Reliable car

[eternaloptimist]

Hey all,
I am looking for a car for about 50K or less. Not into cars so I am clueless. Will be driving from CT to Kruger then into Moz. Any advice?
Thanks

 

[boxerulez]

Go for a immaculate unrestored beetle and have Grandslam in Strand give it the once over. You will thank me after the trip. PS. thats the Old air cooled beetle.

 

[dsimonse]

If you going to drive that far, get a car with a working air conditioning and power-steering. Driver fatigue is a problem so get one that's comfy. Go for 2000-2001 Corolla GLE. They're extremely reliable and very light on juice on the open road.

 

[Hemi300c]

And ensure the tires profiles are in excess of 60-65 with the bad roads and potholes.

 

[spiderz]

Land Rover Discovery V8.

 

[srothman]

Look for a Hyundai Getz. Should be able to pick up a 2007-2008 model for around that price.

 

[srothman]

Land Rover Discovery V8.

He said reliable... ;-)

 

[TJ99]

Reliability = Honda. It really is that simple. Get a good Ballade/Civic and never worry about it again.

/thread

 

[spiderz]

He said reliable... ;-)

It's reliable ... just not efficient.

+1 for Honda

 

[upup]

What ever you get, get it a decent service. replace cam and fanbelts, filters and plugs.

option 2, hire a car.

 

[Slootvreter]

If you going to drive that far, get a car with a working air conditioning and power-steering. Driver fatigue is a problem so get one that's comfy. Go for 2000-2001 Corolla GLE. They're extremely reliable and very light on juice on the open road.

Besides sentimental value for some, these cars are becoming extremely unreliable.

 

[CamiKaze]

Toyota Auris!!!

 

[eternaloptimist]

What ever you get, get it a decent service. replace cam and fanbelts, filters and plugs.

option 2, hire a car.

I was initially going to hire one but it all came to a little over 10K!. Thanks for all the suggestions people! Also any tips on getting a second hand car would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Slootvreter]

Toyota Auris!!!

R50k? :erm:

 

[eternaloptimist]

I was presuming a lot of people would say Toyota Tazz or Volkswagon Citi Golf! That's how I was leaning, are these not good options?

 

[Fazda]

I was presuming a lot of people would say Toyota Tazz or Volkswagon Citi Golf! That's how I was leaning, are these not good options?

Not bad options, but you aren't going to find many for that price that are still RELIABLE options.

In my honest opinion, you are possibly not going to find anything at that price that would reliably do that trip, unless you are bloody lucky!

 

[konfab]

I was presuming a lot of people would say Toyota Tazz or Volkswagon Citi Golf! That's how I was leaning, are these not good options?

They are not bad, but you might have to go over your budget to get them to a reliable level.

You want my advice do this:

Go for a immaculate unrestored beetle and have Grandslam in Strand give it the once over. You will thank me after the trip. PS. thats the Old air cooled beetle.

R40 K Beetle in Gordon's bay

Not only is it financially feasible, you will also make it into a trip that you will remember for the right reasons.

Out of interest's sake, what time constraints do you have? And will you be travelling with someone who can take over when you get tired?

 

[Fazda]

I know that I was born just after Noah fell off the Ark, but it always amuses me when people are concerned that you don't have power steering or air conditioning in your car.

We ALL used to travel for days without A/C or P/S - a trip from Zambia to Cape Town took a minimum of 3 days and yes it was hot, but we just ran with open windows - at first, it was my dad who did all the driving as well, as my brother and I could drive, but didn't have licences.

Once we could drive, it was nothing to do a 12 to 14 hour stint behind the wheel, with a constant supply of Coke and "padkos", with the occasional pitstop for petrol and a pee. Our onboard entertainment was a crackly radio tuned into LM Radio or Springbok Radio and there were no speed limits in those days, so cruising speed in our Mk 2 Jaguar was between 90 and 100 mph, and in the Austin A 110 before that, it was around 80 mph.

We really are becoming a bunch of softies!

 

[Zyraz]

Mitsubishi - 2007 Lancer 1.6 GLX :
I picked mine up with 60 000 Km on the clock , mint condition for R58 000 in 2012.



You should be able to find one with some searching for close to that price . Bullet proof engines and quite good on fuel.
Comfortable car to drive long 1000+ distances . (personal experience)

 

[eternaloptimist]

Thanks for the replies!

They are not bad, but you might have to go over your budget to get them to a reliable level.

You want my advice do this:



R40 K Beetle in Gordon's bay

Not only is it financially feasible, you will also make it into a trip that you will remember for the right reasons.

Out of interest's sake, what time constraints do you have? And will you be travelling with someone who can take over when you get tired?

Travelling with the missus. She will be driving as well. We have about 2 weeks to do the whole trip.