Low Maintenance Car Brands

ProBoDoBo on 28/08/2018 - 00:26
Last edited 28/08/2018 - 09:19 by 1 other user

Hi I am planning to buy a 2nd hand car preferably a sedan or an SUV. Just confused about the maintenance costs associated with different models like Japanese/European etc.

Which car brands are easy to maintain for long run in terms of sedan or SUV.

Thanks

Edit: Budget is around 5-6K. I travel mostly using Public transport so would be using the car for short trips or during the weekend. Also, as a first time car buyer with minimal knowledge is it better to buy it through a dealership or auctions or Gumtree/Marketplace?

Automotive

Comments

  • AdamFury on 28/08/2018 - 00:37
    +1

    I'm a Subaru owner but I always hear people praising Toyota

  • spackbace on 28/08/2018 - 00:52
    +2

    There's lemons in any brand

    Given you want 2nd hand, how about an indicative budget you want to spend?

    Just looking at 5-seaters?

    • ProBoDoBo on 28/08/2018 - 07:29

      ~ 5-6K

      I travel to work by public transport so I would be using the car during the weekends or for short trips around.
      Yes 5 seater is fine.

      • spackbace on 28/08/2018 - 10:17
        +1

        Yeesh, $5-6k will be tough to know, that's a pretty old car. Could say a Corolla is reliable and cheap to maintain but at your price point its had a few owners, so you won't know.

        Just make sure that whatever it is isn't due for a timing belt replacement

  • Cheeper on 28/08/2018 - 01:23
    +1

    Toyota.
    Buying second hand can be a pot luck thing though. Even the best cars can be ruined in the hands of bad owners.

  • Davo1111 on 28/08/2018 - 03:20

    Any popular mainstream jap/kor car with limited models

    • HighAndDry on 28/08/2018 - 10:26

      At 5-6k, the cars are going to be too old (mostly?) to rely on the recent trend of better quality korean cars. I'd stick to Toyotas… and that's basically it actually.

  • whooah1979 on 28/08/2018 - 05:45

    The models starting with c and ends with an a/y is cheap and reliable.

    • pegaxs on 28/08/2018 - 06:48
      +3

      Camira? Craptiva? Cheap yes, reliable, no…

      If you wanted to say “Camry”, then just say it.

      Instead of turning it into a guessing competition, why not just make suggestions.

      • 2jzzzz on 28/08/2018 - 06:59

        Corolla…. Geez

      • zuuutoootuuu on 28/08/2018 - 09:51
        +1

        Corolla/Camry

      • whooah1979 on 28/08/2018 - 10:18
        -3

        Some ozb like to neg posts that recommends either of these models.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/08/2018 - 07:37
      +1

      Honda City

  • BertieBrown on 28/08/2018 - 07:11
    +1

    What other folks have said about Japanese or Korean (except Daewoo or Ssanyong; no offence intended to either owners I just wouldn’t recommend those makes) I think is on point.

    The other thing I’d suggest is checking the service history, get the car inspected even if it’s a dealer car, by RAA or equivalent state automotive association. Look for something with low KM’s, if possible, and this is just my thoughts (others may disagree) but I’d avoid cars with a tow bar, as who knows what was towed (if you absolutely must have one maybe try and factor in the cost when you buy).

    Have a look at the cars interior, under the back seats, in between the front seats, at the boot and the wheel well etc and check how clean it is or maybe what’s been transported. Sort of gives you an idea of how well the car was maintained.

    • Spam Service on 06/09/2018 - 09:50

      except Daewoo or Ssanyong; no offence intended to either owners I just wouldn’t recommend those makes

      I wouldn't recommend them over a japanese brand, but for the price you can get them for they're great. Bought a daewoo lanos for $1200, put 60,000kms on it without any issues, just fluid changes, then sold it for $1300. They can't take a thrashing like a corolla can, but if they're not mistreated they're fine.

  • ESEMCE on 28/08/2018 - 07:33
    +6

    As a rule of thumb, anything made in Japan, any modern Kia/Hyundai, and many Japanese Brand models that are made in Thailand or similar Free Trade Agreement countries.

    Steer clear of Anything European, anything made in South Africa, or made in the USA.

  • Godric on 28/08/2018 - 07:48
    +1

    Toyota

    • ProBoDoBo on 28/08/2018 - 07:52

      Rav4 is the most likely option then in my range for SUVs.

      • Godric on 28/08/2018 - 07:55

        Good choice, with your budget though you'd be looking at quite an older model, which is fine

  • Ryanek on 28/08/2018 - 08:13
    +1

    Corolla is solid and parts are plentiful.

  • stirlo on 28/08/2018 - 08:34
    +1

    Do you really need an SUV? You'll get a more modern safer car for 5-6k if you just go an asian hatch. A 5-6k SUV is likely to be much older and therefor less reliable…

    • ProBoDoBo on 28/08/2018 - 08:39

      I'd prefer a car with less kms which is more economic over a car type.

      • redvaldez on 28/08/2018 - 12:15

        What do you mean "more economic over a car type"? A sedan or hatchback (e.g. a Corolla) will, like for like, be more economical than a SUV (e.g. RAV4). A car will use less fuel than a SUV because they weigh less and are more aerodynamic.

        Also, because a SUV will cost more to purchase new than a sedan or hatchback, they will cost more to buy second-hand. Therefore, you will need to look at an older or higher kilometer SUV than a similarly sized sedan or hatchback to meet your budget.

        Unless there was a specific reason why you wanted a SUV - e.g. you travelled gravel roads regularly and wanted an AWD SUV - I'd give it a miss and go for a car.

        • HighAndDry on 28/08/2018 - 13:34
          +2

          I think OP means for him: "Economy" is more important than "specific car type", so they're willing to consider non-SUVs for better economy.

        • redvaldez on 29/08/2018 - 10:17

          @HighAndDry: Gotcha, thanks

  • DarkOz on 28/08/2018 - 08:53
    +2

    If you want low maintenance don't get a SUV. The tyres for SUV alone will cost a lot more than for a sedan and SUV will be less fuel efficient.

    Toyota/Honda/Mazda/Hyundai and modern Kia are fine. Look for one with decent thread tyres. You don't want to spend $300 - $500 immediately for a 5-6k car.

    • onevstheworld on 28/08/2018 - 21:02

      Just to add, SUVs historically had fewer safety features and were more prone to cause injuries than the equivalent era car (the Simpsons Canyonero episode was a parody of this). It's only more recently that safety standards have tightened up.

      • Euphemistic on 28/08/2018 - 21:21

        That’s because until the rav4 came along there was no such thing as an suv, possibly except Subaru.

        They were commercial vehicles built down to a price and to meet the commercial vehicle rules and get a tax exemption. Either a full sized 4wd like a patrol or land cruiser or a wagon body stuck on a Ute.

  • Archi on 28/08/2018 - 08:54
    +1

    doesn't matter… if you don't look after it, it'll cost a lot of money regardless of brand

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 28/08/2018 - 09:30

    Sadly the only the sure way to know what to expect of a car in 10 years is to buy a 10 year old car, but then you have no idea what the 20 year outlook is for that same car and now you're driving a 10+ year old car that will stop you from realising your dream of chauffeuring Uber passengers.

    It's great when you have an old car and you have an unexpected issue though. The internet is a great thing! In fact, I'm surfing on it now.

    • JimB on 28/08/2018 - 10:58

      'It's great when you have an old car and you have an unexpected issue though'

      It's even better when you have an old car and you have no unexpected issues! :D

      I've been owning European cars for the last 13 years.

      I'm happy to own/drive them because I can do basic servicing myself but I wouldn't recommend the average person to buy one out of warranty.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 28/08/2018 - 10:45
    -2

    5-6k wont get you anything reliable for the fact that it will be old….One thing people dont realize about 2nd hand cars is the ppl are selling them for a reason…if you are selling it for 5-6k the reason is usually either cost to much to fix or it has too many problems

    Best case increase your budget to 10-12k go to the auctions get an ex-government car

    • Godric on 28/08/2018 - 10:53

      My second hand 99 Mazda at the cost of $3k has lasted me years with out any trouble, i'd consider that reliable

    • AncientWisdom on 28/08/2018 - 12:37
      +1

      No idea what you're going on about, I think $5-6k is the sweet spot of economical second hand cars.

      • Trying2SaveABuck on 28/08/2018 - 12:45
        +1

        Fair enough maybe im wrong

        • Euphemistic on 28/08/2018 - 12:48
          +1

          Not wrong, just your opinion. My opinion is that it depends on what you want in a vehicle and your available budget.

          If my budget was $5-6k I would be confident I could find a decent car to suit my need knowing there would be some compromises.

  • donga100 on 28/08/2018 - 11:00
    +2

    Look for something with hail damage or other cosmetic damage (not from a crash) such as faded paint.

  • Euphemistic on 28/08/2018 - 12:53

    Step 1: Set budget - done.
    Step 2: Work out your needs, number of seats, space, economy, other features etc.
    Step 3: Have a look at what your budget will buy that meets 2.
    Step 4: Look out on the roads for the models you are interested in from 3.
    Step 5: Search for a car that is common on the roads/classifieds (from Step 4). ie If you don't see many around, they are either not reliable or it may be expensive/rare for parts.
    Step 6: Test drive and google-fu a short list from step 5.
    Step 7: Find and buy.
    Step 8: enjoy.

    • AncientWisdom on 28/08/2018 - 12:57

      Step 7 should be find and get it checked properly (RAC does this in WA)

    • spackbace on 28/08/2018 - 15:25

      Step 7: buy an Excel

      God knows they won't bloody die!

      • Euphemistic on 28/08/2018 - 15:29
        +2

        With a budget of $5-6k you could get one for each days of the week.

  • altomic on 28/08/2018 - 14:43

    kia rio.

    inexpensive. they go and go.

    quite reasonable to drive and quite fuel efficient.

  • mandachic on 28/08/2018 - 21:03

    I drive an older NISSAN - I find them reliable cheap to repair and require very little maintenance ( I bought mine under 3k) this is second one I’ve owned loved the first so much I just upgraded to a newer model
    If I were to buy a newer car I favour Mazda

  • Levathian on 29/08/2018 - 11:07

    What about spending 1k annually on some shit box (just make sure it actually works) Toyota etc. Once it dies after 18-24months, scrap it and buy another. No servicing, no depreciation, no insurance (except for third party)…

    • Ughhh on 04/09/2018 - 00:04

      Hopefully the car wont suddenly die on the way down a steep hill.

    • Spam Service on 06/09/2018 - 09:53

      Better to buy a slightly better shitbox ($1500 or so), drive it for a while, then sell it for the same price and buy another. A $1500 car is still worth $1500 three years and 50,000kms later, provided you've changed the oil a few times.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2018 - 23:30

    Reasonable steer and interesting read; US, so quite a few marques/models to skip and parts/pricing regimes for ones available here won't quite correlate, but still worth a look -
    https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/the-most-and-least-expe…

  • HKS on 07/09/2018 - 10:48

    toyota or mazda

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