buchanan

We have approx $15,0000 to spend on a used car we have 3 kids and need something that will give them plenty of room ie: 7 seats as two of them need car seats, all of the cars that are large enough and in our budget have well over 100,000 Km on them some even over 200,000km. Is this normal? Should they be avoided or do cars over here really last forever? Has anyone any suggestions as to what to buy, we are heading to Perth next week and buying a car is something we need to do whilst there.

Vash the Stampede

It's perfectly normal. 100,000km is 62,500 miles; even 200,000km is only 120,500 miles. My company car is a 2004 Vauxhall Astra with done about 94,500 miles on the clock, and my private car was an L-reg Mazda 323F which had covered more than 160,000 miles.

Cars don't last forever, but they certainly seem to last longer in Australia than they do in the UK. I reckon it's the drier climate. Rust seems to be a bigger problem in the UK than Down Under.

Can't go wrong with a Toyota.

slipshot

It all depends what you want it for, but if you are looking for a large car, get a Falcon or Commodore. They are not the most exciting things but there are plenty of them around.

I paid $9750 for a 2003 wagon with 203,000km but the best condition of a lot of them. Mostly done long long journeys which with a decent V6 (albeit a pathetic 4 speed auto), hardly stresses anything. So for $15k you'll get a large car that does the job - probabaly a 2005 or 06 model Falcon. They fit three car seats across the back (as ours does) so they have the room.

There are loads of good makes out there but I would say buy from a dealer and get the three month warranty. Ours should not have had one but the dealer agreed to put one on - and we used it since a few weeks into driving the car you will know if anything needs doing.

As for rust, cars in the UK rarely rust anymore, but that is solely due to the salt on the roads at winter time. That does not happen in Perth or other places so they will last pretty well. However, those that are buy the sea will potentially suffer more since the salt spray will have a lasting effect.

But the age of car you are looking for will suffice you without an issue. Pick a clean looking car inside and out, worry less about mileage and more the general cleanlisness of it so you know if it has been looked after and you'll be fine...