For the first time in my life I am buying a car. I'd like to spend under $10k. I want a 3 litre engine minimum. No people movers or station wagons.
The TM advanced search is not helping much as it still presents me with little runabouts when I have specified that engine size.
Ideally in the Bay of Plenty but can travel to Auckland/Waikato if necessary.
I am thinking Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon. Are there other makes I should consider that are reliable, grunty and don't cost millions to fill?
brapbrap8,
Oct 12, 7:49pm
Subaru Legacy 3L would be a good pick, nicer than a 6 cylinder Falcon or Commodore. In reality though, anything that is cheap and grunty is not going to be that reliable or light on fuel though.
intrade,
Oct 12, 8:01pm
ummm you contradict your self there a tini bit. don't cost millions to fill? You will have to get LPG or it will cost a million to fill as you call it. now reliable is nothing really but there is more and less reliable models one to avoid are V6 engines the rear cilinder head bank always crack on almost any v6 if there is slight neglect on cooling system services. So are you limmited to these 2 makes only also my vw 1,9 diesel is as quick if not quicker in acceleration then one of these SSS comodores with huge engines and big exhaust and noises. just to show you there is other cars however my one is extreem rear to find with 6 speed manual transmission.
lk104,
Oct 12, 8:17pm
Toyota Aurion, pretty good fuel wise and got heaps of power.
r.g.nixon,
Oct 12, 8:21pm
Ariel Atom - not good in the rain.
saxman99,
Oct 12, 8:46pm
E39 BMW 5 series.
tamarillo,
Oct 12, 8:46pm
You're wNting a three litre plus, do you also want rear wheel or all wheel drive or is front drive ok? Personally I don't like front drive on bigger engine, but up to you. If front ok there's the three litre large body Honda accord, excellent car, very capable. I'd have one over Toyota Camry etc which are very boring and not as good to drive. Most would avoid big mitsi and nissans. Commodore feels more agile and enjoyable IMO over falcon. Either is lousy on gas if you're in city, but not bad at all out of town. Commodores are plentiful, known commodity, good drive. Toyota MK X can be had with 3 litre though most are 2.5. These use Lexus IS running gear and are damn good cars. Mine was too cramped for my 6'2. Then there's lots of euros if you're in to them. BMW 530 is one of best saloons ever made and a good one, well serviced, is capable of big mileage. Or smaller 328 or 330, more sports like than five series. You need a good workshop who specialise in them though.
cjohnw,
Oct 12, 8:51pm
Wet dreams!
m16d,
Oct 12, 8:55pm
Well Holden won Bathurst,so there's ya answer.
franc123,
Oct 12, 9:11pm
Back to the beginning. Do you have a preference for front, rear or allwheel drive, a general preference for Jap, Euro, Oz or not fussed? Is any heavy towing likely to be undertaken? Any requirement for more than two kids car seats in the back seat?
mrsbeeblebrock,
Oct 12, 9:53pm
Thanks all for input. I have loved both Falcon and Commodore in the past but didn't pay the petrol bills.
Will be almost all driven on open road, hence desire for grunt. Need to overtake logging trucks up hill, for example.
Nothing against Euro or Jap. Dunno whether I mind about front or rear wheel drive. Other car is a 4WD so this one is only for the highways.
intrade,
Oct 12, 9:59pm
i think them holdon and fort are all RWD your asking about .
thunderbolt,
Oct 12, 10:01pm
Budget? FG XR6 or G6E Turbo,
Maybe late BF with the 6 speed auto if FG don't fit the budget
brapbrap8,
Oct 12, 10:10pm
Plenty of good options here, and if you are doing lots of open road driving then you could try some diesel models as well as they would be cheaper to run and still have very good power.
vtecintegra,
Oct 12, 11:02pm
I doubt that C32 has a reserve under $10k. If it does remember it was a seriously expensive car new and isn't going to be cheap to run.
The Fuga is basically a bigger bodied Skyline - might have some electrical issues crop up but mechanically should be solid
monaro17,
Oct 12, 11:12pm
We have a fuga in the household albeit the V8 version. Cannot speak highly enough of it. Superbly well put together puts many expensive euros to shame. Extremely quiet and smooth. Just beware not many were optioned with cruise control (it's a Japanese thing) so look hard to find one. They come in 2.5 and 3.5L V6s and the 4.5L V8
ema1,
Oct 12, 11:22pm
Phwooooor I'll say?
franc123,
Oct 12, 11:54pm
He must have had too much deesel aditive on the weetbix this morning methinks.
mrsbeeblebrock,
Oct 13, 2:46am
What's the advantage of cruise control?
skiff1,
Oct 13, 3:27am
I hear those VWs are great for the environment too.
skiff1,
Oct 13, 3:30am
save fuel, and make it easier to avoid tickets. Down side is they are boring as hell.
mrsbeeblebrock,
Oct 13, 3:42am
Yah, I like to drive fast. About to upgrade radar detector since my current one is crap.
cagivachick1,
Oct 13, 3:58am
which of the holden models in the showroom are like the racecar that won the battle of the taxis?
franc123,
Feb 14, 10:34am
I'd look at a BF XR6, 10k will get you a reasonable one of those. Fairmont and Fairmont Ghia are also good buys if you prefer something more comfortable, they all perform the same unless you buy a turbo XR.
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