Whats a good small car

[jaydee]

Just today got my son a Toyota Corolla CSX, 5 speed, 197 kays on clock, full electrics, scheel seats, 1.8 and the guy has just had a new clutch and timing belt done ($1800) and I got it for 5 grand, real little pocket rocket and economical.
I surfed carpoint, carsguide and tradingpost for a week.
There are bargains out there just know what you want so you can compare, you can't compare a Hyundai to a Toyota.
Good luck.

[paul_r_d]

Talking from experience here, I had $5k to spend on a car when I was 16 to learn and eventually have when I got my p's. I wanted a small hatchback. Lets just say I couldn't find anything decent.

I spent four months looking at over 25 different car yards and nothing. Everything was high mileage (all well over 190k) poor condition, and I recon repair costs on some would outway what I payed for it!

I too travelled around 70kms a day and being in the country I needed something reliable. I really didnt want to be calling out RACV every week.

I was lucky and my uncle sold me his auto 1999 lancer for 8k, with 104k on the clock. Not bad. It did me good. Only time left me stranded was a flat battery.

My girlfriend has a 1992 Laser S (KH I think), 1.8 litre manual. Its a great little car and has never let her down. Its got 190k+ on the clock and still going strong. She travels around 60km's a day, up hilly mountains.
Fantastic paint job- not sure about the metalics, but the sold colours hold very good! Her red still looks brand new after a cut and polish.

Only a few things she had to get done- few clutch issues when she got it 3 years ago, left and right drive shafts had to be changed, and just recently a water pipe rusted and had to be replaced.

Other than that- great little beast. Fly's along the freeway with ease.
Only thing I can fault is the power loss when the air con is on. You can really feel the difference. But I supposed this is a common thing with small cars.
You can pick these up now for 5k and under.

Hope this has helped.

Paul

[paul_r_d]

Originally Posted by PHATAL

+1 for a nissan pulsar awesome little cars

Hi Phatal. What year? My sisters 1990 pulsar was plagued with problems!

[IH8HSV]

Thank you all very much for your replies.

I should of done a poll due to so many different opnions.

Sounds like you cant go wrong with the toyotas then.
Cheers.

[bd737]

+1 for EL Falcon on gas

[JC]

Originally Posted by bd737

+1 for EL Falcon on gas

-1 for EL Falcon on gas (I own one), you are betting off getting an EF or AU on gas. EL's are a bugga to tune, and keep in tune (must be to do with the dizzy setup).

[Mechan1k]

I'd say neither of those ... because they aren't small cars ... :hihi:

[The Mighty Red]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Hard to get anything good under $5000 unless you're in the trade or know someone. Depends entirely on the car itself and the condition its in, regardless of what sort it is.

I think anything under $5000 is past it, better to spend more and get something more decent that will have less chance of problems.

The only good cheap small car that I know is a new Fiesta, but thats 3 times as much.

what planet are you living on mate ? there are thousand of good cars for under $5k out there.....you just have to to find the good ones......the bloke asked for suggestions of a decent car for around $5k not a new fiesta :

......i would suggest a 90's nissan pulsar hatch , they are a generally a reliable comfy car with all the mod cons ,there easy on the eye nice to drive and there are some good ones getting around for your kind of money....