What small to medium size car would you buy?

[esppwr]

Hi all,

I need to buy a car for mum, hatch or medium size sedan, no older than 2 years old, auto, no more than $35k and up to 50,000 k.
I want it to last her 10 years / 200,000 k with only the normal servicing done by me, so I need to eliminate any cars with any major short comings. Hence I've eliminated any cars with:

- DSG Gearbox
- CVT Gearbox
- DPF
- Stop/Start stupidity

It doesn't leave much to choose from.

Any suggestions?

[In Focus]

http://www.carsales.com.au/cars/resu...Price&limit=12

There's a start for you - plenty to choose from even after you filter out SUV's etc, I reckon. Maybe a late model Mazda 3 might suit? They have a "normal" auto gearbox, not sure about the start-stop thingy, but surely that would only be on the top models.

[Franco Cozzo]

New Mazda 3 hands down

[fps_grandma]

Petrol Holden Cruze.
- No DSG
- No CVT
- No DPF
- No Stop/Start

Assuming you're looking at a new small/medium car.
Otherwise there's thousands of cars out there on carsales.com.au as already mentioned as older cars don't have stop/start.

Originally Posted by Big Damo

New Mazda 3 hands down

Problem: It has stop/start
My friend has the previous gen which had stop/start and so does the new one.

Mazda 3 - Has Stop/Start
Toyota Corolla - Has CVT
Hyundai i30 - Has Stop/Start
Honda Jazz - Has Stop/Start
Honda Civic - Has Stop/Start
Subaru Impreza - Has Stop/Start

[XR Martin]

CVT gearbox in the Corolla is a pretty decent thing, none of the usual whine and drone typical of Mitsubishi and Nissan CVTs. And from what I understand failure rate of them is less than a torque converter auto.

But I reckon a Camry is a pretty good bargain. $27k OTR. Cheaper than a Corolla sedan!

[XR Martin]

Oh, give a Kia Cerato a look. Proper 6 speed auto, no stop start, 7 year warranty. We've got a heap at work and they are a decent thing, I rate them above a Corolla.
I30/Elantras in comparison are awful.

[mik]

it looks to be a tough ask to get something conventional in those body configurations thats is a bit more simple and that is not crap.

but i found a good car for mum with conventional good stuff, only problem is.....everyone will want to borrow it !
nice size hatch for the groceries.

Fuel cost per 1000km Total approximate fuel cost for a 1000km trip, based on national average metropolitan fuel prices and combined fuel consumption. $73.00.

easy to service.

409 nm of torque and goes like scalded cat.

is within budget !

$33,750
Drive Away

http://www.carsales.com.au/demo/deta...16958361/?Cr=0

[Franco Cozzo]

Ecoboost Falcon run out? Its not that big of a car.

[Franco Cozzo]

10,000km and its a G6 as well so not XT povvo pack.

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de...17506760/?Cr=0

No stop start, 6sp regular auto, good on fuel, goes alright.

Mondeo/Mazda 6 aren't too much smaller than Falcon either, I reckon Mummy dearest would be alright, get her in one for a test drive see what she thinks.

Theres even a 2012 one going thats new:

http://www.carsales.com.au/bncis/det...11901919/?Cr=3

But its povvo XT.

[Lunch]

With a 7 year warranty, you'd be mad to go past a Kia, small, good looking car, mumsy will love it

[SumoDog68]

None of the criteria are really shortcomings , more like preferences for home maintenance.
Camry Hybrid will do what you want easily even if it does have a CVT , otherwise just a standard Camry is a good mix of size and reliability . Many available at auction houses too.

[Mr Hardware]

^camry isn't a medium sized car, it's within a hair's breath of a falcon size-wise

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

^camry isn't a medium sized car, it's within a hair's breath of a falcon size-wise

It is classed as medium car , same as Mazda 6 , Mondeo , Liberty , Malibu or I40. While most would agree medium cars have grown a lot over the years Camry (and other medium cars) are still size bellow Commodore of Falcon.
If 10 year service is required along home servicing you could do worse than a Camry .

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Oh, give a Kia Cerato a look. Proper 6 speed auto, no stop start, 7 year warranty. We've got a heap at work and they are a decent thing, I rate them above a Corolla.
I30/Elantras in comparison are awful.

What I was going to say exactly.

Cerato and comes in hatch or sedan.

[Vesper Martini]

Don't rule out the CVT, from what I've read all the early problems have gone.
The fact that its in a Corolla is saying something.

But for price and warranty is hard to look past the Koreans

[FPV+fteT3]

After owning a subaru I would look at the impreza comes in sedan or hatch reliable I have only owned manual ones so don't know about the auto but reliability is very good, finish is good and resale values are better than most

[Trevor 57]

Small - Hyundai i30 diesel for sure, we have them as work cars they are great, in my opinion they are better than the Focus we have as well

[XW-BAXR6T]

Subaru Impreza Sti turbo for me....

[NTF6]

Originally Posted by XW-BAXR6T

Subaru Impreza Sti turbo for me....

Yep, I'm liking those or the Premium,

also liking the Audi A4 or the BMW 335i turbo.

[thehammer]

Subaru Liberty turbo, or a BMW 335i

[Sabantien]

I'd be looking at a Rio or Cerato too. Great prices, great warranty, and much better than they used to be.

Is stop/start that big an issue? My gfs car has it, and it also has a button to turn it off.

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by esppwr

I want it to last her 10 years / 200,000 k with only the normal servicing done by me, so I need to eliminate any cars with any major short comings. Hence I've eliminated any cars with:

- DSG Gearbox
- CVT Gearbox
- DPF
- Stop/Start stupidity

Ford Focus S 2.0 petrol manual.

[CountP]

22 Posts before someone suggests a Ford.
I must be on the wrong Forum. I thought this was the Ford Forum, not the Kia Forum.;)

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by CountP

22 Posts before someone suggests a Ford.
I must be on the wrong Forum. I thought this was the Ford Forum, not the Kia Forum.;)

What about post #8

[Trevor 57]

ooops - LOL

[bathurst77]

I bought a Kia Cerato on price and 7year warranty and am surprised to find i love it. Great little car. S-premium is 25 drive away, Very sooth 6 speed auto (can barely tell when its changing if you dont look at tacho), alloys, all the toys...reverse camera, fast glass on all 4, satnav, bluetooth, front and rear parking sensors, 7 years roadside assist.

[NTF6]

Or something like this:

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/de...17478514/?Cr=1

for a tidy little rocket. I want to get my missus one of these and get her out of that slug Kia Rio!

[esppwr]

Thanks for all the responses. I hadn't paid too much attention to the kia' as I wasn't impressed with the Hyundai I30. The Cerato is a decent option I hadn't considered. The Sli is a bit over priced when you consider it's Mazda SP25 money. The 7 year warranty is appealing. I think I'm going to have to drive one to compare it to the 3.
I know that the 3 has stop/start but for the money nothing gets close.
If only mum would drive a big car, it would be an easy choice ;-)

[XR Martin]

Should able to bargain hard on a Kia, not so much on a Mazda.

[Ray Falcon]

I have various XR6's, and a WT Fiesta CL. I
bought the Fiesta because it was a Ford. But I also believed it would be the best steering and handling car in the small car class. Two strikes out of two.
If you value steering and handling/grip/driving pleasure, then I can say from direct experience that nothing could come close to the Fiesta. Even the basic CL is incredible! The steering is quick, and incredibly full of feel - yes its electric. The handling balance is perfect - up to a point. Its like a kart, but if you are throwing it in at high G's, then pray that there isn't a bump half way around, then it will skip half a car width over. That's the limit of the beam rear axle that none of the experts mention.
Despite all of this, it takes the bumps so well. Its incredibly well tuned.
The seats are perfect. Its a real drivers car.
The CL gives 80% of the ST thrills for half the price.
But if you are interested in comfort and warranty, then I can't help.