Need Help Deciding on a Cheap Car

L[Deactivated] on 14/12/2020 - 15:13

When is a cheap car too cheap? Or when is an ozbargainer too cheap?

I'm in the market for a daily to do approx 5000km/yr - for now anyway.

Been offered a BA MKII XT EGAS Falcon for free (or very near free). Car has just had:

  • Front end suspension rebuilt
  • New shocks and springs front and back
  • New gas converter
  • New tyres
  • brake lines replaced and new booster
  • Gas tank stamped

Now the car is 16yo with 320,000km country.

Current Defects:

  • Ignition barrel will need rebuilding or replacing

It's at that age where all sorts of things can go wrong on it. It's a family members car so I know the history pretty well. Typically this is the point falcons start to develop some leaks to say the least. I'm concerned I'll get 2-3 months in and a major issue or will need to constantly get the hands dirty on the little stuff

I am pretty handy on the tools but I don't have regular access to space to work on it and would rather not have to. I'd hate to see a mechanic working on it every 3-6 months for $135/hr

I've considered just picking up a base model Cerato for 20-23k cash which will work out pretty cheap to own over 7-10 years and keeping my more interesting current daily as a weekender (500hp rwd car). That Cerato is 20-23 times more expensive than the falcon. 23k on the old falcon tank could go a long way towards repairs until I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere staring at a b series falcon and regretting every decision I've ever made. I actually like falcons

Consider 3rd party insurance savings too.

Thoughts?

Automotive

Comments

  • Ryugen on 14/12/2020 - 15:18
    +7

    If it's almost free, why not ride it till it gives in a big $$$ kinda a way, dump it then look for another car for long term? If this car manages to last 2-3 years, big fricken win. Doubly so as COVID as hiked up 2nd hand car prices, a few years and fingers crossed it will drop across the board

    • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2020 - 15:44

      I like your thinking. Ride it out until it's dead. Kind of a waste when it's had all this work done on it recently.

      • bobbified on 14/12/2020 - 17:32

        Kind of a waste when it's had all this work done on it recently.

        Isn't it more a waste if no-one wanted it and it went into a junk yard?

        • [Deactivated] on 15/12/2020 - 21:29
          +1

          Exactly what I'm getting at

  • knasty on 14/12/2020 - 15:24
    +1

    What Ryugen said. A hybrid solution would be to get a 5-6 year old Cerato for less than half new cost, still under 7 year warranty if you want peace of mind over reapir cost.

    But free is free…

  • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2020 - 15:26
    -8

    Cerato

    Ladies car

    Falcon for free

    Hello!

    $10k would get your a modest 2nd hand asian car too

    [Deactivated] on 14/12/2020 - 15:26 (Collapsed - Offtopic. Show)
    • What is rrp on 14/12/2020 - 15:38
      +4

      Ladies car

      that's just silly mate

      • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2020 - 16:58
        -7

        Pride marches are over there

  • Hithere on 14/12/2020 - 15:33
    +3

    Ignition barrel will need rebuilding or replacing

    One good thing about these older cars is usually plenty of spare parts at the wreckers.

    Another is they are a lot easier for a back yarder to work on than newer cars.

    Treated right you'll get another 100,000km out of it. (and I don't like falcons)

  • mskeggs on 14/12/2020 - 15:40
    +6

    I'll take the falcon if you don't want it.
    It could easily run another 100000kms with nothing but maintenance, but so what if it needs a new radiator or starter motor or whatever? Anything less than the transmission or engine dying will be lower cost to fix than the depreciation on a Kia.
    And if it does die, you'll still be able to sell it for couple of hundred to the wreckers.

    • [Deactivated] on 14/12/2020 - 15:42
      +1

      Engine and trans can be had for very cheap last i checked. I imagine it's getting a little harder now. Only thing I'd do to it for piece of mind is the radiator and hoses and of course ignition barrel.

  • MS Paint on 14/12/2020 - 15:42
    +1

    Ignition barrel will need rebuilding or replacing

    I know a really good locksmith/mechanic who can fix it for free #pegaxs

    current daily as a weekender (500hp rwd car)

    Now we are talking. What do we have here?

    My guess 991.2 GT3RS

    • FocusRider on 14/12/2020 - 21:24

      If you can afford a GT3RS your daily isn't going to be a beat up Falcon.. Lol

      • MS Paint on 14/12/2020 - 21:51

        OK. Just a GT3 then. A tad under 500hp though.

      • [Deactivated] on 15/12/2020 - 21:41

        Making me second guess my financial decisions

  • brendanq on 14/12/2020 - 15:43

    FYI I just replaced the ignition barrel in my 20yo Audi and it cost $650.

    My preference is to not buy anything with >250,000km, but that's just me :)

    • MS Paint on 14/12/2020 - 16:01
      +2

      Ouch. Euro luxury bites again.

    • Euphemistic on 14/12/2020 - 20:28

      My preference is to not buy anything with >250,000km

      But if it’s free, why not. Even the registration you pay up front can be cancelled and remainder refunded if it break down and cost too much for repair.

  • Bid Sniper on 14/12/2020 - 16:21
    +3

    Falcon, Rock it till the wheels fall off

    Falcons if taken care of do taxi miles and people really underestimate longevity of these cars.

    • [Deactivated] on 15/12/2020 - 21:35

      True, I've had 4 of them over the years and the only time I've been stuck is when the transmission shift cable broke whilst reversing out of a car park. Got stuck in reverse. Had to reverse park, get under the car and temporarily connect the cable with some duct tape.

      My old man had an AU 1tonner and the only reason it is no longer around is because it got t-boned at an intersection. Did 575,000km and still drove itself onto the tow truck bent in half.

  • axlfan on 14/12/2020 - 17:37
    +1

    What about Safety? Ceratos are pretty safe and dependable given the 7 year warranty.
    I would surely factor this in too and see if the older car can be relied upon to keep you safe.

    Also the Cerato is a tad more expensive. There are cheaper new cars out there and hopefully you can score a nice deal in the X'mas season.

    For example the Picanto is $15k for the manual variant.

    The Suzuki Baleno is a subcompact. Other good contenders are the Honda City and MG3.

  • netjock on 14/12/2020 - 17:43
    +1

    Falcon for $1k. If things go wrong. You could probably get most of that back selling it as scrap or selling off the parts.

  • ShannonN on 14/12/2020 - 21:14

    if the ignition barrel needs replacing and the recent work done etc. Is this car been stolen and recovered? if so it could be thrashed, if it has current rego and passes a roadworthy take it run it into the ground then by whatever

    • [Deactivated] on 15/12/2020 - 21:27

      No, just a relo spent money on it only to replace it. Ignition barrels wear out on them. The spring stops moving the key back to accessory from start when you turn it so have to do that manually or the engine will start but no power will go to anything because it switches all accessory power off when starting to give max power to the starter motor. Eventually it will stop working all together.

  • ATTS on 20/12/2020 - 09:52

    hey OP, just curious, whats wrong with your Ignition barrel ?

    • [Deactivated] on 14/01/2021 - 13:56

      The ignition switch didn't automatically spring back from the ignition position. Common issue. Fixed for $250. Auto locksmiths can do it fairly quickly. There is also a kit online you can buy but you'd want to be pretty handy. Better off paying someone who has done it a few times and can offer goods and service warranty if it breaks.

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