Hi Guys,
I need some suggestions for choosing a car under $30K. I am after the best value for money (i.e longevity and the safety feature).
My choices in hatchbacks and small SUVs (2022 - 2023 model) are as follows:
1) Kia Cerato S with safety pack
2) Kia Stonic Sport Automatic
Which one would you buy and why?
Any other recommendations are welcome.
I really appreciate any help you can provide.
Thank you everyone in advance.
Sounds like you need a large sedan.
Legroom (both front and back seats) depends on the wheelbase, I guarantee you that you'll find a Camry or similar more spacious inside than most small / medium SUVs.
I have to have a double knee replacement this year and I'm not getting an SUV. you only get in and out once in a while and the lack of room in them is terrible.
‘A rip off’? Really?Explain yourself on this one.
A lightly used Mazda 6, Skoda Octavia or Subaru Outback (all wagons) would be my suggestion.
What about the Kia Cerato i picked up a 2020 GT for 30k last year
They come in a hatchback variant and are a really nice drive.
Would reccomend test driving things and decide whats most comfortable driving position for you.
EDIT: It was 'last year' not this year
Is that the 150kW 1.6T?
I have a 2017 Skoda Superb Wagon that I bought in 2019 with 40k for $27k. We just took a trip from Sydney to the Gold Coast and back over 2 weeks. Me at 6'6, my son at 6'4, my mrs and 2 other kids 11 and 9 with all luggage and did it on 4 tanks of fuel with lots of running around. Only complaint was the giant dolphin my younger son brought back had to ride in the back seat with them.
I dont think anything on your list could do that. On the other hand we had to rent a Nissan CashCow after an encounter with a roo last year, packed in like sardines, everything was tinny and horrible. Engine and drivetrain made horrendous noises while trying to maintain a speed.
10 year warranty on Mitsubishi?
There are a lot of conditions attached to that 10 year warranty.
Damn - I'll have to look into it more before considering Mitsubishi for our next car
It certainly would not convince me to purchase the vehicle.It is one way of keeping customers coming back to the stealership I guess. It sounds good on paper though.
Question is what cars suitable for someone:
Between 6'ft1 to 6'ft 8 && 5'ft 1 to 5'ft8.
Plus how are you financing these cars.
Between 6'ft1 to 6'ft 8 && 5'ft 1 to 5'ft8.
Lol.
That's quite height range there that I doubt many (if any) vehicles can comfortably accommodate.
Most 185cm individuals and 203cm individuals are going to have drastically different builds and therefore drastically different ergonomics in any car.
There's a shit-tonne of cars that a 203cm individual basically wouldn't fit into but a 185cm person could.
Why not just state your exact height/s or do you have bionic Go-Go Gadget legs or something?
Pretty simple, 6ft1 bare feet and 6ft8 with heels
A 6"1 woman wearing 7" inch heels?
I don't think so.
The way I read it, Mewmew was listing his and his partner's height, though for some reason he gave both of them a margin of error of 18cm/7 inches.
Unless you're suggesting he also wears heels?
@LoserScott: Statistically, most online personas/accounts/comments are male, so the assumption comes with the territory.
Between 6'ft1 to 6'ft 8 && 5'ft 1 to 5'ft8.
So, are you going to clarify what that height range was about or nah?
Get in a Skoda Superb, I can sit in the back quite comfortably at 6'6
Harval
A large aspect of "value for money" is "a car that I like". These are all fine but you should test them, take them for a long drive, see if they're comfortable for your body, life, family, etc.
Another large factor is depreciation, for which I would tend to prefer cars made in Japan over others. The country of origin is pretty important, as it affects parts availability. Japan is awesome at parts availability.
Just buy a used Subaru Impreza 2016 onwards.
Lol, I had a gf who had a WRX. I couldn't drive it in the rain cos every time I changed gear I turned off the wipers with my knee 😁
Haval Jolion
Some of things listed aren't even cars
Hi Guys,
I need your help in decision-making.
I am in the process of buying a new car and shortlisted 3 cars as below:
1) Kia Cerato S with safety pack
2) Mazda CX-3 Maxx Sport
3) Nissan Juke ST
Which one would you buy and why?
Any other recommendations are welcome.
I really appreciate any help you can provide.
Nissan Juke ST
Hahahaha
I saw Nissan in the title and thought "God, I hope they are not considering something like the Juke…"
Nissan are currently that bad that Renault… "Renault" no longer want to be partners with Nissan… You realise how bad you have to be when one of the worst car companies in the world no longer want you as a partner??
Thanks for letting me know.
@Fifths: @Oz user1.Don’t underestimate the Juke.There is a new model due imminently. Test drive one before deciding.The three pot turbo engine is actually quite good. Forget all the negativity about them.Always try before making a decision.They are a pretty reliable unit.
@Hackney: Reliable if you get it with a manual transmission, just not with a shatco (jatco) automatic transmission.
@[Deactivated]: Around 2018 was the last time you could get a manual gearbox in them.They are all 7 speed auto. In the UK you can get a manual as well as a Hybrid, which could be on the cards for Australia.They are still a pretty reliable unit.
I thought Nissan went downhill after Renault acquired 60% of them
when it was just Nissan, the quality was good
now they are putting Renault engines in Nissans…. yuck
@Poor Ass: Really? I had a Qashqai with the MRD2.0 engine, pretty bulletproof engine.There is nothing inherently wrong with them.As far as ‘quality’ goes, what absolute BS.Qashqai,Juke & Leaf come out of Nissans Sunderland plant in the UK,build quality is very good.X-Trail comes out of Japan, quality is also very good!(I owned a series 11 X-Trail)
@Hackney: Milages may varies.
I owned both Dualis and Qashqai. I rather have Dualis anytime over Q, pity I sold it. I had issues with Q 2019, and Nissan dealer couldnt find the fix for months. Only when I found out the sticky button issues on the steering wheel. Plus the door wasnt align, ebrake/auto stop is a joke and some other things.
Quality went downhill after Dualis era. Due note Dualis aka original "UK Cashcow" was the best selling car in UK.
Edit: looks like Qashqai was crowned 2022 UK best selling car. Finally back to the top? Lol
@Yummy: It is usually in the top 5 over there.Massive seller.Grandson just picked up a 2012 Dualis Ti auto variant.135,000kms.All services were done, just had a major one done a few months back.Brand new Continental tyres on it as well! $11,000.(Private buy.) Wish I still had my ‘cash cow’.Ti spec with a 6 speed manual.Just a great car. Into Hybrids now!
Consider in the following order:
1. Mazda (Japan)
2. Nissan (Japan)
3. Kia (Korea)
Korean cars are very cheaply made!
They dont have the same quality control or parts as Japanese cars
Kia Stinger GT might change your mind
Not all Nissans are made in Japan.Juke comes out of Nissans Sunderland plant in the UK, as does the Leaf & Qashqai.X-Trail comes out of Japan.
Very outdated information. Korean cars have come such a long way and the price:quality ratio of Korean cars are excellent
@lookingforTV: Not what I have experienced first hand sorry to say.
Japanese cars are far superior to Korean cars in every way
yes the Korean cars have improved from the junk they were in the 1990s and early 2000s.
But they have found new ways to make them cheaper
I have seen Kia front guards easily crumble when leaning on them
I have seen Hyundai side mirrors smash into pieces when accidentally bumped.
I have seen front and back bumpers break off thier fixings when lightly bumped.
These things dont happen with Japanese cars
Dont forget what junk the japanese cars were when they first came to Australia.
But they quickly gained the reputation of being very reliable and cheap to run.
@HeWhoKnows: For my negative voter
The one and only reason anyone considers a Korean car is PRICE!
I rest my case
@HeWhoKnows: Japanese cars are not ‘far superior’ unless you definition of ‘far’ means a little bit. Yes, Japanese have superior QC but the Koreans have picked up their game and are getting a lot closer to Japanese than years ago.
They are good value for money. Reliable, decent quality, enough features.
The Chinese are catching up as well. Give them 5-10 years rather than the 10 years it’s taken Koreans to catch up.
@HeWhoKnows: But it’s OK. Toyota has never had a recall ….
Oh wait
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009–2011_Toyota_vehicle_recalls
The juke looks funky.
That's where it's potential appeal both starts & ends.
That's a shame. I liked the look of it. It's getting rare that a car looks like something other than the generic 'optimised in a computer with a constant respect to efficiency and aesthetics'.
funky
Fugly
FTFY
Mazda. Reliability
I'm more curious how a juke ends up on anyone's short list….
because of the brand Nissan
Except Nissan compared to the other two suck
Nissan used to be a reliable brand, they have long since fallen from that perch.
Nissan went downhill fast when they were bought out in early 2000s, they also almost went bankrupt during the GFC, in order to survive they cut corners, a lot of corners. They are a trash Jap brand.
Kia and Hyundai have had nightmare problems with MILLIONS of their engines (theta 2 and Nu) and used every dirty trick in book to avoid warranty.
A few years ago Mazda (already a pretty good brand) partnered with Toyota (I think Toyota bought a chunk of Mazda) and they share technologies, this is a good thing.
If you want to support trash compaines then Nissan or Kia.
Mazda brah
I would go with Mazda out of these 3 options but i would understand if you went with Kia. I will be disappointed if you went with Nissan though
You will be ‘disappointed’? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Not much between them IMO. they are all from reasonably reliable brands. Possible exception is that the Juke is a bit of an ugly duckling and may limit resale market plus if it has the CVT there’s not a lot of live for that as well.
Test drive, make your own decision.
Probably the Kia but the Mazda might be a better buy if you have kids as it's probably more roomier.
But it’s to check with your actual family wether you think one is better than the other.
I recently tried dual cab utes and despite them ostensibly being the same size the hilux was noticeably smaller in the back seats and the triton centre rear seat wasn’t suited to our family either.
no way that cx3 is roomier than a cerato
Go with Mazda
Whatever has the longest warranty
Kia.
Mazda massively underpowered.
Nissan, just no.
Avoid Nissan. Quality issues.
Sauce: owner here.
Thanks
All manufacturers have ‘quality’ issues.Juke is manufactured in the UK @ Nissans Sunderland plant.They are fine. I have had a couple of Qashqai’s with absolutely no issues.Look before dismissing it.
Sauce? or source?
I heard the guy who invented autocorrect died.
May he rust in peace.
2x Nissan owner here. No issues.
Anecdotes aren’t facts.
Anecdotes aren’t facts.
All are good choices except for the Juke
Kia, Korean cars have come a long way and they have a long warranty.
Honda (five years ago) or toyato
You say toyato I say toyahto
Why is it one sedan/hatch and two SUVs (or whatever a Juke is)? Do you want a sedan/hatch or a SUV?
Its the budget, these 3 are in my budget. I dont mind Hatchback.
So why isn't Hyundai i30 in the equation? Isn't that about the same as the Cerato?
33k for that cx3 auto awd mini 'suv' ?
That's Camry Hybrid money there.
Mazda CX-3 but i would try go for a CX-5 instead to be honest.
Of the three, I will strongly suggest the Kia Cerato.
Enough said about the Nissan Juke, so I won't keep piling on there.
The Mazda CX-3 is a popular-ish car, but I don't get the appeal. It's basically a Mazda 2 on stilts and with some curvier body panels. It's a small car made to look like a bigger car, so it feels like a small car and drives like a small car. If you're getting a Mazda, the Mazda 3 is a much better buy IMHO.
The Kia Cerato, on the other hand, is a really good car. I drove one for a while (the hatch version) and was really surprised at how roomy it was inside despite looking like a small car. Has lots of cargo space at the back for trips and when the rear seats fold down, you get a lot of room for transporting larger items. I managed to fit a washing machine into mine!
FWIW, small SUVs are a bit of a scam, they're just raised small cars and don't offer any benefits that people associate with SUVs except for "looking like an SUV". If you want to get an SUV for their practicality, roominess, boot space…etc. you need to get a mid-sized SUV and up for it to make sense. My view is that even a large-ish sedan is more practical than a medium SUV and it's not until you reach SUVs like the CX-7 / CX-9 / Toyota Kluger…etc. that they actually make sense. Anyway, that's my take.
As far as the Juke goes, it is fine.There is nothing inherently wrong with them.Interested to know why you don’t like them.(no, I don’t own one.)
Thanks 👍
Do your own research on them.There is plenty out there.
Thanks👍
Agreed on the Mid size sedan just being a Hatchback on stilts
They are useful if you have kids though not so far to bend down to load them in the baby seat.
I think cx3 is a size class down from the rest. Kia has come a long way, look at their new designs! I would recommend the cx5 if it fits the budget.
The Mazda CX3 is essentially a Mazda 2, so unless you want a tiny underpowered car then I probably wouldnt go that way.
Nissan Juke, I dont mind them but they get a lot of hate and resale will probably be bad.
Kia Cerato is a very good car!
Mazda 3
Mazda 3 has an ugly dent design on the side doors that once you see it, you can't unsee it. Also tiny little slit windows that are difficult to see out of.
get a wagon!