Medium car for $15000, auto

**fordomatic** · 08-07-2014, 03:41 PM

Thinking of selling the FG xr6 turbo and spending around 15k max on a medium car for the MRS. Just wondering what my options are? Ford is 100% out, mondeo is too big and focus's auto is dodgy.

I have been looking at the 2011 Imprezza hatch G3 R but it guzzles the fuel for what it is. Only bonus is i can use it for going to the snow without chains. Also been looking at the Mazda 3.

Any input is welcome

Syndrome · 08-07-2014, 03:49 PM

If it is a brand new car the only thing you can get for that price is the Chery J3 M1X.

b2428 · 08-07-2014, 03:54 PM

The Mrs has a Nissan Pulsar with a CVT. Very pleasant car to drive, very economical and really comfy. Good size etc. They can be found as demos with next to no kays and as an ST not the mid spec for around your price range. Might be worth a look. Mid size car but with leg room like a larger car.

TC200six · 08-07-2014, 03:59 PM

Have a look at a Toyota Corolla too. You can find a 2007-2012 model for under $15000 now.

**fordomatic** · 08-07-2014, 03:59 PM

No, not after a new car, but preferably as new as possible

bingoTE50 · 08-07-2014, 04:42 PM

We have had a Mazda 3 since 2005 ,now 193k , no issues . Due for some shockies now , thats about it apart from servicing.

Yellow_Festiva · 08-07-2014, 04:45 PM

i30 / Cerato?

**fordomatic** · 08-07-2014, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

i30 / Cerato?

my cousin just bought a new i30, they seem to go pretty cheap at auction as well. Haven't really heard much about them though?

XR Martin · 08-07-2014, 05:21 PM

The only thing the current Pulsar has going for it is its price and size. The rest of the car is just so ordinary. The interior that could be from any Jap car 15 years ago, the lack of power and the URRRRRRRRRRRR of the drivetrain, to the handling.
Its so bad even Nissan admitted it and are already about to release a replacement in Europe.
Nissan are basically giving them away here though, so value for money they are ok.
Oh and the paint on them makes a Falcon's look like a Summernats Grand Champion

XR Martin · 08-07-2014, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordomatic

my cousin just bought a new i30, they seem to go pretty cheap at auction as well. Haven't really heard much about them though?

The carpet may aswell be a sheet of scourer pad; and with 50k on them they squeak, rattle, creak worse than my EL with 250k.

**fordomatic** · 08-07-2014, 05:32 PM

How about the Holden cruze 2012 or honda Jazz, what sort of rep do they have?

Yellow_Festiva · 08-07-2014, 05:34 PM

Hired a Cruze for a week and it ticked 95% of the right boxes. They are good buying and the larger of the 'small cars'.

Jazz would be too small I would think?

Perhaps Lancer?

Crazy Dazz · 08-07-2014, 05:41 PM

Firstly, define "medium." (For some, Mondeo IS medium.)
I take it from your comment that you want an Auto?
Don't get too fussed about supposed problems with the Focus auto. ALL cars have problems, and a Focus will have LESS than most. My daughter has a 8 year old Focus and it rarely misses a beat.

At your price point, if you add the onroads, $17k will get you a new Focus drive-away, or a 2013 demo if you want automatic.

Of those around the same price bracket, my pick would be the Opel Astra, but you'd have to really shop around as they tend to be a bit more expensive, and not many second hand as they've only recently been reintroduced.

Toyota, Mazda, and Honda are all out. Too expensive especially 2nd hand. Yes they're well built and reliable, but that means you pay a whopping premium in the near-new market. However, if you're prepared to go a bit older and look at cars 2~4 years old theres a few nice Corollas

gossy · 08-07-2014, 06:13 PM

I would go Honda Accord Euro. I have a 2007 model, hasn't missed a beat, but you can get the newer model for around the 15K price range.

**fordomatic** · 08-07-2014, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Firstly, define "medium." (For some, Mondeo IS medium.)
I take it from your comment that you want an Auto?
Don't get too fussed about supposed problems with the Focus auto. ALL cars have problems, and a Focus will have LESS than most. My daughter has a 8 year old Focus and it rarely misses a beat.

At your price point, if you add the onroads, $17k will get you a new Focus drive-away, or a 2013 demo if you want automatic.

Of those around the same price bracket, my pick would be the Opel Astra, but you'd have to really shop around as they tend to be a bit more expensive, and not many second hand as they've only recently been reintroduced.

Toyota, Mazda, and Honda are all out. Too expensive especially 2nd hand. Yes they're well built and reliable, but that means you pay a whopping premium in the near-new market. However, if you're prepared to go a bit older and look at cars 2~4 years old theres a few nice Corollas

I disagree about the focus, i have 2 friends that sold theirs because of the auto issue and not to mention the massive amount of people on this very forum whinging about them.

Well the mondeo is huge, against the falcon it is almost the same size. The cruze, mazda 3, impreza and lancer is the size im after. i dont mind paying a premium for a better older car. Long story short the MRS had a 2003 laser and i want a car with that reliability. All we ever did for 10 years with that car was oil and filters, never had one problem and it was just the perfect "chicks" car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Hired a Cruze for a week and it ticked 95% of the right boxes. They are good buying and the larger of the 'small cars'.

Jazz would be too small I would think?

Perhaps Lancer?

Ok, im just not sure about buying a holden again

yeh, i suppose the jazz is a little small. The lancers and corollas are very cheap at auction at the moment, might have a look on thursday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gossy

I would go Honda Accord Euro. I have a 2007 model, hasn't missed a beat, but you can get the newer model for around the 15K price range.

Too big mate, may as well keep the falcon if i did that.

graham_h · 08-07-2014, 07:16 PM

Golf GTI ?

XR Martin · 08-07-2014, 07:21 PM

Corolla sedan

Bearman · 08-07-2014, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gossy

I would go Honda Accord Euro. I have a 2007 model, hasn't missed a beat, but you can get the newer model for around the 15K price range.

I have a 2005 which is an earlier series. A really good car, nice to drive (for a FWD), extremely reliable and has a kick *** stereo!

On the downside they need to be fed PULP and are a bit pricey to service.

Maybe a low-ish km Camry or Aurion?? Bland for sure but reliable, not all that expensive to service and can run standard ULP. for just point A to B transport may be a decent option.

minheim · 08-07-2014, 08:40 PM

A low K used CJ lancer sportback will be doable in that price bracket and still have some factory warranty left. They are pretty much bulletproof and are cheap to service (12mth/15000Km intervals) and have all the safety features needed.

**fordomatic** · 08-07-2014, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minheim

A low K used CJ lancer sportback will be doable in that price bracket and still have some factory warranty left. They are pretty much bulletproof and are cheap to service (12mth/15000Km intervals) and have all the safety features needed.

Looking at Pickles i can get a 2012 CJ lancer for $12000 with 60k on the clock. Will definitely have a look at what Lancers and Corollas go for on Thursday. Will more than likely buy from auction now after these responses, thanks heaps

smoo · 08-07-2014, 09:01 PM

330i, 3.2 Passat.

Franco Cozzo · 08-07-2014, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearman

I have a 2005 which is an earlier series. A really good car, nice to drive (for a FWD), extremely reliable and has a kick *** stereo!

On the downside they need to be fed PULP and are a bit pricey to service.

Maybe a low-ish km Camry or Aurion?? Bland for sure but reliable, not all that expensive to service and can run standard ULP. for just point A to B transport may be a decent option.

The only reason these are expensive to service is they need valve clearances done every 40,000km, or at least an inspection.

+1 for Accord Euro, nice car, especially the new shape one, WIN car.

Trump · 08-07-2014, 10:49 PM

Question, what does the missus drive currently?

NX74205 · 08-07-2014, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Ford is 100% out, mondeo is too big and focus's auto is dodgy.

Then just get the previous generation Focus, which doesn't have the PowerShift transmission.

In Focus · 08-07-2014, 11:22 PM

There's a start for you. Looks like I30's and Lancers are some of the better choices.

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/...&sortby=~Price

Xauterus · 09-07-2014, 01:57 AM

+ Corolla.

SpoolMan · 09-07-2014, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Don't get too fussed about supposed problems with the Focus auto. ALL cars have problems, and a Focus will have LESS than most. My daughter has a 8 year old Focus and it rarely misses a beat.

New Focus / Fiesta power shift auto is a disaster they cant get them right, we just had a new clutch put in ours and it still isn't right, they just cant get them right....... they have trashed the good name of the Focus with this crap auto such a lovely car except for the auto.
We replaced my mums 2009 Focus with a Hyundai i30 there was no way she was going through what other power shift owners are having to put up with, and it hurt not putting her into another Ford.

I don't know of another car manufacturer that has released a car and said a slight amount of clutch shudder is within there tolerance levels.

http://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11399507

Yes the old Focus auto is an awesome reliable car and auto drives better than the new power shift auto..
The diesel Focus has the old auto has no problems and is car worth considering.

Crazy Dazz · 09-07-2014, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordomatic

I disagree about the focus, i have 2 friends that sold theirs because of the auto issue and not to mention the massive amount of people on this very forum whinging about them.

So you won't buy a Ford because people on a Ford forum whinge about them,

then you will check out every other car forum...

and end up with a flamin Cherry
(because people who buy them are too stupid to know their car is crud and so don't whinge.)

The Focus is a brilliant car, consistently one of the best in its class for over a decade, and one of the top selling cars in the world.
I agree that Ford got it wrong with the powershift. It's realistically more a replacement for a manual transmission, and they have rolled it out as an auto, in a market that wants slush boxes. I understand they keep addressing issues by rolling out programming upgrades on the fly...
Still, for under your target price you can pick up a nice little 2010/11 LV2 with the 4spd.

Korean cars are generally cheap, and Korean workers are diligent and industrious. (Korean welders & pipe-fitters are highly sought.)
So why Holden thought that having a Korean car assembled in South Australia was a good idea, I'll never know?
(Probably somebody in Detroit thought South Australia and South Korea were right next door?) If you want something cheap, stick with a Hyundai.

**fordomatic** · 09-07-2014, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

So you won't buy a Ford because people on a Ford forum whinge about them,

then you will check out every other car forum...

and end up with a flamin Cherry
(because people who buy them are too stupid to know their car is crud and so don't whinge.)

The Focus is a brilliant car, consistently one of the best in its class for over a decade, and one of the top selling cars in the world.
I agree that Ford got it wrong with the powershift. It's realistically more a replacement for a manual transmission, and they have rolled it out as an auto, in a market that wants slush boxes. I understand they keep addressing issues by rolling out programming upgrades on the fly...
Still, for under your target price you can pick up a nice little 2010/11 LV2 with the 4spd.

Korean cars are generally cheap, and Korean workers are diligent and industrious. (Korean welders & pipe-fitters are highly sought.)
So why Holden thought that having a Korean car assembled in South Australia was a good idea, I'll never know?
(Probably somebody in Detroit thought South Australia and South Korea were right next door?) If you want something cheap, stick with a Hyundai.

Lucky i do my research then hey Dazz? i cant find any issues with the Lancer besides the road noise, which i don't care about. Everybody raves about the auto in it as well. Corolla no issues besides air con sometimes not working. i30 road noise and bluetooth not connecting properly, hardly concerning issues. why would i buy an old laser when i can get a lancer with 3 years warranty left for the same price? I understand for my price bracket i wont get a newer car with awesome build quality. Really, even our old laser we had was pretty crap build quality, but the thing went forever, thats what i want.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

Question, what does the missus drive currently?

Mrs drives the FG XR6 turbo mate

Quote:

Originally Posted by In Focus

There's a start for you. Looks like I30's and Lancers are some of the better choices.

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/...&sortby=~Price

Thanks mate, lancer is looking like the winner if i buy from auction.

Franco Cozzo · 09-07-2014, 10:41 AM

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de.../?Cr=1&sdmvc=1

Might be able to wiggle your way into a Luxury model if you can find an auto, theres a few manual Luxury's listed there which are as rare as rocking horse poo poos funnily enough.

Bangin' car, the only recent Honda actually worth owning that isnt white goods on wheels and they go quite well.