Good Daily Driver...... Recommendations?

[Pepscobra]

If you've already got a sedan for the 'family' things, then may as well get a ute and it's easier to justify than buying another sedan.
For the money and versatility, you cant go past an AU or BA ute.
Or have you looked at an early model Territory?
You can pick up a 2004 SX TX RWD for $7K these days.

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

If you've already got a sedan for the 'family' things, then may as well get a ute and it's easier to justify than buying another sedan.
For the money and versatility, you cant go past an AU or BA ute.
Or have you looked at an early model Territory?
You can pick up a 2004 SX TX RWD for $7K these days.

Territories are too thirsty unless on gas because of ther weight!

An AU XR6 ute would be better if he really wants a ute.

[PridenJoy]

Get one like this.

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Toyota-Corolla-2003/AGC-AD-15060068/?Cr=8&sdmvc=1

Reliability of a Corolla, 700kms out of 55L tank, and definitely no slouch in the performance and handling department. Hope you can drive stick because they only come in 6 speed manual.

Not great for transporting dogs and bikes.

[FoxtrotGolfXray 5.0]

Originally Posted by PridenJoy

Reliability of a Corolla, 700kms out of 55L tank, and definitely no slouch in the performance and handling department. Hope you can drive stick because they only come in 6 speed manual.

Not great for transporting dogs and bikes.

See, this is the bit I don't understand (no offence PridenJoy). 700kms out of a 55l tank equates to 7.86l/100km. The Falcon will not be much worse than that at highway speeds (and assuming not too many slow down/speed up areas), yet it will cost you around $10k (plus extra insurance/rego) for the privilege to drive a car with less get up and go than the car he already has

Just drive the car you love: the XR50T! It will do everything you want and need.........

Craig H

[blackf6]

What are you saving the the xr6t for? Just drive it man.
If you really like the car you will shell out to rebuild it when the kms get up.

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by teak81

What are you saving the the xr6t for? Just drive it man.
If you really like the car you will shell out to rebuild it when the kms get up.

Also another GREAT thing about the Falcon (any model) is you can ALWAYS tow a trailer/caravan if you ever need to.....My missus brother wanted to borrow our trailer last week but his CRV Honda doesn't have a tow bar so she had to drive 40k's to his and do the job for him then drive home again all at her cost not his!!!!

The Falcon is the MOST UNIVERSAL car of them all......The ute can hold 1 ton in the back......The sedan can tow 2 ton maybe more (gotta check specs!).....And its even better on a good quality LPG SVI/LI duel fuel system!

I reckon you should get a tow bar fitted to the XR50T if you hav'nt got one then go buy a caged trailer for the dogs/bikes. Much cheaper than a 3rd car!

And you can get bike racks that screw onto the tow bar for less than $100!

[BPXR6T]

Luxo barge. BF fairlane. Get something with cruise control. One feature I wish my current commuter had.

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by BPXR6T

Luxo barge. BF fairlane. Get something with cruise control. One feature I wish my current commuter had.

No he's said he wants a ute........All he really needs is a caged trailer in actual fact!

Rego $40 a year in Vic.

Seriously 3 cars to maintain is ridiculous!

[smoo]

Originally Posted by psychobimbo

See, this is the bit I don't understand (no offence PridenJoy). 700kms out of a 55l tank equates to 7.86l/100km. The Falcon will not be much worse than that at highway speeds (and assuming not too many slow down/speed up areas), yet it will cost you around $10k (plus extra insurance/rego) for the privilege to drive a car with less get up and go than the car he already has

This.
People recommending city **** boxes obviously have no idea what fuel figures a 4.0 AU/B Series is capable of returning on the highway.
Hyndai **** heap at 6.5-7 l/100km. Or a safe, comfortable, practical and bullet proof Falcon (or Commodore even) at 7.5-8.5 l100km. Pay an extra $1.50-3.00 per 100km for the privilege, a no brainer.

Also the models you'll be looking at are up to 15 years old. Don't limit your search to low mileage cars. The AU/BA are at an age where over all condition and service history should be the main factor in buying, not mileage.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by EF_6

No he's said he wants a ute........All he really needs is a caged trailer in actual fact!

Rego $40 a year in Vic.

Seriously 3 cars to maintain is ridiculous!

Try having 4 like me, lol.

[GASWAGON]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Try having 4 like me, lol.

Screw that! I get public transport whenever I can these days....Tho the Myki rates are now $6 each way to city and back.....lucky I have a concession card!

[BPXR6T]

Originally Posted by EF_6

No he's said he wants a ute........All he really needs is a caged trailer in actual fact!

Rego $40 a year in Vic.

Seriously 3 cars to maintain is ridiculous!

You'd hate my insurance and rego bill then. 11 cars at present...

[newi]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys - appreciate it.

I have thought about driving the XR - but its going to be the 'special car' and I have no intention to sell any time soon. I think I'll keep it to show my kids - 'hey we used to build stuff here and it was actually pretty good...'

Yep cars are a bad investment. Yep they can be a money pit. But they are my 'hobby' - don't drink (ok well sometimes), don't smoke and that's how I justify my toys..

[fgpsi]

If you don't care much about fuel consumption then I suggest a BA/F Fairlaine.

[Taily]

Originally Posted by newi

Thanks for all the suggestions guys - appreciate it.

I have thought about driving the XR - but its going to be the 'special car' and I have no intention to sell any time soon. I think I'll keep it to show my kids - 'hey we used to build stuff here and it was actually pretty good...'

Yep cars are a bad investment. Yep they can be a money pit. But they are my 'hobby' - don't drink (ok well sometimes), don't smoke and that's how I justify my toys..

Newi you've got some good advice there. I made the fatal mistake of wanting to leave our Sunburst XR50T at home (with my wife, who was not working as we had a 2.5 year old son who was not attending childcare at the time) and I was driving our 99 AU wagon the 40km each way to/from work so as to keep the k's low on the FG. Then, little man hit 3 years old and we decided that he should go to childcare and my dear wife should hit the workforce again... Do you know how impossible it has been to get my XR50 turbo back!!?!

So I'm stuck in the AU wagon and guess which car she drives and considers her own...

The wagon gives me a good honest 9.5-10lt/100km on the M2, Harbour Tunnel, Eastern distributor to the airport and back each day, which is around 2lt/100km worse off than the FG (which now has 50K on it already ) but I'm just biding my time for the XR8 to be released a bit later this year.

I have a few regos and insurances (3 cars - including an old Sandman ute and 3 trailers - a box trailer, a camper trailer and a boat trailer) to pay each year and it gets a bit monotonous to keep up with and to keep shelling out for. I'd listen to the good advice you've recieved and think about the extra that goes with another car in the driveway.

Sez me about to spend $950 on a camber/caster kit and two tyres for "her" car first thing tomorrow morning.... Though, as a "retired" mechanic I do look after my own servicing/repairs etc.

Dave.

[XP6]

It was me just drive the fg its not going to be a collectors car for at least 20~30 years as its not really a rare car... get your moneys worth from driving it, its only going to be a $5~10k car in 10yrs anyway(sorry it thats offending but its the truth).

[TheZHLANE]

Originally Posted by EF_6

No he's said he wants a ute........All he really needs is a caged trailer in actual fact!

Rego $40 a year in Vic.

Seriously 3 cars to maintain is ridiculous!

My fiancé and I have 3 between us, I love my cars and I love driving them.
No need for harsh comments, if you cannot afford to maintain 3 cars don't get upset at the rest of us.

[davenl5l]

just go buy a good xf on gas!!!!!! they go forever cheap to run parts are everywhere , they are comfy 100,000 + taxi's cant be wrong

[irish2]

[1TUFFUTE]

I like the sound of gas or diesel seeing as you do lots of easy ks. Me....I'd go for an FG falcon ute or sedan. 2 years ago they were independently ranked the SAFEST car you could buy in Australia......out of ALL cars

Once you own a ute....you simply can't live without one!

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by smoo

This.
People recommending city **** boxes obviously have no idea what fuel figures a 4.0 AU/B Series is capable of returning on the highway.
Hyndai **** heap at 6.5-7 l/100km. Or a safe, comfortable, practical and bullet proof Falcon (or Commodore even) at 7.5-8.5 l100km. Pay an extra $1.50-3.00 per 100km for the privilege, a no brainer.

Also the models you'll be looking at are up to 15 years old. Don't limit your search to low mileage cars. The AU/BA are at an age where over all condition and service history should be the main factor in buying, not mileage.

A simple spreadsheet I have produces this (EDIT: apologies for the layout, it's perfectly OK in edit mode but looses formatting) -

years Fuel cost K's P/FN
4 $1.60 1000

Hyundai i20 4.2/100
ins/reg $1,100 $10,000 $12,000
Fuel $1,747
Service $600
Cost P/A $3,447
Total run cost $13,789 $25,789
Resale $4,000
Depreciation $6,000
Total ownership cost $31,789

AU Falcon 6.8/100
ins/reg $1,100 $5,000 $6,000
Fuel $2,829
Service $600
Cost P/A $4,529
Total run cost $18,115 $24,115
Resale $2,000
Depreciation $3,000
Total ownership cost $27,115

BA Falcon 7.2/100
ins/reg $1,100 $8,000 $9,200
Fuel $2,995
Service $600
Cost P/A $4,695
Total run cost $18,781 $27,981
Resale $3000
Depreciation $5,000
Total ownership cost $32,981

Fuel figures are the extra urbans taken from Redbook. Buy price is 10K, 5K and 8K respectively but i've added a few bucks on to allow for a bank loan hence 12K, 6K and 9.2K respectively.

What it doesn't take into account is the almost inevitable problems with the older, higher K cars vs the Hyundai which would have 3.4 years left on it's factory warranty.

Safety wise, the i20 is 5 star, AU 3 star and BA 4 star.

Naturally, the above is more fact based and takes away this old *******/city ******* dribble (which is highly subjective) and personal preference/requirements the OP has.

For the record, I prefer to drive my manual FG XR8 the same k's as the OP in peak hour traffic and could use a auto Hyundai Getz which is much cheaper and easier to drive in such conditions. Why? simple - because I love my Falcon

[Iggle Piggle]

Originally Posted by EF_6

No he's said he wants a ute........All he really needs is a caged trailer in actual fact!

Let me guess...an LPG caged trailer?

[mik]

I can see the value having a spare car, and especially a ute, if one vehicle needs attention you have a spare, not to mention the versatility of having a vehicle fit another purpose, I run 2 cars myself and upkeep is not much more because each car shares the k's.
In actual fact I find it easier to do upkeep as I can more easily work servicing in to my timetable.

[pottery beige]

buy the next cheapest POS that pops up in to your life

best value ever was a 1985 $1500 minty mazda 323

when it all ****s up after three years trouble free and not spending a cent ( dh pensioner crashes into it)

rinse and repeat

[Elks]

Just buy a tidy AU/BA/BF xr6 on gas.

Yes it will cost slightly more than running your XR50 due to rego and insurance. But choose a nice colour and keep it simple. No big tyres or brakes to up your running costs. And you will enjoy it for years. We all know LPG 4.0's with basic servicing are good for 500k+ km.

This will allow you to cart tow and operate cheaply.

Sure a awagon will do almost all this at half price. But a ute is cooler and can carry the bikes.

My 2c

[Cuyper]

The econetic WS Fiesta is the best driving, safest and most economical car you will find at 10 grand and easily. It'll do 4 litres per 100 or better, 5 star safety. Handles like a go cart. Youll never drive your other cars again

[janddbone]

AU, LPG, Cruise control... Whatever body style suits. Off you go!

[Crazy Dazz]

The problem with the "oh so reliable" Toyotas is that you pay WAY too much for them 2nd hand. So for the same money, you actually get a LESS reliable car.

Really, that sort of mileage is calling out for LPG. If you're looking to get one 2nd hand with LPG already fitted, then the most abundant are A or B series Falcons. If you want to cart dogs, etc, I'd go for a wagon. They are cheap as chips, not bad to drive, and very versatile. They are cheaper than utes, more likely to have LPG, and much better for dogs, passengers, and cargo you don't want exposed to the weather.

If you don't like LPG, then I'd be looking at something like a Focus or Nissan tIiDa.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Cuyper

The econetic WS Fiesta is the best driving, safest and most economical car you will find at 10 grand and easily. It'll do 4 litres per 100 or better, 5 star safety. Handles like a go cart. Youll never drive your other cars again

Surprised they're under $10K now?

[Cuyper]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Surprised they're under $10K now?

Seen some with a decent amount of ks on them for 10, theres two on carcsales for 12k now with 120kkm on them. Advertised at 12 you'd probably get those for 10k too. 5 year old cars after all. Who's going to pay more than 10k for a 5 year old car. Don't know why anyone is talking AUs. The scrap man has been supposed to pick up our AU classic for a couple months and he can't even be bothered for $300.