Buying a used car

[Scotty T]

Cheers @Scotty T
I like the look and feel of the Golf, and they are very popular around here - will be interesting to see if other manuals have the same clutch issue, at least something to be mindful of. Do you have an independent VW servicing centre, or go through dealers?

I've been servicing through the dealer until my warranty ended last year but the guys at North Side Euros are good and did the engine in the last car, good job for a good price. They'll be putting a heavy duty clutch in when this one gets too slippy.

 

[Haakon]

I've been servicing through the dealer until my warranty ended last year but the guys at North Side Euros are good and did the engine in the last car, good job for a good price. They'll be putting a heavy duty clutch in when this one gets too slippy.

You dont need to use the dealer during warranty btw Dealers should always be a last resort for warranty hassles only.

 

[Haakon]

Cheers @Scotty T

There are really slim pickings around at the moment... I should get my payout this week but not sure what I want to replace the Forester with or what is really available.

I like the look and feel of the Golf, and they are very popular around here - will be interesting to see if other manuals have the same clutch issue, at least something to be mindful of. Do you have an independent VW servicing centre, or go through dealers?

Going to drive an Impreza on the weekend - people hate them because of sluggish acceleration and CVT but they seem extremely comfortable, reliable and safe.

If you're thinking about a manual Gold, look at this https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2018-renault-megane-life-manual/OAG-AD-16178903/?Cr=0

Massive bargain and better than a Golf. More comfortable and way safer than a impreza. Reliability is solid in case you're wondering, these are a mainstream volume model.

 

[droenn]

Hah, but involves heading down to Victoria... which might be a thing given how few options there are here

 

[Haakon]

Hah, but involves heading down to Victoria... which might be a thing given how few options there are here

Yeah, you won’t find any bargains around here for a while!

I have to go to Armidale of all places...

 

[Scotty T]

.If I was looking at another petrol car an i30 would have been a consideration, a driving instructor mate has one, and a mate who used to race a production Evo Lancer recently upgraded. Most newish cars that have been looked after are good these days.

 

[Daniel Hale]

Hah, but involves heading down to Victoria... which might be a thing given how few options there are here

it’s not an rs but i’ll happily drive it up to deliver

 

[Dales Cannon]

i30 is a good thing.

 

[Haakon]

i30 is a good thing.

I30 are excellent. Wagon and 3 door is made in Checz republic and has multi link rear suspension and 1.6 direct injection, hatch is made in Korea and is beam axle and 1.8 port injection. Wagon is the pick. Not diesel...

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/2013-Hyundai-i30-Active-Auto/OAG-AD-18310093

 

[steve jobs' pancreas]

Re buying a used car, just be prepared for the following:

• paying too much;
• finding something missing on it after you bought it;
• something breaking on it soon after you bought it;
• the vehicle driving or sounding different (in a bad way) to what it did when you test drove it;
• an endless procession of car selling douche's masquerading as people;
• really wanting it before you buy it and hating it after you buy it.

And ye expectations will be met and thy experience positive (relatively speaking).

 

[nathanm]

Re buying a used car, just be prepared for the following:

• paying too much;
• finding something missing on it after you bought it;
• something breaking on it soon after you bought it;
• the vehicle driving or sounding different (in a bad way) to what it did when you test drove it;
• an endless procession of car selling douche's masquerading as people;
• really wanting it before you buy it and hating it after you buy it.

And ye expectations will be met and thy experience positive (relatively speaking).

that's why it's so vitally important to take someone with you who knows what they are doing.

1. If there's no or missing service history do not touch it, cars without at least oil changes will ultimately have engine problems/early failures
2. Buy a vehicle that's still in warranty period (and has the above so the warranty isn't void) or is covered by your state's statutory warrant
3. Don't buy some weird European thing or a Holden/Ford- Peugeot, Renault, Skoda, Ssangyong are all going to be money pits
4. Do your homework, a simple google search will show you problems for that year/make like diesel gate and subarus early engine failures
5. Don't pay too much and absolutely do not agree to the first offer if buying through a dealer. Wait for them to call you back.
6. Buy a Hyundai or Kia

We're lucky in Tasmania as we don't get hail or flood damaged vehicles into our market as much. Re-birthing is also a pretty uncommon issue if you buy a local car.

 

[Haakon]

1. buy some weird European thing or a Holden/Ford- Peugeot, Renault, Skoda, Ssangyong are all going to be money pits

Buy any one of many european cars because theyre common and mainstream and cheap and easy to fix. In the world of online shopping, any and all parts car be had cheap and dropped to your door. And all brands have specialist independent workshops who are not the rip off central that dealers are (thats not just euro, all dealers are a ripoff).

The idiot misconceptions about euros being money pits can be to your advantage because theyre cheaper. Any that have been money pits is usually becauase the mechanic/owner is an idiot and doesnt know what theyre doing. That does however present a risk buying used and you need to make sure it hasnt been stuffed by an aforementioned idiot mechanic....

If you're the sort who just rolls it into your nearest garage and not take anyone ownership of the maintenance process, dont get one youll be ripped off. If you know how to buy bike parts online you can buy euro car parts too and take some interest in at least knowing whats wrong and whats required for maintenance.

 

[droenn]

I don't do much on cars except replace old hoses or tighten loose things. Let the mechanic (currently an independent guy) do all that for me. Learning all that stuff myself would take away too much time from other things....

I've test driven (all new) the Golf, Focus and Corolla last weekend, was just going to test the Impreza this weekend - and then try and find decent secondhand ones if there are any...

or I give up, and embrace my partner's Fiesta which is proving to be pretty good around town.

 

[Haakon]

I don't do much on cars except replace old hoses or tighten loose things. Let the mechanic (currently an independent guy) do all that for me. Learning all that stuff myself would take away too much time from other things....

I've test driven (all new) the Golf, Focus and Corolla last weekend, was just going to test the Impreza this weekend - and then try and find decent secondhand ones if there are any...

or I give up, and embrace my partner's Fiesta which is proving to be pretty good around town.

IF you really just want wheels its the Hybrid Corolla then. Its still pretty decent a drive to, but will be the most economic and economical of the new options.

 

[droenn]

Its a lot better than it used to be! I only drove that to check out the Hybrid version - its not an exciting car by any means, but it drove well and felt solidly built.

But although its MOSTLY about A-B I still want something I like the looks of and feel comfortable in. Golf was winner in that regard, and most engaging drive (but a bit of that due to manual?).

 

[nathanm]

Buy any one of many european cars because theyre common and mainstream and cheap and easy to fix.

The idiot misconceptions about euros being money pits can be to your advantage because theyre cheaper.

If you're the sort who just rolls it into your nearest garage and not take anyone ownership of the maintenance process,

What are we talking about here? Pre-90's cars? Most modern vehicles are far too complex for anything other than a modern workshop to deal with and even an oil change should be done by a qualified mechanic.

if you get a decent car they wont break so they wont need a fix. There's no point getting a car cheap if the ongoing maintenance cost is going to be excessive in the long run.

But like bikes, everyone can buy what they want, its all down to personal preference. Some people call other people an idiot for having misconceptions about euro cars, others think people are idiots for owning one. I bought a new Honda so turns out i'm an idiot anyway.

 

[Haakon]

What are we talking about here? Pre-90's cars? Most modern vehicles are far too complex for anything other than a modern workshop to deal with and even an oil change should be done by a qualified mechanic.

if you get a decent car they wont break so they wont need a fix. There's no point getting a car cheap if the ongoing maintenance cost is going to be excessive in the long run.

But like bikes, everyone can buy what they want, its all down to personal preference. Some people call other people an idiot for having misconceptions about euro cars, others think people are idiots for owning one. I bought a new Honda so turns out i'm an idiot anyway.

lol, we are all idiots for spending money on cars regardless of the brand....

Oil changes are still an easy DIY, some oil filters are easier to get at than others though (subaru wins that one). I have knockoff OBD interfaces that are brand specific and an old lappy and can get into the computers for codes and configuration stuff. Its not too difficult. Modern cars are more DIY friendly than youd think, but there are a few things you need to learn.

I once knew how set points gap and set the timing by feel and could balance twin SU carbs by ear. These days I just worked out how to get the software running on an old laptop

 

[nathanm]

Oil changes are still an easy DIY, some oil filters are easier to get at than others though (subaru wins that one).

I wonder how many people have destroyed Ford Rangers after doing a "standard" length oil change?

 

[born-again-biker]

What are we talking about here? Pre-90's cars? Most modern vehicles are far too complex for anything other than a modern workshop to deal with and even an oil change should be done by a qualified mechanic.

if you get a decent car they wont break so they wont need a fix. There's no point getting a car cheap if the ongoing maintenance cost is going to be excessive in the long run.

But like bikes, everyone can buy what they want, its all down to personal preference. Some people call other people an idiot for having misconceptions about euro cars, others think people are idiots for owning one. I bought a new Honda so turns out i'm an idiot anyway.

Haakon is on the money mate.
There's no mysterious un-reliability in a euro, any more than a Subaru or a Mitsubishi. You're talking about reputations that were created a very long time ago when an Alfa was actually made by Italians in Italy.....and a Toyota was made by Japanese, in Japan.
It's not like that anymore.
(Jeep Chrysler however, seems to be in a special category of turd)

Yes Mercedes and BMW etc etc have some very tricky and "clever" systems in their cars. They always have.
And yes it's true those cars can be more difficult to troubleshoot & repair for the average DIY punter.
Mayyybe you could say that Peugeot doesn't age too well (just a random example)....but have you seen an older Mitsubishi or Hyundai? They don't always age too well either.

What Haakon is talking about is basic-to-intermediate servicing and maintenance on ANY car regardless of badge/reputation.
A $30k Renault (or even a $45k Audi or Merc) still has a sump full of oil and an oil filter. They all use steel brake rotors and composite pads etc.
They all need their tyres rotated. Many need valve clearances adjusted etc etc.
Would I tackle a VW Group DSG rebuild in my garage? Fucking unlikely.
But I wouldn't tear-down a Subaru CVT either. There's limits to what a regular owner can do with any brand.

The little bonus you'll get by "taking the plunge" with a Renault/VW/Peugeot/Alfa/Skoda is that they can be a bit more fun to drive & own than a Lancer-Rolla-3-'preza....

It sucks you've had issues with your Honda, they are/were generally very well made.

 

[born-again-biker]

I wonder how many people have destroyed Ford Rangers after doing a "standard" length oil change?

Yeah that Ranger / BT-50 oil pump design was just fucking criminal.