Good value second hand cars - COVID times, Falcon/Commodore tax

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

You guys want to see what good value looks like?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-sea...price-from=500

Sounds like a 15000 GBP ticket to front row seats for jumping off the Westgate Bridge when you're up for a major service

[T3rminator]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Sounds like a 15000 GBP ticket to front row seats for jumping off the Westgate Bridge when you're up for a major service

Nah.. Nothing a bit of youtubing won't fix

[Franco Cozzo]

Here's one - what about second hand 4x4s that aren't Toyota or Nissan?

Land Cruiser and Patrol have gone absolutely crazy, even the unpopular unleaded variations that used to sell for sub $10K are now well over $20K, and diesel, forget about it.

What other out the box options are now 'in the box' because of the prices of the usual suspects?

[oldel]

Like I mentioned in the other thread, seriously thinking about landrovers.
But that's only because of where I work dealing in 4x4 gear. My boss has a ranger but got insulted because it wasn't the new model (they're ordering a new dual cab landcruiser but of course a 1 year waiting list at least)

I think if they got classic old 4x4 no one can pull you up on the fact it's 3 years old if it's a classic 30-40 year old and that's the point.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by oldel

Like I mentioned in the other thread, seriously thinking about landrovers.
But that's only because of where I work dealing in 4x4 gear. My boss has a ranger but got insulted because it wasn't the new model (they're ordering a new dual cab landcruiser but of course a 1 year waiting list at least)

I think if they got classic old 4x4 no one can pull you up on the fact it's 3 years old if it's a classic 30-40 year old and that's the point.

Got two mates with Land Rovers, they are great when they are going, I reckon they spend about 66.6% of their time at the mechanics. One mate calculated its cost him $24500 all up in 10 years for maintenance

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Got two mates with Land Rovers, they are great when they are going, I reckon they spend about 66.6% of their time at the mechanics. One mate calculated its cost him $24500 all up in 10 years for maintenance

My mum had an 01 mercedes m class from new. Traded it in in 2017 for $3500. The 18 months before she traded it it cost her $21,000 in repairs. No accident damage, just faulty electronic modules and such that need proprietary software to program to the car.
The car had 200k on it, but youd expect a lot better from a luxury car manufacturer.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

My mum had an 01 mercedes m class from new. Traded it in in 2017 for $3500. The 18 months before she traded it it cost her $21,000 in repairs. No accident damage, just faulty electronic modules and such that need proprietary software to program to the car.
The car had 200k on it, but youd expect a lot better from a luxury car manufacturer.

I'm betting that she took it to a dealer to sort out.

A lot of independent mechanics that work on Euro's have the equivalent to Benz's STAR diagnostic system.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by GasoLane

I'm betting that she took it to a dealer to sort out.

A lot of independent mechanics that work on Euro's have the equivalent to Benz's STAR diagnostic system.

They'd probably have the Mercedes STAR diagnostic system if Mercedes didn't want circa $15,000-$20,000 per YEAR for it.

We had one in the company where I did my apprenticeship, we'd send it between all the branches nationally via couriers.

I'm surprised it didn't get damaged/lost, might as well as go to Crown Casino and chuck $20,000 on 0/00 split on the roulette table if you're trusting Australia Post with that kind of spondoolies

The genuine Ford IDS was a bit cheaper, from memory was circa $3800 USD for the scanner equipment itself and then only $660 USD per year, but it also did Ford, Mazda, Jaguar et al. Not sure if it still does all that now given they're not part of the group anymore.

But OEM diagnostics are so much better than all the aftermarket stuff, especially when you're talking an electronics orphan like the Falcon.

Noticed even Pajeros are now demanding circa $20K for 10+ year old unleaded V6 variations, they used to be good value, I guess compared to an equivalent Land Cruiser or Patrol they still would be but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[oldel]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Got two mates with Land Rovers, they are great when they are going, I reckon they spend about 66.6% of their time at the mechanics. One mate calculated its cost him $24500 all up in 10 years for maintenance

There's two types of euro owners. Those with newer ones that like throwing away money (new or near new, and buying for the badge and can't DIY), or those that want a DIY classic that isn't stupid amounts of aussie tax.

Yeah, I'm not interested in paying dumb money for a falcon, kingswood, commo or toyota, patrol etc; neither would I take a modern euro that's semi broken or cheap.
But older ones were fine and because of opinions like yours, cheap in comparison.

E:
my 2005 BA ute cost me $15500 (in 2010) and I've had to rebuild trans ($4k), it has electrical gremlins, needs a respray, did headliner some rubber, gaskets brakes.
My 1990 e34 cost me $2400 (in 2017), I did headliner and some rubber, hoses, gaskets, susp and brakes, (about $4k). No electrical gremlins, can still buy most parts, doesn't need a respray! Probably worth more than the falcon these days as well.

Don't mean to bite your head off., but the conversation ended up talking about a 2001 merc. While there's some iconic mercs around the owners aren't really in the diy category and neither were the landrovers you mentioned.
I first liked maxdas, then fords, then bmws, going back into the hey days where they'd be running around bathurst (falcons, rx3s, bmws etc)

[Ben73]

I have wanted a Toyota Century lately.
Sure they don’t have the same sleek and prestigious looks as some luxury euros do, but they do have a sort of uniqueness cool about them.
Plus is probably the best way to buy a V12 without destroying your bank account.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Ben73

I have wanted a Toyota Century lately.
Sure they don’t have the same sleek and prestigious looks as some luxury euros do, but they do have a sort of uniqueness cool about them.
Plus is probably the best way to buy a V12 without destroying your bank account.

I'm very hesitant because of all the vacuum lines under the bonnet

But otherwise they look mint I reckon, its like this modern take on oldskool.

[Swordie]

I'd go for nice clean original six for VE and BA-G and BA-F Fairlaine.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by oldel

There's two types of euro owners. Those with newer ones that like throwing away money (new or near new, and buying for the badge and can't DIY), or those that want a DIY classic that isn't stupid amounts of aussie tax.

Yeah, I'm not interested in paying dumb money for a falcon, kingswood, commo or toyota, patrol etc; neither would I take a modern euro that's semi broken or cheap.
But older ones were fine and because of opinions like yours, cheap in comparison.

E:
my 2005 BA ute cost me $15500 (in 2010) and I've had to rebuild trans ($4k), it has electrical gremlins, needs a respray, did headliner some rubber, gaskets brakes.
My 1990 e34 cost me $2400 (in 2017), I did headliner and some rubber, hoses, gaskets, susp and brakes, (about $4k). No electrical gremlins, can still buy most parts, doesn't need a respray! Probably worth more than the falcon these days as well.

Don't mean to bite your head off., but the conversation ended up talking about a 2001 merc. While there's some iconic mercs around the owners aren't really in the diy category and neither were the landrovers you mentioned.
I first liked maxdas, then fords, then bmws, going back into the hey days where they'd be running around bathurst (falcons, rx3s, bmws etc)

Didn't bite my head off mate, all good.

I just bought a 2009 335i convertable for $7500, which is good value, but I will flip it, because even being a little DIY, if anything electrical goes wrong, it'll be $$$.

My falcons have cost me practically nothing and i've only had good experiences. I'm blessed that I have mates that know them back to front and help me. I currently own 6 falcons and a territory, upkeep is bugger all. For my manual V8 Au's, the prices have sky rocketed and mine are worth a pretty penny now. horses for courses i guess. No way I would pay what mine would fetch now.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Didn't bite my head off mate, all good.

I just bought a 2009 335i convertable for $7500, which is good value, but I will flip it, because even being a little DIY, if WHEN anything electrical goes wrong, it'll be $$$.

My falcons have cost me practically nothing and i've only had good experiences. I'm blessed that I have mates that know them back to front and help me. I currently own 6 falcons and a territory, upkeep is bugger all. For my manual V8 Au's, the prices have sky rocketed and mine are worth a pretty penny now. horses for courses i guess. No way I would pay what mine would fetch now.

Fixed, there's a reason that sort of Euro stuff depreciates so quickly

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by oldel

Like I mentioned in the other thread, seriously thinking about landrovers.
But that's only because of where I work dealing in 4x4 gear. My boss has a ranger but got insulted because it wasn't the new model (they're ordering a new dual cab landcruiser but of course a 1 year waiting list at least)

I think if they got classic old 4x4 no one can pull you up on the fact it's 3 years old if it's a classic 30-40 year old and that's the point.

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Here's one - what about second hand 4x4s that aren't Toyota or Nissan?

Land Cruiser and Patrol have gone absolutely crazy, even the unpopular unleaded variations that used to sell for sub $10K are now well over $20K, and diesel, forget about it.

What other out the box options are now 'in the box' because of the prices of the usual suspects?

Yep, my young fellow did just this during 2020-1 and Toyaniski prices going mental was a contributor, so he got a LR with all the time to go 4wding. The early Disco has appreciated in price a little since, too. He didn't get negged for it at all, the other offroad guys loved the V8 rumble and roar. Maintenance wise, he got a good one, that had been maintained well. Little electrical stuff has occurred, like indicators needing replacement switch unit, but it's a 28 year old car! Overall, very reliable so far. Daily driver and work beast.

[Sprintey]

And for me a common garden variety VF or SZ wagon has some appeal, just the 6, maybe even the base model with cloth trim (leathers age so poorly). They've probably gone up the 30% the used car market went up, but are about to go back down now we've been hit with the beginnings of interest rate rises on top of fuel going up. That said, I don't consider them too expensive compared to some of the other daylight robbery in pricing of most things new, and I know the drivetrain (on Ford at least) will last for ever.

[danzvtil]

I’ve noticed in the last week online that secondhand car prices seem quite reasonable again, even vans, there’s some nice G10s or Hiaces for $25k, 6 months ago all of these were $35k plus regardless of klm.

[Franco Cozzo]

Even AU Falcon t-shirts are expensive - I'm expecting a few of us to be rocking AU Falcon Gucci





https://www.unclereco.com/catalog/vi...rt-p-6906.html

https://www.unclereco.com/catalog/vi...rt-p-6849.html

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Even AU Falcon t-shirts are expensive - I'm expecting a few of us to be rocking AU Falcon Gucci

image

image

https://www.unclereco.com/catalog/vi...rt-p-6906.html

https://www.unclereco.com/catalog/vi...rt-p-6849.html

Bugger, didn’t realise they did an AU series 1 shirt. Bought the series 2 shirt which ended up being around $90 delivered. Most expensive t shirt I’ve ever bought.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by smoo

Bugger, didn’t realise they did an AU series 1 shirt. Bought the series 2 shirt which ended up being around $90 delivered. Most expensive t shirt I’ve ever bought.

I got their 'Low Income Single Dad Cars' one




https://www.unclereco.com/catalog/vi...rt-p-6922.html

****box fleet 4lyf, its like my entire fleet on one t-shirt, bashed up, peeling clear coat and panels from multiple cars is on brand for me

[smoo]

Lmao, gold. I think there’s a low income single dad Facebook page too.

[Franco Cozzo]

We were talking about 4x4s earlier, there's a lot of these Delica 4x4 vans kicking about all of a sudden, yes I'm quite aware this is from the 'Express' family of vans

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...11970090/?Cr=6

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...-7372909/?Cr=7

Now I'm not sure how good value $17K-$25K is but its cheaper than Land Cruisers and Patrols, not sure how well these things would actually 4x4 though but it has a lot of ground clearance (once you snap off the side steps).

Looks like it uses the same engine as the Triton family as well.

These things look like driving a couch from the interior photos, could be fun but looks short and narrow from those dimensions, its shorter than my Caprice.

[smoo]

Around a week or two after the AU shirt being delivered I had the urge for a clean AU. Picked up this near immaculate ‘02 4.0 Fairlane with 210k on the clock for $6k last month.
Good value in light of what anything Aussie and V8 is going for.



Back to good value BMWs, suppose to be looking at this 750iL tomorrow. Bloke said he’d let it go for $5500. Not a fan of the wheels but good luck finding more luxury for the money.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by smoo

Around a week or two after the AU shirt being delivered I had the urge for a clean AU. Picked up this near immaculate ‘02 4.0 Fairlane with 210k on the clock for $6k last month.
Good value in light of what anything Aussie and V8 is going for.

image

Back to good value BMWs, suppose to be looking at this 750iL tomorrow. Bloke said he’d let it go for $5500. Not a fan of the wheels but good luck finding more luxury for the money.

image

Oh nice the later E38, keep us in the loop with that.

Start a thread on the AU as well.

[fordomatic]

That 750 is pure sex

[ford71V8]

Franco's shirt wins

[Sprintey]

Those are some of the most tasteful T-Shirts I have seen.

My own father had a VR wagon in exactly that colour from near new.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Oh nice the later E38, keep us in the loop with that.

Start a thread on the AU as well.

I don’t know if the AU justifies its own thread because she’s pretty much a 10/10.

Took that V12 BMW home on the weekend. First thing I did was drop it on a set of OE 16” style 5 which came out on the E38 and E39 from factory.
Ride like **** on the 19s.
Old mate done a half arsed home made shadow chrome job so I’ll restore that. Has a bit of clear coat peel and some stereo and climate pixels aren’t working (typical E38/39 fault) but overall an ok buy. Cruise control 100k at 1600 rpm for the 200km drive home and the readout was saying 8.7l per 100.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by smoo

I don’t know if the AU justifies its own thread because she’s pretty much a 10/10.

Took that V12 BMW home on the weekend. First thing I did was drop it on a set of OE 16” style 5 which came out on the E38 and E39 from factory.
Ride like **** on the 19s.
Old mate done a half arsed home made shadow chrome job so I’ll restore that. Has a bit of clear coat peel and some stereo and climate pixels aren’t working (typical E38/39 fault) but overall an ok buy. Cruise control 100k at 1600 rpm for the 200km drive home and the readout was saying 8.7l per 100.

image

Start a thread in the non Ford section - looks mint, is about 1/4 of the price of all the V12 E38 7 series here, they're all going for $20K+ at the moment.

My E38 735iL used to do 11.5L/100km all day every day on my typical commute which is 90% highway but I also flogged the crap out of it to get it to move.

This is the E32 with 350,000km on the clock:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...12726081/?Cr=0

What is it with 7 series owners and massive wheels, 16"-17" wheels all the way on luxobarges.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Start a thread in the non Ford section - looks mint, is about 1/4 of the price of all the V12 E38 7 series here, they're all going for $20K+ at the moment.

My E38 735iL used to do 11.5L/100km all day every day on my typical commute which is 90% highway but I also flogged the crap out of it to get it to move.

This is the E32 with 350,000km on the clock:

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...12726081/?Cr=0

What is it with 7 series owners and massive wheels, 16"-17" wheels all the way on luxobarges.

Seller doesn't list any repairs or maintenance. I don't think it would be the easiest car to move on a good day so they aren't doing themselves any favours haha.
Yeah spot on, I think the best wheel for aesthetics and handling is the 17" 3 piece BBS which was an option on the E39 5 and E31 8 Series afaik. Am on the look out for a set of these for my E34 535iS but theres bugger all around and wont get any change out of $3k.



Had a E32 740i which I sold end of last year for $4k, also good buying and like all other luxo sedans haven't really increased in price with everything else. To get that level of old luxury for the same price the only other model I can think of is the Jag XJ40 XJ6, altho these **** all over them.