I want to buy something that will provide comfortable summer holiday travelling for me, missus & kid; and also with a bit of get up & go and reasonable handling, so I can play with it a bit when I'm out driving by myself. What cars (Import or NZ new) should I be looking at!
The cold hard requirements are:
* Budget:$12,000-ish max. * Mileage:100,000km max, ideally a bit less. * Engine:2.0L minimum.
The airy-fairy requirements are:
Would like a wagon, but this isn't essential. I want something mechanically strong and simple; no turbos, 4WD or 4WS. I won't be commuting to work in it so ultimate fuel economy isn't a high priority. Having said that I don't want to be throwing petrol money away stupidly either. Something that a car enthusiast can enjoy driving. I am not ideologically wedded to front or rear wheel drive, four or six cylinders, as long as the result is a smile or two for the driver! Would like a gearbox, but can live with a tiptronic.
Out of the cars I've already looked at, my favourite is currently the 2.5L / 3.0L V6 Nissan Stagea, this is the biggest car I would look at but I really like the style of these, inside and out. (I hear mixed reviews about reliability - apparently the core engine is strong but the fuel system can have problems, and if the built-in radio dies it takes the air conditioning with it!) Would consider the equivalent Skyline as a close second-best to a Stagea, if better condition & kms were available for the same price.
I also like the Japanese model 2001-2002 Honda Accords, especially the SiR model and the wagons with the 2.3L vtec engine. Not so much the lower spec models as the interiors of these start to look very ordinary.
Would like to try a 3.0L Altezza wagon, so far have only seen 2.0L cars with high kms and looking pretty rough.
So far I have tried and rejected: - NZ-new Accord VTI-L V6. Beautiful car, but just a bit too silent and neutral in its handling to have any fun with. - Luxury-spec 2001-2002 import Primeras, which I don't like because they seem noisy and unrefined on the road. (Also they give me static electric shocks.)
pandai,
Jan 21, 5:35am
My first thought is the Mazda 6, not sure how you'd like them though, or what they cost.One of them flew past me on the way down the hills on my way back from Arthurs Pass not long ago, I had a brief go at catching up but the thing just took off, I was impressed.Bit of a rep car though.
clark20,
Jan 21, 5:48am
Try my Accord, Konis and Eibach springs make it handle well.
vtecintegra,
Jan 21, 6:02am
Very happy with my 3l V35 Skyline - excellent fuel economy, decent handling and good ride quality.
Haven't run into any of the problems except the CD player, but that was failure of the mechanism and didn't take anything else out with it
audi_s_ate,
Jan 21, 6:02am
Should be a few options at around that money. A mazda 6 and low k's prob wouldn't be easy to get for 12k. My parents have a 3l gita altezza and it is brilliantly smooth, gas consumption is high around town but the 5sp auto works well to get it under 12l/100km urban. I rate it better to drive than a early Maz6. If you like the accords, the best sporting feel/family car for that money is probably an Accord Euro R IMO. You'll know it by the fact it has a full recaro interior as standard. Handles well and has a bit of power and the good news is they are manual gearbox. It should feel a lot better to drive than just an SiR. Edit: The Euro R wouldn't be the most comfortable long distance cruiser as it has a relatively sporty (read hard) ride. But that makes it better in the corners. There is a few threads about the stagea so I would suggest using the search function to see opinions about them.
vtecintegra,
Jan 21, 6:05am
I actually don't like the interior on the Euro R so much, the seats are very supportive but not exactly comfortable.
The high spec SiR or SiR-T with the part leather is the one to get as far as creature comforts go, but as mentioned won't be as nice to drive as the Euro R
carkitter,
Jan 21, 6:42am
Neutral handling in a FWD is a rare and beautiful thing. Somehow I think you meant to say DULL, but that can easily be fixed with bush and sway bar changes for not much moolah.
aoc1,
Jan 21, 8:58am
Nissan winroad they are chain driven so no cambelt changes.
vtecintegra,
Jan 21, 9:04am
OP won't be impressed with an Avensis - its like a smaller Camry and every bit as dull as the V6 Accord
That Alfa is nice, but I think its a clutchless manual which i don't like very much
sw20,
Jan 21, 9:18am
Its a proper manual box. 6 speed even.
vtecintegra,
Jan 21, 9:19am
In that case sweet car and definitely worth a look.
clark20,
Jan 21, 9:49am
The V6 is not dull, not compared to a Camry or Nissan.
vtecintegra,
Jan 21, 9:51am
Pretty sure there was never a V6 Avensis - it's essentially the Euro successor to the Carina (Corona), mid sized four cylinder with emphasis on safety
Edit: Ahhh you were talking about the Accord - in which case I standby what I said - it's not a fun car but directly comparable to an Aurion (which is of course the V6 Camry) - comfortable and powerful but lacking elsewhere.
pandai,
Jan 21, 9:53am
I find Accords fun to drive but they do have their limits, they kind of wallow a bit (but not the Euros or the current v6).Yours must be quite good with that suspension and those rims.
andy61,
Jan 21, 8:35pm
Check out the later model 2003+ Honda Accord Euro(also come in a wagon as a Euro),with the 2.4 motors ,there are a few listed at around $12000 ,awesome cars to drive,but the ride and seats are a bit firm.Very economical and the 2.4 motors have a timing chain instead of cambelts. If you get an auto,just keep up the auto fluid changes.
richardmayes,
Jan 22, 10:26pm
Thank you Sirs for all your input.
@ Andy61 - yes Accord Euros are nice, I drove one of those as a fleet car when it was new. Will definitely consider those. Not many of the 2.4 litres under 100k Km in my budget though. I will try to check out an RS Civic too.
@ pandai - yes Mazda 6s are nice, only a few listed within my budget though.As per Euro Accords I would be reluctant to go for the 2 litre model, these aren't really small cars.
@ sw20 - I remember drooling in the general direction of the first Alfa 156s as a teenager! Such pretty cars. I will have to do my research on reliability/maintenance of these very carefully, as I have the same prejudices about European cars as almost everyone else.
@ clark20 - yes those are really good cars, my dad owns a VTi-L V6 just like yours and I've driven it a couple of times. Ride comfort and noise levels are amazingly good, better than a lot of current models.(Goes around corners better than anything so luxurious ought to, too.)But as I said it is just a bit too silent and un-involving for me!
@ aoc - Thanks yes I should try one of those if I see a 2 litre one in a yard. Trying to stay away from the smaller Corolla/Sunny/Wingroad type cars though.
@ kazbanz - I've only seen one Avensis and it was well outside my budget. (But then, just quietly, Wholesale Cars Direct in Lower Hutt does seem to have everything several thousand dollars dearer than Auckland importers.) Will try one if I get the chance. I haven't heard much excitement from the car fraternity about these though.
clark20,
Jan 22, 10:51pm
My Accord is great and handles very well with confidence. I say this as I have just taken the Commodore on its first long trip up to Waipu Cove in the rain. I have just added a new cold air intake (taking it to 285 Kw) so I wanted to see how it goes. Now ultimately the Commodore on 20"s will corner better than the Accord but scared the sh!t out of me as getting use to applying 380hp, which can make things change very quickly. The Accord you could throw into a corner and trust that it would dig in and go, and 200hp didn't change things too much, the Commodore needs restraint and care. Still a heck of a lot of fun though. Just the limits are high so takes time to know where they are. (this does not mean speeding, I only hit 120 now and again)
smac,
Jan 22, 10:55pm
Pity about the Volvo rear end on the Stagea though.
welshdude,
Jan 26, 10:21am
I tried many cars around the 2 litre mark and went for a manual Mondeo with the Duratec engine. Great handling and steering, very roomy, nice seats and interior and 143 BHP. $12k will get you a nice one if you shop around.
kimbo88,
Jan 26, 11:38am
2000 and onwards Toyota Mark 2 Grande - 2.5 litre straight 6 with rear wheel drive.Very quiet and comfortable cars with excellent performance and economy.Also come in wagon as well, that model is the Toyota Blit, goodness only knows where they got the name from, but that's what it is.Probably in a hamburger store having a BLT at the time perhaps!
doug207,
Jan 26, 11:57am
The Mondeo are less interesting to drive than an Accord, more like a Camry with silver accents in the interior. Good car blandness aside.
reav3r,
Jan 26, 12:02pm
Toyota Altezza/Lexus IS200 (same car). with the BEAMS 6spd 2.0l engine
_peas,
Jan 26, 5:44pm
Kinda missed the point here. a drivers car!What is effectively a Pulsar Wagon.I'm thinking not.And just cos it has a chain doesn't mean its reliable either.Cost of cambelt over 100,000km is buggar all.
fordcrzy,
Jan 26, 6:38pm
i'd be looking at a caldina ZT or altezza gita 3.o.
WOW!.27 posts and NO JAZZ saying "buy a golf/passat/multipla!"
fordcrzy,
Jan 26, 6:40pm
of course just to be different and keep jazz hapy have a look at this.
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