Reliable hatchback for $6k?

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Ultimate Geek

#1437221 29-Nov-2015 14:15

You may have come across them in your searches, but check out some of toyota's outliers - like the Sientia, Ist, Yaris etc. Often built on the same platform as Corolla's, but a bit cheaper because Corolla's have a little bit of a premium on the name (which is well deserved)

I sat in an Ist recently which had fantastic headroom and a surprisingly roomy boot.

Something like this after a quick search seems to represent good value: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/toyota/auction-989537839.htm

Technofreak

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#1437251 29-Nov-2015 15:51

If you do decide to go the hatchback route make sure you compare the luggage space. We hired a 5 door Toyota Vitz (Yaris) recently the luggage space was quite a bit smaller than a similar sized Daihatsu.

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#1437263 29-Nov-2015 16:34

bring two large-ish suitcases along to check luggage space. easier to remember/compare.

Fred99

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#1437320 29-Nov-2015 17:48

TeaLeaf:
nitrotech:

Just wondering what your issue is with chain driven rather than belt - personally I wouldn't get a car that had a cam belt as they always need replacing and cost a fortune to do so - chain driven the chain generally outlasts the engine.
.

just that, i agree, i think you read my post wrong :-)

As a general rule - if you're looking for $6000 used car, presumably by the time it gets to that price range then it'll have many km on the clock and unknown service history - then don't be reassured that chain-driven cams solve potential maintenance nightmares.

Some chain-driven camshaft engines don't seem to have problems very often, but others do, and when they do it can be a major job to replace them - engine out and a final bill of many thousands of dollars. In some cases you or a mechanic might pick up that a chain is stretched or tensioner borked because there's an audible rattle, but sometimes they just break with no warning at all.

If the car hasn't been regularly serviced (oil/filter changes), then cam chains probably won't last the "expected" life of the engine.

With belt driven cams, hopefully the water pump, front crank seal, tensioner, cam seal, cam cover gasket will have been replaced when cambelt was changed. With chain-driven engines, water pumps often get ignored, overheating destroys engines just as routinely as cam-belt failure.

With some belt driven cam engines, they're "non-interference", in which case cam-belt failure will not result in catastrophic engine damage.

Many people treat cars like kitchen appliances, and have the attitude that if it passes a WOF and things seem to be working, no maintenance is required - or you can skimp.

A very bad idea - especially with most cars made over the past decade or so.

RUKI

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#1437567 30-Nov-2015 09:10

Potentially selling his for $4K as was driving bike around AKL
nomand.co/buy-my-caldina/
But with the summer at the door he has started using it again and paid license for another 6 months. Maybe you can convince him to sell it...
Can be viewed in Greenlane, Auckland only this week.

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#1437569 30-Nov-2015 09:21

You can pick up mid 2000's Mazda Axelas (Mazda 3s) for around the $6k mark with ~150k on the clock. Pretty good cars - plenty of room.

ilovemusic

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#1437924 30-Nov-2015 16:02

chain vs belt driven cams is a non-issue

both can fail without maintenance.

of the cars mentioned thus far... another vote for a mazda 3

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TeaLeaf

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#1439468 2-Dec-2015 19:17

Technofreak:
I often wonder about the economics of this type of change.

Yes, a smaller car will cost less to run, but when you consider how many K's you do how much will you really save over the course of the year.

How much is it costing to change cars? This on its own may outweigh any savings in operating costs.

Is the current car unreliable?

its manly to get into the 12 month wof bracket. we have had to change our mechanic a couple of times and even though we have done maybe 5kkm they have found very expensive things to fix. our old mechanic wouldnt have, sure i cant quantify that. either way older wagons costing minimum $600 a wof every 6 months when you barely use them is no economical. we will likely get back what we paid for it and the few k we have spent on it for 50kkm isnt expensive really. its just now its not in use much, paying for mechanics to "find" things every wof every 6 months is a PITA.

its extremely reliable, never broken down, over heated. id keep it if we were getting kms out of it no doubt.

TeaLeaf

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#1439469 2-Dec-2015 19:25

Fred99:
As a general rule - if you're looking for $6000 used car, presumably by the time it gets to that price range then it'll have many km on the clock and unknown service history - then don't be reassured that chain-driven cams solve potential maintenance nightmares.

does that rule change for $6001 ? I cant find it in the general rule book ;-p

most cars we are looking at are about 2005 and have between 60-95kkm.

if a chain is a fault i agree. this has happened before. but ive put 500kkm on a car and retired it before needing to change the chain.

i agree, people do skimp on maintenance. ill be getting a VTNZ on it. i cant stand skimppers. then whine when they have a $3k wof.

out currently car does look nice now, all shod in new tyres and drives like an awd with new tyres and a wheel alignment does. i think the mechanic made up a fault, ive had a look at the part and i disagree. having changed them myself. but i cant be bothered arguing a $400 part. i just gave him a 2/5 on nocowboys website. its a beautiful touring car, if we were doing the work we use too id keep it and get my old mechanic back on the job.

if it werent for the Mrs needing to drive, id just buy an old triumph speed triple.

no offense but a caldina would be a step back and in the wrong direction when i have 6cyl Sub Outback in better condition that im trying to downsize. ill be selling that for approx $3k if anyones keen.

TeaLeaf

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#1439475 2-Dec-2015 19:52

So the axella is the old 323?

Pretty small engine, but I did say 1500cc. How does that go with an auto? As long as it will tow a small trailer, which most 1600s Ive owned have easily.

Looks pretty tidy, do they come under another name.

You can easily get an axella for $6k with less than 80k on the clock 2002-2004.

TeaLeaf

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#1439478 2-Dec-2015 19:57

freitasm:
Considered a VW Golf (or even a smaller VW Polo)? The newer ones are chain driven.

Yes most definitely. Having a connection with the plant in Hessen we look at golfs like a Barina or Corolla, good workhorse.

My mum in law would send us her old one if it would fit in a suitcase ;-p

Currently Dads driving the new BMW i, the one with the gullwing doors. So its always BMW or VW.

The problem is finding a well priced mechanic in NZ, no german parts are cheap.

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#1439482 2-Dec-2015 20:13

We went with VW because the number of vehicles with this brand seems to be always growing. So parts shouldn't be a big problem - at least not like the Chrysler was for us.

TeaLeaf

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#1439491 2-Dec-2015 20:37

Yep good points and being a big production model thats the case.

I also like the size of a golf, i dont feel too boxed in.

Technofreak

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#1439568 2-Dec-2015 21:49

TeaLeaf: its manly to get into the 12 month wof bracket. we have had to change our mechanic a couple of times and even though we have done maybe 5kkm they have found very expensive things to fix. our old mechanic wouldnt have, sure i cant quantify that. either way older wagons costing minimum $600 a wof every 6 months when you barely use them is no economical. we will likely get back what we paid for it and the few k we have spent on it for 50kkm isnt expensive really. its just now its not in use much, paying for mechanics to "find" things every wof every 6 months is a PITA.

its extremely reliable, never broken down, over heated. id keep it if we were getting kms out of it no doubt.

I hear your pain.

I'd make the following comments.

My car a 2003 model, done 324,000 plus k's, (27,000 k's per year average) doesn't cost that sort of money between WoFs. Sure other than tyres there's been the odd wheel hub/bearing etc but nothing special. For the K's you do, I'd have to think your problems may well be more related to your mechanic than your car.

I guess what I'm saying is you may well find the same thing, even with a newer second hand car,

Do you get your warrants done by the mechanic or somewhere like VTNZ? I'd be inclined to go the VTNZ or similar way, and don't give the mechanic the chance to "upsell" any repairs.

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#1439601 2-Dec-2015 22:10

I think other than a new car you also need a new garage

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