Cheap Utes - Where Are They?

pennypacker on 17/12/2020 - 20:34

So, after buying a house recently, and needing to;

  • take stuff to the dump
  • bring stuff home

I have concluded I need a cheap ute for a 2nd vehicle. I have come to the conclusion they don't exist though.

I thought I could pick up an old Toyota/Nissan/Mitsi/Mazda etc trayback for a few grand, but I can't find them.

Instead, I come across gems such as a 37 year old Nissan with half a million kays for $6.5k..

Where should I be looking, and what should I be paying? Is $3-4k for an old ute unreasonable?

Automotive Ute

Comments

  • Euphemistic on 17/12/2020 - 20:37
    +1

    You can buy a decent ute, but you’ll pay for it.

    All the cheap ones are ex tradies utes that have a million hard kms on them or look like they fell out of a truck.

    It’s just the market.

  • WreckTangle on 17/12/2020 - 20:41
    +1

    I love the pic of they guy driving that ute lol

  • brendanm on 17/12/2020 - 21:08

    You should be able to get a great wall x240 or a clapped out SsangYong actyon or similar, but don't expect it to be pretty.

  • trinkasharma on 17/12/2020 - 21:10
    +3

    Try renting it for a day.

    • SF3 on 17/12/2020 - 21:25

      Agree, unless OP turning into a tradie…

  • Umcookies on 17/12/2020 - 21:12
    +1

    Similar to Van's they're in pretty high demand as a commercial vehicle. You'll struggle to find anything super cheap.
    Honestly you'd probably find a trailer for cheaper than any sort of ute you might find.

  • No on 17/12/2020 - 21:12

    Cars are crazy expensive at the moment.

    I sold my 2013 GTI for 20k to a dealer. I can get by without a car for now but the prices at the moment, even for the cheapest of runabouts, are eye watering.

    Try and wait until everything starts back up post covid and you might have better luck, or just hire those utes from Bunnings.

    • pennypacker on 17/12/2020 - 22:15
      +1

      Jeebus! That 323 should be $2500 on a good day, surely?

    • netjock on 17/12/2020 - 23:05

      Foolish people thinking second hand is always cheaper. For $20k can get a new Kia with 7 years warranty? Sure not same size or spec but will be a decade of worry free motoring.

      • No on 17/12/2020 - 23:09

        Sure, you can order a new 20k Kia but at this point you will not be seeing it until 2022 because the whole logistics chain is currently a mess.

        • netjock on 17/12/2020 - 23:12

          Was looking at cars for a mate. The elusive new Corolla Hybrid Sedan I was able to find one in Melbourne, order would be mid April but plenty of Hybrid Hatches around. Could talk them down by $1400 from list price. Meanwhile they got 2019 Demo with 5k/km advertised for $29,950.

          If you are flexible there is new cars around.

  • pharkurnell on 17/12/2020 - 21:44
    +5

    Buy a trailer… much cheaper..

  • Peter Enis on 17/12/2020 - 21:44

    You can buy a brand new box trailer for like $1500.

    • pennypacker on 17/12/2020 - 22:09

      Thanks, but I don't have a towbar. That's another $600-$800 odd..

      • Peter Enis on 17/12/2020 - 22:33
        +9

        Yeah and you'll be paying more than that amount every year to register, insure and maintain a crappy old ute.

      • [Deactivated] on 17/12/2020 - 23:37
        +5

        Let me grab my calculator real quick there…

        Yup, you'd still be $4,200-$4,400 better off

        I'm gonna have to get my math peer reviewed though…

        • Euphemistic on 18/12/2020 - 16:32
          +3

          I’ve peer reviewed it for you and it’s definitely maths, not math.

      • [Deactivated] on 18/12/2020 - 09:13
        +1

        Significantly cheaper than the ongoing and initial costs of running an entire additional vehicle though?????

      • N1NJ4W4RR10R on 18/12/2020 - 19:57

        That's still cheaper then a few grand for a Ute though. Miles cheaper if you factor in rego, insurance and any maintence.

  • pharkurnell on 17/12/2020 - 21:55
    +1

    from experience - owning a ute you will end up with so many friends wanting a hand to move, picking fridges, you name it… until you sell it.

  • GOFYS on 17/12/2020 - 22:16

    Whatever happened to the Mightyboy, and the Brumby?
    All I want is a 2 door tray, 4 or 6, manual or auto on petrol..
    All I can get is a shitbox, wildly overpriced diesel lady truck, poor performance, abysmal handling, useless back seats, lousy useless teensy tub, but pretty decorations.
    The ssangyong and Great wall are just about all you will find less than 10 years old.
    You can sign up to carsales for specific Alerts, and get texted as soon as they are listed.
    This could save you a staggering amount when someone lists a car at the right price.

    • pennypacker on 17/12/2020 - 22:19

      Back in the day, a Datsun 1200 ute was a cheap runabout. Now it's some kind of hipster collectible.

      • GOFYS on 17/12/2020 - 22:25
        +1

        I was there. They were awesome little toys.

  • pennypacker on 17/12/2020 - 22:17

    Thanks OzB. It seems like my options are;

    a) wait out the COVID gouging
    b) hire a ute when I need it

    Hmmmm…..

    • Seaword on 18/12/2020 - 11:17
      +2

      Option B. Get a towbar, hire a trailer when you need it or buy a trailer. Car prices are crazy at the moment.

  • Bren20 on 17/12/2020 - 23:41

    I've used rent a bomb a few times, very cheap rates for utes that do the job

  • justgooddeals on 17/12/2020 - 23:55
    +2

    I think the dog in the 6th photo sh/would be worth more than the Ute. Crazy.

  • pennypacker on 18/12/2020 - 14:14

    Currently a 1 car household, so I would use the ute more than just going to the dump. The convenience would be worth something, but appreciate that a trailer would be cheaper.

  • brad1-8tsi on 18/12/2020 - 23:10

    There are heaps of Nissans for around $6k. Every one of them has a stuffed engine.

  • Kkuba on 19/12/2020 - 12:22

    https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2003-proton-jumbuck…

    2.5k for a small pickup.

  • nswnotill on 20/12/2020 - 13:36

    If you really want a trayback ute, then check out Pickles, Manheim or Slattery auctions. All sorts of utes there (both good and bad)

  • whitelie on 20/12/2020 - 13:53

    Anything in that budget will be a bit of a gamble…
    Offer this guy 2500 cash, fix the exhaust and lights and away you go.

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