Hi

We have moved from the UK to Sydney, its been a little bit of a nightmare; trying to find somewhere to live was the biggest headache - now thankfully over. We finally have a lovely unit.

Next mission is to find a car - Can anyone advise how!! We are looking to spend 20-25k and cant afford a new car - but need one thats reliable, as if we get into trouble with it and buy a duffer - we really will be up the creek.

I dont have a machanic like in the UK whom I can trust to check the car, someone has suggested the following:

- Check pickles car auctions for ex government/fleet cars - normally a good buy.

- Dont bother with NRMA check as its not worth the paper its written on - which I feel is correct the AA offer a smiliar service and the one car I bought using their service in the UK wasn't as good as the ones with the mechanic checking them.

- Dont buy privately as most of these cars are being gotten rid of as they have problems.

Also looking for a car that should we decide that living here isn't for us we can ship back to the UK. So it's a long term investment.

Finally I want a diesel automatic - the only one I seem to find that comes in our price range is the Hyundai i30 wagon. At present we use public transport so getting about is an issue

Any ideas of what to do.

If you have that much to spend - buy something for about 20 and keep the five as a contingency against repairs.

Really - in that bracket you should be able to buy used from a dealer with a warranty.

Not a diesel - but I have a ULP auto Mitsubishi Lancer. I love it, 8.7 L/100km, $150 per service (for the first 60,000 or 3 years (? I think it's 3 years). Great car - comfortable and very reliable. Every mechanic I spoke to told me to look at Toyotas, Hondas or Mitsubishi for my price range.

I paid $22,975 for a brand new car in August 2010. Would recommend you have a look and work out diesel is cheaper/better.

Good luck.

I just did a search on Carsales for diesel automatics betweeen $15,000 and $25,000 in Sydney Metro area and came up with 193 cars for sale including a 2007 Renault Megane, several iD30's, several Golfs, a Peugeot or two, Citroens, Holdens, Mitsubishis - I don't think choice is going to be your problem! Also 4wds such as Nissan Patrols.

Buy a Hyundai i30 wagon.

Give me a shout if you want? I know quite a bit about cars and have bought and sold many, Also based in sydney and don't mind driving you to view them one weekend,

Avoid Holden at all costs though!

The i30 diesel is good - you would be able to get a good one for the money you have. Also have a look at a mk5 VW Golf diesel.

Depends on the Holden. Commodores are made in Australia (no diesels though) and are reasonably reliable with parts available anywhere. The Astra was imported from Belgium and has a reasonable build quality. Early Barinas were also built in Europe. Current Barinas and most other models are Daewoos from Korea and not the best quality, although the Cruze is now being built in Australia - only just released and so none on the s/h market at present and the new price may be just outside your range..

Well we have a holden zafira 2.2ltr petrol auto. And its great, build quality is sound just like the vauxhall version we had back in the uk. Put it like this, if most cars on the road are of one brand then theres something right about them A bit like ford in the uk i suppose, everywhere go for ever and are cheaper than most other euro boxes that do the same thing move you from A to B ok some do it quicker with more bells and buzzers, but theres more to life than bells and buzzers, and looking at your sad self in shop windows

Not if you're a salesman in the bells and buzzers industry.

The previous advice is good re letting us know what your needs are - apart from UK eligability. It's just not rational to take a vehicle back to the UK. I did it and regretted it.

Deisel in Europe is well established for cars; but not here. But I decided to try. The best, I thought, was a Golf deisel Pacific so I paid almost $40K for a 2 litre automatic. It is the best riding car I've had - which means the bumps are felt. It drives like a sports car. Good acceleration and road-holding. But I would not buy again. The boot's no good. It won't hold a decent shop for my wife because we have 3 child seats and therefore can't fold down the back seat.
The DSG autmatic transmission is great. But, before 20k, the dual flywheel collapsed. I searched the net and this is a common fault. But the dealer said he had never heard of the trouble. It was replaced free but took several weeks because there were problems with supply of parts. But what happens if it happens outside guarantee?
When collecting it there was a guy asking for the routine service cost for the same vehicle. It was $1,300! The guy was pole-axed. He staggere out mumbling:"I'll think about it." I guesse that's for sale. Even the 15k service was close to $400. So I bought 20 litres of the special synthetic oil and an oil filter and did it myself. To do it one has to take off a protective under-engine cover with special bolts and it was a big chore. Not made for DIY. A kangaroo head-butted my offside wing and it took a month for the repair shop to get a small clip to complete the replacement wing. A tow-ball and wiring costs nearly a thousand $! Anybody want to buy a 2008 Golf with under 30k on the clock?
In contrast, I bought a Falcon wagon, done 22K, from the QLD Gov auction for half new price. It's been great and not too heavy on petrol: 10.5 per 100k, The last service from my local mechanic cost $135 including oil change. Carries family of five AND all our shopping for a month. Very comfy too. No wonder Wheels mag said it was the best car made in Australia.

The moral is: stick to a Holden or Falcon and buy from govt auction. For all-round reliability and servicing you can't beat the Aussie big six for Australia.

I never thought I'd say that. When I arrived here first time in the 60s - against the advice of my company and colleagues (I was a rep) I bought a VW type 3. Ran well enough but burnt valves and discomfort on QLD roads made me regret it. All the reps said: go Holden or Falcon. They knew best. I was a Pommie idiot.

Crappy Holden automatic gearboxes have put my mechanic pal's 3 kids through private school.

i30 is the one to get IMO.

You have to consider economy now fuel is going up up and away in price...

Second or third the i30cw recommendation. We got the diesel wagon a month ago, $24k new, 5 year warranty, very pleased with it.