Good older small car?

DavidPartay · #1 30-01-2006, 02:14 PM

Hi guys,

My fiance and I are looking at getting her a car, we're thinking about a VR-VS commodore, but a small car would be cheaper to buy and run. I'm not big on the know-how of smaller cars, at the moment I'm thinking an Astra or Mazda 323.

Basically I want to know which ones are RELIABLE, which ones tend to have a bad rep for airconditioning problems, etc... I don't want anything older than 1995, and preferably cheaper than $12 grand.

HAS to be a manual.
Rear-wheel drive would be preferable but I know they're few and far between.
I want to steer clear of Hyundai, Kia, Daewoo and Honda, and Ford is DEFINITELY out of the question as she is the biggest Holden fan in the world.

I'm looking to Holden, Mazda, Subaru and Nissan mainly.

Advice would certainly be appreciated.

clixanup · #2 30-01-2006, 02:27 PM

No mention of the iconic Toyota Corolla?

$12K should get a 2001 to 2002 model. Provided its manual.

Nippon denso air = you'll find yourself turning it down in 40 degree heat. It gets COLD.

They're ultra reliable. They just don't break down. And as a bonus, the gearing in them is relatively short, which makes them heaps of fun to drive.

That's what I'd buy if I were in the market for a small car.

michaelw · #3 30-01-2006, 02:54 PM

Yep another vote for the Corolla, boring as bat**** but VERY reliable.

One thing to watch for on the hatch back is that the rear seals on the back glass can leak causing rust on the bottom passenger hand side of the window.

Engine mounts can get worn otherwise good cars. Depending on what people want I always recommend either a corolla or a commodore.

Mike

DavidPartay · #4 30-01-2006, 03:03 PM

Corolla, eh? For some reason it didn't even come to mind, definitely a suggestion worth looking into!

Being a Toyota I wouldn't expect anything less than good build quality and there's plenty of great Toyota service departments around who I would expect look after you.

Cheers

HDT_aero · #5 30-01-2006, 03:04 PM

any old small car will be fine so long as you dont drive it like a commodore lol

treat it nice and it will treat you nice back

clixanup · #6 30-01-2006, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidPartay

Corolla, eh? For some reason it didn't even come to mind, definitely a suggestion worth looking into!

Being a Toyota I wouldn't expect anything less than good build quality and there's plenty of great Toyota service departments around who I would expect look after you.

I had a 1989 AE92 (1.6 twin cam with a/c and 5 speed) for 5 years. That little car earned my respect. I'd give it heaps, but it always started with the first turn of the key. Had 216,000 km on it when I sold it, and it still didn't blow smoke. Never gave me any trouble. I used to get 10km per litre around town. On a round trip to Wagga ~ 1100km, it used 65 litres with the a/c on all the way...

minux · #7 30-01-2006, 03:28 PM

I quite like taking my sisters 1.8 litre Laser GLXi for a drive, goes well for a little 4, only cost her 9k with 107k on the clock(2000 model) elec windows, cruise control etc etc

nm, read your post to the end...

DavidPartay · #8 30-01-2006, 09:53 PM

Ok next question, what small car 1990-1995 era would be the best? Still Corolla, or would something else pass the test of time better?

filtnineee · #9 30-01-2006, 10:03 PM

covert a vs to gas and its cheaper to run then a small car,and u dont loose power, and u still have a big car, why bother with small car? there prob solved

DavidPartay · #10 30-01-2006, 10:27 PM

No, problem NOT solved.

In 2 years the price of gas will be comparable to the price of petrol. A gas conversion costs minimum $1600, you will NEVER recoup that expense because of this. Don't be surprised if gas costs over 70c/L by the end of the year.

I would much prefer to have her driving a big car, but small cars ARE cheaper to run.

michaelw · #11 30-01-2006, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidPartay

Ok next question, what small car 1990-1995 era would be the best? Still Corolla, or would something else pass the test of time better?

My girlfriend has a '93 corolla other than the above mentioned rust problem. No worries.

Another small thing with corollas the normal wheels seem to lose their hub caps quites easily. I know of 3 corollas and all of them never had a full set of hubcaps.

EDIT: A friend's corolla was a 1990 hatch still in very good nick, picked up for $3 300 from a dealer. The owner had to move back to NZ and it was sold privately 3 months later for 3000.

Mike

ucwepn · #12 30-01-2006, 11:02 PM

I can't believe no-one has said a honda civic, They are as good if not better than the corolla in reliability and build quality, although their major concern is the necessity to get spare parts shipped from Japan. But the VTEC engines are very hard to kill, the toyota corrolla is a very good car as well. Just steer well clear of anything from korea or malaysia

Bec · #13 30-01-2006, 11:04 PM

Corolla for sure. Hondas have better build quality but cost too much to maintain

DavidPartay · #14 31-01-2006, 08:09 AM

I said I want to steer clear of Honda, I have a personal vendetta against them

. I would rather drive a Ford, let's put it that way!