Which car to buy

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DrewChan

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I bought a 200sx very nice, but sold it again as I am not a mechanic and those car need heavy upkeep.
Now looking for something in the cruising in comfort range/ a bit more reliable.

My purchase ceiling is probably around 120k, slightly higher only if its really worth it.
Year 2004- Upwards, preferably 100k or under on the clock.

Cars looked at so far.

Mini Cooper S
Peugeot 307CC
Nissan 350z
Mazda 6
Mazda 3
Opel Enjoy (Corsa and Astra)
Opel Essentia (Corsa)

Anyone have any opinions on these cars - I am actually liking the idea of the cooper because its a bit different and has the cruise control, climate control etc etc.

All input appreciated
 
are you sure some of those choices are wise and they aren't just in the long run going to cost you a lot of money anyway?
 
im posting on behalf of rouxenator

Opel buddy ...you will not go wrong (space left for rouxs opel)

battery lasts forever car drives like a dream ...everything in one
 
now as me ...for 120k any of those sport models you choose is going to have high mileage and going to cost and arm and a leg and maybe a kindey to repair ...
 
Like I said might go a bit higher if mileage/year/extras are right- remove 350z and 307cc from list :P Ive spyed all the other at more or less my price range with decent mileage (under 100k) but other options would be great- give me suggestions
 
Well, in terms of performance the 350z is in a different league from the others. 214kw and 370nm on the 2004 model. You may be able to pick up a 2004 model with about 100k kms for around R130k. Mechanically, there's not much that can go wrong. No turbo and not many bells and whistles. I've been driving a 2005 model for the last year and a half and have had no issues. The only major cost is replacing the brakes and tires which I haven't had to do yet.

I'm not too clued up about the other cars.
 
samr1wp said:
now as me ...for 120k any of those sport models you choose is going to have high mileage and going to cost and arm and a leg and maybe a kindey to repair ...
Click to expand...

I'd say the 350z is the only "sport model here" and maybe the Cooper S but wouldn't mind a standard one.
 
It all depends on what you want from your car, but what I will say is that you can get INSANE value if you go outside mainstream a bit.

We recently bought an '08 Citroen Picasso 1.6HDI for R120k. Now, just to pre-empt the nay-sayers, a helluva lot of research was done beforehand. Turns out, for instance, that the Picasso uses the same diesel motor as the 1.6 TDCI Focus/Fiesta which is a very highly rated motor...

It has a 5-star EuroNCAP rating. It has EVERYTHING that opens & shuts, 7 airbags, ABS/EBD, cruise control, automatic headlights and wipers... you name it. It's beautifully looked after & under full maintenance plan for another 2 years. And all that for the cost of a new Polo Vivo 1.4. And it's a 'happy' car; it still puts a smile on my face when I start it up in the morning, and that smile turns into a smirk when I see the sub 6l/100km consumption on the highway.

The purchase was motivated by necessity: our 'old' Beemer was starting to show its age and the prospect of expensive repairs started to scare me. The 14l/100km consumption figures didn't help matters either. We needed space, practicality, comfort and economy and it's the only car we found that a) we liked the drive of, and b) ticked all the boxes.

All that said, I've become a bit of a Citroen fan. Their recent-to-current products are superb and if they can get their dealer network and parts supply up to standard (which I believe they have, to an extent) I'm sure they can become an established player locally once more.
 
+1 on what samr1wp said.

I bought a 2006 A4 1.8T for R120k last year. Absolute beauty. Very economical on the open roads and has not costed me a cent on maintenance so far. It has all the bells and whistles you mention. It is not a robot racer though.

Any second hand vehicle is only as reliable as the previous owners care of it.
 
You wont get an AurisX for less than R150k with around 20k on the clock.

For performance, get a 2005 or so RunX RSi - you will get one for around R120k. Cars are relatively cheap to maintain and small modz bring them alive, good fuel consumption and great resale.

Are you at the coast?
 
TriggerTRD said:
You wont get an AurisX for less than R150k with around 20k on the clock.

For performance, get a 2005 or so RunX RSi - you will get one for around R120k. Cars are relatively cheap to maintain and small modz bring them alive, good fuel consumption and great resale.

Are you at the coast?
Click to expand...

you and roux are the same ...lol ....

one says opel one says toyota ...and nothing else ....
 
Skerminkel said:
Ha ha. That car is about as exciting as a Camri. You must be an accountant, or a post office clerk ;-)
You are very right about the -bit, if you know a mechanic/agent you can rely on.
Click to expand...

Excitement wasn't a prerequisite. :) I didn't mean for my little tale to imply that DrewChan should go Picasso-hunting, but more as an illustration that he needs to carefully think about what he wants from his car & then investigate accordingly. Buying a car, even a 2nd-hand R150k number, is a big decision involving a lot of money and a relatively long-term commitment. One shouldn't be myopic in one's search...

If I were to seriously suggest a Citroen to DrewChan, given what he's said, it would be something like this. Just not that colour.

But it is more exciting than a Camry. :p
 
Haptic is actually right, exciting isn't on my list my SX was exciting but after my 2nd speeding fine I got over it- I'm looking for a bit more refinement and comfort, also modern styling.

Leather heated seats, power steering etc etc, Picasso is quite nice but the front of the car is not really my taste. Auris is too pricey.
 
Unless you are buying used you will not be able to get a Corsa Enjoy, they were discontinued in 2010. They also had the less powerful 66kw 1.4 engine where the newer Essentia has a 74kw engine.

Out of personal experience I can highly recommend the Corsa Essentia, bar a Hyundai i20 it is the best value for money in that segment.
 
Rouxenator said:
Unless you are buying used you will not be able to get a Corsa Enjoy, they were discontinued in 2010. They also had the less powerful 66kw 1.4 engine where the newer Essentia has a 74kw engine.

Out of personal experience I can highly recommend the Corsa Essentia, bar a Hyundai i20 it is the best value for money in that segment.
Click to expand...

roux his purchase ceiling is R120k so new for any of those and your options are out of the question.
 
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