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Looking to buy a small / mid sized car for the Mrs's.
Ok guys & gals,
I am looking to buy a small (not too small) to mid sized car for the Mrs's. Auto or Manual does not matter, she does not like hatch backs (so sedanish shape), 4 door or coupe is ok. The size she is looking for is approx Corolla, Cruz size. We went looking at car yards tonight, not a great range of choice out here. Price I would like to keep no higher than mid $20k. I am normally blinded by the Toyota stuff but after looking at sticker prices, I must say that they seem overpriced for what you get when compared to other brands. So can anyone give me any honest reviews on cars in this size and price area. Purely on physical appearance my wifes first choice is a Hyundai Elantra, (there is a black one in Hyundai dealer out here in manual for $21.5k) and second choice is a Holden Cruz, and we also spotted a Honda City that was priced right, but may be on the slightly small side (just) at $21k. I feel so dirty :( |
cant beat a hyundai
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I agree with scaffold.
The Hyundai line are nice cars for the money with great gas mileage and cant beat the warranty. They look and ride nice. |
Why no to hatch backs? VW golf is a terrific car and approaching Audi for build quality these days.
Second hand Mondeo XR5 is another option. Built in Belgium I believe. |
We have a Suzuki Swift as a run arround car.
Good value about $18K, 6 air bags, abs great on fuel. Phil |
Only 2 choices IMHO, that would be Mazda 3 or Golf. Won't be beaten on quality and both are great fun to drive and the 3 is available as a true sedan as opposed to a hatch.
I'm on my 2nd one having updated from sp23 to sp25 and I've got say its got the best brakes of any reasonably priced road car that I've driven :LOL: as a bonus you won't have any warranty problems with either Mazda or VW, they just don't break or have stuff fall off. That's my $20k's worth :D |
Quote:
I think the new Australian built Cruze is a reasonable car, well they seem to be selling a lot of them. Go for the turbo intercooled 1.4 petrol, more punch than the 1.8 and better on fuel.... Sort of keeps the dollar in the country also.. Just my 2c worth. |
Honda have great engineering as do Subaru.
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I just purchased a couple of Hyundai i30's for the work fleet. Turbo diesel and around mid 20's.
Came with 8 year dealer warrantys. What more could you want. |
2012 camaro.
You will thank yourself for your generosity. |
dont by a cruze, (i work in car rental) like others have said try hyundai, the i45 is a great car for the money!
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Come on dave just let her drive the cobra....
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Dave
I for one am not sold on Korean crap perhaps it's a hang over from their past early build indiscretions I remember. Wife went looking for a Mazda 3 a couple of years ago and came home with a 6 instead. I guess in the burbs getting a good deal is easier, you'd need to go looking in Adelaide I suspect. Anyway both the Mazda 3 and 6 are very good and perhaps a tad cheaper than the VW, though in the same sort of quality league. Just my thoughts. |
David
We looked at a number of options in this price range late last year. Only difference is that we were looking at a hatch. We considered the i30, Mazda 3, Ford Focus and Subaru Impreza. Like you (and I am a big Toyota fan) we found the Corolla to expensive for what it offered. The decision came down to the i30 or the Subaru - both were excellent value for money. I didn't like the fit and finish of the Mazda and the Focus was OK but with accessories was going to be more expensive than the Subaru. In the end, we decided to splurge and spend the little extra on the Subaru (which comes with AWD of course as well as alloys, bluetooth and leather at the time). It cost us just over $23K. The sedan was the same price at the time. I am still impressed with the build quality (fit an finish) and the drive. Very nice and am happy to recommend. Geof |
I agree. Mazda 3 should be on the list. 'She' has had one for five years. Traded an unreliable Audi in on the M; M has been ultra-reliable.
Cheers, Glen |
I have always had the impression from Hyundai advertising that you were buying a warranty, not a car. However, a hire car I had recently was an i45 and it was very impressive. Still would go with the Subaru. Fuji Heavy industries make tough cars that outlast any others in this country on current evidence.
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What about the new Kia Rio hatch?
Same tough Hyundai underpinnings with more style and pizazz. Apparently rides a little better than the I30 too. |
Sambo, it is Ronda's car, and she says no hatch "They look ugly" (her words)
Phil, Had not thought about Suzuki, but there is no dealer in Alice. Rog246, Golf is hatch only, Jetta is sedan but new model is just shy of $30k by the time you drive out the door. Sadly no Mazda dealer out here. Towmaster, definatly new (she deserves to be spoilt) we looked at a Cruz, but Ronda does not like the interior look. Cheers Merv & Brett. Gav, just slightly out of budget. DBN04, Thanks for feedback, Rental yards will give a decent indication. AC-460, Ronda refuses to drive the Cobra, she has been offered the keys. Slowy, if things stall then I will be in Melbourne in 3 weeks time, I may tour a few car yards for a look. One F Geof, Had not thought about Subaru as I just "assumed" they would be up higher in price, will go for a look, Cheers. Glen, Mazda does look good, but no back up in Alice, but if nothing happens in teh next week I will look when I visit Melbourne. |
Dave,
You wont find better value than the imprezza. I bought the same model as 07cob leather interior, bluetooth, alloys for 24k. They are priced the same as the others but include all wheel drive so you cant go wrong. Current Offer on the Impreza R Sedan from Subaru Australia Bluetooth is crap but everything else is good. |
Hello,
I live in Europe - Athens, Greece. There is no comparison between a i30 and a Subaru Impreza or a VW Golf. If you want a EU opinion forget Hyundai. Why? Feel cheap. Maybe it will last long - but feels and looks cheap. We do not like them much here. Also here the prices are not close. Subaru is way more expensive. Subaru knows how to build nice cars. They have so much experience from WRC races and their AWD is fantastic. AUDI and Subaru have the best 4wheel drive systems. I think you picked the best car on your list. Andronikos, |
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