Looking for inspiration.
Discussion
Hi guys.
Im moving to melbourne in the new year from the uk. Im bringing my tvr tuscan with me but will be needing something else as a daily driver. I will be getting some kind of suv for the mrs but dont know what to get myself. I like wagons and always had fast wagons in the uk but prices are prohibitive in oz. Im budgeting myself to 40k. also Considered hatches like M135 or maybe an S3. But really cant decide. I know that fords and holden wagons are around but not sure what model and read some stories with build quality on the no v8 cars for some reason.
Suggestions welcome as i may have missed the obvious. Would prefer to stay away from sedans.
Cheers
Im moving to melbourne in the new year from the uk. Im bringing my tvr tuscan with me but will be needing something else as a daily driver. I will be getting some kind of suv for the mrs but dont know what to get myself. I like wagons and always had fast wagons in the uk but prices are prohibitive in oz. Im budgeting myself to 40k. also Considered hatches like M135 or maybe an S3. But really cant decide. I know that fords and holden wagons are around but not sure what model and read some stories with build quality on the no v8 cars for some reason.
Suggestions welcome as i may have missed the obvious. Would prefer to stay away from sedans.
Cheers
Avoid anything Holden unless it is a locally built Commodore (VE to VF2). The brand no longer exists but locally built cars have decent aftermarket support.
I was looking for a $40k wagon and kept coming back to Skoda.
Carsales will give a good indication of what is available but most will be fairly dull (Hyundai etc) or older European stuff (Merc / BMW / Audi) and therefore expensive.
$40k will get you a 150k km VF V8 wagon mind you…
I was looking for a $40k wagon and kept coming back to Skoda.
Carsales will give a good indication of what is available but most will be fairly dull (Hyundai etc) or older European stuff (Merc / BMW / Audi) and therefore expensive.
$40k will get you a 150k km VF V8 wagon mind you…
Good call on bringing your Tuscan with you, there some nice roads around Melb and with the roof off its perfect for it. I imported mine nearly 15yrs ago when I first came back but its been sitting in the garage under a car cover for the last 7 yrs or so. I will get it up and running next year.
I'm not sure what you want from your run about but for $40k i would just get something like a I30N second hand or a new I20N or Fiesta ST for under $40K. I would get the Fiesta ST personally because its the 4 door version here unlike in the UK. These little hot hatches are perfect for Aust conditions and a laugh to drive as well as being very practical. 2nd hand here a few yr old the ST could be had here for not much over $20K. I was looking at getting one but changed my mind and when for practicality instead and just place an order on a Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid. Boring as hell but I'm note quite ready for the full electric thing yet.
I'm not sure what you want from your run about but for $40k i would just get something like a I30N second hand or a new I20N or Fiesta ST for under $40K. I would get the Fiesta ST personally because its the 4 door version here unlike in the UK. These little hot hatches are perfect for Aust conditions and a laugh to drive as well as being very practical. 2nd hand here a few yr old the ST could be had here for not much over $20K. I was looking at getting one but changed my mind and when for practicality instead and just place an order on a Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid. Boring as hell but I'm note quite ready for the full electric thing yet.
Edited by onny on Tuesday 7th December 21:39
Wagons are a bit of dying thing here, especially with a bit of zip. I used to have an R36 which I enjoyed, but when I moved on from that I could only really settle on a Skoda Superb 206TSi which has been pretty good all round. The usual Audi S/RS Avants are around, but pricey. Golf R wagon or Passat? Octavia vRS? You can get BMW wagons, but don't see many around. Nothing really performance in the far eastern brands that comes to mind.
Don't know much about the Holden wagons, but did have a Commodore SV6 as a hire car for a weekend.......wasn't impressed. Dreadful transmission.
As an aside, going on the name "Jetfixer" are you in the aircraft maintenance game? Things are not too good here at the moment if you are. If you have A320 experience, Jetstar in Melbourne could be worth a try.
Don't know much about the Holden wagons, but did have a Commodore SV6 as a hire car for a weekend.......wasn't impressed. Dreadful transmission.
As an aside, going on the name "Jetfixer" are you in the aircraft maintenance game? Things are not too good here at the moment if you are. If you have A320 experience, Jetstar in Melbourne could be worth a try.
I've been her almost 3 years, been after a fast wagon for about as long. There aren't many about - usual suspects have been named above. One you might overlook is the Mazda 6 wagon - it's available with a 2.5 turbo here which isn't in the UK. Terrific cars overall, perhaps not as wild as you seem to be looking for though.
Another suggestion, though they’re getting on a bit now, but Subaru Liberty GT wagons are excellent all-rounders that can be found with manual gearboxes. The youngest will be the Gen5 which stopped in 2014 and late model (2012-2014) manual wagons don’t come up often. Perfect demonstration of numbers not being everything and so much tuning potential with lots of specialists around. Looks aren’t to everyone’s tastes but they are built to last and, from experience, more reliable than the internet suggests.
I ran a 2005 Gen 4 for a couple of years, and had a 2013 Gen 5 for 4 years until late 2020 when we outgrew it - probably the best all-round car I’ve ever owned and if we hadn’t needed something bigger I would probably have never sold it.
I ran a 2005 Gen 4 for a couple of years, and had a 2013 Gen 5 for 4 years until late 2020 when we outgrew it - probably the best all-round car I’ve ever owned and if we hadn’t needed something bigger I would probably have never sold it.
I have been here 3 months and was in a similar situation as you. Wanted something fun for a daily driver but not OTT given I hear how strict the speeding rules are here. Coming from the UK, some of the European cars just don't feel like value for money when you compare the prices back in the UK. Also, like the rest of the world, the used car prices have skyrocketed so not a great a time to buy but needs must.
Ended up with this!
Ended up with this!
$40k will nearly get you into a regular GR Yaris. You're two thirds the way to a Golf R wagon (there's heaps for sale - bloody hell!). Mazda 6 GT wagon with the turbo 2.5 maybe. Commodore (and HSV) VE and VF wagons will be pretty expensive if you want a V8 - otherwise the V6's (Holden only) are reasonably cheap as they don't have the fanbase of the V8!
All the above mentioned ones!
But I do include the last of the Holden Commo-Insignias, not the V6 one or any with AWD. (Only had the V6 with AWD in Oz)
The 2 litre, 4 cylinder turbo, only came in front wheel drive. Yes, parts might be hard to get hold of, but I would say no harder than the Euro stuff as it is a euro car.
The Aussie one came with a 191kw engine, which I can't find on any of the UK versions, and a 9 speed auto.
I drove a sedan a while ago and it went pretty well. Something like an RS wagon would be around $30k. Some will have been at the hire company though and maybe on "patrol" so be a little careful buying there. The AWD Passats also go on "patrol".
Guy at work bought one and likes it a lot or his wife does! Used as the family transporter instead of an SUV.
But I do include the last of the Holden Commo-Insignias, not the V6 one or any with AWD. (Only had the V6 with AWD in Oz)
The 2 litre, 4 cylinder turbo, only came in front wheel drive. Yes, parts might be hard to get hold of, but I would say no harder than the Euro stuff as it is a euro car.
The Aussie one came with a 191kw engine, which I can't find on any of the UK versions, and a 9 speed auto.
I drove a sedan a while ago and it went pretty well. Something like an RS wagon would be around $30k. Some will have been at the hire company though and maybe on "patrol" so be a little careful buying there. The AWD Passats also go on "patrol".
Guy at work bought one and likes it a lot or his wife does! Used as the family transporter instead of an SUV.
motomk said:
All the above mentioned ones!
But I do include the last of the Holden Commo-Insignias, not the V6 one or any with AWD. (Only had the V6 with AWD in Oz)
The 2 litre, 4 cylinder turbo, only came in front wheel drive. Yes, parts might be hard to get hold of, but I would say no harder than the Euro stuff as it is a euro car.
The Aussie one came with a 191kw engine, which I can't find on any of the UK versions, and a 9 speed auto.
I drove a sedan a while ago and it went pretty well. Something like an RS wagon would be around $30k. Some will have been at the hire company though and maybe on "patrol" so be a little careful buying there. The AWD Passats also go on "patrol".
Guy at work bought one and likes it a lot or his wife does! Used as the family transporter instead of an SUV.
No no no no no no no no no.But I do include the last of the Holden Commo-Insignias, not the V6 one or any with AWD. (Only had the V6 with AWD in Oz)
The 2 litre, 4 cylinder turbo, only came in front wheel drive. Yes, parts might be hard to get hold of, but I would say no harder than the Euro stuff as it is a euro car.
The Aussie one came with a 191kw engine, which I can't find on any of the UK versions, and a 9 speed auto.
I drove a sedan a while ago and it went pretty well. Something like an RS wagon would be around $30k. Some will have been at the hire company though and maybe on "patrol" so be a little careful buying there. The AWD Passats also go on "patrol".
Guy at work bought one and likes it a lot or his wife does! Used as the family transporter instead of an SUV.
And no.
Yes, the 2.0 is a good car (it was detuned for Aus so the V6 kept the halo crown) but you’d have to be completely mental to buy any non-locally produced Holden now, especially one out of Europe.
Most ZBs will be ex-fleet of some sort - a lot went to hire companies. Cops didn’t take RS wagons IIRC: LT wagon and RS / RS V6 cop spec hatches from memory.
If you do buy one check the actual build date not the compliance date - some of them sat around for a very long time (my Calais Tourer was 18 months old when it was shoved in to company fleet).
And once again, no.
Standby, whilst me and my corporate sponsor grab a room! 
I generally don't put negative stuff up, but the ones to avoid are any Commodores with the V6 in them going back to the VZ.
Do not be tempted by an SV6 Wagon regardless of how good it might look. Check the internet out for problems with those engines (Alloytec).
Yes, you might find one that has been religiously serviced but I would say the risk is too big.
Of course, I recommend the V8 engined Commodore/Calais VE or VF cars! but there is room in there for the orphaned car I mentioned above.
All Holdens are orphaned but the servicing is not difficult and service parts are easy to get hold of, whether from here or overseas.
www.carsales.com.au is the place to go and have a look. Prices are silly at the moment.
After driving my friends old 2015 Ecoboost Falcon, I reckon you could add the latest Focus ST to, similar or same engine as the 4 cylinder Mustang. Competitor to the Hyundai i30N.
I am a fan of the Superb and Passat AWD cars, the Golf-R engined ones! Be careful with the Passats as they can be ex police to.
PomBstard said:
Perfect demonstration of numbers not being everything and so much tuning potential with lots of specialists around.
What’s the deal with tuning in Australia? I thought tuning wasn’t allowed? I know things like lowering are allowed to a certain point. What is allowed and what is not? Does it vary from state to state? I will be in NSWGassing Station | Australia | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff