OT - small 2WD cars
Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 13:28
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Moose
Am looking for a reliable 2nd hand small car for
young daughter who is learning to drive (she's having a hard time trying to cope with manual Cruiser). So after an auto. Prefer 4 cylinder. Budget is around $10K. Are there any makes/models we should stay away from, and/or any that are inherently reliable?
Thanks in advance for your feedback from the Moose.
Reply By: Muddy doe (SA) - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 13:34
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 13:34
Go the Toyota Corolla
Sedan or Hatch!
We have a 1999 model Corolla Conquest
sedan with 120,000km on it and it is going wonderfully, Very reliable and will be with us quite a few years yet. Probably worth about 7-9k.
Should be able to get a nice one for 10k that will last years longer than all these lettle buzz box Kias and Hyundais and stuff that you see on the roads.
Muddy
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 14:43
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 14:43
Pulsars and Corollas. Both Japanese made.
If going for a pulsar, get one with drivers side airbag - they all had airbags after 1999, and the Q models had airbags after 1997. Our girls like the hatches that ran from 1999 to late 2000 (N15). Very reliable economical cars - very cheap and easy to maintain.
Corollas - you may even get the late shape that came out in 2001 and ran until 2006. My son bought a 2002 wagon recently for $10,500 - it was high mileage but in perfect nick. They hold their value very
well, which is the main downside when buying second-hand.
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Reply By: Penguin (NSW) - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 15:43
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 15:43
Got to agree with the above - Corolla. My 19yo son bought one 2 years ago with about 120000 k's on it. It hasn't missed a beat.
Mike
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Reply By: Member - Axle - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 20:01
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 20:01
Subaru are
well worth looking at as
well!, bullet proof, great to drive, good safetey features, good resale value can't praise them enough.
Axle.
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 20:27
Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 20:27
Axle,
I've developed a love-hate relationship with the 4wd Subarus. When near new, they are brilliant, and stay good for the first 150,000k+. But from the few we've had in the family, they become a hassle because of their complexity. The boxer is a brilliant design thats relatively easy to work on, but the twin timing belts, cylinder heads, and lots of other minor problems gave me no end of grief as they got old. For $10k you'd be getting an older and higher mileage Subi. We sold our last Subi a year ago,and my kids now have 2wds, and the simplicity is welcome.
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Reply By: Ian from Thermoguard Instruments - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 20:15
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 20:15
Corollas and Pulsars are hard to beat for lasting
well and holding value. The Toyo holds value better but the Nissans are more fun. I particularly like the later Pulsars in Ti or even better SSS format. (Had an NX-R coupe in the late '90s - the SR20 was a gem of an engine.) If you can get one with ABS and/or air bags within your budget, go for that.
[Strangely enough, my next purchase after the NX-R was my '77 Series III ex-Army Land Rover ute, followed a few years later by the '97 LR Discovery wagon (that replaced our much-loved '92 Toyota Cressida
sedan). I don't recall now but perhaps a suffered a sharp bump on the head around then???]
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Reply By: madfisher - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 20:22
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 20:22
Got to agree with the corrolas. Son had one with 330000ks and it still drove
well and never put a foot wrong till he sold it
Cheers Pete
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