I am looking for a new small car under 20 for my mum , so whats the best car to get thats good on fuel and has good resell value , it needs to be a 5 door

cheers seagull

why not a late model golf or new beetle if u wanna stay vw.

Honda Jazz.... mazda3......

2k beetle and a long holiday?

I like the new swift. mazda has a good name.

yeah i have heard a fair few good comments about the new little mazdas.


Anthony

new swift looks sweet or go the polo? of course..
(but i do like the swift, reminds me of the new mini)
excuse me while i go and wash my mouth out with soap.. :duh

Go the polo! second choice would be a Mazda 2.

im partial to the echos...we got one for my mum...and now three of her friends have them as well...

We got her to the road in a one off deal for $16k...that was an 4 door auto, air con, tinted windows and paint and fabric protection. No trade. I've since referred other to this guy, and negotiated two more...they got similar for $17200.

I noticed ur looking at the new colt (nuther thread) Havent heard much about them...but find its best to wait one or two years from main release for problems to get sorted by manufacturers...

also...check out drive.dom and racq/nrma for comparitive testing...i did when looking at cars for my mum...I compared toyotas range against daewoo, hyundie, pulsar, mazda and vw....based on what they had in the price range up to $20k (plus on roads)...

also, when dealing...pit ur competitors against each other...and also look afar...

my best deal for my mums car came from other side of city...our car local...but my brother in law pitted our car group against townsville to get the best deal there...we found out...with toyota...u can order from any dealer to go to newhere in aust...and transport on the new car is the same...so u can buy thru townsville to have transported to brissy...no difference in ur transport...

and begin negoitations at start of month...but dont order till end of month (always at end) they pppl get more desperate to deal at end of month (meet stats) AND dont act enthusiastic (or take an enthusiastic partner (mine cost em an extra $1k) and walk away from first offer....but leave ur name and number....they will call if they want the deal.

I swear using this stuff...all given to me by someone who used to deal in motor industry) I saved $9k on corolla, $8k on echo $7k on BIL corolla, and $7k on mothers friends echo....

and I had them undercutting the price I had been given by union shopper....when union gave me theres...after i had mine...they said...order ur car now while the offers still there.

what i didnt tell them is...afetr I got car...i also made them put on head light and bonnet protectors, mats, and anti static straps & dash mats...and guy gave me his pen...lol

hey, its costs them only $100 to give mt the stuff...but $300 if im buying it.

so there u go...i know its long winded (aren't all my posts)...but hopefully it will help u get the best price u can for ur mum.

cheers & good luck

Mazdas are cool , very reliable and cheap to run.
I just picked up an older model and love it to bits

89 MAZDA SST 323 Turbo

[ Edited on 13-10-2005 by empi ]

btw, weve got an echo too, great car for the milage but not my cuppa for looks, altho it doesnt miss a beat..

i heard the jazzes are ok - fairly roomy inside (for wot they are) and very easy on the juice.
don't know about prices though...

For the sake of safety, keep it German.

How about a 2 or 3 year old Subaru Impreza! The 5-door models are roomy on the inside without being huge on the outside, Subarus are great quality, very safe, and good to drive.

Avoid these like the plague: Kia, Daewoo, Hyundai.

On a serious note, I second puple M, We have 2 subaru's a 96 impreza and a 98 liberty. Both sub 16k and really reliable.

For new go the polo, runs real cheap and very very good safety. Most micros are crap in safety.

Avoid kia, proton, hyundai, daewoo go jap or euro.


Buy low use 2nd hand and save a heap too.

We bought our Mother a Hyundai Excell about 6 years ago. PS, AC, Auto, Remote locking.
About 16.5k then, % year warranty or 100,000km. Hasn't missed a beat and the warranty has just run out. Still going strong and she loves it. The replacement has ca new name but I would put money on them being just as reliable.
And before anyone starts..i know it is not a VW, but it was a group buy by her kids (all adult) so I just paid my money.
My sister has a Suzuki Liana, same story and this one come with roadside assist, she had to use it once because the battery was flat, they sent the RACV and she was sorted out. Don't know the exact price but under 20k.
They are both great liitle cars, but with the character that makes john howard look like a rock star in comparison

polo

I love the look of the new Swift. Don't know if it lives up to its predecessor though.

Polo or Jazz

Yogie

what about giving her a deal on ya outback? what's 17k between family, she gave you life afterall?

An echo rear ended me and a commodore behind it rear ended it and she was a mess, write off and I was stationary at a set of lights after I only had my new bmoor for 2 months was not impressed. They go good on fuel but what about safety?

Mazda 3's are bloody good

Holden astras proven and very reliable

Echos are cheap to run but look UGLY sorry they do:P

Honda Jazz not a bad car apart from the normal honda bills... twice as much for parts etc if needed but one of the most reliable cars in its class so do u take a chance??

Hyundai, now i have not idea why people bag thse car out cuz they are cheap to buy/run and bloody reliable... before u all jump up and down look at the facts...

The first manufacter to offer an all points 5 year warrenty (still one of the best out there as it covers nearly everything), price from new is good and not pushed through the roof cuz of "name", cost of running one is one of the best around, there safty standards are inline with Europen guidelines. Quite simply they are very good value for money and worth a look against the bigger named cars. people tend to run them down as there name is not in the right image or whatever...

A few years ago in the UK they did a test to prove that a name of a car will sell it over everything else....100 people were chosen from radom, some in the trade some just mothers or grandparents. They were all give a score card which had everything from looks,build ,styleing etc etc. they we put into a room with 7 diferent cars, all brand new and unreleased but they had had all identification removed so there was no names,makes or such. the people were given 2 hours to go all over the cars and make there mind up and fill in there score cards.

When all the results were back in it was a two horse race so all the others were removed and they went back to pick a winner.

87 people pick one and 13 the other... the 13 was an audi A4 and when they were told everyone said on yea good car etc etc etc... the 87 picked the Skoda octavia to which all but 10 said they would NOT buy it as it was a skoda. This was a short while after VW had bought skoda and the Octavia was using the same running gear.engine and interior as the hugly popular passat....

skodas were the laughing stock of Europe for many a year so people see them as shit.. where as now a few years on they can see them a great car,basicly they get a VW golf or passat for two thirds of the price. Once people get past the "image" a name portrays then they will see something for what it truly is.....


As for safty of small cars most of them have to fall into Europen safty guidelines so are very safe. Yes the crumple but that is what they are designed to do it absorbes the impact but in doing so the car gets written of much easier than older cars... which is safer the powers to be will tell u the new ones.. me i like a solid car round me but will i get whiplash.snap my head off cuz the car doesnt take any off the impact??

the simple fact is cars are not made to last anymore, its not in the makers intrest to do so, they make them do you ten years then they start to fall apart etc etc. sure some go on but lets be honest in thrity years now many of theses car will still be around like the old VW's holdens even fords???

steff.............................

[ Edited on 13-10-2005 by DubCrazy ]

We just sold our 2002 Astra CD. They are great value second hand now of raround 15 -17K. it had everything except leather and never let us down in 3 1/2 years and 70000 k's. Cheap to run, awesome factory stereo and plenty of torque for round town.

I still prefer my just aquired 62 bug but it needs more than fuel and a wash each week

i suggest looking for a 2nd hand corolla ... my sister just got a brand new one and she is very happy. 22k drive away new ...

welll what a post , thanks people

I must say Pete , you a realest just like me .
I did think of this but the car is over the top for her use , I be looking after her more in years to come .

Bugeyedbabe & Steff , thanks for your words
seagull neil

ECHO's are UGLY.....

Hyundy GETZ great small car.....
economical etc.....

New Mitsubishi colt [part of the Mercedes group now]

Lee

What about......................

Low K, Merc 180E or 190E (1990 - 1994?)
Fuel injected and Rear Drive, plus finding one with leather is a bonus. AMG badge you will have to pay for the extra cookies.
$10,000 Max and the other $10,000 for a nice holiday for the ole girl.

Or ..............

A VW Passat around the 1999-2000 year with smaller motor for under $20,000

seagull,

If ur thinking a goos second hand car...check out this add...came on AVD tonight

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewthread.php?tid=44788 

thanks for this I had a look at one to day , I am getting a fleet price on one now .