chartoo Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 Hey all - well after 3 years living in thailand im moving back to Aus. Yeah finally get to work on the zed again and use all the ebay parts i collected. Anyway im looking for a cheap to run, low maintance car for around $3000. Any recommendations- was thinking corolla or pulsar wagons. Quote
mossy Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 If you mean a pulsar 5 dr hatchback I had a sss version back in the mid 90's and it was a great car, the Ti also came with the SR20, a lot of them have been modified now though. Quote
chartoo Posted January 23, 2012 Author Posted January 23, 2012 Not looking for a hatchback more a wagon as we plan to do some road trips and will put a small bed in the back Quote
chartoo Posted January 23, 2012 Author Posted January 23, 2012 I like the pulsars. My bro had one and treated it horriblly and it just wouldnt die. the last oil change he did on it only a coke can of oil came out and it had been that way for a year Quote
Agno Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 *flame suit on* R31 Skyline wagons are pretty bulletproof. Otherwise you could probably pick up a 90s Magna or Falcodore on gas if you looked a bit closer. Quote
MickieB Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 Ok so i'm probably going to get flamed for this, but my other passion is subaru's. And you can get early model foresters approaching that price. Really solid cars with good ground clearence and lots of space. Quote
chris240 Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 I always liked the suzuki wagons like the vitaras, but must be the v6 as the 1.6lt is a bit gutless. These little wagons go for ever you can fold down the seats etc.. See link. http://www.carpoint.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?Cr=7&R=11937818&keywords=&trecs=27&__sid=13485D8AC1D0&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32%7C1%7C%7CpCar_Price_Decimal%7C1%7C%7CpCar_Make_String%7C0%7C%7CpCar_Model_String%7C0&__Qpb=1&__Nne=15&__No=15&seot=1&__N=834%201216%201246%201247%201252%201282%204294962890%204294962891%20442&silo=1011 Quote
Moderators Zedman240® Posted January 23, 2012 Moderators Posted January 23, 2012 +2 with the R31 Wagon if you can find a good clean maintained example...plentiful parts, easy to repair and very reliable. Next choice would be a mid nineties Corolla. Just do cam belts and you'll be safe. Quote
Lukas Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 280zx Oh god that made me laugh... (I own a 280zx as well, so I'm allowed ) - I was going to suggest a Mitsubishi Galant Wagon, but then realized they are way more than $3000... So... My dads (EF?) Falcon wagon has been going for near 500 000 km, only problem I can remember it having was when it got water in the fuel... Quote
luvemfast Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 280zx lol Can't find a good one under $3k anymore though Stick to the main boring brands. Commonwhore and Falcotaxi Quote
Roberto Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 What you need is a Datsun 120Y with a rotary engine http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/datsun-120y-wagon-12a-rotary-engine-/250977319698?pt=AU_Cars&hash=item3a6f69fb12 Quote
Patch Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 It is a buyers market now, I bought a 2002 Renault scenic for $2850.00 off e-bay Here is a 4 wheel drive one that will go cheap for about what you want to pay. Mine the back seats come out in 30secs http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/RENAULT-SCENIC-RX4-5-SPEED-EXSPRESSION-2002-4x4-/360428394481?pt=AU_Cars&hash=item53eb34d7f1 Quote
nizm0zed Posted January 23, 2012 Posted January 23, 2012 I see your location says your in perth? So if your planning road trips, will it be around the WA area? If thats the case, i would really suggest staying with the 'staple' vehicles of the area. It'll make it a LOT easier for maintenance and parts, particularly if your in a very outback area. So, Falcon and commodore wagons can be had quite cheaply, and not very old, or perhaps a bit bigger budget and look at a 4wd like a landcruiser. +1 on the Skyline wagon, its a bit of a bastard child so they can be had VERY cheaply. There is also the 4 cyl Pintara version, but its pretty gutless and engine parts can be a bit of a pain to get if you cant wait. While it definately is a buyers market, try to be careful about what you get. That Renault as a good example, would make a great daily for around a built up area, but if your 600kms out in the middle of WA and you bust a balljoint on some rough road corrugations, how long and how much would it cost to repair? Would anyone out there even know how to say 'Renault'? If you are going to put a bed in the back though, make sure you have the leg room to stretch, nothing worse than several nights sleeping cramped up, trust me on that. how about a Volkswagen Caravelle? Quote
GTI-Z Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 I could be wrong with the model, but I seem to remember that there were issues with the alignment of the differential in the local R31 Skylines. I think Nissan still offers subsidised replacment diffs as they seem to give up the ghost in about 70,000 km. Not sure though if that was only on the sedan or whether the wagon was similarly afflicted. I reckon for the money you cant go past a Falcodore - parts are easy to get out on the road, and most mechanics can work on them. Quote
nizm0zed Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 not sure about any alignment issue??? but they are renowned for being noisy as all buggery. Its actually reasonably difficult to find a quiet one (unless you rebuild it) My 31 (sedan) has a lovely howl to it. Its a characteristic of the car. They'll still go just fine for 200,000kms with immature skids and no servicing. Just ask any R31 owner Quote
chartoo Posted January 24, 2012 Author Posted January 24, 2012 Yeah i would go a commonwhore a falcondore but they chew i lot more juice unless on gas and they dont seem to be as reliable as the japanese. camry waon might bee the way. Anyone every owned a mid 90's camry? Quote
PZG302 Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 camry waon might bee the way. Anyone every owned a mid 90's camry? Will anyone own up!?!?!?!? The only people I know with camry wagons are basically waiting for God with no will to live left...... Quote
chris240 Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 My oldies have a 2005 avalon / camry and the dashboard looks like its from 1986 Whats wrong with the mighty suzuki 4wd I mentioned earlier, late-ish model and asking $4000 or how about a panel van !! ......or a 280zx same thing ........(wait for it...) Quote
Retro Z Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 Yeah my parents had a auto 4cyl 91 camry wagon..done 400,000km+. Still runs after 10 years of sitting in the backyard, as we occasionally move it out for christmas etc. I've worked on many and I must say the old camrys and ae82 are crazy reliable. Falcadores don't compare in my opinion. Quote
nizm0zed Posted January 24, 2012 Posted January 24, 2012 93 camry. built to last. (this'll sound a little racist, but its just the truth) The 93 camry's are a massive hit with indians and Asians here in Australia, they all own them. in my experience working at a parts store, 99% of those customers allways want their things for as cheap as possible, and they want it to last forever. So, when so many of them buy the same car, from that you can assume that they are cheap to buy, and go forever. I have also had many other people comment on how uber-reliable they are. Quote
perrin_07 Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 get a cheap hilux. get a canopy. solved. Quote
zzzzed Posted February 22, 2012 Posted February 22, 2012 Toyota camry wagon..bulletproof I was unlucky with camrys. Every one I had was a mechanical nigatmare. But yes I have heard they are supose to be reliable Quote
imackz Posted February 22, 2012 Posted February 22, 2012 lol Can't find a good one under $3k anymore though Stick to the main boring brands. Commonwhore and Falcotaxi 280zx ? 3K then you have to spend money on it , lots of money... Quote
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