Looking at buying a small car for local mileage. Up to $10,000 possibly. Any ideas ?
I would like a Ford Focus but would be looking more like $15,000 dam it !

Hyundai Getz
Mazda 2
Holden Barina
Toyota Echo

I have a Terios (it's kind of a small 4x4) that is very economical (only a 1.3 engine)

well theres loads to look at just depends on do you want a newish car? if so youll get a hyundi or daewoo newer than toyota or ford. Stick with a four cylinder 1.6 or less and youll go lots of kilometers for next to nothing. We've just swopped our 4x4 for a 2.0 car and save $80 a week in petrol, i run an old banger (hyundi excel 1.5) from bayside to the city and around town for about $15 a week.
Also remember if you buy certain makes like honda parts are more expensive.
Rich

Hyundai Getz is possibly a good bet. When the Mother in LAw got one back in the UK we all laughed. Once we had seen the fuel economy that she got from it we all stopped laughing. Added to that it was damned reliable and not a bad little car to drive!

Thanks. The Getz is looking like a good bet.
Anyone know anything about Kia or Daewoo 's ?

amazula is spot on . for $10k i wouldn't look past these 4. the echo(yaris) is excellent, as is the getz. new kia's are good, but in your range the cars will be inferior to the 4 mentioned, although perfectly serviceable. the getz will get you a relatively newish car for the money. an echo will be older but with the lengendary toyota reliability. same with mazda. good luck.
this is what we want to spend around also, and we are looking at these 4 as well as a magna if we feel we need a bigger car. will decide when we get there!!

Kia are commonly known as poverty packs. They have dubious build quality and save money by the materials used. They are cheap and do the job but I wouldnt want to own one.

Daewoo - are they still in business ??? I thought they had gone bankrupt.

For my money I would go with Polly on the Toyota Echo. The build quality is spot on, its a great car that feels solid and will hold a decent value as its a respected car brand here.

Anyone know much about the Honda Jazz ?

After looking at the Echo and Getz decided they are just way too small. The Jazz is a bit bigger but costs more

Honda quality is good though. They advertise it on TV for about $16k plus on-roads. Not bad really.

The Kia Rio can be had for about $15k OTR. Good price but it looks terrible and quality and resale price will be an issue. The Getz costs more but is built to a higher standard. Top Gear rate it but they said it is built to Euro standards.

We had a Jazz a couple of years back. Great car. A bit like the Tardis, small on the outside, big on the inside. You'll find it impossible to get one for 10k however.

Have a look at the Mazda 2 (or the previous model Mazda 121). The 121 is porbably most family friendly in the 5 door version. Priced from 6-10k.

Diahatsu do a whole range of small engined cars - Terios / Charade / Pyzar / Move. Never owned one so I couldn't recommend them, but perhaps worth a look.