What Car Should I Buy for $20,000

OMGJL on 27/11/2020 - 16:38
Last edited 27/11/2020 - 16:38

Hi Ozbargain communities,

My old car had it engine failed, and is not worthy to fix no more, so I am looking to buy a new car.

Since I have zero experience in cars nor I pay much attention about cars, I would like to hear some advice from you all. (thank you all in advance)

Here's my situation/preference:

I was driving a 2003 Camry, from my L's until it break down which is about 5 years in total.

I mainly driving in Adelaide suburban area, I have low requirement to cars apart from the basics. e.g. it's okay to have no reverse camera, no HiFi/GPS system etc.

My driving style tends to speed up fast once traffic light turns green and to reach speed limit ASAP and keep driving at that speed, so ideally I'd like if the car have a fast 0-60 time.

I'd like the car to be quieter and comfort, I'd prefer a hatch back if possible. (so I need a quieter engine and softer suspension? correct me if I am wrong)

preferably a new car, even if it's ex-demo, so that I can have few years of warranty.

Budget is around $20,000 cash, I can't afford too much more (I know this is not much for a new car)

Since My parent are giving me part of this $20,000, they like to see me buying a Toyota (they happen to like the brand because they think it's cheap to get spare parts and servicing down the track). Other brand recommendation is also welcome if they are cheap to be serviced/repaired down the line.

Automotive

Comments

    • OMGJL on 27/11/2020 - 16:48

      Thank you for your input… but from toyota website it seems like a new Camry is like $32,666

      Am I missing something here?

      • pegaxs on 27/11/2020 - 16:49
        +1

        Yes, don't buy new. Buy ex-demo, old stock, run out models, low km used. Let someone else take it in their keister on initial depreciation.

        • OMGJL on 27/11/2020 - 16:50

          So I need to talk to my local toyota dealer and see what they got right? Sorry for the noobie questions

          • pegaxs on 27/11/2020 - 16:52

            @OMGJL: Doesn't need to be a Toyota dealer. If you buy a low km used, plenty of dealers other than Toyota will have them.

            • OMGJL on 27/11/2020 - 16:54

              @pegaxs: hmmmmm I will see how that goes, but I am not sure how warranty will work out if I buy those low km cars?

              • pegaxs on 27/11/2020 - 16:57

                @OMGJL: Here is a list to get your started…

                Toyota Camry, under 40,000km, under $22,000

                how warranty will work out

                You will either get the balance of a new car warranty or a statutory used car warranty (usually 3 months)

                If you want "new" with "full" warranty, your options are going to be very limited by your budget. You will be buying a much smaller vehicle and at the lower end of that range.

                • OMGJL on 27/11/2020 - 17:01

                  @pegaxs: I see.

                  Which is why I think $20,000 isn't a big budget.

                  I think I will try to see if there's any old stock etc first before going 2nd hand.

                  • pegaxs on 27/11/2020 - 17:03

                    @OMGJL: Look for 2020 or 2019 stock. I don't imagine there will be a lot of 2019 Camry examples still sitting around unsold, as they are a pretty popular model…

                    If you were looking at new, and in your price range… maybe try some of these options…

                    • spackbace on 28/11/2020 - 02:02
                      -1

                      @pegaxs: Agree with this. 2018 and earlier Toyotas only had a 3yr warranty, which later went to 5yrs in 2019

      • kt007 on 28/11/2020 - 11:18

        My piece of advice…if you are really after Camry, Try pickles Adelaide down at Salisbury .. they have really good ex government and fleet cars within good price. I bought a Camry 5 years ago at fix price. Great car and didn’t spend anything other than regular servicing. They also have extended warranty option for 1-2 years if you want. But with Camry I won’t recommend you to buy. Good luck ..

  • ECE on 27/11/2020 - 16:44

    Get another Toyota and keep the extra cash 😀

    • OMGJL on 27/11/2020 - 16:49

      a new toyota seems more than 20k?

  • [Deactivated] on 27/11/2020 - 16:53

    Since My parent are giving me part of this $20,000

    My oh my!

    Toyota 86 👌

    • OMGJL on 27/11/2020 - 16:55
      +1

      lol, being a little fatty computer nerd(or almost a fatty, definitely nerd) I'd like a quiet and comfort car.

      • [Deactivated] on 27/11/2020 - 17:50

        No no, dont sell yourself short

        You too can chop off the exhaust and become an annoying pos

        • OMGJL on 27/11/2020 - 17:55
          +1

          I rather crank up my guitar amp and annoy the shit out my neighbor instead of rev a car engine.

          (I use headphone all the time no neighbor was harmed replying this comment)

  • martyn on 27/11/2020 - 17:01
    +3

    Near new Hyundai i30 or Kia Cerato would be good on that budget, not a Toyota but the long warranty should keep the parents happy!

    • OMGJL on 27/11/2020 - 17:02

      thanks for the input, I will check those options now.

  • Cheeper on 27/11/2020 - 17:02
    +3

    "My driving style tends to speed up fast once traffic light turns green and to reach speed limit ASAP and keep driving at that speed, so ideally I'd like if the car have a fast 0-60 time."
    A used Aurion. Will outlast most of the throw away cars.

  • Godric on 27/11/2020 - 17:07
    +3

    VL Turbo

    • OMGJL on 27/11/2020 - 17:19

      doesn't look like a comfort car to me lol

      • Baysew on 27/11/2020 - 17:27

        Pro Tip - It aint no Toyota either.

    • picklewizard on 27/11/2020 - 19:34
      +1

      If you can find a VLT for $20k I'll buy it!

  • DiLs on 27/11/2020 - 17:19

    Not many options for a new car in that budget
    May be Yaris, Suzuki Swift, Mazda 2

  • SBOB on 27/11/2020 - 18:11
    +2

    driving style tends to speed up fast once traffic light turns green and to reach speed limit ASAP and keep driving at that speed, so ideally I'd like if the car have a fast 0-60 time.

    Not sure that would be considered a 'driving style' :)

  • brendanm on 27/11/2020 - 18:12
    +2

    Stick an engine in your Camry. $1500ish plus labour should get it done. You must have been a very bad boy servicing wise to damage one of those.

    • OMGJL on 27/11/2020 - 22:00

      I did servicing last half year, engine oil etc wasn't running out when I had the engine fail. It was very hot and I was driving 110kmh on my road trip for multiple hours.

      • brendanm on 27/11/2020 - 23:00

        That doesn't make an engine fail.

        • Zachary on 29/11/2020 - 08:59

          it does if it runs out of coolant and overheating and he keeps driving on ignoring the temperature reading…..

  • Guybrush57 on 27/11/2020 - 18:41
    +3

    If you can stretch your budget to $80,000 you should be able to buy a car as a high yield investment that will appreciate in value.

    • OMGJL on 27/11/2020 - 22:01

      I will definitely consider ……………….. how to earn more cash.

    • pegaxs on 27/11/2020 - 22:28

      A Tesla perhaps? It will pay for itself in 3~5 years…

      • N1NJ4W4RR10R on 28/11/2020 - 22:55

        Post aged like milk given the new road taxes for EVs.

        • pegaxs on 28/11/2020 - 23:33

          And Tesla bumping up their prices for using their supercharger network…

    • Yola on 28/11/2020 - 15:28

      Is there such a thing?

  • Kkuba on 27/11/2020 - 19:56
    +2

    Check out the Toyota Prius C.

    It was discontinued earlier this year, but look for a used one, and you could get it for under 20k

    It's a fairly basic car, but has a surprisingly good 0-60kph feeling, mainly due to the electric motor assistance.

    Also it is very fuel efficient. I managed to get around 3.7/100km over an extended period of time driving very carefully.

    If you are a leadfoot (which it sounds like you are) you won't get your consumption that low, but it will still be excellent compared to anything else.

    It's also quiet and comfortable.

    It's boring as anything, but seems to tick your boxes.

  • sickllama on 27/11/2020 - 22:45

    Kia Rio

  • [Deactivated] on 28/11/2020 - 00:26
    +4

    Ok dude you clearly have no idea what you're talking about (not to be rude but… come on lol).

    Go to carsales.com.au. Hit search. Then you can access the filters down the left hand column.

    Put your ceiling price at 22k (room for negotiation). Put your floor price at 17.5k (weed out the crap).

    Put your max kilometres at say, 40,000km to leave you with a reasonably new vehicle that should last you roughly forever.

    Select a body type - hatch is fine for you by the sounds of it, but maybe put in hatch or sedan.

    Select your state/city to filter out anything too far away.

    Select a make. Pick Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda. Japanese or Korean vehicles.

    Look at the options. Go test drive some. Think about any features you might want.

    Then you can come back and make another post with a more informed frame of mind and some concrete questions.

  • spackbace on 28/11/2020 - 02:04

    Don't do the traffic light grand prix… You realise everyone would've just been laughing at your 17yo Camry flogging it off the line? No wonder you managed to kill a Toyota

    My advice? Get a Getz. Don't get anything too powerful while you don't have the maturity to drive normally

    • Zachary on 29/11/2020 - 09:05

      Don't get anything too powerful while you don't have the maturity to drive normally

      He should get like a bugetti veyron. I wanna see him flog that shit!

  • drewbytes on 28/11/2020 - 07:27
    +2

    Kia Cerato, about $22,500 drive away with a 7 year warranty. Or a Kia Rio, $19,500 drive away. Also consider a Hyundai Elantra, $21,190 drive away.

  • Euphemistic on 28/11/2020 - 07:37
    +2

    https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2017-toyota-corolla…

    This one. Only this one.

    Edit: I searched Adelaide Carsales, Toyota, $19950-20999 and sorted by lowest kms. Bingo.

  • OzHunterNSW on 28/11/2020 - 11:35
    -3

    Go on Cars.com or even Greysonline to view various vehicles within that price range…

    If you buy from car yard the vehicle would only be worth 7k if that….

    Buy private or at auction

  • whooah1979 on 28/11/2020 - 11:46
    +1

    I'm here for the VW, Skoda, Tesla, Peugeot, Renault, BMW, Audi, etc, comments.

    A Camry of corolla is the way to go.

  • Techie4066 on 28/11/2020 - 12:14

    Suzuki Baleno if you want a new car. Has disc brakes instead of drum brakes. $16,990
    Get the GLX for $20,990 if you want something nice looking (really nice alloy wheels and other additions such as keyless start, auto as standard, LED headlights).
    0-100 in under 10 seconds which isn't bad

    Nothing like this except for MG3 at a similar price, but they're Chinese built. I have a family member with one and the engine is gutless.

  • Dslrfirst on 28/11/2020 - 12:55

    Any hail damaged left?

  • HeWhoKnows on 28/11/2020 - 14:48
    +1

    Dear OP

    Its never been a better time to buy a car with finance
    At most you will pay just 4% so dont be locked into your budget of $20,000
    Borrow a little money at next to nothing interest rates and buy the car you really want!

    • Euphemistic on 28/11/2020 - 15:12

      But prices are higher than they’ve been for a while so you’ve already lost the interest rate savings

      • HeWhoKnows on 28/11/2020 - 16:00
        +1

        With thinking like that you will never buy anything my friend.
        Prices are always going up over time.

        Smart people are using cheap money to get what they want

        • Zachary on 29/11/2020 - 09:02
          +2

          smart people would just save up and buy the car outright and not worry about needing to pay back money…..

          • [Deactivated] on 01/12/2020 - 17:01
            -1

            @Zachary: Avtual smart people realise they can use their money to make more money especially when a car loan is only 4%. A etf can make double that

      • sal78 on 29/11/2020 - 00:21

        I think I got a pretty good deal. There are still good deals out there.

    • sal78 on 29/11/2020 - 00:24

      His parents are giving him part of the funds. Wouldn't he be better off paying his parents back? 0 interest.

  • Waltervp on 28/11/2020 - 14:55

    I would not buy new. Have a look at a dealers second hand car. Often they come with some firm of warranty (very extensive first 3 months!!! So get car checked out at 2 months mark). That way you get much safer and more luxurious cars. Check out the Ford mondeo MD hatchbacks. ESPECIALLY THE DIESELS HAVE GREAT ECONOMY. All very smooth and powerful and spacious with loads of equipment levels.

  • shangoz on 28/11/2020 - 14:58

    Honda Jazz basic module, talk hard might get better deal

  • sal78 on 29/11/2020 - 00:20

    Just bought a 2016 BMW 2 220i tourer luxury model with 36,000kms for very close to that price. 1 lady owner bought from dealer. I only drive to work and home which is 15mins each way.

    My budget way higher and I was initially looking at new japanese cars but this is a great deal. Still has new car smell and looks new inside out.

    Sold my 2012 Honda Civic Sports for $11k 78,000kms bought demo. Reliability is the most important. Hopefully this replacement is reliable. Plan to drive it for 2-3yrs and change. I have never rev my car once so was really surprise at how fast it was when the buyer took for test drive. He's a mechanic.

    I would recommend a late model with low kms.

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