Post BF Upgrade Feedback - Click Here

Remove this Banner Ad

Buying a Car

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

eagleskickass

eagleskickass

Norm Smith Medallist
Veteran SFA Hall of Fame
Joined
Sep 10, 2000
Posts
6,914
Reaction score
849
Location
Perth, WA
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Perth Scorchers, New York Giants
I am now about to start searching for a new used car, since my last one was written off. I need a car as my job is a pizza delivery driver, and because i will need it when i am working in Albany for 2 months later this year/early next year so dont bother telling me i dont need one(if it wasnt for these 2 reasons i would strongly consider not having one but still prefer to have one and limit its use). I live in Perth so mostly am asking people residing in Perth for help. I was wondering where are some places i can go for cars. I have approx $2000 to spend and most car dealerships dont really sell cars for this price. What are some Perth auction places? Some cheap car dealerships, or do you know of anyone looking to sell a car for about this price. Any help would be greatly appreciated, i want a good quality car for its price, not some lemon. Cheers:)
 
I don't recommend going to a dealer to get a car for $2000. My dad told me this and I believe him.

If you go to a dealer to buy a car for $2000, you will be buying a piece of crap.

A dealer gets a $800-$1000 piece of crap car, does about $500 work on it and then sells it for $2000.

It still is in essence a $800-$1000 dollar car. There is not that much that can be done for $500 to make a $1000 dollar car worth buying.

I recommend getting a trading post/local newspaper and going and having a look at cars in your price range.

People who privately sell a car look at a newspaper and find out what their car is worth, they don't do up a piece of **** and try a flog it off for a profit.

Once you have decided on a car, get a company to do tests on it. The RACV (Royal Automobile Club or Victoria) does tests for $50 for members on cars. They will take the car, do tests and then give you a report on what is good or bad about the car. I'm sure there would be something like that i Perth. If you get someone like the RACV to put together a report on a car you are looking for, this will ensure that it is not a LEMON!!! :) or if it is a lemon at least you knew about it

Also I think you would be looking for cars around the 1985-1988 era. I recommend Japanese engines from this era (Look at Toyota's and Mazda's). The engines were built to be nearly indestructible and will still be good cars if they have been looked after.

Most importantly, if you feel that there is something wrong with the car or the person selling it seems dodgy... DO NOT BUY IT, EVEN IF IT IS CHEAP!!!

If you can afford maybe even another $500 it would make a major difference in the quality of vehicle you will get.

PM me if u want any more advice...

Good Luck!

P.S. I drive a 1985 Mazda 626 I bought when I saw it next to the road on my way to Melbourne one day (i'm from country Victoria). It cost me $3000 with a full service history, been garaged all its life, never been in an accident.... I guess I was just lucky...
 
Re: Re: Buying a Car

Originally posted by Mr X
HAHAHAHA

Good luck!
Click to expand...

i mean for 2000 i want the best i can get. I previously had a very reliable, economic 1982 Ford meteor which was worth about 1800 before it was written off 9and is what i am getting for it). I have friends who have also got very reliable(quality) care for between $1000 and $2000. I know for this cheap price i aint going to get an awesome car, but i can get a cheap, reliable economic student type car, which is what i want.
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

If all goes to plan i am buying an old BMW next year and am always checking http://www.tradingpost.com.au/ to keep up do date with it all. Some are private sales and some are through dealers. I don't really have to be as concerned as my uncle is an ex racing car driver and mechanic so he's going to check it all out for me. Mainly just concerned about getting the best price. Used to look on http://www.drive.com.au/ until finding out all the beamers on the trading post were a good few thousand $ less!
 
Thanks a lot for your advice HogieBBear. Unfortunately i cant afford another $500, 2000 is pushing it as it is:D I was lucky enough to 3 months ago be given a 1982 ford Meteor. It was a very very economic and reliable car for me and i loved it. Unfortunately a stupid semi truck driver didnt watch where he was going and rammed me at a set off traffic lights, writing my car off. I am getting $1750 for it and can put about @250 in myself. I cant afford a loan as i am paying off some repairs i did on the car (the week before the accident too) and i need a car ASAP as i am a pizza delivery driver and use my car to do that job. I have a RAC membership(WA) and will be getting them to inspect any car before i but it. Costs 120 for members here i think i read. Worth it but. Just surfing the net for auction places and will be checking the saturday and sunday classifields for cars:)
 
I understand... Us uni students have to be tightarses most of the time.

My brother got a 1988 Toyota Corona (2.4lt, 4cyl, EFI, MAG WHEELS!!!!) for $1800. He also managed to forget to put a radiator hose back on and cooked the engine about 2 weeks after he got it. Cost him $800 to repair it.

Good car though, goes like stink and no problems with it.
 
Well i managed to crack the head of my meteor due to knowing stuff all about cars:) Thats what i got repaired. My car had heating probs and i drove it to Albany. The radiator guage didnt change the whole way so i thought it was fine. Of course i totally forgot about the oil. 20kms from Albany (which is 420kms from my place in perth) i realise theres something wrong, my engine has steam coming out of it. I douse(sp) my engine with as much water as i can...:D:D and of course crack the head. $900 to fix, written off the next week:(. But this trading post is making me feel very good, got some good cars for 1700-2000 dollars that look good and sound good. Of course id need to get em checked out first, but i gotta start somewhere. Very excited:)
 
Originally posted by NMWBloods
Have a look at the Peugeot 504 or 505 - they last for ever and are good cars.

Also, Toyota Corollas and Coronas are good value for $2K.
Click to expand...

Gotta disagree Corollas have no power. Nothing. Reliable, last a long time but are so flat.

For $2500-$3000 try a Holden Commodore 1986 Model. They have the Nissan Skyline engine in them I think. They go like a rocket aswell..
 
I've got a 1989 Ford Laser. It runs like a dream. Mine cost a bit more than $2,000 but if you are willing to get an earlier model then Lasers are a good choice.
 
I am checking out a 1989 Hyundai this Saturday.
http://www.autotrader.com.au/Photos/T000114936.jpg is the link to its photo, and the price is $1700. As i know stuff all about cars i got a mate with more of an idea going with me, and ill be sure to ask plenty of questions. Also hopefully will get it inspected but this may not be possible as the guy uses it everyday for work (until he gets the money from the car to buy a new one.)
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Originally posted by rfctigerarmy
Gotta disagree Corollas have no power. Nothing. Reliable, last a long time but are so flat.

For $2500-$3000 try a Holden Commodore 1986 Model. They have the Nissan Skyline engine in them I think. They go like a rocket aswell..
Click to expand...

If you don't have a lot of money and just want to get from A to B, then a Corolla is a much better bet. Corollas go okay - they'll hardly drag many off at the lights, but that depends on how mature you want to be...
 
Originally posted by eagleskickass
I am checking out a 1989 Hyundai this Saturday.
http://www.autotrader.com.au/Photos/T000114936.jpg is the link to its photo, and the price is $1700. As i know stuff all about cars i got a mate with more of an idea going with me, and ill be sure to ask plenty of questions. Also hopefully will get it inspected but this may not be possible as the guy uses it everyday for work (until he gets the money from the car to buy a new one.)
Click to expand...

I would stay well away from early-model Hyundais - build quality is crap!!
 
Originally posted by DonFan
I've got a 1989 Ford Laser. It runs like a dream. Mine cost a bit more than $2,000 but if you are willing to get an earlier model then Lasers are a good choice.
Click to expand...

Yeah - most of the mid to late 1980s Lasers and 323s are pretty reasonable.
 
Originally posted by NMWBloods
Yeah - most of the mid to late 1980s Lasers and 323s are pretty reasonable.
Click to expand...

i will have a good look at the car before doing anything. Ive had someone tell me this model is actually not too bad(not the owner, mechanic friend) so will see how it turns out.
 
I have a Mazda 1986, 626 hatchback, cost me $1,800 4 years ago, I have only spent about $300 on repairs in that time, OK it is getting to the stage where I am going to have to take it out & shoot it, but at the moment, it still gets me from A to B (as long as they aren't too far apart). :D

I always only buy second hand Mazdas or Toyotas, because they last for ages, they are still drivable, long after most cars would have given up.

My dilemma now is, when my car finally dies, do I spend $1,000 to get it repaired, or by another bomb for about $2,000 & hope that lasts me for at least 4 years. :confused:
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Originally posted by eagleskickass
Being a private sale do i have the right to ask for a test drive/get them to drive me for a bit to see how it runs?
Click to expand...

You have to take it for a test drive, if they won't let you, say goodbye, if you know zilch about cars, take someone with you who does.
 
For $2000 you should be able to pick up a series 1 1986 VL Commodore. They're very good cars which have the Nissan RB30 3 litre Nissan Skyline Engine. Also, good looks :D
 
Originally posted by Fraser
For $2000 you should be able to pick up a series 1 1986 VL Commodore. They're very good cars which have the Nissan RB30 3 litre Nissan Skyline Engine. Also, good looks :D
Click to expand...

As much as id love a commodore they arent as economic as i need my car to be, so wont be buying one of these. Good cars but yes.
 
Originally posted by DonFan
I've got a 1989 Ford Laser. It runs like a dream. Mine cost a bit more than $2,000 but if you are willing to get an earlier model then Lasers are a good choice.
Click to expand...

Me too, have a blue 87 Ford Laser, got it two years ago when I got my license for 2500 bucks

Not much style etc etc, but is very reliable and I've had it serviced once and that's all that I've had to do maintanance wise. really economic as well. The Collingwood members sticker on the back tops it off nicely.

I'm a student so the low cost to run it is important. It also means I haven't got a decent stereo in it.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Remove this Banner Ad

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top Bottom