Back to square one, this time Japanese Car recommendations please.

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#1702063 12-Jan-2017 14:06

trig42:

OP, you must be one of the most careful car buyers I've ever heard of.

Did you find out why the Focus was sooty? maybe it only ever did short trips? Sounds like you let a good car slip through there.

No the Mrs is haha, its her car. The focus is still there. Just very odd the oil would be below E after 6 months. It only blew soot the first 3 revs, but after that the slippery water appealed and I thought is this oil or just water and soot.

I knew I should have said Transmission, fair play, lol.

Subaru is what we know and had and got written off by a WRX rofl. .... cost us a lot in money as it was an older model and the insurance would only pay out 75% and we had just put $1000 into it. It cost us $2600, 2.5l that had Wingers service history, 185kkm when we got it, written off at 235kkm. Only issues were disc needed a grind (shudder), and the plastic end that feeds the radiator to the engine hose split, drove it 15km near high, no problem new plastic end and a new valve for the bottom of the radiator (wasnt opening hence looked like was engine). Brake pads. A new exhaust part. New tyres. And thats when Mr im on my phone failed to stop at a major intersection, 2 weeks after new wof costing $1k all up. ....

We were so close to pulling trigger on a low KM import Outback other week for $7600, 140kkm, 3.0l, but the Mrs didnt want to spend, that, 2006 facelift model too.

Now she is ok spending up to $8k, sigh, but the Outback has gone.

Whats more important, age or KMs? Would a 3.0l legacy at 170kkm be bad buy for $7k? She likes Wagons or Hatches as she needs big boot space. I like the b4 sedan personally, but its not for me :-)

She is ultra nervise about non NZ new as she is worried imports will lose there resale overnight.

Cheers guys, I didnt expect this much help or positivity. Its flappn stressful buying for someone else, if it wasnt the Mrs I wouldnt do it.

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#1702092 12-Jan-2017 14:44

Just one thing - if you have stuff to carry eg kids you want a wagon, hatch at a stretch. You probably knew that already?

blackjack17

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#1702130 12-Jan-2017 15:40

TeaLeaf:
trig42:

OP, you must be one of the most careful car buyers I've ever heard of.

Did you find out why the Focus was sooty? maybe it only ever did short trips? Sounds like you let a good car slip through there.

No the Mrs is haha, its her car. The focus is still there. Just very odd the oil would be below E after 6 months. It only blew soot the first 3 revs, but after that the slippery water appealed and I thought is this oil or just water and soot.

I knew I should have said Transmission, fair play, lol.

Subaru is what we know and had and got written off by a WRX rofl. .... cost us a lot in money as it was an older model and the insurance would only pay out 75% and we had just put $1000 into it. It cost us $2600, 2.5l that had Wingers service history, 185kkm when we got it, written off at 235kkm. Only issues were disc needed a grind (shudder), and the plastic end that feeds the radiator to the engine hose split, drove it 15km near high, no problem new plastic end and a new valve for the bottom of the radiator (wasnt opening hence looked like was engine). Brake pads. A new exhaust part. New tyres. And thats when Mr im on my phone failed to stop at a major intersection, 2 weeks after new wof costing $1k all up. ....

We were so close to pulling trigger on a low KM import Outback other week for $7600, 140kkm, 3.0l, but the Mrs didnt want to spend, that, 2006 facelift model too.

Now she is ok spending up to $8k, sigh, but the Outback has gone.

Whats more important, age or KMs? Would a 3.0l legacy at 170kkm be bad buy for $7k? She likes Wagons or Hatches as she needs big boot space. I like the b4 sedan personally, but its not for me :-)

She is ultra nervise about non NZ new as she is worried imports will lose there resale overnight.

Cheers guys, I didnt expect this much help or positivity. Its flappn stressful buying for someone else, if it wasnt the Mrs I wouldnt do it.

A 170km Subaru with need a $1200cambelt pretty soon so that will have to be taken into consideration

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#1702148 12-Jan-2017 16:11

TeaLeaf:

Whats more important, age or KMs? Would a 3.0l legacy at 170kkm be bad buy for $7k? She likes Wagons or Hatches as she needs big boot space. I like the b4 sedan personally, but its not for me :-)

This depends heavily on maintenance history and driver treatment. The 3.0 Flat6 in the age you're looking at is almost certainly chain driven, not belt, so you shouldn't have to worry about that at least.

trig42

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#1702154 12-Jan-2017 16:22

I wouldn't be worrying about resale. You are likely to be the last owner of a vehicle this age (depending of course how long you keep vehicles for).

You will likely pay more for a NZ new, and may be able to sell it for more if you need to sell it, but I'd say you will still lose the same amount during the time you have it.

Say you buy a 2006 Mazda 6 or Atenza.

Here are two I found just quickly on Trademe:

Atenza - Import. 2.3L Sport, 168k. $6975

Mazda 6 - NZ New, 2.3L 160k, $8000

Very similar cars. $1000 difference in asking price (you may be able to negotiate the NZ new one down more than the dealer import?)
Say you put another 80,000km on their clocks, and 5 years. They will both be worth around $2-3k I'd say, and a buyer of a car (in 5 years) that is 15+ years old and has close to a quarter of a million on the clock will not care where it started its life.

Smithy100

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#1702165 12-Jan-2017 16:37

trig42:

Very similar cars. $1000 difference in asking price (you may be able to negotiate the NZ new one down more than the dealer import?)
Say you put another 80,000km on their clocks, and 5 years. They will both be worth around $2-3k I'd say, and a buyer of a car (in 5 years) that is 15+ years old and has close to a quarter of a million on the clock will not care where it started its life.

Bad example - the NZ one is an '06 facelift vs the import '03, original model... for $1k I'd absolutely be buying the NZ one. Notwithstanding the fact you'd get the Kiwi one for less than $8k anyway, reducing the difference even further.

That import car is worth $5k on a good day - it's certainly not worth 7.

Jase2985

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#1702172 12-Jan-2017 16:48

and your more likely to get a known service history with the NZ new one.

Samsung

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TeaLeaf

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#1702175 12-Jan-2017 17:04

Thanks all, so NZ new does have some merit, as long as it doesnt cost you say $2k more.

We are primarily looking at 3.0 legacies or outbacks. And yes the extra space as joker mentioned is the reason for the wagon. I personally want the B4.

So there is nothing to be scared of with imports, ie KMs genuine, was it damaged in Japan etc etc?

Subaru 3.0s are highly priced for their KMs, but I figure its because that engine has been known to go for a very long time.

If i bought a 2.5l I would either only buy it if cambelt was not due or done or if they took the price to change it off.

Ok heres the thing, we might be moving overseas in 6 months, we might not be, there is no certainty, hence the chaos and anxiety over buying a car and worrying about resale value.

Her parents are visiting and we need to take them on a 1000km circular journey. So at minimum a big hatch is needed.

A lot to take in I know.

What about a 2005 Nissan Pulsar?

If we buy an Outback from a dealer, we are certain to lose money if we move in 6 months time correct?

BuzzLightyear

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#1702184 12-Jan-2017 17:52

I had an H6 legacy spec B new and kept it until about 100k. Lovely car. I had a friend who purchased a used one and still has it 130k I think. Motor and tranny fine but a bit of money around suspension components wearing.

My advice is the flasher the car in that price range the more potential maintenance costs. Buy something really basic and it will most likely be cheaper to maintain.

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#1702186 12-Jan-2017 17:58

TeaLeaf:

Thanks all, so NZ new does have some merit, as long as it doesnt cost you say $2k more.

We are primarily looking at 3.0 legacies or outbacks. And yes the extra space as joker mentioned is the reason for the wagon. I personally want the B4.

So there is nothing to be scared of with imports, ie KMs genuine, was it damaged in Japan etc etc?

Subaru 3.0s are highly priced for their KMs, but I figure its because that engine has been known to go for a very long time.

If i bought a 2.5l I would either only buy it if cambelt was not due or done or if they took the price to change it off.

Ok heres the thing, we might be moving overseas in 6 months, we might not be, there is no certainty, hence the chaos and anxiety over buying a car and worrying about resale value.

Her parents are visiting and we need to take them on a 1000km circular journey. So at minimum a big hatch is needed.

A lot to take in I know.

What about a 2005 Nissan Pulsar?

If we buy an Outback from a dealer, we are certain to lose money if we move in 6 months time correct?

Where in the country are you? Just know that most Subarus (not the current ones, they have a different engine) will need head gasket replacement at some point in their lives (just once, once it's fixed it is fine - think of it as a genetic factory flaw). Make sure you are not buying one for sale for that reason.

Jase2985

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#1702197 12-Jan-2017 19:10

Accord Wagon? Cheaper and less km than a Subaru one and likely bigger inside

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/honda/auction-1224766343.htm

alasta

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#1702217 12-Jan-2017 20:20

TeaLeaf:

So there is nothing to be scared of with imports, ie KMs genuine, was it damaged in Japan etc etc?

Possible issues in addition to the two points you noted above:

- No service history.

- Handbook not in English.

- Navigation/Entertainment systems non-functional or not in English.

- Lack of support in NZ if a recall occurs.

- Fitment of snow tyres.

- Difficulty sourcing model specific parts or accessories.

Oh, and some of them have really, really stupid names.

plod

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#1702232 12-Jan-2017 20:56

alasta:
TeaLeaf:

So there is nothing to be scared of with imports, ie KMs genuine, was it damaged in Japan etc etc?

Possible issues in addition to the two points you noted above:

- No service history.

- Handbook not in English.

- Navigation/Entertainment systems non-functional or not in English.

- Lack of support in NZ if a recall occurs.

- Fitment of snow tyres.

- Difficulty sourcing model specific parts or accessories.

Oh, and some of them have really, really stupid names.

Just purchased a fresh import from a Toyota dealer, come in through Toyota NZ. None of this is a problem so far. Head unit replaced with a NZ one. Keeping steering wheel functions. Toyota will support for recalls, I think most brands do, Honda does. Service history, that can happen with NZ cars as well. Snow tyres would be something you negotiate for. Would CGA stand for sourcing parts? Or does that not apply for second hand vechicles. I would be more concerned about finding the right dealer. Toyota was fairly smart with whole Jap import thing, can't beat them, then join them

TeaLeaf

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#1702243 12-Jan-2017 21:08

Ive never had a shocks problem with Subbies. Sometimes the backs can get a bit soft with heavy loads and need new springs, but the bilstein system in legacies and outbacks is awesome sauce.

I dont see whats more complicated about an outback than any other car, if anything an engine known NOT to have head gasket issues, sure the 2.0 and 2.5 some do. But my last 2.5 at 250kkm split the plastic that connects the engine hose to the rad. I drove it 40km on H and it had no damage to the gasket, replaced the plastic part and all was back to normal. Never over heated aside from that, always just below middle.

Certain models like the old 2.5 that had Air Bag suspension, they have to be converted to springs and shocks because the bags cost like $1000 a set. But new it let you lower and raise the car.

Im looking at multiple outbacks and legacies, several NZ new with high KMs but all 3.0l. 170kkm will cost you at least $7k, 110kkm import will cost $8500 at a dealer. A legacy will cost less depending on spec.

I also like the legacy B4 sedan which is pretty simple.

I hear what you are saying re simple car, ie Corolla, but $8k for a a 2004 corolla, thats like paying $100 for a box of speights and saying its worth it because its so low in alcohol you wont get a hangover.

Jase2985

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#1702254 12-Jan-2017 21:33

you obviously have you mind set on a subaru, so just get one.

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