Cheapest and most Reliable Student Car

[BrightBlue]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a car that will be traveling about 100km daily?
It needs to be cheap but also reliable since I have a really tight budget.

One of the important factors is that is has to be fuel efficient (petrol is expensive these days)
Which cars would you guys recommend?

Also, wanted to know, is it better to get a new car or a second hand one?

Thanks.

 

[Idiosyncratic]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a car that will be traveling about 100km daily?
It needs to be cheap but also reliable since I have a really tight budget.

One of the important factors is that is has to be fuel efficient (petrol is expensive these days)
Which cars would you guys recommend?

Also, wanted to know, is it better to get a new car or a second hand one?

Thanks.

Golf MkII. Parts are cheap and those cars just keep going and going. Not exactly fuel efficient but with the money you'll save buying one you'll be able to afford to pay for fuel.

 

[The_Traveller]

Any entry level Toyota ... what's your budget ?

 

[Binary_Bark]

If secondhand is not a issue you can never go wrong with a Toyota, Tazz to be more precise, the just don't quit and keep going.
Parts are cheap and what makes them so reliable is there is almost no electronics to go wrong

 

[BrightBlue]

Any entry level Toyota ... what's your budget ?

I'm trying to look for a car below R150000, and most/all Toyota's exceed that price

 

[Binary_Bark]

I'm trying to look for a car below R150000, and most/all Toyota's exceed that price

You would have to go second hand for a Toyota.
Another good choice if you want to go new is the Renault Sandero

 

[Binary_Bark]

The Swift is also a good choice, Japanese, you can never go wrong with Japanese cars

http://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/best-car-buys-under-r150000/17925/#.V_fNHI997Z4

 

[BrightBlue]

If secondhand is not a issue you can never go wrong with a Toyota, Tazz to be more precise, the just don't quit and keep going.
Parts are cheap and what makes them so reliable is there is almost no electronics to go wrong

I don't really want a tazz because its old looking (compared with all the new cars around), it's easy to steal and it's a bit heavy on fuel consumption

 

[Hemi300c]

New KIA/Demo KIA with 5yr plan

 

[BrightBlue]

The Swift is also a good choice, Japanese, you can never go wrong with Japanese cars

http://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/best-car-buys-under-r150000/17925/#.V_fNHI997Z4

Yes I was also considering the Swift. An even cheaper car would be Suzuki Celerio, except I don't know anyone who drives it, so I don't know how reliable it is.

 

[rietrot]

I'm trying to look for a car below R150000, and most/all Toyota's exceed that price

For that u can get almost any car. Obviously 2nd hand just choose something awesome that u like.

 

[Binary_Bark]

Yes I was also considering the Swift. An even cheaper car would be Suzuki Celerio, except I don't know anyone who drives it, so I don't know how reliable it is.

Don't, The Swift is your best choice, they are not as popular as Toyota but almost just as reliable plus because they are not as popular as a Toyota your risk of theft or hijacking is a lot less

 

[FiestaST]

Mazda 2; VW Up! if space is not a big concern.

Not a Datsun Go

 

[BrightBlue]

Currently I'm driving a Opel Astra Estate 1.6i Model 1997, but it has been giving me issues lately. The mileage is on 350000km.
So my "new" car has to at least be an improvement from this car. So the tazz and wk2 don't seem that great to me

 

[Binary_Bark]

You might see the Tazz as a problem or old, mine is on 750 000km, still no problem.

You cant co wromg with the Sandero or Swift

 

[BrightBlue]

Mazda 2; VW Up! if space is not a big concern.

Not a Datsun Go

Completely agree with you on that, had a look of the Datsun Go and it was not to my liking at all.
Unfortunately, I do require some space. So the VW Up! Is a no go, however I think the Mazda 2 is okay

 

[rietrot]

Currently I'm driving a Opel Astra Estate 1.6i Model 1997, but it has been giving me issues lately. The mileage is on 350000km.
So my "new" car has to at least be an improvement from this car. So the tazz and wk2 don't seem that great to me

97 is old, and 350000 is a lot. I would even suggest an newer Opel Astra 2000 something.

 

[TheChamp]

Yaris 1.3 hatch or the Etios hatch, you can easily get a low mileage model for that kind of money and parts are plentiful and everywhere.

 

[PhireSide]

Mazda 2, Hyundai i20, VW Up!, Suzuki Swift, Kia Rio would be my pick

 

[BrightBlue]

Don't, The Swift is your best choice, they are not as popular as Toyota but almost just as reliable plus because they are not as popular as a Toyota your risk of theft or hijacking is a lot less

What is wrong with Suzuki Celerio though? Isn't it basically the same car but slightly smaller and cheaper?
Suzuki Celerio is the upgraded version of Alto, which my friend is currently driving - and it is very fuel efficient from what I'm hearing...