new car for the olds

[Heeno]

hi all,

ok now this is not for me, its for my mum. what there after is a new car, 4 cyl, good resale value and very good on fuel. the car will be used as a runabout around town, so it will be getting used alot.

ok this is where im stuck because my 4cyl knowledge is shot, so im hoping the ff people will be able to help me out with suggestions on what a good car would be for them.

so what does everyone think? whats a good 4cyl?

also im not sure what their price range is but if there looking at new cars then i'd say it wouldn't matter...some suggestions from mum were, proton and echo if that helps.

cheers all

[LTDHO]

Heeno, want to give us an idea on price or age?

[Heeno]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

Heeno, want to give us an idea on price or age?

there after a new car, so what ever the new car prices are these days for lil 4 bangers.

[TheSneakiness]

Do they want a car from the Ford camp?

[Heeno]

Originally Posted by AUII_SE_Ute

Do they want a car from the Ford camp?

they don't even know what they want, so start making suggestions

[b2tf]

LR Focus will be going for very good prices now.

[Sourbastard]

I use my wifes toyota echo for running around, excellent mileage, only about 15k brand new, and ive heard but not confirmed they hold their value well.

[XRated]

Focus. My mum adores her's.

[LTDHO]

Don't go Echo, if you they like Toyota then get a Corolla.
Focus is good from Ford, but pricey
Mits now have Colt, I have the same opinion as Echo..
Holden have Barina, great car. (sorry for swearing)
Nissan still have Pulsar.
Getz is good from Hyundai for about $15000. Or you can go the Accent.

[MITCHAY]

Id go a Corolla Sportivo. 141kw in a small car. Plus arent bad on the eyes. If Nissan still had the SSS id offer that as an alternative.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

Don't go Echo, if you they like Toyota then get a Corolla.
Focus is good from Ford, but pricey
Mits now have Colt, I have the same opinion as Echo..
Holden have Barina, great car. (sorry for swearing)
Nissan still have Pulsar.
Getz is good from Hyundai for about $15000. Or you can go the Accent.

New Barinas are going to become rebadges Daewoos.
Echos are like riding in a gokart and I HATE having the cluster in the centre of the dash - stupidest idea ever that one.
Pulsar is on the way out.
Colt - yikes, dont go there.

[Charliewool]

I reckon Mazda 3 is pretty good value considering what you get for around 24k on road!
Power everything, quite zippy... and not bad styling

Focus or Mazda 3, I can't stand jittery torsion beam rear suspension. The Mazda 3 and Focus share the volvo s40 platform and are very safe as well.

[bindi]

Ok my two cents' worth. Rollas hold their value, they are reliable and pretty good value for money. I'm impressed with my 88 one (still going strong with over 500,000k's on the clock).

My mother in law bought a 2000 model corolla ascent and it's now got over 200,000k's on the clock and still a great car.

Our friend bought the 2004 model corolla and although not as impressed as I thought I would be, it's still a good run around.

There is the Subaru (hold on, are they still a 4?!?!), hold their value fairly well but you fork out at the beginning... but one of the safer cars.

[MITCHAY]

Yeah you can get a Subaru Liberty if finances stretch that far although if they want it as a run about then you wouldnt really need a car that big. Very reliable cars.

[Smoke Pursuit]

We just bought mum the new Focus...

Great car she loves it.

I just have to get a few small things fixed on it before ill be 100% happy with it myself (very picky = me).

Tell them to go drive a new Focus and a new Fiesta.. Both very sophisticated cars when compared with Toyotas *basic heaps*. What you pay extra moneywise with the Ford you get in return value for money.

[NC 5ltr]

why not try a honda integra or if you are after something with zip get a clio sport or a getz if you are after fuel savings

[xbcoupe302]

tell her to go on the next big brother and she can win a hyundai simple.

[Mechan1k]

Not sure what the new Protons are like now ... apparently the Satra replacement is quite good.

I had a 1999 Satria (same shape as Jap CC Mirage) ... and had a punchy 1.6L motor ... very nimble ... economical (720km from 45L of fuel at freeway speeds) ... handled well ... and still plenty of room for a 3-door. Was a great car ... I'd get another one again if i had the money to burn for a fun modified car.

Plus ut had everything in it ... A/C ... all power options ... nice neat interior ... standard from factory ... no extra cost.

[FordFan86]

Originally Posted by sourbastard

and ive heard but not confirmed they hold their value well.

Is that the car or your wife?

[Dave_au]

Corollas have an insanely good resale value and are very reliable and well built - I think it would be very hard to look past these.

Just grab a copy of wheels and have a look at the resale value and comments towards the back of the magazine.

[galaxy xr8]

Either a Corolla or Focus, both are good vehicle's in their segment, other's are to small or cheap and nasty.

[Paxton]

Mazda 3. My Brother has one for his Wife, and although a Maxx Sport (One before SP23) is has pleanty of get up and go, and does about 600Km per tank. His is Manual however.

Subaru Imprezza. Nice car, boxer engine, and AWD. Very safe, although not quick.

Ford Focus. New ones, what can I say, Smooth As.

Get any of those and they will be very happy, with a reliable car for many years to come.

-Andrew

[Sourbastard]

Originally Posted by FordFan86

Is that the car or your wife?

wife is extremely good value, she even has a great right uppercut. As you will discover.

[TZENU]

Go the mini (really cheap to run fuel wise!) 1.6L and goes hard especially the cooper s ....

[aimzes]

corolla. reliable. cheap.

got a mate who swears by them. and they arnt too bad to look at.

[NC 5ltr]

why not try a 2000-2001 2.2litre vectra,me old girl has one in manual guise and it hammers. :

and the fuel economy is quite good as well ,it gets about 550kms a tank around town(55l tank if memory serves me correctly).

[Franky]

If you want to spend a little more money go the Volkswagen Golf or the Mazda 3.
For the basic price though Corollas and Focus are good value and they should test drive them to see what they are like, it's really up to them.

BTW do not let them get a Proton, they are sh*t

[zetec]

I haven't heard anyone ask the right questions. Ask her what the main things she's looking for are and then come back to us. Someone needs a house, you don't start offering 5,000 choices. You narrow it down by asking what their main needs/wants are and how much they can pay. Otherwise they're wasting their own time and the Dealers time also.

Does she want Echo/Barina/Fiesta size?

3 doors or 5 doors?

Focus/Corolla/Astra/Mazda 3 size?

Does she care at all?

Does she care about looks?

They're VERY important questions and until then the 300 posts here suggesting are still going to be nothing more than a long confusing list of cars for them to still not know where to start. Everyone here has owned or bought a car and loved it probably, or known mates. It comes down to their needs. I bought my Focus because style and handling rate highly for me, hence why I didn't buy an Astra and why I wretch at the thought of a Corolla. For others they want a badge, others want reliability and absolutely nothing more. It's all personal and it's well worth taking the time to ask those few simple questions.

[Bucknaked]

My 1.8 focus 5 spd man gets me around 620 k's per tank around town.

Its an economical little beast. Also did Port Macquarie to Canberra on less than a Tank.

Great to drive. The 2.0 l are thirstier but have more power. the 1.8 for me, is just fine