What decent car can you buy for $5,000?

[Tfer]

This unfortunately is a very serious question....

I have a female friend who only wants to spend $5,000 on a car. I discussed all the pros and cons, but in the end, $5,000 is it.

So I throw it open to all of you....

What car could she buy for $5,000 that would suit for everyday transportation, for about 1 year?

I appreciate your thoughts here.... I am trying to help someone as best as possible.... and to help her not make a tragic mistake. :angel:

[low astra]

id look for a maybe AE92 corolla, they seem to be getting lower in price and a really reliable if u get one that hasnt being thrashed,

but saying that you could find a lot of other small cars about 10 years old that has being babied fo that price

[EL BURITO]

well i bought the TX3 for $300 and it would have lasted if we were nice to it.

Suzuki Alto. (currently own 2 within the family and they do last)
Dawoo Matiz (no idea but there must be some cheap ones about)
Holden Barina SB (of course) http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/HOLDEN/BARINA/private-results.aspx?State=Queensland&PriceMax=5000&N=4294965857+79+442+4294965773&Make=HOLDEN&Model=BARINA&distance=25&state_id=79
Ford Laser http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/FORD/LASER/private-results.aspx?State=Queensland&PriceMax=5000&N=4294966463+79+442+4294966439&Make=FORD&Model=LASER&distance=25&state_id=79
Holden Commodore (cheap spares but a bit big) http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/HOLDEN/COMMODORE/private-results.aspx?State=Queensland&PriceMax=5000&N=4294965857+79+442+4294965745&Make=HOLDEN&Model=COMMODORE&distance=25&state_id=79
Ford Falcon (same as above) http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/FORD/FALCON/private-results.aspx?State=Queensland&PriceMax=5000&N=4294966463+79+442+4294966285&Make=FORD&Model=FALCON&distance=25&state_id=79
Nissan Pulsar is a good bet too http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/NISSAN/PULSAR/private-results.aspx?State=Queensland&PriceMax=5000&N=4294963846+79+442+4294963786&Make=NISSAN&Model=PULSAR&distance=25&state_id=79


and this is the 1st one that came up on carpoint for QLD http://www.carpoint.com.au/used-car/MERCEDES-BENZ/500SEL/Queensland/2308209.aspx

u can probs guess i am bord

[Alfonzo]

Any special requirements (like passengers or storage)? Manual or auto?

[1OPL2C]

a mk3 golf 2.0L, if your lucky maybe a mk3 golf vr6 2.8L

[oneightoo]

my red calibra :D

a honda civic wouldnt be bad..

[xplosv57]

$5000 can get you a decent Corolla or Camry, very reliable and sweet on the juice, civics are good too but alot more dearer so $5000 would bet u an older one!!

If she wants something with a bit more class and go, go for a mid to late 80s 3 series BMW (E30) very well made and safe too!!! Would just fit the $5000 budget if u look around!!

[auzvectra]

thomas i know some1 that may be able to help ur freind out, they deal with a lot of wholesale cars.
just let us know if ur interested.

[Wraith]

The best car you could buy for that money as a reliable everyday ride, without being fussed about anything else is a Toyota Corolla - hands down, bar none !!!

You could even get an older AE82 for about 2-$2500 in excellent condition.

I had one - in nearly 23 years of driving and owning cars, it was the most reliable car I've ever had and I believe they are the most reliable cars on the road !!!

Just ask any good mechanic also, they are economical and when you do need parts, they're cheap.

Little wonder they are the 'Worlds' no. 1 selling car !!!

[Tfer]

Any special requirements (like passengers or storage)? Manual or auto?

Manual and air.... that is about it. ;)


thomas i know some1 that may be able to help ur freind out, they deal with a lot of wholesale cars.
just let us know if ur interested.

Matt... text me or email me please ;)

[Tfer]

This is awesome all... please keep it coming. Thanks :)

[lowey22]

i would have to agree with the corolla or civic. Corolla's seem to go forever, thrashed or unthrashed. My mum has a early 90's civic and it goes like brand new.

[6thgear]

for that price range, i'd go probably go for either:

- barina sb gsi
- corolla
- honda civic

if she's into cars, and may consider the light modding path, civic parts are plentiful...

[MK]

please dont forget Daithatsu Charade...

http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/DAIHATSU/CHARADE/private-results.aspx?State=Queensland&Make=DAIHATSU&N=4294966650+79+4294966577&Model=CHARADE&distance=25&state_id=79

[JohnBu]

another one for corolla or camry,

but given the choice i wouldn't buy one personally...

for a non-car person who wants cheap & reliable transport, u can't beat a corolla or camry.

[beep beep sri]

carola ae82. only problem im aware of is they can crack heads. then again what car cant? second choice if you could find a good one is the older barina-suzuki swift. these 2 cars are cheap for parts cheap to run and most mechanics have some experience with them. id expect either these cars to come in well under 5k so if the unforseen does happen she will have money to fix it

[Geebs]

Definitely a Corolla. You can probably pick up a 96/97 one for around that price these days. Good looking cars and very very reliable.

[NXA-16H]

Nah! in my book, you can't go past an old Gemini, or even better, a 120Y. :D

Check dees babeez out...
http://www.holdengemini.net/

http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=5846

Trust me babe, can't go wrong. ;)

NXA-16H

[pred8r]

Something different.......details here (http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/dealer/CHRYSLER/DODGE/details.aspx?__Ns=pCar_Odometer_Single%7C0%7C%7CpC ar_StatusSort_Int32%7C1%7C%7CpCar_Price_Decimal%7C 0&__Nne=20&State=Victoria&Region=State%20Wide&PriceMax=5000&state_id=903&__N=903%20461%20442%20789+834+285+258+287&PriceMin=2500&trecs=373&RegionID=789&__sid=10F39FF937C9&sort_type=9&silo=1000&Cr=17&distance=25&seot=0&R=492720)
http://images.carsales.com.au/dealer/carsales/5448471.jpg

[Dee]

all the cars within 25km of Brisbane city that are under $5,000


http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private-results.aspx?PriceMax=5000&Nf=p_GeoLocation_String|GCLT%20-27.45954,153.0241%2025.0&N=442&Ns=pCar_YearMade_Int32|1||pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag_ Int32|1||pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1&distance=25&sort_type=7&postcode=4000

[Tfer]

Something different.......details here (http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/dealer/CHRYSLER/DODGE/details.aspx?__Ns=pCar_Odometer_Single%7C0%7C%7CpC ar_StatusSort_Int32%7C1%7C%7CpCar_Price_Decimal%7C 0&__Nne=20&State=Victoria&Region=State%20Wide&PriceMax=5000&state_id=903&__N=903%20461%20442%20789+834+285+258+287&PriceMin=2500&trecs=373&RegionID=789&__sid=10F39FF937C9&sort_type=9&silo=1000&Cr=17&distance=25&seot=0&R=492720)
http://images.carsales.com.au/dealer/carsales/5448471.jpg

Love it pred :D


all the cars within 25km of Brisbane city that are under $5,000


http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private-results.aspx?PriceMax=5000&Nf=p_GeoLocation_String|GCLT%20-27.45954,153.0241%2025.0&N=442&Ns=pCar_YearMade_Int32|1||pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag_ Int32|1||pCar_ImageCount_Int32|1&distance=25&sort_type=7&postcode=4000

Donna.... amazing :D

[beep beep sri]

Nah! in my book, you can't go past an old Gemini, or even better, a 120Y. :D

Check dees babeez out...
http://www.holdengemini.net/

http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=5846

Trust me babe, can't go wrong. ;)

NXA-16H

heres your datsun's you asked for. ;)
http://www.uniquecarsales.com.au/pls/carsales/!unique_content.results?keywords=datsun&x=12&y=18

[SKM_87]

another good car is a mids 80's 323. i bought one for $200, its was imported one but local ones have the same engine. his thing would die. i brought to tow my kart trailer (which is about the size of a landcruiser and weighs 700ish kg. This car did trips from wodonga to melbourne, sydney, wollongong and other long trips like that. it would be running at full throttle all the time n never over heated or caused me any troubles. and the engine had already covered 400,000ks with no rebuild.

also the car was well speced with electric mirrors, sunroof, a/c, cruise control, cd player.

[Ishley]

I am guessing it would be easier for her to go out and look for herself. Because it is going to be a case of, she will fall in love with the shape of the car. Not so much what car, but how it looks.....

[platypus]

another good car is a mids 80's 323.which is the same as a laser really

the BG is actually a good idea... nice sporty looks, pretty reliable, and when things do go wrong its hella easy to get them fixed up...

i don't know how i woulda went past this! good old reliable BP engine, and if they were that way inclined, easy to go to BPT...

or stay the AE92 and think about 4AGE

[pred8r]

Get a newer model small car (Matiz, Charade, Alto, Sirion, or, dare i say it, Excel etc.)
If its going in 12 months anyway theres a chance you may even get your money back (if you get one at a bargain) a lot of the others mentioned are 'niche' cars (good for add-on performance, or wasting megabucks) and a lot older.

The cars Ive mentioned are cheap on fuel, fine they are not a performance car, if you want that, considering the age of mentioned vehicles, either a V8 calais or Fairmont/Fairlane Ghia. Keep it stock and it'll retain some form of resale but drink like a fish (get one on LPG?)

IMO get a small up to 10ish year old small car (Daihatsu/Suzuki/Hyundai) with low Kms, itll be cheaper to run, parts are still available (if need be), if you are selective on the model, it wont have been thrashed and you may get similar money when you try and sell it later.
If you get a 15+ year old car you may have problems getting rid of it privately and a dealer may only offer $1k (a nice quick way to lose $4k) trade on something (as they will sell it to a wholesaler and dont want the hassles)

Think about it from an investment (as loss minimisation, you WILL be losing money when you sell regardless) or resale point of view, not a purchase.
Because you want to get rid of it relatively soon after buying it, you want to minimise the losses, otherwise take the $5k, finance a new car and sell it in 12 months anyway (It'll be MUCH easier to get rid of)
(Mrs Pred sold her Getz back to the dealer at a $5k loss, 1yr/10k kms after purchase. We learnt NOT to buy dealer offers, paint protection, tint etc you lose WAY too much, as without these maybe lost $3k instead)

Also insurance on a new car is usually the same or cheaper than a 10yo one.

[Tfer]

This is all rather superb information.... and thansk to everyone thus far. I am going to summarise this and hand over the good oil to Lucy, and let's see what happens :D

But please, keep it coming :)

[Apex]

Would have to say go for a Corolla, they are very reliable, cheep and easy to maintain and most importantly, are fun to drive.

Gees, cars hold their value in Australia, I wish our import laws were as good as you lots, we have so many disgusting jap-imports flooding our market and destroying resale values :( , you’d be amazed what $5,000au would buy over here across the ditch.

[blueraven]

for 5k you could get a an accent/getz thats only a few years old. They didnt win best small car of the year for nothing, my girlfreind has an accent that she bought new in 2001, and it has 150k on it and it still drives great, every single thing on it works fine and given a polish it looks almost new (apart from the few scrape from my girlds work carpark pillars..you know.. the ones that "jump out" :D )

it gets my vote :) (you might even get one close to the end of it warrant so you can get a few things fixed should the worst happen? )

[pred8r]

you’d be amazed what $5,000au would buy over here across the ditch.

Whats your equivalent of www.carsales.com.au (http://www.carsales.com.au)?

[oneightoo]

heres one for ya pred

http://www.autotrader.co.nz

[Apex]

Auto-Trader is good.

I sold my last three cars on Trade-Me as its bigger and has a huge audience:) .

www.trademe.co.nz (http://www.trademe.co.nz)

[MK]

Auto-Trader is good.

I sold my last three cars on Trade-Me as its bigger and has a huge audience:) .

www.trademe.co.nz (http://www.trademe.co.nz)

going off topic a little but i just typed in OPEL and founda Signum for $22,000NZ i want one!!!

sorry for going off topic...

[jsantos]

perhaps....http://carpoint.com.au/car-review/2315200.aspx

[Tfer]

Ford Ka... aircon, power steer, manual, 1.3l, for $6,000

Lucy is very happy, especially when she found out it wasn't South Korean :D

Thanks everyone