I'm after a cheap, economical car

[SMOKEU]

I'm looking to buy a car which I can feel comfortable leaving in a car park all day long and not having to worry about it getting stolen/having trolleys pushed into it. I don't want to spend much more than $1,000. It has to be reasonably economical on fuel and I will use it mainly for driving around town, with the odd open road drive. I was thinking about getting a diesel Corona, Bluebird or Laurel. Or are old diesels not worth the risk of expensive engine repairs? It doesn't have to be a big car.

[firefighter]

What you describe is now worth 2k these days sorry. Everyone seems to want one. (including me)

Early days but this may be a good buy http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Suzuki/Cultus/auction-270552113.htm

Edit: If you were in aucks. oops.

[blackdog]

have '94 nz new 2L 5spd corona s/w for $2500, 200km, new wof, new radiator, new clutch, runs like a dream

pm me if any1 interested

[Headbanger]

Just the thing

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Ford/falcon/auction-269342423.htm

[blackdog]

Just the thing

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/Ford/falcon/auction-269342423.htm

now we talking, real nice and economical too.....

[FlangMasterJ]

Check my profile. 1992 Corolla XL. Current WOF and Rego. No carpet, dinged up, a little rust. Just sitting outside my place in a carpark. Noticed the passenger door was unlocked, had been like that for a month and no one even noticed. Battery dead. Keen?

Edit: Forgot to add. It's the greatest car ever made!

[centaurus]

Generally speaking, you would be looking at an early 90s jap box, preferably a hatchback (smaller engines - 1.4L-1.5L but very practical space management). The most popular would be: nissan pulsar and its relatives, sentra, bluebird, toyota hcorona/corolla, mazda familia, and mitsubishi kas a couple but I can't remember them now. Honda has the civics which are brilliant and thrifty cars but usually they aren't cheap. Steer clear of diesel. Diesel engines are brilliant and long lasting but when they start having problems they are VERY EXPENSIVE to fix and here in NZ there aren't many diesel specialists (at least no many cheap diesel specialists). At the price range you're looking for, most of the cars would have high kms anyway. Plus, japanese manufacturers have had a few lemon diesel engines in the early 90's.

The only problem if you want a cheap one (firefighter is right, $1k is too low, more like $2k) is that they would have a significant ammount of ks already. This means they are potential bombs (previous owners with total disregard for vehicle maintenance). Whichever car you choose, it is imperative to get a prepruchase inspection in order to assess the state of the car. Even with the prepurchase it's still a lottery, because it is very difficult to check the state of the engine. Even for a mechanic it's more or less a game of chance. However, with a PPE your chances are better. Whatever you do, don't use VTNZ for inspection - chances are they will miss a lot of issues that the car has (it has happened to me).

[Indiana_Jones]

You want an Austin 1300.

-Indy

[FlangMasterJ]

Check my profile. 1992 Corolla XL. Current WOF and Rego. No carpet, dinged up, a little rust. Just sitting outside my place in a carpark. Noticed the passenger door was unlocked, had been like that for a month and no one even noticed. Battery dead. Keen?

Edit: Forgot to add. It's the greatest car ever made!

Economical, reliable, handles well, economical and reliable. Literally just sitting there waiting to be driven. It was my first car. I was given it after my bike was stolen. I hate seeing it just sitting there. $500 and it's yours.

[SMOKEU]

Check my profile. 1992 Corolla XL. Current WOF and Rego. No carpet, dinged up, a little rust. Just sitting outside my place in a carpark. Noticed the passenger door was unlocked, had been like that for a month and no one even noticed. Battery dead. Keen?

Edit: Forgot to add. It's the greatest car ever made!

I would be keen if the car was a bit closer to me.

[FJRider]

I would be keen if the car was a bit closer to me.

ROAD TRIP ... !!!!!! :lol: :killingme


Add the ferry and fuel ... hitch to welly town ... there's the $1000 ...

[SMOKEU]

ROAD TRIP ... !!!!!! :lol: :killingme


Add the ferry and fuel ... hitch to welly town ... there's the $1000 ...

It's a pretty big mish. I'll have a look in the local buy-sell-exchange this weekend and see what I can find.

[FJRider]

It's a pretty big mish. I'll have a look in the local buy-sell-exchange this weekend and see what I can find.

Or take the bike with a friend on the back to picton ... Not that big a deal ...

You drive back ... they ride ... (or other way round)

[CookMySock]

Diesel engines are brilliant and long lasting but when they start having problems they are VERY EXPENSIVE to fix and here in NZ there aren't many diesel specialistsWe bought a 95 corolla diesel with 67,000kms on it, and many years later it has 320,000kms and all we have done oil changes, belts, and a thermostat. Even if we pushed it over a cliff it would still be cheap. $30 tank of diesel does 600km - cheaper than my bike to run by a long shot. When it's fucked we'll just boof another engine in it or just dump it. Parts for it cost almost nothing.

The kids are learning to drive in it at the moment. Nice stereo, mags, lowered, whale-tail, 5sp manual, gutless non-turbo.. perfect teenagers car.. :killingme

Nothin wrong with diesel cars.

Steve

[thealmightytaco]

Hey mate, I've got an '86 Mazda 323 GT that I've been meaning to offload for some time, wof and reg as of New Year, not the prettiest (cracked mirror, paint could do with a cut and polish) but runs sweet as, just uses a little oil as the kms are now up around the 230,000 mark (I think? will check). If you want it, all yours for $1200, PM me for more details/to view.

Chur

EDIT: Oh and it's only a 3dr hatch, can still fit a drumkit in it though.

[SMOKEU]

We bought a 95 corolla diesel with 67,000kms on it, and many years later it has 320,000kms and all we have done oil changes, belts, and a thermostat. Even if we pushed it over a cliff it would still be cheap. $30 tank of diesel does 600km - cheaper than my bike to run by a long shot. When it's fucked we'll just boof another engine in it or just dump it. Parts for it cost almost nothing.

The kids are learning to drive in it at the moment. Nice stereo, mags, lowered, whale-tail, 5sp manual, gutless non-turbo.. perfect teenagers car.. :killingme

Nothin wrong with diesel cars.

Steve

Is that the 2C engine? A mate of mine has had a couple of 2.4L turbo diesel Surfs' and they have caused him endless trouble. So what's more reliable; 2C or RD28?

[CookMySock]

Is that the 2C engine? A mate of mine has had a couple of 2.4L turbo diesel Surfs' and they have caused him endless trouble. So what's more reliable; 2C or RD28?Pretty sure it's the 2C. FWD 2L non-turbo 5sp.

Don't know much about the surf 2.4TD except to say I was warned off them. I have had two Surf KZN185 3.0TD (one intercooled) and they are fucken awesome.

I'd say the 2C was a far better engine than the RD28.

Steve

[centaurus]

We bought a 95 corolla diesel with 67,000kms on it, and many years later it has 320,000kms and all we have done oil changes, belts, and a thermostat. Even if we pushed it over a cliff it would still be cheap. $30 tank of diesel does 600km - cheaper than my bike to run by a long shot. When it's fucked we'll just boof another engine in it or just dump it. Parts for it cost almost nothing.

The kids are learning to drive in it at the moment. Nice stereo, mags, lowered, whale-tail, 5sp manual, gutless non-turbo.. perfect teenagers car.. :killingme

Nothin wrong with diesel cars.

Steve

As I was saying - diesel engines have a longer life than petrol cars. Especially in your case, since you bought the car when it was young (few kms on the odo) and has been properly maintained (i.e. regular oil changes). The fact that it's not a turbo extends its life even more.

Imagine the same car through 5-10 owners, sporadic oil changes and thrashing like hell, and it would not have made 320.000ks on that engine.

[CookMySock]

Imagine the same car through 5-10 owners, sporadic oil changes and thrashing like hell, and it would not have made 320.000ks on that engine.Point taken and conceded.

Pretty much it doesn't matter what the resale of this is - it's paid for itself. I'd just chuck it out if it died.

Steve

[Tank]

ever considered getting a bike?

[Laava]

There are some good informative bike forums around. Or so I've been told.

[SMOKEU]

ever considered getting a bike?

I've got my CBR but I don't want to leave that in a carpark for more than a few minutes because of all the fuckwits around. It's a bit cold to be riding on frosty winter mornings as well, especially with the wind chill factor and black ice.