What is the best car you can buy for under $6000?

RAPID_BA · 30-08-2011, 11:27 PM

What is the best car you can buy for under $6000? Young people typically are short of cash and this would be about their price range. I was asked this question by a fella in my street finishing school this year. Wants the best car for his money.

I would say looking out for a mint condition ef-au falcon with one owner and under about 80000km, I think it could be done. With a full 157kw and tonns of torque, cheap to fix. what a top value car. I dont think nothing can come near it.

Any contenders for best car under $6000?

Windsor342ci · 30-08-2011, 11:41 PM

You can get a couple of 4WDs for about that price and they serve for good fun on the weekends if thats what there into.

Ford_The_Win · 30-08-2011, 11:44 PM

TE-TH Magna in 3 or 3.5 V6 form. It is quick, handles well, excellent build quality and reliability, very safe and won't wrap itself around a pole unlike the VS/VT Commo or EF-AU Falc. The Falcon will have better ride quality and more comfortable seats but the handling is less predictable...less safe for a young bloke. And reliability & build quality aren't exactly world class, especially for the E-series. I think Blind Freddie built my Falc. Mine had 100 thou on the clock when I bought it and it's been a dog so far.

A P-plater does NOT need 157kw and heaps of torque. My EL has suprised me at times, and not in a good way. I wouldn't recommend one.

Anything smaller in that price range wouldn't be very safe. Maybe a Liberty, something like that perhaps?

mik · 31-08-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

TE-TH Magna in 3 or 3.5 V6 form. It is quick, handles well, excellent build quality and reliability, very safe and won't wrap itself around a pole unlike the VS/VT Commo or EF-AU Falc. The Falcon will have better ride quality and more comfortable seats but the handling is less predictable...less safe for a young bloke. And reliability & build quality aren't exactly world class, especially for the E-series. I think Blind Freddie built my Falc. Mine had 100 thou on the clock when I bought it and it's been a dog so far.

A P-plater does NOT need 157kw and heaps of torque. My EL has suprised me at times, and not in a good way. I wouldn't recommend one.

Anything smaller in that price range wouldn't be very safe. Maybe a Liberty, something like that perhaps?

gee i would have thought the other way, maybe your au is different to mine but i`ve driven magna`s with their torque steer , and i would`nt compare one to my au , au is way safer imo, but to each his own.

chevypower · 30-08-2011, 11:51 PM

Haven't you paid any attention to those Top Gear challenges?

**Mechan1k** · 30-08-2011, 11:52 PM

AUs are a decent vehicle to start with ... but finding a good one under 80,000km within your price bracket is getting harder to find though.

For a cheap running cost and something that still goes OK as well ... an AUII EGAS would be on the cards ... they still go OK for what they are. $45 to fill ... 600-odd k range from a single tank in normal driving conditions.

PHANTMXR6 · 30-08-2011, 11:55 PM

Depending on the intended use, what could you get for that sort of coin that is still covered by manufacturer warranty?

That's one thing I would be looking at.

Ford_The_Win · 30-08-2011, 11:55 PM

Something like this would be great, I'd be happy to have one.

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/...agna&trecs=124

Adaptive shift gearbox that learns your driving style, better looking than the AU, all the standard safety features you'd want, excellent brakes and reasonable fuel economy. Forget about the Falcon.

FreddyDUZ747 · 31-08-2011, 12:00 AM

Can get a 04 Magna for that coin if shopped smartly and not in any rush.

EF-AU,dont do it to him.Much better cars around.

A Hyundai Getz is possible with new car warranty still left.

zetec · 31-08-2011, 12:20 AM

What's the best home you can buy for under $400,000? Some would say a house and land package in the burbs, others would say and inner city apartment. It's hard to answer without knowing what you want/need.

I'd argue an equal case for a Laser, a Falcon and possibly even an old Camry. But all depends on what you need.

Many people on here will jsut sprout about the best "value" used Falcon but there are plenty of other cars worth considering, depending on what you need.

**Professor Farnsworth** · 31-08-2011, 12:22 AM

i got my AUII Ghia V8 for under $6000.

aussie muscle · 31-08-2011, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

i got my AUII Ghia V8 for under $6000.

if he's just finishing school he's probably still on his Ps, so the v8 would be out

Ben73 · 31-08-2011, 12:25 AM

Another vote for teh magna.

I had a 3.5 '00 model as my first car. I had no major complaints.

hawker · 31-08-2011, 12:27 AM

Another vote for the magna. They're pretty good for what they are. My 98 Advance is still going strong, with just over 236,000K's on the clock. Has little oil leaks here and there, but you expect that on a car that has been flogged most of its life.

kinksta · 31-08-2011, 12:28 AM

I am going to say a Rover P6, why? For some reason I want one!!!

V8XTasy · 31-08-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kinksta

I am going to say a Rover P6, why? For some reason I want one!!!

I had a 1973 P6 in the UK, great cat, but rusted to hell underneath. Can you get them in Australia?

SM1DY · 31-08-2011, 12:28 AM

N15 Pulsar SSS

FreddyDUZ747 · 31-08-2011, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SM1DY

N15 Pulsar SSS

Yep,this and the n14,great cars.

madwag · 31-08-2011, 07:14 AM

my first car was a Verada 93. sold it for $1500. with 190XXX on the clock last year.
Did everything i need, nice and simple if anything needed fixing, which was rare, fit all my mates in, being a wagon could go surfing and camping, and with a V6 i could still roll with the big boys (sorta) haha

and being big now i can reverse park like a god.

Coyote mk3 · 31-08-2011, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

What is the best car you can buy for under $6000? Young people typically are short of cash and this would be about their price range. I was asked this question by a fella in my street finishing school this year. Wants the best car for his money.

I would say looking out for a mint condition ef-au falcon with one owner and under about 80000km, I think it could be done. With a full 157kw and tonns of torque, cheap to fix. what a top value car. I dont think nothing can come near it.

Any contenders for best car under $6000?

Well I don't think you would get a mint one with low k's for that money, but what do people have against recommending EF-AU Falcons?

When I think of what I bought I cannot think of anything better for the money.
(however Zetec is right in saying everyone has a different idea of what suits them.)

But for me; my EL xr6 has street appeal, safety features (airbag, abs), reasonable power, a nice comfortable ride with comfort features such as aircon, cruise control and a large cabin space. It is also quite reasonable on fuel for a large car.

I bought it for 4k and have spent about 1.5 - 2k making it look like it does.

JC · 31-08-2011, 08:13 AM

To answer the OP, the best car you can buy for under $6k is the one that suits your needs. If you're a tradie, it might be a Hilux ute or a falcon ute, if you're a family man, it might be a BA wagon. If you're into rallying, it might be an old Datsun 1600 that you put some money into to get it back to competitive. The list goes on.

JG65TE · 31-08-2011, 08:29 AM

the newest thing u can put your bum into. ford , holden, jap. whos cares.long as its as new as you can afford.daewoo aside of course.

RAPID_BA · 31-08-2011, 09:38 AM

HE has no specific needs, just a reliable car.

The EF-AU in a mint condition cant be beaten.

He showed me a ED Fairmont Ghia with 48,000km for $5990. Brand new condition. Not bad.

Ford_The_Win · 31-08-2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

HE has no specific needs, just a reliable car.

The EF-AU in a mint condition cant be beaten.

He showed me a ED Fairmont Ghia with 48,000km for $5990. Brand new condition. Not bad.

Until the live axle decides to be a little bit stupid and slams him into a tree... mediocre crash rating in that old dinosaur won't help him much either. A Falcon is NOT a suitable car for a P-plater at all, save for a BF/FG.
Who would be thick enough to pay 6k for an ED Falcon? It's nearly 20 years old. With that amount of k's it would probably spit out a headgasket soon due to being driven short distances and then he's paid 7k for a 20 year old unsafe poorly made Falcon.
Although I suppose it doesn't matter what any of us say, you'll tell him to get a Fawcun anyway

my03ba · 31-08-2011, 09:53 AM

no one has mention the old faithful ba falcon ya could easily get one for 6k with kms from 100-200kms no worrys

but if it was me i would either have a corolla or a sss pulsar or lancer

RAPID_BA · 31-08-2011, 10:19 AM

I dont think he wants a ex cab BA.

You cant get a proper BA for under $6000. Im talking top condition, not clapped out cars. realistically he has to look at older cars that are mint over newer cars that are clapped out. Thats why I say EF-AU series in mint condition. Id pay the extra few thousand for a proper condition car.

RAPID_BA · 31-08-2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

Until the live axle decides to be a little bit stupid and slams him into a tree... mediocre crash rating in that old dinosaur won't help him much either. A Falcon is NOT a suitable car for a P-plater at all, save for a BF/FG.
Who would be thick enough to pay 6k for an ED Falcon?

why would you say a live axle car will slam him into a tree. Ive owned a few and didnt end up in a tree. So you think a ED falcon would be less safe in an accident than a corolla you could get for under $6000?

I would pay $5k for the ED he showed me, it presented as new. ($6k was its asking price). I wouldnt take a high km EF-AU or even BA over it.

Ford_The_Win · 31-08-2011, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

why would you say a live axle car will slam him into a tree. Ive owned a few and didnt end up in a tree. So you think a ED falcon would be less safe in an accident than a corolla you could get for under $6000?

I would pay $5k for the ED he showed me, it presented as new. ($6k was its asking price). I wouldnt take a high km EF-AU or even BA over it.

Because live axle Fords have a reputation for a slippery rear end, especially in roundabouts and wet weather, this combined with inexperience & testosterone is not always a good mix. Especially if he's used to driving newer cars that handle better. If the back end slips out and he doesn't know what to do, it could all end very badly. Which is why a FWD/AWD car would be more suitable.

No, of course the Corolla wouldn't stand up as well. But in it's defence, at least they are made properly and don't break down.

A midsize/large Japanese car like the Maxima, Avalon, and the local Magna would be much more suitable for a number of reasons that I've already gone over. You could easily pick up a good one for under 6k. The Magna is my pick.

EFFalcon · 31-08-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

Until the live axle decides to be a little bit stupid and slams him into a tree... mediocre crash rating in that old dinosaur won't help him much either. A Falcon is NOT a suitable car for a P-plater at all, save for a BF/FG.

LOL!

tell that to P platers of the last 10 years.

The problem is not the car, its the driver.

IMO: hard to go past an AU for reliability and running costs, even better if on LPG.

RAPID_BA · 31-08-2011, 10:40 AM

To be brutally honest, at this price point you can't be too picky which model, colour or even age. You just search for low km mint condition cars, whether its a vs commodore or a ed falcon or if your lucky a au falcon, but my advice is buy a low km best condition car you can find. It just so happens its more likely to find a top condition ef-au in this price point.