Can anyone recommend a good first car for a young female driver - Up to $9K

[duaned]

Hyundai Getz. Not quick, but capable, easy to drive small cars. And to women, they find them cute and choose a name for them straight after ownership.

[RAPID_BA]

For a young female, you want something pretty cool, I'd say a Mazda 3 or lancer hands down.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by krzysiek

Hi everyone,

A friend is looking at buying a first car. She is young and on her P plates. The ideal car is a small one that is cheap to run - you know the type.

She has around $9K to spend on it. Do you guys have any ideas on a good, reliable and fuel efficient car that can be had for that price?

We're looking at a 4 cylinder of some sort and the rest is really in the open. Please say what you recommend and I will look in to it. I have no idea when it comes to small cars!

Thanks, really appreciate any input!

Have you thought of actually just asking her what she would like?

Why would you think that because she is female she would have less idea about cars than many males her age. Do you not read AFF?

[Quasyt]

1994 KH Laser GL. The 1.6L carby in mine is 300,000km old, has had a hell of a life over the last 70,000km and still runs absolutely perfectly! And starts up first turn, even after sitting there for a month.

[BLUEYBA]

Originally Posted by GA_0009

I might get punished for this.. FORD Laser or fiesta?

I have to agree with a Laser. I have a KQ SR Laser, fantastic car that looks good and goes great with great fuel economy

[BadMax]

As new as possile is they key. Anything with European ties are expensive on parts, in saying that you'd be disgusted at Toyota pricing on Yaris and Corolla's.

I'd go as late model as possible in the Hyundai range, cheap and cherfull. Parts on a Getz are stupidly cheap, as in $150 brand new for a bumper. They are solid enough, reliable enough, cheap enough for a young chick to own.

If she wants a larger car and 6 cylinder, Magana or 380 if possible. Both underestimated Aussie cars.

[robbyj]

Does she have any idea what she wants? does she care what her car looks like?
Suzuki Swift gets my vote

[Joshmcmillan]

Why haven't more people been suggesting LS/LT Focus'? Low K's models with iPod, cruise control and alloy wheels easily in your price bracket. Very similar to the Mazda 3 (60% the same car) but a bit cheaper generally. Fair bit more for your money compared to the Toyota variants, however still safe and reliable.

Really safe... look up the ratings.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by XP6

Cant go wrong with a Focus

Originally Posted by Joshmcmillan

Why haven't more people been suggesting LS/LT Focus'? Low K's models with iPod, cruise control and alloy wheels easily in your price bracket. Very similar to the Mazda 3 (60% the same car) but a bit cheaper generally. Fair bit more for your money compared to the Toyota variants, however still safe and reliable.

Really safe... look up the ratings.

i agree. it took 30 replies to mention focus. this is a ford forum isn't it. so often when people ask for advice on which car, every other brand possible is mentioned before a ford option. you have to wonder sometimes.

also, to those mentioning ford laser... the budget is 9k, not $900.

another vote for LS/LT focus. don't let the fact they are built in south africa put you off. they are a great drive. possibly not the most economical in their class but they are one of the heaviest, which i think is a good thing. nothing wrong with a bit of mass in a small car. i bought my mother in law one in sydney and drove it home (adelaide) and they sit on the road very well. i've driven falcons all my life and the focus didn't feel a lot different. very planted, not affected too much by a stiff cross wind etc.

i bought one for my wife not long after and she loves it. awesome little cars.

[Joshmcmillan]

And it's not simply being brand bias why they should be recommended. I'd like to hear some reasons why they aren't the best used car in that price range of that size.

The Getz is a great car, I've driven both the automatic and manual ones and was very impressed, the automatic gearbox is actually decent which is more than you can say about half of them. However, in comparison to the focus' it does feel slightly cheaper (it is), it would be better on fuel, but significantly less safe.

Again, look up the safety ratings (specifically the NRMA real crash statistics). The Focus is one of the first cars of that size to actually start competing in safety with the larger cars, and safety is important.

[SSD-85]

Originally Posted by flappist

Have you thought of actually just asking her what she would like?

This.

Nothing more to say really.

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by Joshmcmillan

Why haven't more people been suggesting LS/LT Focus'?

you are seriously asking that question on a ford forum
ford forum people seem to be the biggest haters of ford's in the entire universe - we are only on here to predict their demise rather than try and help them sell cars

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Joshmcmillan

And it's not simply being brand bias

there isn't anything wrong with brand bias either. ford products perform extremely well in every segment they compete in.

[AndrewR_AUII]

as eb said....think about safety equipment.

Often when people looks for a first car they think... 'cheap as they will ding it'....but you have an inexperienced driver, get them as much protection as you can. Think also about insurance....
Thing to do is sit down with her and work out a 'must have' list and a 'wish list'... go from there.

[BadMax]

Not everyone is one eyed, everything doesn't have to be about Ford.
Ding it, yeah probably happen so should be a consideration as bumper will get knocked eventually. Maintenance is a biggie, iirc Focus ain't cheap on parts, nothing like the Getz.
Safety is a consideration, how many of us had first cars with all the bells and whistles and didn't survive to tell the tale?
Key to being safe is teach her how to drive not pass a test. All the pop and stop in the world isn't going to stop an accident, probably create a false sense of security.

[FTRXR8]

WQ/WS Fiesta.

Easy to park, very reliable, the most basic models have good features, great economy and very popular.

I had a 07 WQ LX and it was an awesome car, I done Adelaide > Sydney, Across the Nullabor and back and even flat towed a Valiant it mine and it never broke!

[robbyj]

Originally Posted by Joshmcmillan

And it's not simply being brand bias why they should be recommended. I'd like to hear some reasons why they aren't the best used car in that price range of that size.

from previous experience with girlfriends, one had a focus, the auto started playing up, air con stopped working, it was basically a lemon. Probably unlucky and a rare occurrence.

One had a swift, she was into cars and loved it, it was a great sporty car.

So from MY previous bad/good experiences is why they aren't the best used car in that price range

[Joshmcmillan]

Originally Posted by robbyj

from previous experience with girlfriends, one had a focus, the auto started playing up, air con stopped working, it was basically a lemon. Probably unlucky and a rare occurrence.

One had a swift, she was into cars and loved it, it was a great sporty car.

So from MY previous bad/good experiences is why they aren't the best used car in that price range

Bad experience with a focus, and good with a suzuki would be exactly that, a rare occurrence :P

[Drizz06]

+1 for focus! Just hit 60k in our LS Zetec and still on first set of tires and brakes!
Never missed a beat and probably the best car I've owned so far.

[XP6]

Whats with all the small ford haters?
Focus are a brilliant little car, quality and part pricing are no different to any other car

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by prydey

i agree. it took 30 replies to mention focus. this is a ford forum isn't it. so often when people ask for advice on which car, every other brand possible is mentioned before a ford option. you have to wonder sometimes.

also, to those mentioning ford laser... the budget is 9k, not $900.

another vote for LS/LT focus. don't let the fact they are built in south africa put you off. they are a great drive. possibly not the most economical in their class but they are one of the heaviest, which i think is a good thing. nothing wrong with a bit of mass in a small car. i bought my mother in law one in sydney and drove it home (adelaide) and they sit on the road very well. i've driven falcons all my life and the focus didn't feel a lot different. very planted, not affected too much by a stiff cross wind etc.

i bought one for my wife not long after and she loves it. awesome little cars.

The original poster asked for small car options not just Ford small car options.
So stop knocking other peoples opinions, not every one has the same opinion as you.

[RHR]

Laser SR2

http://www.carsales.com.au/car/brand...rd=laser%20sr2

Or the Mazda Sp20

[atec77]

Originally Posted by krzysiek

Hi everyone,

A friend is looking at buying a first car. She is young and on her P plates. The ideal car is a small one that is cheap to run - you know the type.

She has around $9K to spend on it. Do you guys have any ideas on a good, reliable and fuel efficient car that can be had for that price?

We're looking at a 4 cylinder of some sort and the rest is really in the open. Please say what you recommend and I will look in to it. I have no idea when it comes to small cars!

Thanks, really appreciate any input!

Obvious choice would be an 07/08 I30 , tough little cars and a pleasant safe drive

[In Focus]

Originally Posted by prydey

i agree. it took 30 replies to mention focus. this is a ford forum isn't it.

And given it's a Ford forum, I thought the OP would obviously already have considered a Focus. Could be just me, though.

[Giant Cranium]

sold my gf's 07 yaris with 27000 on it for 9k 2 months ago. great little car and would recomend getting one. nothing ever went wrong with it

[Full Noise]

“Danger, Will Robinson!” The P plate girl in the zippy little buzz box. How many of them I’ve nearly gone over the top of.

She has 9 grand to spend on her first car and she’s concerned about the cost of fuel? She should be more concerned about repair costs because I guarantee that she’ll bend it. Just about every small car that’s been mentioned here are outrageously expensive to repair, some for even the most minor problems. Sure, many might be under warranty but they eventually run out.

Why doesn’t she buy a good AU Falcon, or even a tired one? They’re cheap, relatively good on fuel, parts are reasonable and insurance wouldn’t be a lot for third party, property, fire and theft. She could drive an AU, bend it a few times and when she gats a bit of experience, then buy something more expensive.

And if she says that she can’t park it or it’s too big, get her one of these and put 9 grand on it.

http://www.myki.com.au/

The community (including myself) will be a lot safer for it.

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

..At Least have a look Korean cars are o/k except for what G.M sell...

Now, now. I've seen two Korean Chevrolets complete with bowties this week. One used to be a Daewoo Captiva, the other used to be a Daewoo Cruze.

[brenx]

My mrs recently was looking around at the Ford Focus range. There was some good cars there within your budget and with reasonably low k's with decent safety features. We saw 2010 models with 30-40k on them for around 12-13k. So you'd be looking around an 07-08 model with only 80-100k on it at dealers. My mrs ended up with a 07 Focus XR5 with 75k on it for 20k as the stocky models didn't look nice enough for her. Cost 10k more but she loves it.

[Falcman0o7]

Awesome!

[KIWI-1]

Saw one for sale in Ballarat recently. Red. Cool.