$10 - $15k for First Car

LNoFingIdea on 10/12/2024 - 07:25
Last edited 11/12/2024 - 19:00

Long time listener, first time caller.
Daughter is looking to purchase her first car, I am looking for some advice on what makes and models to look out for.
Budget is $10 - $13k, which I thought was a healthy first car budget, but slim pickings <100k klms (Brisbane based) if I am honest.
Without going into details, dealer purchase preferred.
Auto or manual doesn't matter, the lower the klms the better.
I've made a poll, happy to add anything I've possibly missed, TYIA.

EDIT:
Thank you to everyone for your advice, very much appreciated.
In the end we went with a 2021 Picanto GT Manual for $14,500 with 68k klms.
I think we were lucky to find this one, most were well above the budget.
It came down to having warranty until 2029 (first registered Feb 2022).
Insurance cost was surprisingly by far the lowest ~$500 cheaper than any of the other cars.

Happy to answer any questions.

Poll Options

  • 160
    Toyota Corolla (2013ish) 100k klms +
  • 5
    Toyota Yaris (2013ish) 100k klms +
  • 61
    Honda Jazz (2015ish) <100k klms
  • 9
    Honda Accord Euro (2011ish) 150k klms +
  • 73
    Mazda 3 (2013ish) 100 - 120k klms
  • 20
    Kia Picanto (2018ish) 100k Klms
  • 13
    Suzuki Swift (2013 - 2017) 70 - 120k klms
Automotive Car Honda Kia Mazda Suzuki Toyota

Comments

  • jv on 10/12/2024 - 11:58
    -1

    Tesla

    • Ade99 on 11/12/2024 - 08:23

      Some people seem to live life on the edge :-)

  • ChatGPT on 10/12/2024 - 12:03
    +6

    Honda Jazz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvypQ8oja4U

    But would recommend watching the ReDriven channel for any car you're considering, great content.

  • djsweet on 10/12/2024 - 12:06
    +1

    Wow the used car market really is bonkers. I bought a 2015 top spec Corolla sedan with 120000km 6 years ago for 16k. Seems like I could probably still sell it for that.

  • Drakesy on 10/12/2024 - 12:09
    +2

    Suzuki Swift.

    Pretty much every second girl in their 20's seems to own one.

  • plmko on 10/12/2024 - 13:03

    I would buy a grey imported Corolla Wagon hybrid for $18k.

    • Brick Tamland on 10/12/2024 - 13:08
      +4

      I'd get a white one instead.

  • BNEmatt on 10/12/2024 - 13:31

    Corolla, mazda 3, i30 available everywhere, decent size and utility. Might last you years and a good second car for a family etc.

  • suzta on 10/12/2024 - 13:49
    +2

    I have a 2009 Mazda 2 sedan I bought second hand 7 yrs ago. I was on a budget, and it was my first car. I wanted something safe, reliable, and cheap to maintain.

    I looked at ANCAP ratings and a website linked to a uni that collated crash stats to show how cars stacked up in the real world since I read that P platers are the most likely group to be in a crash but likely to be in the oldest, least safe cars. The Mazda 2 stacked up far better than anything else in my price range.

    In terms of maintenance, it's barely cost me anything (once I found a reputable small local mechanic). I asked my mechanic recently about future maintenance costs, since my car is 15 yrs old at this point and I wanted to budget for any big $$ on the horizon. He said something like, "Nah! You don't have to worry! It's in good nick. Mazdas are solidly built. It will run forever."

    I'd definitely consider a Mazda if I were you. I can't fault it.

  • drprox on 10/12/2024 - 15:44

    NFI why anyone would buy the Mazda over the Honda. I somewhat understand taking a Toyota though given this is Ozb.
    Honda Jazz are the best!

  • kmwa on 10/12/2024 - 15:45
    +1

    All other things being equal, you might want to consider safety.
    Some RAC recommendations here…
    Under 15k https://rac.com.au/car-motoring/info/safest-used-cars-under-$15k
    Under 10k https://rac.com.au/car-motoring/info/safest-second-hand-cars-under-$10k
    Others https://rac.com.au/car-motoring/info/used-car-safety-ratings

    • GordonHanley on 12/12/2024 - 10:04

      Think this is the main priority for peace of mind. I'd want my kid in the safest vehicle possible.

  • Inyokuchi on 10/12/2024 - 16:06

    I don't know if car Auctions are any better in Brisbane but it is awful in Melb. I picked up a 2010 Honda Accord Euro Navi Lux at Pickles auction for 12k for around 160k km, the main issue is you can no longer pre screen the vehicle with a mechanic to check if it is a lemon. I also didn't enjoy paying auction fees as well but I got very lucky with mine, it was pristine and most likely driven by an older couple. Might not hurt to check auctions in Brisbane if they got better policies

  • Freitag on 10/12/2024 - 16:32

    I currently own a 2005 Honda Accord Euro and a 2011 Mazda 3. The Honda is the better car on every front, except for the hatchback storage convenience and that it needs 95 petrol.
    The Honda is more powerful / faster, smoother to drive, quieter inside and more comfortable. The Mazda feels cheap in comparison.

    I recommend the Honda accord euro.

    • Hangryuman on 10/12/2024 - 16:37

      I still wished I'd bought the 2006 Honda Accord (not Euro) I was offered for $6K some years ago in excellent condition with 85,000km on the odo

      at the time I wasn't ready for the change and had parking issues

      but a beautiful car to drive - that was a nice one.

  • CocaKoala on 10/12/2024 - 18:33

    Jazz is good but if you're getting an automatic then get the Corolla instead. The transmission is more reliable.

  • grr1701 on 10/12/2024 - 19:21

    2013-2014 Mazda 2 in Brisbane could be bought for that money with fewer than 40000km. Check they will Carsales.com
    Lovely little cars.

  • corvusman on 10/12/2024 - 19:27

    Hyundai i30, 1.8L petrol engine. Great car.

  • simplystu on 10/12/2024 - 20:47
    +2

    as a first car (for a teenager) … personally i would be aiming for lower than $10-$13 k.

    in first few months alone, will get many scrapes/bumps (x1000% if she uses it to drive to high school - year 12) … that used to be crazy +++ being so many inexperienced drivers, many who won't report incident == live with it or claim on insurance.

    as a first car (teenager) … really want to aim for a car that will get lots of scrapes/bumps.
    then 2-3 years later get a car as a more longer term purchase.

    • RolandWaites on 10/12/2024 - 23:12

      Yep. Get a car that isn't precious. You'll be kicking yourself when it comes back in couple of months with a ding in the boot. You can get an '06 Corolla for $5000.

    • May4th on 11/12/2024 - 06:24
      +2

      the counter point is more recent safety tech is probably worth the money, you're not saving much more at this price point without going for a real beater

  • mirz on 10/12/2024 - 21:10

    Buy Mitsubishi Mirage, it’s very underrated car

    • sumyungguy on 10/12/2024 - 21:20

      Meanwhile in the USA Mirage fatalaity rate is disturbingly high. I've driven one briefly and found it much better than I was expecting.

    • angywoo on 11/12/2024 - 12:09

      Picked a 4 y/o one up in 2018 for 4.5k never missed a beat. Still going strong. Just a shame there is no cruise control.

  • dsar on 10/12/2024 - 21:12
    +1

    I would recommend checking out ReDriven on youtube for used cars suggestions: https://www.youtube.com/@ReDriven

  • AG_ACT on 10/12/2024 - 21:29
    -2

    8k loan + GWM Jollion.

    7 years of peace of mind + Cheaper to insure + safety tech that is worth more than the interest you will pay on the loan.

    • Matt P on 10/12/2024 - 21:45
      -2

      I went to the bottom to support a 10k Swift or a Jazz but put into perspective.. this is probably the right choice.

    • Brick Tamland on 12/12/2024 - 10:11

      Isn’t the safety tech worth what it costs in the car rather than the interest on part of a loan?

    • Euphemistic on 12/12/2024 - 11:31

      But then you have interest payments plus additional depreciation of a haval. Dont get a car loan for a first car.

  • dlakers3peat on 10/12/2024 - 23:58
    +2

    All these options are awful. Would not spend 15k on any of these cars with over 100kms on the clock.

    • beltdrive on 11/12/2024 - 08:52
      +3

      What would you spend $15k on?

      • angywoo on 11/12/2024 - 12:10

        Id be interested to know too

  • PerthMan96 on 11/12/2024 - 02:24

    if its a mazda with the stupid i-eloop and stop start engine, forget about it, the additional costs to keep this car alive will make you more broke then the others. expect to pay $2000 at any moment

  • alexdagr8 on 11/12/2024 - 03:24
    -1

    Not popular opinion.. but MG3 or MG ZS should be considered.
    Can get second hand for $15K. Less than a year old and most have 7-10 year warranties from new.

    How they’ll fare long term I have no idea… but still an option with a long manufacturers warranty and capped price servicing

  • JaymeRyan on 11/12/2024 - 08:35

    I purchased a brand new Toyota corolla a few years back. Runs great and I have it serviced each year. Dealers are there to make a profit and may not always be honest, but if you go with a dealer make sure you shop around, and bring a friend that knows cars. I recommend looking at private sales, and also have a mechanic review the car before purchase. Here is a second hand car checklist that you should print off and used. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=8997844…

  • U4333439 on 11/12/2024 - 09:04
    +1

    I've got a manual 2010 Mazda 3 in great condition with under 80k in Canberra. Under your budget. Family owned but [elderly] MIL can't drive any more so looking to sell. PM me if interested - long drive to collect.

  • ipiok on 11/12/2024 - 09:19

    mazda 3 a great choice, with that budget I'd be looking for a 2015 model.

  • Minheim on 11/12/2024 - 09:49

    Have you thought about a mitsubishi lancer? Very reliable cars and cheap to service and maintain. Comes in both sedan and hatch. Should be in or near your budget. Also there is the ASX Suv based on the lancer platform..

  • gyrex on 11/12/2024 - 11:12
    +3

    I'm more intrigued as to why someone would want to elongate the standard/known abbreviation of kilometre from km to klm?

  • mousie on 11/12/2024 - 11:21

    Boring to look at but I bought a nissan altima 2.4L @ 13k < 5 years old 120kms

    You won't get a dealer car for the budget, second hand you'll get something decent at the price range, allow for REVs check / mechanical

  • Purp on 11/12/2024 - 12:04
    +1

    First car so buy something she wont mind wrecking that doesn't require comprehensive insurance since that will just eat up so much cost over the years.

    Whatever car she likes is the best car tbh, as long as it comes with full service history and you get your mechanic to do an inspection before purchase.

    a Subaru impreza wouldnt be too bad if you can find a decent one

    • Euphemistic on 11/12/2024 - 12:14
      +1

      Whatever car she likes is the best car tbh,

      This. You want a new driver to have some buy in for the vehicle. Gives them a sense of pride in their ride which in turn helps them get a sense of how to look after it.

  • King Tightarse on 11/12/2024 - 14:11

    Would get an i30 or Corolla- both very reliable.
    Of the others, i would check that they are timing chain, rather than (often expensive) timing belt motors.

  • UFO on 11/12/2024 - 14:15
    +1

    None of those on your list.

    Hyundai I30.

    Easy and cheap to service, and rock solid reliable. Parts are a damn sight cheaper than Toyota or Mazda that's for sure!

    Mum owned one, Mrs owns one… and will probably buy one for my daughter in a year or two when she's ready to drive.

    Terrific little car.

  • besttechadvisor on 11/12/2024 - 15:35
    +3

    People voting for a 20-year-old Corolla over a Picanto with a year of warranty need a head check.

    The newest car in the list, the only one that still has warranty, is clearly the smart choice.

    • bert-lifts on 12/12/2024 - 02:52
      +1

      Toyota brain rot sadly. They see the name and lose all sense of reason. OP 110% made the right choice going for the newer Picanto. Absolute no brainer.

      • besttechadvisor on 12/12/2024 - 06:12
        +1

        100%. I didn't even notice that it was a Picanto GT!

        And it has 4 years of warranty left, not 1. Any other decision was absolutely silly, except maybe the Mazda 3.

        It's amazing how biased people are towards Toyota simply because that's what they've been told is reliable.

        • Euphemistic on 12/12/2024 - 07:29
          +1

          More important than newer and warranty is if its fit for purpose. Only OPs daughter can tell us wether the picanto is big enough, or she needs a mid size - or even just wants a bigger car.

          • besttechadvisor on 12/12/2024 - 08:05

            @Euphemistic: Very true, but I'm assuming they're all fit for purpose since he's given them as options.

            I interpreted "advice on what makes and models to look out for" as meaning "are there any models that are known to be unreliable, unsafe, etc".

    • Brick Tamland on 12/12/2024 - 10:16

      The year is 2024 not 2033. Picanto is a much smaller car. Probably better off in Corolla that has more metal around you. Especially for a first time driver.

      • besttechadvisor on 12/12/2024 - 11:49

        The 2013 Picanto received 34.26 out of 37 on the ANCAP.

        The 2013 Corolla received 33.63 out of 37 on the ANCAP.

        There's more to safety than just how much metal is around you.

        Even if you were to decide to the Picanto is too small, the Mazda 3 would be the better buy than the Corolla imo, even if your metric is how much metal the vehicle contains.

        • Brick Tamland on 12/12/2024 - 11:53

          Safety systems play their part but at some point the biggest cars wins. If old mate is on his phone while driving his F150 and doesn't see you stopped at the lights what car would you prefer to be driving that day? The Corolla or Picanto?

          • besttechadvisor on 12/12/2024 - 12:33

            @Brick Tamland:

            "Safety systems play their part but at some point the biggest cars wins."

            The biggest car will "win" when all other factors are equal. But they're not equal between the Picanto and the

            If old mate is on his phone while driving his F150 and doesn't see you stopped at the lights what car would you prefer to be driving that day? The Corolla or Picanto?

            The Picanto that will, according to the experts, slow my movement forward more gradually so that my brain doesn't turn to mush when it hits the inside of my skull.

            The idea that "bigger = safer" is a myth that has contributed to the rise of oversized vehicles (such as SUV's and the F150 in your scenario) which has made the roads much more dangerous for everyone.

            Considering inexperienced drivers are more likely to contribute to accidents than experienced ones, maybe let's not put them in the biggest object we can find under the illusion of safety?

            • Brick Tamland on 12/12/2024 - 12:45

              @besttechadvisor: The Corolla has crumple zones, that tech has been around for quite a long time. The bigger the car the bigger the crumple zones.

              • besttechadvisor on 12/12/2024 - 12:52

                @Brick Tamland: Sorry, I'm going to have to trust ANCAP on this one.

                • Brick Tamland on 12/12/2024 - 12:55

                  @besttechadvisor: Trust me, crumple zones aren't a novel feature to Kia.

                  • besttechadvisor on 12/12/2024 - 12:58

                    @Brick Tamland: No one said that they were novel, I just said that ANCAP's testing contradicts your view that the Corolla is safer.

                    I'm going to trust that the experts know what they're talking about in this case.

  • Lakon on 11/12/2024 - 16:36

    if you are looking for dependable car, let others do the research for you.. i.e. taxi company, and look at their fleet. Most likely they have done the comparison

    • besttechadvisor on 12/12/2024 - 08:07

      A taxi company will have a completely different use case though. Different cars are more/less dependable in different circumstances.

      An extreme example: A corolla is going to be less dependable than a Formula 1 car when racing, but a Formula 1 car is going to be less dependable for daily commuting.

  • jacklew15 on 11/12/2024 - 16:44
    +1

    This 2015 LZ Ford Focus with only 62,000km looks like a good price at $12,500: https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2015-ford-focus-spo…

    The LZ Ford Focus has a 1.5L turbo 4 cylinder and an automatic transmission (not the dual clutch transmission that must be avoided). They're very nice to drive, very reliable, and earned a 5 star ANCAP safety rating. It's also possible to upgrade the stereo from Sync 2 to Sync 3 (with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto).

    • ReaperX22 on 12/12/2024 - 10:20

      This is a good buy. Solid car, not huge but enough space, hatch is more convenient than sedan most of the time too. Enough power for overtaking without being ridiculous.

  • Elitebhy on 11/12/2024 - 18:02
    -1

    2020 MG ZS EV starts from $22.5k with 43,000 km, depends on how much you drive, savings from less maintenance and fuel costs will add up.

  • hyc on 11/12/2024 - 19:22

    Jazz or Swift (Picanto can be a great option, but I'm not familiar with it) are the better choices. Getting something less than 10 years old or more is much more important.

  • Morven on 12/12/2024 - 10:25

    I would have added Subaru Impreza 2.0i-L or 2.0i-S from 2018-2019 for around the same budget. Has a lovely big screen for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay and the reversing camera, fixed-price annual servicing, and is similar inside to the XV from the same era (but isn't lifted like the XV). The L has most of the desirable features added, and the S has absolutely everything plus leather seats. The era was a height of Subaru manufacturing where the car rides on their updated "global platform" (chassis), just before the pandemic slowed everything down.

    • King Tightarse on 12/12/2024 - 10:46
      +1

      Aged Subarus can have huge maintenance costs when things go south

      • Morven on 12/12/2024 - 10:49
        +1

        I've had two in the last 6 years and not encountered that. They do have a reputation for reliability and endurance.

        • King Tightarse on 12/12/2024 - 10:55

          I am talking more like the OP's use case. 10 year + models.
          Pretty sure they are timing belt motors, so that's a big unnecessary cost that can be avoided by simply buying a timing chain model
          All great until they are not

          • besttechadvisor on 12/12/2024 - 12:39

            @King Tightarse: True, but timing chains are more expensive to replace than belts if it does need replacing, and it can cause a lot of damage within the engine bay if the timing belt breaks.

            Timing belt is probably better for a small run-around that doesn't do much kms, won't know that the sound the chain is making is bad, etc.

    • Euphemistic on 12/12/2024 - 11:33

      Scooby dos can be a bit more thirsty than an equivalent. Not saying dont buy one, just be aware.

  • dogboy on 12/12/2024 - 12:16

    The only cars I even remotely like on your list are the Kia, Honda Accord Euro and Mazda 3.
    I hate every other car your listed. Little pieces of crap that are driven by the worst drivers on the road.

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