VIC What Car

[D177NUT]

Aussie PHers,

I've been in Melbourne for a couple of weeks now and I want some wheels.

Until I find employment, it wouldn't be wise to sink too much savings into it, so I'm looking at a budget of $5-10k. I appreciate this is 'entry-level' over here, but some of the options really are dire.

Before I landed, I was set on a V8 Ute, because I thought they were kinda cool and a bit stupid and pointless. But now I'm here, they seem to have an image problem and I'm not so sure anymore.

So what's left? Would an Alfa GTV or MGF be financial suicide over here without a good specialist and parts supplier? I'm not really interested in any other EU or Jap stuff. Possibly SAAB or Volvo at a push, but I assume they would have the same issues? Or are there any random JDM market only models I'm missing?

I guess the sensible money would go on a cooking model Commodore or Falcon? Or something Japanese like a 4WD Subaru, Prelude or maybe MX-5?

I don't have any real requirements in terms of body shape, number of seats etc. I just want something 'interesting', ideally petrol and manual (but most seem to be autos)?

Sorry for my ramblings, I just wondered if anyone had any experience or advice in this situation.

Edited by D177NUT on Sunday 8th September 12:05

[motomk]

Maybe just get an econo-buzz-box until life is settled in Oz? a Camry, Magna or a 380SX? or a BA XT falcon, maybe get one of them in a manual? Very rare. If you are driving around the city a lot, then an Auto is the way to go.
Friend sold a VX II SS V8 manual a few weeks ago, had a few kms but was used all the time. Had a cam in it too and a few other mods. Sold for well under $10k.
I had a look for an SV8 which is a basic SS more or less in the 2002-2006 VY/VZ shape but they are still over $10k
Only cars built in Oz were/are the Toyota Camry/Avalon/Aurion, Mitsubishi Magna/380SX, Falcon and Commodore.
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Mitsubi...
Magna sports and Magna Ralliart are rare semi-performance cars exclusive to Oz. Falcons and Commodores are getting around $90 to fill up nowadays, but they are cheaper to service and for parts. BA Futura, a taxi by another name but reliable.
http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Ford-Fal...
http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Ford-Fal...
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Holden-... Amusing numberplate. Think it maybe a series I, as it has different stalks on it.
If getting a sedan, try and get a 2001 VX II SS onwards as it has some better parts on it.
Only putting up oz related stuff, not any of the euro stuff as I am guessing you will get one of those when you are happy here.

[Pommygranite]

I'm in the same boat as you in that I need some budget motoring. All I seem to come up with are:

Mitsubishi 380
Honda Accord
Mitsubishi Verada
Saab 9-5
Volvo S80 T6
Saab 93 Aero
Old Lexus LS400
Honda Legend
Old Audi, BMW or Merc.

Think the 380 will win as cheap, 6 cyl, Auto, reliable and modern-ish with good Aircon.

[D177NUT]

Thanks for the input guys; plenty to think about there.

You do seem to get a lot of Swedish metal for your money, but is that because there is a lack of spares and knowledge? But these cars are relatively bulletproof anyway surely? Or are they just unloved marques out here?

[SGOxon]

D177NUT said:

Thanks for the input guys; plenty to think about there.

You do seem to get a lot of Swedish metal for your money, but is that because there is a lack of spares and knowledge? But these cars are relatively bulletproof anyway surely? Or are they just unloved marques out here?

No, they are not unloved specifically, but most people often do not look after cars here in the same way that they do in Europe, so old Euro cars are a lottery. I was in the market for an Xc90 and spoke to a few mechanics and experts and was warned off them because when they have gone through a few years and Kms of life, people tend to skimp on servicing, plus parts are ruinously expensive. I ended up with a Kluger as we needed 7 seats. Not what I wanted, but a good, solid car, cheap to service and parts cheap.

It's not to say you won't find a good one that has been looked after, but if something major goes wrong, you'll need deep pockets, from what I hear.

[D177NUT]

Understood, thanks.

What about a Jeep Cherokee. Same problem?

[Google [bot]]

With that budget I'd be tempted to look at something like a jap import, Toyota Aristo twin turbo or Caldina GT-T for example.

[Bibbs]

Google [bot] said:

With that budget I'd be tempted to look at something like a jap import, Toyota Aristo twin turbo or Caldina GT-T for example.

Mk4 Supras must be around that now?

I'm not sure Skyline GTRs are at that price yet (and I'd not go for a non-GTR).

[TAS1981]

How has a what car on PH not mentioned an MX-5 yet?

MX-5 - It's what I did. Loved it. Bought for 10k and sold for 10k a year and a half later. Great fun, top down. Just swapped it for a 2007 SSV Commodore in black. Loving that too but its not as much fun to drive.

You can get not too ropey ones for 8k-ish. Less if you want something to tinker with too.

[Bibbs]

WeirdNeville said:

Try $50k and rising.

Nice R32s are $20k .. (I only really like the 32 & 34)

[Jader1973]

If it is just something you want to keep for a short while then the best bet is probably a 6 cyl Falcon or Commodore with AT.

Manuals are rare for a reason (i.e. nobody wants them) and to be honest are a pain in traffic (I've got a manual at the moment and can assure you Citylink is even less fun when you have to change gear yourself!).

Anything Euro instantly drops you in to specialist territory for anything other than simple jobs. Remember euro = prestige = $$$$$ down here (even stuff regarded as crap in the UK like Peugeot and Citroen).

[D177NUT]

Thanks for everyone's input so far. This fell to the bottom of the to-do list for a while, but I'm itching to get behind the wheel again soon.

I'm looking at standard (exhaust excepted), manual, V8, 2001-2004 Commodore SSs for around 8-12k.

What's the worst that can happen?

I know I might lose my shirt at resale with a V8 manual, but I'll have to accept that. And apologies for ignoring advice on manual vs auto!

I'm thinking it best to buy from a small dealer, for a bit of warranty and to save hassle with Rego and RWC, which I don't fully understand yet.

I've done quite a bit of reading and the engines appear to handle the kms, spares and labour are cheap, so as long as I go in with my eyes open, I should be okay. Shouldn't I??

And Christmas should be a good time to buy...

[Hasbeen]

Well done D177NUT, you're showing a lot more sense than most of your Pommy mates. It appears to take a generation for most Poms to get over the European thing. Perhaps they are homesick for their rusty cars.

Just remember, the last German car suitable for use in Oz conditions was the VW beetle, & the rest of the European stuff is worse.

Commodores & Falcons are perfect for Oz, but really only when we could buy them for half price, ex government with 40,000Km on them, with perfect servicing. Now the governments have stopped buying them they are dying.

Failing one of these the only sensible thing to buy is Jap, & that really means Jap standard Asian these days. So go buy that Mazda, Toyota or Holden, [Jap import], & have trouble free cheap motoring. You just have to put up with FWD. I guess we have to include some of the Korean things today, but only under protest.

I have noticed that our Poms even have to go odd ball, when being almost sensible. You can get a Suzuki/Subaru/Honda, but why go half way, they are almost European, but made for the USA.

What ever you do don't buy imported Ford, unless you buy a Ranger 4WD turbo diesel, [a Mazda], the rest are European, confirming Ford's intention to commit suicide. They used to sell rebadged Mazda's in Oz, then went European just before Mazda started producing the best shopping trolleys on earth. You really do have to give it to the Ford management.

Just to show how good I am at advice, I drive a Ford, [really a Mazda with a funny body], a Honda, & a couple of Triumphs.

Edited by Hasbeen on Friday 6th December 10:50

Edited by Hasbeen on Friday 6th December 10:53

[markirl]

Hasbeen said:

Just remember, the last German car suitable for use in Oz conditions was the VW beetle, & the rest of the European stuff is worse.

tongue in cheek, right?

OP, I faced a similar dilemma to you. When I was finished with the EL Falcon wagon that I bought for backpacking, I was determined to buy a manual V8 Falcon/Commodore for <$12k and I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't buy a European car, especially a BMW as I'd had my fill of them back home..

After a good few test drives of Falcons/Commodores, the raw power was fantastic as was the noise but I couldn't get over how badly they were built especially the Commodores. I test drove an XR6 turbo and minus the noise was a better car than the V8 equivalent which sort of changed my perspective on the whole thing.

In the end, I was fed up of looking at thrashed cars so I got an e39 530i Sport for somewhere in or around your budget and it's absolutely fantastic. I still lust after a V8 ute or sedan but I'd need to spend upwards of 20k to get the one I want and just can't justify that for something I'll do about 5000kms in a year.

Now, my advice isn't to buy an e39/European car but to consider alternatives to the V8 engines, the XR6 turbo is immense! I personally don't believe in the small dealer/warranty thing as most of the warranties aren't worth the paper they're written on and most private sellers will sell with RWC.

[D177NUT]

In true PH style, the budget has more than doubled and I am on the lookout for a 2006-2009 Commodore VE SSV manual for around 20-22k.

If anyone knows of anything available in VIC, it'd be great if you could let me know.

Thanks for all your input and HNY.

[Bibbs]

D177NUT said:

In true PH style, the budget has more than doubled and I am on the lookout for a 2006-2009 Commodore VE SSV manual for around 20-22k.

If anyone knows of anything available in VIC, it'd be great if you could let me know.

Thanks for all your input and HNY.

We'll done.

Check out the VE thread. There is a load of info there, and a few owners have shown themselves.

[Genks]

[quote=markirl]

In the end, I was fed up of looking at thrashed cars so I got an e39 530i Sport for somewhere in or around your budget and it's absolutely fantastic. quote]

And therein this post, it reiterates why Europeans are not exactly the smartest egg in the basket!!

[Genks]

WeirdNeville said:

Quoted for posterity.

Edited by WeirdNeville on Tuesday 31st December 15:09

And you had to edit that too?

[Jader1973]

To get back on topic

I've had 13 VEs - 2 sedans, rest were wagons, both sedans were V8s, and I've forgotten how many of the wagons have been V8s.

I've only ever had 2 manuals - one as a loaner when I bent a V8 wagon (not badly but it needed surgery) and my last one - a Z series SS wagon.

I did not like the manuals. Clutch is heavy and the box isn't the best.

Early autos have the same engine as the manuals - they dropped power and torque when AFM arrived(can't remember when, but they have an ecoline AFM badge on the back and no V8 6 litre badge on the wings).

So, I'd strongly suggest you drive both before you buy - there is a reason most people on here are saying go auto

Don't come moaning to us if you get a manual and find it hard to live with

And pics to add interest:

First one - SS sedan aka the purple monster: an AUTO


Last one - VE Z series SS wagon: a MANUAL


Which was replaced by a VF SS wagon, also an AUTO

[Pommygranite]

Jader1973 said:

To get back on topic

I've had 13 VEs - 2 sedans, rest were wagons, both sedans were V8s, and I've forgotten how many of the wagons have been V8s.

I've only ever had 2 manuals - one as a loaner when I bent a V8 wagon (not badly but it needed surgery) and my last one - a Z series SS wagon.

I did not like the manuals. Clutch is heavy and the box isn't the best.

Early autos have the same engine as the manuals - they dropped power and torque when AFM arrived(can't remember when, but they have an ecoline AFM badge on the back and no V8 6 litre badge on the wings).

So, I'd strongly suggest you drive both before you buy - there is a reason most people on here are saying go auto

Don't come moaning to us if you get a manual and find it hard to live with

And pics to add interest:

First one - SS sedan aka the purple monster: an AUTO


Last one - VE Z series SS wagon: a MANUAL


Which was replaced by a VF SS wagon, also an AUTO

You must love VE's!

How different is the VF to the VE?