My Mum has aroun $15,000 to spend.

EDManual · 02-12-2009, 09:52 AM

She has a Manual ED falcon (my old one...) has had it for 9 years now!! She put it on Gas 3years ago, but its done near 400,000km now. Still looks good, but theres the odd problem these days every so often. She would do at least 20,000km a year.

She says that if the car was expensive to run she wouldnt drive. That is... no matter what she spent on the car, if it costs $10 or 15 to do 100km she wouldnt like to drive. She is used to $5 to $6 per 100km.

So straight away I figure no small car can do that unless its a diesel. Defenitely no automatic car small car can do that. Otherwise its another falcon on gas.

Took her to the auctions yesterday for a browse, liked BF/2 XT falcons but only if the kms were less than 100km. Seems most are going for $18k if on Gas and 2 years old with 60-70k km. Similar petrol falcons are just $1000 cheaper. 5 year old BA2 are looking pretty bad most with near 200km and not worth the $8 to $9K that they are getting. Especially as it still needs to be put on gas at another $2k out of pocket. In fact a BA/2 5+ years old really isnt looking that good even compared to the ED as far as build quality etc!! Strange... Also, she likes the Manual gearbox in the ED!! So wasnt too happy that all falcons are Autos these days! :-)

So I figure she will have to get a small manual diesel car.

Any thoughts on ~3 year old 70,000km:
Peugeot 307 diesels?
Citroen C4 diesels (seem to ave high 4's per 100. 4.0 on hwy! 80kw 280nm)
Focus diesels (seem to be alot more thirsty than I would have thought! Reports get Av 6 l per 100..not good enough)
Prius 2 year olds 2007 models with 60km are worth 15k -17k at auction(hybrids are a worry I think!)

Just as a laugh, Mazda 3 autos that I know of average around 11 litres per hundred!

Any other ideas?

BrisVegas · 02-12-2009, 10:39 AM

I think you'll do better than 6's out of a Focus TDCi. The petrols do that with some highway driving. You'd probably be looking at closer to $20k for a newish Focus though. Reading on the focus forum plenty of people getting 5's out of them. That's with 320NM of grunt too.

We considered a used diesel Focus as our runabout car, but as ours is mainly town driving we went for a new Fiesta instead. The Fiesta will do 4.9l/100km on the highway and average in the 6's according to the sticker on the windscreen.

sgt_doofey · 02-12-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDManual

Any thoughts on ~3 year old 70,000km:
Peugeot 307 diesels?

Owning a 3 year old 307 HDi with 70,000kms on the clock, I must say that it's a good car. There have been a couple of small electrical issues with it, but they were sorted under warranty and is now all good.
We average about 6.1 - 6.5L/100kms in it, but we have the 2.0L diesel. If you want better economy, go the 1.6L HDi. They get down in to the 4L/100km range. We went the 2.0L as we went the top of the range model and that only came in the 2.0L. I also wanted the extra power provided by it.
Driving the diesel is a different feel to the petrol powered cars. There is a noticeable turbo lag and can be real sluggish when the turbo isn't spooled up, but once it's on song, you get the full 320Nm of torque pushing you back in to your seat. It's really just a matter of being prepared and getting it ready to go when you want.
If you want more opinions on the Pugs or Cits, I'd recommend popping over to the Aussie Frogs web site: http://www.aussiefrogs.com
I'd definitely recommend the Pug though. Having a car that has the same torque as a 6cyl petrol car that uses that little fuel is great!

Maybe you could stretch her a bit more for when the Fiesta Econetic comes out next year?

BrisVegas · 02-12-2009, 11:20 AM

The Fiesta Econetics are out now.

bigdude1011 · 02-12-2009, 01:18 PM

She could buy a 2004-5 Golf TDI for around $20k, even with a DSG transmission (works like an auto)

mcnews · 02-12-2009, 01:23 PM

Diesel Hyundai i30 with low kilometres.

XRtowcar · 02-12-2009, 01:29 PM

Nissan 180sx with fully sick body kit, aftermarket turbo and blow off valve, 20" wheels and 500w sub woofer.

Fairlane · 02-12-2009, 01:38 PM

Brand new Hyundai Getz 4 door 1.6L. Five years warranty, runs on the smell of an oily rage, cant go wrong.

Or if it must be Diesel, try a 2nd hand VW Polo TDI.

Otherwise id suggest an E-gas Falcon or a Mitsu 380 on Gas. I know you had problems finding cheap BF's, but you should be able to get one cheaper than that a tidy BFI Futura E-Gas should only be about 15.5 with 50k on the clock.

If you are near Adelaide the governement auctions are chock full of 380's on dual fuel with 30,000klms on the clock, all going for around 14.5.

trippytaka · 02-12-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDManual

She has a Manual ED falcon (my old one...) has had it for 9 years now!! She put it on Gas 3years ago, but its done near 400,000km now. Still looks good, but theres the odd problem these days every so often. She would do at least 20,000km a year.

She says that if the car was expensive to run she wouldnt drive. That is... no matter what she spent on the car, if it costs $10 or 15 to do 100km she wouldnt like to drive. She is used to $5 to $6 per 100km.

So straight away I figure no small car can do that unless its a diesel. Defenitely no automatic car small car can do that. Otherwise its another falcon on gas.

Took her to the auctions yesterday for a browse, liked BF/2 XT falcons but only if the kms were less than 100km. Seems most are going for $18k if on Gas and 2 years old with 60-70k km. Similar petrol falcons are just $1000 cheaper. 5 year old BA2 are looking pretty bad most with near 200km and not worth the $8 to $9K that they are getting. Especially as it still needs to be put on gas at another $2k out of pocket. In fact a BA/2 5+ years old really isnt looking that good even compared to the ED as far as build quality etc!! Strange... Also, she likes the Manual gearbox in the ED!! So wasnt too happy that all falcons are Autos these days! :-)

So I figure she will have to get a small manual diesel car.

Any thoughts on ~3 year old 70,000km:
Peugeot 307 diesels?
Citroen C4 diesels (seem to ave high 4's per 100. 4.0 on hwy! 80kw 280nm)
Focus diesels (seem to be alot more thirsty than I would have thought! Reports get Av 6 l per 100..not good enough)
Prius 2 year olds 2007 models with 60km are worth 15k -17k at auction(hybrids are a worry I think!)

Just as a laugh, Mazda 3 autos that I know of average around 11 litres per hundred!

Any other ideas?

Steer Clear of Pugs and Citroens. Not good as they age...

The focus Diesel is a great car! I rate it highly.

trippytaka · 02-12-2009, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnews

Diesel Hyundai i30 with low kilometres.

Damn good car! Seriously...

sgt_doofey · 02-12-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trippytaka

Steer Clear of Pugs and Citroens. Not good as they age...

Based on what? Being an owner of one, curiosity gets the better of me when I hear these comments.

ColourHide · 02-12-2009, 02:49 PM

2006 SUZUKI SWIFT RS416 SPORT.

1.6lt engine.

Below 7L/100km.

Manual 5 speed.

5 door plenty of room.

Good looking reliable little car.

outback_ute · 02-12-2009, 04:21 PM

Are you talking city or country location & driving? Reason for asking location is that if metro I lean more towards small cars for ease of parking.

Depending on requirements I'd say go for a Falcon on gas (or with allowance to put on gas) or a small (1.3) car such as a Getz.

I'm not sure I'd want to own a common-rail diesel out of the warranty period - the costs if you need to replace injectors or the injection pump are astronomical.

EDManual · 02-12-2009, 04:23 PM

My wife has an Accent, gets 7ish litres per hundred. So that is still around $9.50 to $10 per 100km at $1.25 a litre. And thats too much!

I'm going to ring up citroen service shops to ask what that costs. I'm really thinking Citroen C4.....

Ok, doesnt seem too bad really. At Zigames(they sell bentleys!!) :Minor service $400 at 15k 45k 75k, Major $800 30k 60k, 90k, Timing belt at 100k $1100 (does it even have a timing belt?), brakes disk and pads $800 each end.

Minor service is just oil and filter and check other things! do it myself... or At for example goodyear autocare its $240.
Major is oil and filter and other filters and brake fluid, cooling etc. Do that myself too..or at goodyear autocare its $580
Timing belt, if it does have one, Im sure i could get it done for under $500...

Hyundai i30s are a bit dear...
Astra diesels are the right price but use too much diesel..

Ill still look at bfs on gas though.

EDManual · 02-12-2009, 04:24 PM

she does a bit of both, country and city (geelong that is, no sitting in traffic for hours though..)

are injector and injector pump failures common on modern diesels?

sgt_doofey · 02-12-2009, 04:27 PM

Surprising that the Cit C4's service intervals are every 15k and not 20k like the Pugs. I'm pretty sure that they are if not the same, then very similar engines as they are jointly developed within the two companies. The Pug servicing is approx the same cost as you've quoted there from the dealer, but at 20K intervals. Mines just out of warranty, so I'll be taking it to a Pug specialist mechanic from now on, not the dealer.

sgt_doofey · 02-12-2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDManual

are injector and injector pump failures common on modern diesels?

Haven't heard of one yet in a 307 on the Aussie Frogs site.

Hords · 02-12-2009, 04:31 PM

Series I or II TE50 or TS50. No more to say.

sgt_doofey · 02-12-2009, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hords

Series I or II TE50 or TS50. No more to say.

Yeah, but it would be wrong to put it on gas, wouldn't it? Sacrilege? Besides, I think you're a bit biased there...

:

Franco Cozzo · 02-12-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDManual

My wife has an Accent, gets 7ish litres per hundred. So that is still around $9.50 to $10 per 100km at $1.25 a litre. And thats too much!

Suzuki Alto.

Yellow_Festiva · 02-12-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrisVegas

The Fiesta Econetics are out now.

And priced 10 grand more than the buyer wants to spend.

Yellow_Festiva · 02-12-2009, 07:55 PM

If you want piece of mind and a bit of space, get a reasonably new i30 Diesel. Think they are rated at just over 4L per 100.

If you want smaller petrol go for a new Getz or Rio. Both can be had for $13,000 drive away and are decent economical cars for what you pay. Driven carefully you can get low 6's around town and low 5's on the open road.

Cam · 02-12-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColourHide

2006 SUZUKI SWIFT RS416 SPORT.

1.6lt engine.

Below 7L/100km.

Manual 5 speed.

5 door plenty of room.

Good looking reliable little car.

Give that man a prize...

Ours (2007) is faultless, could never go past one for a reliable, comfy, economical daily

ColourHide · 12-12-2009, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cam

Give that man a prize...

Ours (2007) is faultless, could never go past one for a reliable, comfy, economical daily

Its the car my better half should have.

Seen them on top gear, and did they love them. Also great to know in the real world they are as good.

XR Martin · 12-12-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDManual

she does a bit of both, country and city (geelong that is, no sitting in traffic for hours though..)

are injector and injector pump failures common on modern diesels?

I think people will be in a big surprise once they start failing. Injectors $500+ each and pumps upwards of $2500.

buickman · 12-12-2009, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt_doofey

Based on what? Being an owner of one, curiosity gets the better of me when I hear these comments.

Most Australian motoring journalists criticise French built cars for being overpriced and having quality and reliability issues as in the latest
Australian new car buyer mag.
But I've read other car mags that comment French built cars being overpriced with poor quality issues .

XW 393 · 12-12-2009, 10:08 AM

Get her a vesper.

XR6_190 · 12-12-2009, 12:59 PM

I think the best choices out there are either a BF XT/ Futura on gas (or with allowance to put it on gas), or if a manual is a must, an i30 Diesel, that is about the only small car that could possibly get close on price and running costs.
Ignore the E-Gas Falcons, as they usually are more expensive than a XT, especially considering the government grant.

arnhemal · 12-12-2009, 01:41 PM

G,day,

Our 200g8 Focus TDCi gets an average of 5.8l/100km. Thats been over 14 months and 47000 kms. Its a top car, no issues apart from dealer servicing.... and it gets used for all and sundry. Tows better than my old 80 series.

The economy might not be as good as other cars, theoretically speaking, but its an honest figure checked against manual calculations for economy.

Price might be a sticking point but if you can negotiate, you should get close.

Best of luck.

Alex

**janddbone** · 12-12-2009, 03:03 PM

Mitsubishi Colt is my pick, great economy and value, plenty of second hand ones under $15K. Or if you look hard enough you may squeeze into a new manual one for that... CVT is a gem too if she goes that way, but more likely second hand. Easily get 5L on the open road and just under 6L in town. Particularly easy with the CVT... Highly underestimated car!!!