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

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Back to square one, this time Japanese Car recommendations please.

TeaLeaf

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#207737 11-Jan-2017 17:41

Pulled out of buying a golf for the Mrs and the focus is sooty. The golf experienced mechanic put me off with the price to fix if the tranny sensor goes and even the cost of servicing the Tranny which is meant to be done every 20kkm I believe in the older model.

So now Im looking $6-8k, Japanese, preferably NZ new, 10 years old, Id like any Outback H6 but unlikely at low KMs as that was our last car and its surprisingly economical for a 6.

Other than that I have considered Corollas, Ive tried to find decent Mazda 3s but they are all 1500cc and with 4 people and luggage Im put off.

Any other cars worth considering? What happened to nissan, the Tida I didnt like, hired one for 3 months in Aus.

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#1701700 11-Jan-2017 21:22

Mazda 6? Mondeo, Camry? Maxima ? Unsure if they're in your budget. I sssume the further you go back, the cheaper they are and you'll trade for kms.

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Jase2985

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#1701703 11-Jan-2017 21:30

03-07 CL9 Honda Accord, NZ new if you can find it

Handle9

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#1701734 11-Jan-2017 22:41

Corolla wagon pre 2006. 1.8l goes very well, quite roomy, fun to drive for what it is and lots of NZ new ones around. They were a very popular fleet car, the basic one had wind down rear windows but hard to go wrong. The field is the Japanese import version.

Fred99

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#1701754 11-Jan-2017 23:07

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/toyota/auction-1230141342.htm

Alternatively there's a similar but different model called the Allion.

Not "NZ new", but you're not likely to get a good/reliable NZ new car with low km and to meet your needs for that price.

Look for models up to 2006 with the reliable 1.8 VVTI matched to a conventional transmission (as in the ad above) The 2l models have an early (for Toyota) D4D (direct injection) engine and should be avoided. The 1.5 is probably a little under-powered. The 1.8s go well enough. The 2l of that year and I think all models post 2006 had CVT trans.

Not sporty, but comfortable, quiet, reliable, and inexpensive with low km. and with very good boot space. Some models have side and curtain airbags. They rate 4.5 star fuel economy. Japanese stereo can be easily replaced with double-din unit with reversing camera.

jarledb

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#1701773 12-Jan-2017 02:15

Fred99:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/toyota/auction-1230141342.htm

Alternatively there's a similar but different model called the Allion.

Or one of my favourite Toyotas - the Avensis (Trademe link). Avensis is related to Allion/Premio.

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trig42

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#1701810 12-Jan-2017 09:05

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

for $6-8k, you are never going to get a perfect car. You did well to move off the Golf (in that price range you are asking for trouble there IMO).

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.

I'd be looking for a Mazda 6/Atenza, or one of the Toyotas mentioned above. Don't worry about getting an import (unless you must have the NZ radios etc., but most can be replaced). I'd rather have a low km Atenza from Japan than a high K Mazda 6 (with probably worse specs) from NZ.

The Avensis linked above look like nice cars too. I don't know how they drive (Mazda's IMO drive better, give you a bit more fun).

Handle9

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#1701812 12-Jan-2017 09:06

Aventis are mostly D4D engines. If you haven't got maintainence records avoid them.

Smithy100

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#1701864 12-Jan-2017 10:06

Jase2985:

03-07 CL9 Honda Accord, NZ new if you can find it

I picked one of these up a year ago. 190km, NZ New - poverty pack. Everything worked... I got it serviced at Honda which cost a couple of hundy and 20000km later it's not missed a beat. Getting it serviced again next week.

It's not going to win any awards, but for $5k to get an NZ new, ten year old car that is comfortable, reliable, and not underpowered - that'll do me (at least for the time being - haha).

networkn

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#1701876 12-Jan-2017 10:14

I can offer you a Subaru Impreza 2005 done 70,000 Genuine KM's immaculate inside, but outside needs some paint touch ups. Dark Blue.

Geektastic

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#1701899 12-Jan-2017 10:29

TeaLeaf:

Pulled out of buying a golf for the Mrs and the focus is sooty. The golf experienced mechanic put me off with the price to fix if the tranny sensor goes and even the cost of servicing the Tranny which is meant to be done every 20kkm I believe in the older model.

So now Im looking $6-8k, Japanese, preferably NZ new, 10 years old, Id like any Outback H6 but unlikely at low KMs as that was our last car and its surprisingly economical for a 6.

Other than that I have considered Corollas, Ive tried to find decent Mazda 3s but they are all 1500cc and with 4 people and luggage Im put off.

Any other cars worth considering? What happened to nissan, the Tida I didnt like, hired one for 3 months in Aus.

Tranny sensor? I have heard of Gaydar, but not a tranny sensor. How does that work?

networkn

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#1701901 12-Jan-2017 10:33

This actually made me laugh out loud.

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#1701902 12-Jan-2017 10:33

TeaLeaf:

Pulled out of buying a golf for the Mrs and the focus is sooty. The golf experienced mechanic put me off with the price to fix if the tranny sensor goes and even the cost of servicing the Tranny which is meant to be done every 20kkm I believe in the older model.

So now Im looking $6-8k, Japanese, preferably NZ new, 10 years old, Id like any Outback H6 but unlikely at low KMs as that was our last car and its surprisingly economical for a 6.

Other than that I have considered Corollas, Ive tried to find decent Mazda 3s but they are all 1500cc and with 4 people and luggage Im put off.

Any other cars worth considering? What happened to nissan, the Tida I didnt like, hired one for 3 months in Aus.

My wife has a Honda Jazz/Fit.

Bought from a car lot dealer in Wellington (City Motors I think) who even let us take it without actually paying them until we got home!

It's been reliable, super cheap to run (smell of an oily rag in terms of fuel), has CVT etc and we picked one (they had at least 10 on the lot) that had the optional climate control fitted.

The only oddity is the in-built GPS in the stereo which shows it permanently parked on a dockside in Japan...!

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#1701904 12-Jan-2017 10:35

networkn: This actually made me laugh out loud.

You'll be joining me in the PC Re-Education camp then for cognitive restructuring treatment...!

blackjack17

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#1701941 12-Jan-2017 11:14

2006 Subaru Legacy. Heaps of room. fuel efficient on long trips, not too bad around town. The 2L nonturbo has a decent amount of power (not going to win awards but it doesn't feel lacking, and fun to drive on windy roads.

here is one that you could pick up for 7k (I got one very similar for 6K a year and a half ago)

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/subaru/auction-1237035224.htm

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Jase2985

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#1701951 12-Jan-2017 11:31

A few Accords

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/honda/auction-1239805746.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/honda/auction-1209390822.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/honda/auction-1221318205.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/honda/auction-1236105815.htm

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