Recommendations for a Car 20-25k Budget

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  cycleri3 on 26/02/2019 - 12:34

  +1

  Consider a Mitsubishi Lancer. Yes the model and engine is a bit dated but you can get brand new or demo from around $18K with all options and the capped price servicing is I think around $250/yr or 15k kms. I have had mine for about 5 years now and never had any issues. I got mine in 2014 for $16.5k for manual transmission.

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  giventofly on 26/02/2019 - 13:46

  +2

  Why anyone buys VW is beyond me. Garbage cars.

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  Buckshot on 26/02/2019 - 19:06

  Why not the Hyundai i30?
  Brilliant Car for the money- can be had for 18 or less and only a year old- you'd still have 4 years warranty on the clock. Or look at new.
  Their infotainment system and placement is great. Carplay/Android Auto included. Well built and more noise deadening than the Mazda.
  I'd consider front sensors fitted to the Mazda 3. They have a pretty high nose.

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  AEKaBeer on 27/02/2019 - 12:39

  I'd suggest going off to somewhere like Essendon fields where you have all the big dealers and test drive all the likely candidates. It's hard to go wrong with anything Hyundai, Kia at their respective price points. Both are excellent bang for buck. Mazda and Subaru are good but pricier and maybe Toyota though the tech is getting really dated in those.

  The euro cars sadly deserve the reliability reputations (yes including VW/Audi) and Jeep, Nissan, Ford and Holden are to be avoided.

  I left off Mitsubishi as I don't know where they sit in terms of tech or reliability.

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  dylan123 on 27/02/2019 - 23:30

  Think I've settled on the Hyundai Elantra.

  Was looking at the i30 but prefer the sedan/having the bigger boot etc that you get with a sedan and that's the only style of car I've ever driven.

  Would like to try purchase tomorrow given it's the end of the month so it's a good time to try get a good deal in. The one thing I'm battling with is the Active V Elite models.

  Like I can't tell if the Elite has the safety features that the Active + Smartsense model would. The Active I drove today was around 23k, was told the safety pack (which I assume is Smartsense) would see it rise to over 26 and they were seeing if they could keep it around the 25k mark. They also have an Elite for 25k with a sunroof and a colour I like however I feel it must be missing some saftey features otherwise I can't really figure our the price difference.

  Will ask the dealer but I get a feeling they'll just tell me what I want to hear rather then confirming it or not.

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    CVonC on 28/02/2019 - 00:05

    +1

    sedan/having the bigger boot

    You can fit bulkier stuff (like appliances and what not) in a hatch when you fold the rear seats down. Impossible in a sedan. The practicality of a hatch is better in that sense. But if you like the sedan style better then that's your personal preference :)

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    AEKaBeer on 28/02/2019 - 08:32

    We're at the end of the month so they're likely to bend over backwards if it helps them meet their quota. Don't be afraid to tighten the screws on them a little.

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    dazeet on 11/03/2019 - 19:13

    Good choice re: sedan over hatch, especially the new-school ones with their tails “chopped off” (the latest Cerato and Lancer being the notable exceptions to this). Particularly if you do not frequent busy unmarked street parking, and must have a shorter vehicle.

    The slightly increased length + fixed parcel shelf and rear glass = more rigid rear structure = better protection of your 2nd row passenger(s), if not yourself, in any rear enders e.g. drivers behind you who are distracted by touchscreens in non-AEB-equipped vehicles (which currently still makes up a majority of vehicles on the road). AFAIK *NCAP ratings do not take into account rear-end crash safety, so I do recommend choosing your next vehicle’s body type with this firmly in mind.

    The usually longer rear overhang + smaller rear opening = reduced smash repair costs + less likely to be written off, and therefore better for the environment (by reducing the likelihood of requiring a complete replacement vs a straightforward repair because major components are not affected). Possibly reduced insurance premiums as well.

    Things too bulky to fit in the boot area of a sedan? These can often be fitted securely on the 2nd row seats instead. No different to having to lower the 2nd row in a shortened hatch first, in order to get enough internal height and depth to accommodate the items. Either way, you are hardly likely able to fit many people in the 2nd row at the same time. But the sedan may still have the boot left to carry other items at the same time. Things that are tall but not deep/wide enough to fit in shortened hatches with the parcel shelf removed and the rear seats up, can also be carried horizontally in a sedan with the rear seats up anyway. The real trump card for well-designed sedans, is the ability to carry, say, 2 large luggages/suitcases horizontally side-by-side, plus smaller items for 3+ people in one go at the same time e.g. trips to and from the airport. Most shortened hatches are simply not going to be able to do this.

    TL:DR
    In my view…

    • Best vehicle body type for people who needs frequent unmarked street parking = shortened hatches. Otherwise, sedans all the way.

    • Best vehicle body type for people and items, often simultaneously = wagons and people movers (or utes and vans, but they come with other caveats/compromises). But often these are either not available in Australia and/or not chosen by buyers, the latter tending to default to SUVs which IMHO is a compromised solution in many if not every way. But I digress… :)

    • Best vehicle body type for people who go off road regularly = genuine 4WDs.

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    cybapete on 12/03/2019 - 19:28

    i think i remember reading somewhere the elite is 2018 model being replaced by 2019 active

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  freshofftheplane on 04/03/2019 - 20:10

  +1

  Get a Hyundai i30 and save some $$$
  I got mine (2016 Active) for $15k about a year ago

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