Cheap but decent auto for $4k?

Crazy Dazz · 08-02-2022, 03:33 PM

So friend is looking for a cheap car, and has decided she wants an SUV (an automatic.)
Yeah, I know, if buying a $5k wreck I wouldn't be buying an SUV, but what can I tell ya, she's an adult and makes her own choices.

A Terri might be a good option, were it not for petrol hitting $2

So far the most prevalent seems to be the Craptiva,
with a few Honda CR-Vs,
and a smattering of Hyundai Sant Fe/ Kia Sportages.

Anything to recommend one model over the others?
Anything in particular to look out for?
(Other than be cheap bombs over a decade old)

pcman · 08-02-2022, 03:57 PM

lpg territory dependent on the local lpg price

Falcon SXR8 · 08-02-2022, 04:29 PM

Honda crv is probably going to be the most reliable, don't touch a craptiva

Franco Cozzo · 08-02-2022, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon SXR8

Honda crv is probably going to be the most reliable, don't touch a craptiva

Agree - early 00s if possible.

Dr Terry · 09-02-2022, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon SXR8

Honda crv is probably going to be the most reliable, don't touch a craptiva

A $5K CRV will be a POS, don't buy if over 12 years old or more than 150,000 km.

Early Captivas got a bad rap, the Series II with the 6-sp auto & 4-cyl petrol are a much better car & are good buy, especially when others think they are bad, it devalues them.

Dr terry

Bossxr8 · 09-02-2022, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford71V8

Workmate bought a Craptiva.
He was showing a few of us and opened the rear tailgate.
I saw the panel flex by well over an inch as he pulled on the handle to lift it up.

People I know had one and the rear glass shattered when they closed the boot. They bought it brand new and from memory it was only a few weeks old when it happened.

Bossxr8 · 09-02-2022, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

A $5K CRV will be a POS, don't buy if over 12 years old or more than 150,000 km.

Early Captivas got a bad rap, the Series II with the 6-sp auto & 4-cyl petrol are a much better car & are good buy, especially when others think they are bad, it devalues them.

Dr terry

Doesn't matter what year, they are all complete junk. Especially the electrics. Later builds are a bit better, but that's the same as saying it's better to be stabbed than shot. The internet is littered with thousands of stories of absolute nightmare Captiva's, whether they are Chevrolet, Holden or whatever. Doesn't matter where they were built, they are just woeful.

The reputation is 100% deserved. Doesn't mean everyone every one built will be a nightmare, but the odds are pretty high.

chevypower · 09-02-2022, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Doesn't matter what year, they are all complete junk. Especially the electrics. Later builds are a bit better, but that's the same as saying it's better to be stabbed than shot. The internet is littered with thousands of stories of absolute nightmare Captiva's, whether they are Chevrolet, Holden or whatever. Doesn't matter where they were built, they are just woeful.

The reputation is 100% deserved. Doesn't mean everyone every one built will be a nightmare, but the odds are pretty high.

I never saw the appeal. To me they have always looked cheaply built.

**DFB FGXR6** · 09-02-2022, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Doesn't matter what year, they are all complete junk. Especially the electrics. Later builds are a bit better, but that's the same as saying it's better to be stabbed than shot. The internet is littered with thousands of stories of absolute nightmare Captiva's, whether they are Chevrolet, Holden or whatever. Doesn't matter where they were built, they are just woeful.

The reputation is 100% deserved. Doesn't mean everyone every one built will be a nightmare, but the odds are pretty high.

The family I work for had two Captiva's withing the extended family due to a connection with Holden. I assume they got them at a employee discount. Both were dogs, and both replaced with Subaru's.

It's that sort of story that played out a thousand times over. People bought imported Holden Captiva's, Astra's, Viva's, Epica's ect ect, had problems and moved on to another brand. Once the brand became import only, buyers stayed clear because of previous bad experience. GM thought they could just market the **** out of products like the did in the past and get results. Burnt customers don't tend to forget.

If someone has had a good experience from a Captiva, consider yourself an outlier because most were utter dogs.

Crazy Dazz · 09-02-2022, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Terry

A $5K CRV will be a POS, don't buy if over 12 years old or more than 150,000 km.
Early Captivas got a bad rap, the Series II with the 6-sp auto & 4-cyl petrol are a much better car & are good buy, especially when others think they are bad, it devalues them.

Both good points.
This is the fundamental issue.
Buying any automatic SUV, for $5k in Perth, is going to be a POS. There are going to be things wrong with it, it will be worn out, and things are going to need fixing.
I have tried to suggest that she look at something more basic for now, and go for more of a dream car later on when she has some more money behind her.

ute83 · 08-02-2022, 06:01 PM

I have just bought and sold two craptivas in the past 6 months. One petrol and one diesel. I must say I thought they were quite good.

Bossxr8 · 09-02-2022, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ute83

I have just bought and sold two craptivas in the past 6 months. One petrol and one diesel. I must say I thought they were quite good.

They are just absolute garbage vehicles. My fiancée's 2014 model is just falling apart, and it's only done 110,000 km and been babied all it's life. Electricals are shot, paint is like chalk on some plastic parts, and now the engine is running like a bag of **** and using more fuel than my modded V8.

Not to mention the stuff fixed under warranty has now all stopped working again after 2 years.

The reputation they have is so thoroughly deserved it's not funny.

But it's probably the only Captiva ever built that doesn't leak oil, so it's at least got something going for it

Until it does start to leak

Yellow_Festiva · 08-02-2022, 06:01 PM

Perhaps an older Ssangyong? They are unknown so a bit cheaper than similar aged stuff from the well known brands.

Probably not economical... but a lot of SUV for the money.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...12298673/?Cr=6

And for something more newer and economical:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...20287592/?Cr=8

danzvtil · 08-02-2022, 07:17 PM

Geez, she will be scraping the bottom of the barrel for $5k, with suv tax on top of covid tax. Up until recently i was looking for something suv ish for cheap, the closest i got was a hyundai tucson, the original shape.

Crazy Dazz · 08-02-2022, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Geez, she will be scraping the bottom of the barrel for $5k, with suv tax on top of covid tax.

It get's worse, she also has to pay the "Perf Premium"

smoo · 08-02-2022, 07:21 PM

The first ML Mercedes could be a look. With the 2.7 turbo diesel or 3.2 V6 petrol. Both solid engines.

**GasoLane** · 08-02-2022, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoo

The first ML Mercedes could be a look. With the 2.7 turbo diesel or 3.2 V6 petrol. Both solid engines.

For $5k?

smoo · 08-02-2022, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasoLane

For $5k?

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...-7401656/?Cr=1

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...12095888/?Cr=3

And many more ML320s.
Cheapest diesel at $7k, although I did see some around $5k when I was browsing a couple of weeks ago.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...18993566/?Cr=9

**GasoLane** · 08-02-2022, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoo

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...-7401656/?Cr=1

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...12095888/?Cr=3

And many more ML320s.
Cheapest diesel at $7k, although I did see some around $5k when I was browsing a couple of weeks ago.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...18993566/?Cr=9

Unfortunately none of those are in WA so more cost getting them there.

Not to mention that there's no such thing as a cheap Benz

smoo · 08-02-2022, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasoLane

Unfortunately none of those are in WA so more cost getting them there.

Not to mention that there's no such thing as a cheap Benz

Don't remind me, I've just forked out tonight $1200 for two rear airbags to go in a W211 wagon I picked up cheap. Aftermarket off rockauto, OEM remans are $1650 each.
But to be fair those MLs have stood the test of time, seem to have a lot of satisfied owners and a lot have big mileages on them.
The fact that someones budget for an SUV is a low $5k says they can't afford to run it, and anything in that price range is likely gonna need some R&M dollars thrown at it.

Vesper Martini · 09-02-2022, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoo

The first ML Mercedes could be a look. With the 2.7 turbo diesel or 3.2 V6 petrol. Both solid engines.

Probably the one of the last Id be looking for when the criteria is Cheap (& economical) SUV sub $5k

smoo · 09-02-2022, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vesper Martini

Probably the one of the last Id be looking for when the criteria is Cheap (& economical) SUV sub $5k

Based on what? You'll struggle to find a more frugal diesel engine of the time (my old E Class with the 6 cylinder version 150kw/470nm 6.2l/100km highway) and as I said there is enough evidence out there to say with confidence they are a solid SUV.
But at $5k I wouldn't be betting my money on any thing in that price range being a safe buy, especially some of them with CVT trans. If going the soft roader option just get a Mazda 6 or Mondeo wagon instead...

Vesper Martini · 10-02-2022, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoo

Based on what? You'll struggle to find a more frugal diesel engine of the time (my old E Class with the 6 cylinder version 150kw/470nm 6.2l/100km highway) and as I said there is enough evidence out there to say with confidence they are a solid SUV.
But at $5k I wouldn't be betting my money on any thing in that price range being a safe buy, especially some of them with CVT trans. If going the soft roader option just get a Mazda 6 or Mondeo wagon instead...

When looking for Cheap you need to take the Romance out, no looking at engine power or shiny badges, the Merc may have a great engine but your looking at 20 year old Euros with high kms, they will have suspension problems.

a light weight SUV like an Xtrail is a better option - its boring but its common, many of them will do over 300,000kms without any work done on them

but we agree $5K is always going to be an issue in this segment

hayseed · 08-02-2022, 08:54 PM

Subaru Forrester..

**Giant Cranium** · 08-02-2022, 10:29 PM

I’d be teller her you don’t want to help as you don’t want the blame when the hunk of junk dies on her

Franco Cozzo · 09-02-2022, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giant Cranium

I’d be teller her you don’t want to help as you don’t want the blame when the hunk of junk dies on her

The real MVP of this thread

jstanovic · 09-02-2022, 12:33 AM

Mazda Tribute/Ford Escape (have friends selling one, bit rough but prob cheap)

RAV4
Forrester
X-Trail
Vitara

At that price point, I reckon buying the best condition is more important than any brand issues.

Vesper Martini · 09-02-2022, 09:13 AM

For Solid and Reliable Id normally recommend an X-trail.

but I see Covid prices have priced the cheapest of them above the $5K budget.

Sorry They really need to extend the budget somehow. that's just how it is at the moment.

marty351 · 09-02-2022, 10:18 AM

Could a Daihatsu Terios wedge its way into the lineup?

roKWiz · 09-02-2022, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marty351

Could a Daihatsu Terios wedge its way into the lineup?

marty, just make sure it doesn't come from a farm.