Whats a good small car

IH8HSV · 24-12-2007, 12:11 AM

Hi all...

Im looking at buying the misses a small car for her to go to work and back - mainly due to fuel prices these days and she has a 100km round trip everyday.

What would be a good car I could get for under $5000?

Ive seen many advertised and alot of them are in good nic. The Ford Trio are very cheap but i dont know much about them.

A mate reckons i cant go wrong with a hyundai but once again i dont know much about them. I would appreciate any input - especially those who misses have small cars.

Cheers.

atec77 · 24-12-2007, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IH8HSV

Hi all...

Im looking at buying the misses a small car for her to go to work and back - mainly due to fuel prices these days and she has a 100km round trip everyday.

What would be a good car I could get for under $5000?

Ive seen many advertised and alot of them are in good nic. The Ford Trio are very cheap but i dont know much about them.

A mate reckons i cant go wrong with a hyundai but once again i dont know much about them. I would appreciate any input - especially those who misses have small cars.

Cheers.

Toyota or go to the auctions and buy a Golf ( great little car)

IH8HSV · 24-12-2007, 12:20 AM

Thanks for the quick reply.

You mean like a corrolla or something?

jazzy · 24-12-2007, 12:48 AM

Definetly Toyota, they are great cars, you tend to spend a little more on original purchase price, ive had three so far (only gone because people seem to hit me, often.) and they have all been great cars. the early 90 model camrys are good. Please dont buy a Hyundai, or a Kia..or Daewoo.. they are crap. Poorly made, short life span, and dont keep their value. ( Just my opinion guys, please dont beat me up) Good luck!!

bentles · 24-12-2007, 03:37 AM

2 door ea 3.2 cfi colum shift bench seat 3 seater.

why are you asking this in the e series section?

but having said that avoid the korean and chinese manufacturers.

go for a decent condition corrolla or a 323 astina or something.

anything made by daewoo kia hyundai and all them korean shitty chinese cars are all rubbish.

maybe even a little astra or something as they are based on the european platform not asian like a barina...

cheers

gthofan · 24-12-2007, 03:51 AM

Go for a suzuki carry. Small mini van. Or a subaru fiori.

Au2falcons · 24-12-2007, 06:42 AM

Can't go past a corolla in that price range. Just like most people have said steer clear of the korean made cars.

Someone has suggested a golf which is a good car too. But be warned that spares & repairs on these cars are expensive.

Bucknaked · 24-12-2007, 06:47 AM

I had an 88 camry. Fantastic cars. You can get those for around $3,000. SV21 Is the model number I think.

MotherNatureVer2 · 24-12-2007, 07:04 AM

Since this isnt really an E model question I will move the thread to where you will get a greater range of advise in the main forums.

In saying that why not a little laser. We recently got a little KC for the kids to learn to drive in & as a shopping basket to save the Sprint a bit, TOP little car, cant kill it & its cheap as chips to run

XR Martin · 24-12-2007, 07:14 AM

EL on Gas, cheaper to run than any car mentioned so far.

boss 300 · 24-12-2007, 07:31 AM

100 ks trip, bugger the fuel price,get a tuff ,big and safe car mate ,priority =safety

boss-290 · 24-12-2007, 09:55 AM

Daihatsu Charade FTW!

Yellow_Festiva · 24-12-2007, 11:32 AM

If I were going to buy or advise on a small car under $5k the Ford Festiva is an honest bullit proof car.

The 1.5l Trio "S" is the pick of the bunch.

My car has surprised myself and my dad, who promised me that I would need a new car just after the warranty expired.

After almost 8 years and 170K she still drives like new, uses 6l / 100km and provided that you find one with genuine low kays that has been correctly maintained you will hopefully have the same.

I dont really think it's a fair comment to say "All korean shite is crap" as well....

Fairlane · 24-12-2007, 11:54 AM

I reckon the Camry might be the go here. 100klm is a long trip to be doing in a shoz box charade. I would normally suggest Laser 323 as they are dirt cheap to run and fix, but i think your best option might be to get here a SV21 Camry 2.2l. Reliable, a reasonbly comortable drive with aircon and reasonably economical

Actually in fact i just reasearched you can bet the newer shape for under 5g's. This is an absolute no contest Post 97 Camry 4 cylinder, infinately better than a Festive, Excel whatever

broken_suave · 24-12-2007, 12:50 PM

Yes I would suggest a 4cyl Camry or Magna. If you can find a Magna that has been well maintained, they're really quite good cars, Likewise the Camry. But if you found a Magna and a Camry in equally good condition, I'd go for the Magna. I've always found them more comfortable, with better aircon, and to be honest, a little punchier than the Camry.

Just dont get something too small, they're simply not as safe, and if its highway driving, small cars just dont enjoy going at sustained high speeds. Whereas a larger Camry or Magna, despite being 4cyl are much happier with highway driving.

Hope you find something suitable.

jakkes · 24-12-2007, 01:07 PM

escort panelvan 2.0l manule HAhahaha

Yellow_Festiva · 24-12-2007, 01:12 PM

Since when is a Camry or Magna a small car?

broken_suave · 24-12-2007, 01:30 PM

No one said anything about the Camry or Magna being small cars, in my post I suggested buying something that wasnt too small. I wasnt suggesting them because they were small, I was suggesting them despite the fact they're NOT small.

The original post asked for small cars, because of fuel prices. I understand there could very well be other reasons, maybe his wife doesnt like medium to larger sized cars. But rather than excluding these cars from the search, I merely suggested they not be over looked. I beleive them to be quite decent cars, with quite acceptable fuel economy despite their larger size. This, I thought was important, as in the original post, he mentioned a 100km round trip everyday.

Simply put, I gave an opinion. It may not be what the original poster wants. Which is perfectly fine. Does it hurt him that I suggest these cars? I'd certainly hope not. So I dont think its too much to ask for me to give an opinion without someone questioning it.

To IH8HSV: Just to be sure mate, I wasnt trying to nudge you in a direction you didnt want to go. I just figured the Magna and Camry are also worth a look. Best of luck mate.

Werd. · 24-12-2007, 04:21 PM

Magna for 5k.. Wont need timing chain done for another 50,000ks, should be good to go.

burnz · 24-12-2007, 04:23 PM

"what's a good small car"........biantie

Falcon_Phill · 24-12-2007, 04:24 PM

Minis are fun.

ZA-289 · 24-12-2007, 04:26 PM

Corollas are great, Festiva's can blow manual gearbox's, otherwise they are good.

LOCO XP · 24-12-2007, 04:37 PM

I stumbled across a '93 Magna, 4cyl manual, with 160,000km for $2000 with 6 months rego. I have since done 73,000km over 3 years, and the only expenses have been simple maintenance (1 CV joint, screen, tyres, battery, oil changes) its been a good hack, not exactly brilliant on fuel, but its nice to drive and very reliable. Definately earned its keep. Depending on whats available, Corollas and Camrys are probably the pick

Brett3158 · 24-12-2007, 04:49 PM

A falcon on LPG from EB-EL you will cover with 5 g. This will be safer and more comfortable than a sardine can.

**Silver Ghia** · 24-12-2007, 05:03 PM

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.

FTGAutosalvage · 24-12-2007, 05:07 PM

magna ?? i really wouldnt suggest one. although the $100 TR magna we blew up at our christams party did last 6 minutes on full revs. the toyota a few years ago did about the same until the distributor cap melted off.

I would suggest a auto festiva or a manual 1.8 kj laser or for something a little bigger a mid 90's telstar AX or AY are a great car.

Werd. · 24-12-2007, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOCO XP

I stumbled across a '93 Magna, 4cyl manual, with 160,000km for $2000 with 6 months rego. I have since done 73,000km over 3 years, and the only expenses have been simple maintenance (1 CV joint, screen, tyres, battery, oil changes) its been a good hack, not exactly brilliant on fuel, but its nice to drive and very reliable. Definately earned its keep. Depending on whats available, Corollas and Camrys are probably the pick

Yeah great cars, although like to turn into bonfires. Fuel usage is pretty average in them.

robjh80 · 24-12-2007, 09:35 PM

Suzuki Baleno - comfortable, very well built and almost unbreakable.

matty88 · 24-12-2007, 09:37 PM

Ford Lasers.... I have the 1.8l TX3 non turbo, absolute rocket. I have a KF Laser sedan that's 1.6l carb, but it's really sluggish :(. Love my Lasers

V8falcons · 24-12-2007, 09:53 PM

Another vote for a sv21??? camry, or celica (same drive train) of the same era, I car pool with a mate to work in a celica 86 twincam 2.0ltr it gets great fuel economy up and down the expressway,goes ok,but after not driving a front wheel drive car for a while,torque steer did suprised me on a few occasions.before he got the celica he had an sv21 camry wagon and it just keep going,so long as you change the timming belt,I know of a few guys who have lost timming belts on the hume on the way to work,One only last week in a 2.2ltr 95 celica $$$$$$$$$$

Depending on the type of driving your misses does,as my AU SR wagon gets over 700ks to a tank consistantly(expressway only).But not really a small car hey....depends on who you ask.