Your second hand vehicle suggestions, ±R90,000 budget

[PostmanPot]

Tell us what you would get, and what you would advise for me. Anything goes.

My list:

• Armrest
• Reliable model/brand, German, Japanese, etc.
• Average service/maintenance/part costs, French car parts are said to be expensive, to be serviced at specialist/mechanic, NOT dealer
• Comfort/luxury, not looking at entry level cars
• Performance/sportiness would be nice, minimum 1.8L, absolute minimum 1.6L
• Perhaps some space (a sedan/boot, or perhaps a station wagon)
• Happy to spend R80,000 - R90,000, up to around R100,000 with good reason
• Respectable mileage, hopefully around 150,000km or less
• Resale value, needs to have suffered most of its depreciation. An extra ±50,000km to the clock needs to not affect resale too much
• Anything from year 2000 onwards

What I have in mind:

Audi A3 8L Coupe/Sportback 1.8/1.8 T
Audi A3 8P Coupe/Sportback 2.0 FSI/2.0 T
Audi TT Mk1 1.8T Quattro
Audi A4 B6/B7 1.8/2.0/1.8 T/2.0 T/1.9 TDI/2.0 TDI
Audi A4 B5/B6/B7 Avant 1.8/2.0/1.8 T/2.0 T/1.9 TDI/2.0 TDI
VW Golf 4/5
VW Jetta 4/5
VW Golf 4 station wagon
Subaru sedan/station wagon ?
Honda sedan/station wagon ?
...?

And go!

 

[Spotja]

Me just being a fanboy. The Ford Mondeo ST220 is my best bet.

2005 Mercedes Benz C 180?

 

[kanzen]

Lexus IS200 or IS300, only because they're rare and usually well looked after.

 

[PostmanPot]

Thanks for the replies.

Budget can even be as low as R40,000 (Golf/Jetta 4 territory).

Anything goes, this will be a daily driver.

 

[LPCPT]

If I was you then
Golf V, 2.0L Comfortline.
or BMW 3 series (2008-2010 model)
Stay clear of French cars.

 

[gfmalan]

I would go for the VW & Audi's as I know what can go wrong, and also know how they drive. I would go for A4 2.0TDi, then have 20k in credit for new turbo, other mayor expenses, arround the 100 and 200k km marks

 

[silent_wolf]

Careful of the a3 8l lots of small problems, some wiring looms tend to need replacing at high mileages particularly for the coilpacks. Also really annoying to keep moving the seat for people to get in the back Unless you can find the rare sportback model

a3 8p stay away from the 2l engine (not exactly sure which, just have a google) made in around 2009 and 2010 as they had problems with the rings causing them to use atleast a can of oil between services, my friend has one but his is fine, really nice car.

a4 b5, careful of the 1.8 as they are very underpowered in such a big car unless it has a turbo, my mother has one (sitting at 200k km)and i often find myself wanting to pull out and overtake, I put my foot down and it just feels like i'm not even touching the pedal, you have to really rev these engines to get them to do anything especially up hill, but if they were serviced and taken care of they are bullet proof and can take the strain.

Looks and money aside I would personally go for the a3 8p as there seem to be a good few around so chances are scrap yards will have a few if you need spares or as Spotja said look at a c180, my fathers is sitting at 250k km only thing engine wise thats needed fixing so far was the starter motor.

if resale value is a huge thing get a vw

 

[FiestaST]

I am being very left field here but a 2006-2008 Hyundai Sonata is rather good; great value; spacious & lots of kit.Also cant see a Sonata being high on the hijack radar.

2.4 engine may be on the thirsty side & styling is nothing to brag about.

 

[TehStranger]

CL7 (2006 to 2008) Honda Accord 2.4L Type S, or CL7 (2006 to 2008) Honda Accord 2.4L Executive manual (the auto is a bit of a dog).

If you're lucky you can pick up a nice example for between R85,000 and R100,000. It has all the bells and whistles (especially the executive with it's sunroof, premium sound etc.) and looks great (especially the Type S). It's comfortable, frugal for it's size and engine (especially for highway cruising) and incredibly safe. It's more than spacious enough for 4 adults + luggage and is the physical manifestation of Honda reliability. It has enough power to be fun and shrug off load with easy (towing is a breeze). It also has a slight air of exclusivity, it's not as common as many other cars on your list.

We've got two in the family, both 2006 models. One has around 120,000kms on the clock, the other 230,000+kms on the clock. Even the high mileage one still feels solid, quiet and comfortable.

Servicing is not particularly expensive even at a dealership, though there are a few great independents that will give exceptional service. Parts can be a bit pricy, but you won't need them often (if at all beyond regular servicing). Spark plugs are the only high expense (around R1,000 for a set of 4 OEM plugs), but they last 120,000kms between changes so it really does balance out. Alternatives are available for a better price.

It's taken most of the depreciation hit already, so another 50,000 to 100,000kms won't take too much off the value. In fact the value between our two accords is probably only around R20,000 despite one having double the mileage of the other. Plus they sell quickly if priced correctly (don't listen to salesmen who try feed you bull**** about how it'll stand around for a while, when I was shopping all of the good ones were sold within a month, it's still the case now).

Feel free to send any other questions this way.

 

[crysis]

Two words. Hyundai Getz.

 

[PostmanPot]

Golf 4 is out of the question, no armrest...

 

[FiestaST]

Golf 4 is out of the question, no armrest...

The higher spec models have a front armrest; unless you are referring to rear armrest

 

[PostmanPot]

The higher spec models have a front armrest; unless you are referring to rear armrest

Cool, good to know.

 

[InternetSwag]

Honda Civic... or an a3

Hyundai Getz aint a bad choice but tbh its not in the same league ad the aforementioned cars

dont get a mk1 tt either. tyre replacment is expensive as is if anythibg goes wrong like 1.8 turbo...

 

[ahoudet]

+1 to the Accord.

 

[MR.C]

Code 3 vehicle ?

 

[PostmanPot]

Code 3 vehicle ?

Nope.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

+1 Honda accord

Otherwise corolla, or corolla quest, or mitsubishi lancer not the evo though......

 

[Russell S]

Me just being a fanboy. The Ford Mondeo ST220 is my best bet .

This.

I drive a 2003 Ford Mondeo that still feels like a new car. Good to see that there is someone else out there with one

 

[PostmanPot]

Bump. Keep them coming.