Which used car would you buy ?

Ltvsharsha on 01/07/2015 - 12:11
Last edited 01/07/2015 - 14:06 by 1 other user

Hi guys , I am looking to get a used car and listed ones range from 2007 to 2012 model. Now , there are cars which has done around 50,000 kms of both 2007 as well as 2012 models . They look the same and and little difference in fuel ecomony . And there are some cosmetic changes on the 2012 model . The price difference is around 10k on the newer model. My question Is which car would you get ? I know the answer is obvious as the 2007 will save 10k. But I want to know if an older car not having been used as much would still be mechanically sound ? I mean if it has always been garaged . Can the engine and the electrics still be in good shape ? I have deliberately not named the brand as i am keen on knowing the the general feeling around this .

Thanks in advance

Automotive

Comments

  • spackbace on 01/07/2015 - 12:30

    Brand is important imo - A 2007 model could require more expensive services, have more concern about things going wrong etc.

  • fillit on 01/07/2015 - 13:20

    it all depends on the car, for arguments sake the 2012 model could have a bunch of improvements to the software or parts due to faults found on the earlier models.

    better to disclose the actual car then decide from there, some cars have minimal differences whereas some have massive ones.

  • mskeggs on 01/07/2015 - 13:25

    Or the newer model might have the deficiencies. Who knows.
    I would always choose to save money on the purchase price. Cars are incredibly costly, losing you thousands of dollars every year before you drive a single kilometre. Anything you can do to stem the losses, by buying somebody else's older car that has had more depreciation, is worth it.
    I am assuming the $10k is more than 50% of the total price. If it is $90k or $100k then I would go with the newer model. If it is $18k or $8k I would always choose the cheaper.
    As for whether the passing of time 'wears out' an older car more than a newer car with the same kms, I would suggest only slightly. The battery would be older, rubber components have a time based lifespan too, but in dollar terms it is all small.

  • Cheeper on 01/07/2015 - 13:35

    With a used car it is all about condition for price. You must be able to assess the car thoroughly, if you are unable to do this then pay for a good assessment.
    The make / model of the car is important as some cars just after 2 years of use become a nightmare not to be touched.

  • pao2x on 01/07/2015 - 15:15

    Brand name is kind of important. If it was a European car, bugger that I would not buy the 2007 model, even the 2012 is icky.

  • renster72 on 01/07/2015 - 15:47

    Depends if you know a mechanic, who is honest .. I have had a few BMW's never had any problems with parts / prices

  • tvsharsha on 01/07/2015 - 17:55

    Thanks guys for your reply , I am happy to take any advice I can get before taking the plunge . It's a Citroen c4. The original price was 44 k for 2007 and 38k for 2012 according to drive.com.au. The current pricing is around 12k and 22k on average . To add to the misery , those cars are not in Victoria . So I will be heavyly dependent on the Reports by the RAC of the respective states .

  • fillit on 02/07/2015 - 09:30

    Citroens aren't really famed for their reliability (arguably can be applied to most french cars) you will find that parts and servicing to be quite expensive as they aren't popular in Australia. You can have state roads check the car in advance, they are pretty thorough with the process, however tread with caution.

  • spackbace on 02/07/2015 - 10:43

    I have to ask, why a C4? Is there really nothing else that can be bought in your state, that's going to offer you a similar drive. I mean let's face it, the C4 isn't anything overly special, it's just a European Mazda 3/ Astra/ Focus etc etc.
    Maybe the cost of inspecting the car in another state, plus increased servicing and insurance, might make more sense to get into something a bit more common?

    • tvsharsha on 02/07/2015 - 11:06

      My apologies ,it's c4 Picasso.its a 7 seater .In my mind it's the best designed family car . the length they have gone in designing the car to make it family friendly is really amazing. The mileage in diesel is arounf 6l/ 100 km (freeway, which is where I mostly drive ) Hence zeroed in on this .

      • spackbace on 02/07/2015 - 11:15

        http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/used-car-review-citr…

        Under test by Carsguide the C4 Picasso diesel averaged 8.4 L/100 km, well above the claimed average of 7.4 L/100 km, but still impressive given the size and shape of the beast. The petrol version was claimed to average 8.9 L/100 km on the recommended 95-octane Premium unleaded. To save a few bucks Citroen says you can use E10 ethanol blend fuel.

        Claimed fuel economy isn't everything! Appreciate you may be buying a diesel model (which in itself has it's own problems), however the difference between say 8L/100 and 10-11L/100km is what, let's say an extra $5/100km. Average person does 20,000km/year, that's $1,000/year between this car and a bigger SUV or like a Tarago. But that $1,000 could be negated by service and insurance costs.

        I would definitely be calling Citroen dealers/mechanics and finding out service costs, whether it has a timing chain or belt, and price of that one.

        Also checking insurance quotes - if parts are hard to find, insurance will likely be higher.

        • tvsharsha on 02/07/2015 - 15:03

          thankyou, I haven't checked the insurance bit will do it ASAP. I have a mechanic friend who I hope will keep the cost down as much as possible. My running is around 35k year and mostly freeway driving . I have asked a couple of owners who were not selling their cars, they claim its well under 6l/100 km on freeways.

        • spackbace on 02/07/2015 - 15:05

          @tvsharsha:

          I have a mechanic friend who I hope will keep the cost down as much as possible.

          Have a chat to him, see if he can find out costs of basic stuff (oil filters etc), and timing chain/belt

  • Steptoe on 02/07/2015 - 19:47

    http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Citroen-C4-Picass…

    Cheap end and comparatively Low km.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/07/2015 - 16:04

      Stay away from French car's, they can't build car's to save their lives.

      Nothing but expensive junk, that includes Renault & Peugeot

  • tvsharsha on 03/07/2015 - 20:46

    Thanks guys for all your inputs ..

  • [Deactivated] on 05/07/2015 - 16:00

    It comes down to preference and your knowledge of car's.

    Me personally I like a car that looks good, has power, is reliable and doesn't waste fuel for its performance and handles good.

    right now id say the best car to buy is a Mazda sp25 2009 which you can get for around 15k. It has cosmetic upgrades, Bose stereo, powerful engine. Runs a chain no belt, is a very reliable car. Engine is easy to work on if you ever need to fix something major (I'm talking maybe in another 10+ years)

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