Alternatives to Toyota

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MongooseMan

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OK, let me get the ugly truth out of the way first up: I'm a Toyota fan <ducks to avoid fruit>

I know they're boring, but they work and are low admin - high priorities in my life.

I'm now looking for a new car and have, to date, been looking at new Yaris Sedans and second hand Corollas.
Problem is, my price range is up to about R160000 so I'm likely to only get a 1.3l Toyota and I'd really like a 1.6 or higher.

I know little to nothing about other makes of car, hence I turn here.

Assume the following specs:
New - or less than 2 years old
Sedan
1.6l or higher
Very nice interior (I'm fussy like that, ok)
Reliable
Safe
At least 90000km service plan

Thoughts?
 
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New cars I'd look at in the R150k - R170k range:

Citroën C3 1,4i Attraction - Price: R 164 900
Daihatsu Sirion 1,5i Sport - Price: R 159 995
Fiat 500 1,4 Pop - Price: R 160 280
Fiat Panda 100HP - Price: R 157 107
Ford Fiesta 1,4 Ambiente 4-dr - Price: R 168 130
Hyundai i20 1,6 GLS - Price: R 167 900
Mazda2 1,3 Active 4-dr - Price: R 168 880
Nissan Livina X-Gear 1,6 Vista - Price: R 165 800
VW Polo 1,4i Comfortline - Price: R 170 000
VW Polo Vivo 1,6 Trendline 4-dr - Price: R 156 220

I've bolded the few sedans available at that price, but don't discount the hatches. R160k doesn't buy you much new; if you're willing to look at decent 2nd-hand cars it opens a whole new world of possibilities...
 
Save another R30k and buy a Lexus! You can get an is250 that still has a maintenance plan for about R185k and then extend it for 2 years for only R5k. The is250 is the highest scoring car in the JD Power index, and its HOT.
 
Sensorei said:
Save another R30k and buy a Lexus! You can get an is250 that still has a maintenance plan for about R185k and then extend it for 2 years for only R5k. The is250 is the highest scoring car in the JD Power index, and its HOT.
Click to expand...

^^ thats good info right there...now find him a car for that price.
 
Sensorei said:
Save another R30k and buy a Lexus! You can get an is250 that still has a maintenance plan for about R185k and then extend it for 2 years for only R5k. The is250 is the highest scoring car in the JD Power index, and its HOT.
Click to expand...

Hot as it may be, a fuel consumption of 9.8 is a little dear for my liking, might as well get a Subaru for that guzzling ;)
 
Test drive an is250 and you won't care :) What you get for your $ is amazing. But hey I only do just over 1000km a month so the fuel consumption doesn't bother me.
 
enigma243 said:
I've bolded the few sedans available at that price, but don't discount the hatches. R160k doesn't buy you much new; if you're willing to look at decent 2nd-hand cars it opens a whole new world of possibilities...
Click to expand...

OK, let's say less than 2 years old as well. Suggestions?
 
I've become a big fan of Hyundai the last few years. Great reliability and build quality.
 
Another vote for the I20 here, in that price range. I'd even go so far as to shop around for a <5,000km demo
 
smtgra011 said:
OK, let's say less than 2 years old as well. Suggestions?
Click to expand...

Eish... from a cursory look on autotrader.co.za

Citroën C3 Picasso - you can find 1.6s at that kind of price
Previous shape Polos - 1.9TDIs even
VW Golf & Jetta 5
Honda Civic, Jazz and, at a push, Accord
Suzuki SX4
Ford Focus sedan
...

I'm sure others will have more to add. Keep in mind that you can get quite close to a new car in terms of maintenance costs with bolt-on service plans and whatnot. However the big thing with buying second-hand is to have time to look for a good deal. If you don't have that luxury, buying a lower-spec new car might be the more prudent option.

That being said, I'll have any of these or any in my first list over a brand new Toyota.
 
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