may be able to get a further discount as my dad does Construction Insurance with QBE (Underwriting?)

[Fordprefect]

OMF

For a Sedan alternative, that ticks all the Safety Boxes and is a very sporty drive when you wish it to be :-
Honda Accord Euro Luxury, to stay within your $ range
a Gen7 2005-2007. (The Luxury Model includes All the goodies, the Standard Model does not.)
Exclude the 2003=2004 models.

The car has a Major Service at 100K which it Must have done,
it's an expensive service but critical.

From Carsales http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Honda-Accord-Euro-2005/SSE-AD-3411403/?Cr=30

The vehicle in the link is wearing Gen8 wheels.