Help! Cheap Reliable Run-Around Car???

[Inferno_23]

Hey guys, I am restoring my XP Falcon but want to make sure the job is done right (attention to detail, not rushing the restoration). I am asking for your opinions on what car I can get to use as a run around until its finished. Around the $1000-$1500 mark

Ive seen EA-EB Falcons fairly cheap (many seem to have head gasket problems.. this much of an issue??) aswell as Camry's, Lasers and the like... Whats my best bet?

Many Thanks

[Fairlane]

Get the worlds best MPFI EA thats my suggestion. Should do you nicely and you should be able to find a top notch one for $1500. I would suggest Corolla's but thats a bit of a cliche and most are either dead, overpriced or modded. Lasers, Mondeo's, 626's, 323's, Magna's well yeah their all there

If you cant find a nice EA i rekcon you should just look for a nice Cressida or Crown, built like a Tank, easy to fix, cheap, luxurious and not thrashed.

Buy on condition more than anything, irregardless of klms or model.

[VSSII]

Dude if you want something cheap that won't suck up $$ you'd rather spend on the XP, forget your "brand loyalty". Get something japanese with 4 cylinders. They don't dominate the world in vehicle sales for nothing!

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by VSSII

Dude if you want something cheap that won't suck up $$ you'd rather spend on the XP, forget your "brand loyalty". Get something japanese with 4 cylinders. They don't dominate the world in vehicle sales for nothing!

I concur.

If it was me I would go for a Corolla. Reliability, and fuel economy.

[asusdragon]

even a cheap camry usuallly pretty reliable

[[dave]]

ford laser - cheap to run and buy

[ZC001]

Go the Camry

[Inferno_23]

Thanks for your help guys. Ill be having a hunt around for the Lasers and Camry's and see what happens.

Cheers

[Wagon from el]

I have just bought myself a 1991 model camry for the same reason. Excellent condition for age $800. Very happy, even though its a To-jo....

[Van D]

Originally Posted by Ryan

I concur.

If it was me I would go for a Corolla. Reliability, and fuel economy.

Yep, another vote for Corolla. Friend of mine has had one of about 1990 since she got P's (almost 3 years now). It's driven to sydney and back, and various other 6+ hour trips, plus city driving and what not and she hasn't had one problem with it at all.

Costs her 30 or 40 to fill I think and a tank lasts her around 2 weeks. Not sure how many K's it gets to the tank, but she travels 30 mins one way to work and back everyday in suburban areas.

I've also driven it numerous times on errands and what not, drives pretty well, damn easy to park etc.

Another mate has a laser that he's driving whilst at uni, doesn't use much fuel but he's had to tend to a few things going wrong with it.

[nommic]

Sometimes I wish I'd kept my Corolla just for pottering about to work and stuff. I bought mine at about 180,000km, kept it till 215,000km, and it didn't have any unexpected issues in that time.

My EL covering the same time-frame... let's not go there.

[ebxr8240]

Originally Posted by nommic

Sometimes I wish I'd kept my Corolla just for pottering about to work and stuff. I bought mine at about 180,000km, kept it till 215,000km, and it didn't have any unexpected issues in that time.

My EL covering the same time-frame... let's not go there.

Even if you did ?? You could buy an import engine for $500 or so and it'll be low klrs and a modern engine... The 4AGE is a TOP little engine!!!

[Squalo]

Originally Posted by nommic

Sometimes I wish I'd kept my Corolla just for pottering about to work and stuff. I bought mine at about 180,000km, kept it till 215,000km, and it didn't have any unexpected issues in that time.

My EL covering the same time-frame... let's not go there.

My personal experience with Ford and Holden over the last 20 years - ditch 'em when they hit 150 000km. That's when they reach the end of their economic life. My VT Berlina will be sold/traded this year for that very reason (and it's already done the power steering rack, aircon compressor, airbag SRS module and a few other things in the last 10 000km!).

(shhh - then you buy 'em back when they're cheap but not yet on their way to 'classic' status, I did that with an XC panelvan and doubled my money : )

Although I've never owned a Japanese car before my Outback, I'll add my voice to the chorus - Toyota, Honda, Mazda, although only Toyota has reasonably priced spares. But they're all reliable, and all - especially Honda - very much over-engineered for what they're designed to do. Older Subarus are great cars too but can be pricey to fix, and that's just what you want to avoid.

An EA will potentially sting you for things like my VT currently is doing to me, if you buy one in your pricerange - no offence to EA owners here, whose cars I'm sure are generally good enough to comfortably exceed the $1000-1500k budget we're talking about ;)

Daihatsu Charade or crazy fuel savings or a AE82 or AE92 Rolla with the injected twinky for a bit of performance.

Mazda in that pricerange, you'll forever be fixing gearboxes.

[Mark351]

Ford Laser for me to. Cheap, easy to fix up, parts everywhere. Mazda bits if cheaper than Ford from the 323.

[MRJUCY]

Yep another vote for Lasers I've had three, 2 KFs & a KE & you can't kill them, trust me I've tried harder then most to prove the point. Half a million kays & still getting air over cattle grates redlining in fifth gear with no oil in the car.
Even lent one to a car magazine for their DVD & bet them they couldn't kill it they tried on a race track all day but it battled on.
Built stronger & parts are much cheaper then Toyotas too.

[Addz08]

Go the laser, they go for ever...

[AuFairlaneV8]

get a toyota corrola me mums got one with 300k on it, still origonal exhuast and clutch, gearbox hasnt missed a beat. buy and ea and expect some head gasket isssues

[moguzhan]

go the camry.
cheap and reliable.

they have problems with cv joints. so be wary.

[XPcoupe]

I had a 1986 323 for years, it was very reailbe. just a bit thursty being the first of the unlead cars. I upgrade to a EL fairmont for $4k so I can tow stuff.

I would say go a for a 323/laser with fuel injection and at least 4 speed auto. The 3 speed auto rev's it's tits of on the freeways if you will not need to tow stuff.

[rick'o]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Even if you did ?? You could buy an import engine for $500 or so and it'll be low klrs and a modern engine... The 4AGE is a TOP little engine!!!

Agreed - the 4AGE is a beauty, but most Corolla's are fitted with the AFC or AFE donk, which is their "economy" engine. (AFE = injected, AFC = Carby)

You'll get the AGE in any "SX" 'Rolla or one that's had an engine transplant.

Either way, my vote is also the Corolla, like an AE92. I had one, called it the Sacrificial Lamb, caned it mercilessly and it never gave up.

Cheers,

R

[cuz]

Go for a Mitsi lancer. We've had a little 1990 CA lancer for 10 years now, its done just over 330,ooo kms and still runs very well. I can get around 500 kms of city driving to a tank of fuel for around the $50 mark.
As has been said above, forget the loyalties and go the cheap Jap route, it'll help to keep money in your pocket for the real cars!

Good luck with the Xp too, I love them.....

Just my 2c worth.....

[james22]

I picked up a mitsu lancer cb, 1990-1991, 140,000km for $1800 with 9 months rego. Immaculate condition inside and out. It was an absolute steal, and its got less km's than my girlfriends 2000 AUII lol. Thats my little thrash around so I don;t put kays on the XR.


^^^^
already been said lol. Great minds think alike eh? :

[irsa76]

Originally Posted by BlackLS

Daihatsu Charade or crazy fuel savings or a AE82 or AE92 Rolla with the injected twinky for a bit of performance.

Mazda in that pricerange, you'll forever be fixing gearboxes.

Forget Charades! Cheap and cheerful they maybe, but parts are getting hard to find and expensive. Plus for that price they are pretty much thrashed. I paid $1300 for my 1991 CX, 1.3, 5 door with 194,000km on it last year. I've had to replace the window reg and center muffler for rego and that's all. BUT, the suspension is completely dead and the chassis needs welding because they are prone to cracking. Add to that the body and interior is completely shot, the cost of fixing it up is more then it's worth. It's getting sent to SIMS metal later this month.

[meg]

my mate has an AE82 corolla hatch with over 500,000kms still on the original timing belt. drives from central coast to seven hills 6 days a week, only ever done the CV's. corolla's may be a little more expensive but well worth it. lasers have BIG rust issues in the front fire wall area, most of the time it can't be seen without removing the guards, but i would not risk buying one in case it had been bodged up. it's major structural rust and in an accident it could be your life. can pick up AE92's for around the $1500 mark in fairly good condition. the SECA's are usually cheaper and are slightly bigger. shop around because they also came in a few different engine formats, being 1.6 carb, 1.6 injected and the holden NOVA's some came with the later model 1.8 injected.

[TUF_302]

Get a LASER!!, best daily cars ever!!, everyone has a Laser!!

[JTFG]

Another vote for Corolla..my sisters has been faultless

[ThoR_]

go get a corolla with a heap of kms on it from the early 90`s.............you wont have a problem....they just do not die...theres a video of someone trying to kill one on youtube by putting a brick on the pedal.....this thing took so long to die...........Toyota are perfectionists and it shows with the Corollas....i swear by them

[GK]

I had an 89 Laser. Awesomely reliable, cheap to run, simple to fix, parts a plenty.

I bought it new, sold it with 240,000 kays on the clock, was still running strong for many years after I sold it until it was pranged, by it's second owner.

To be honest, I've always had a little hankering for a KE TX3. Man they'd be cheap nowdays too!

Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth!

All the best with the decision and search.

GK

[Inferno_23]

Thanks for your help guys, been checking out lasers/camrys still looking for the bargain but ill find one!

Cheers