ozzieeagle

With a name like routemaster, they are bound to do well in Aussie.

My car, an ozone depleting ford falcon sapphire station wagon, I've got to say I really do enjoy driving it. They come into their own on long long trips. Crap around town though, fuel wise, although they dont feel as big as they are from a handling point of view.


I'll be happy driving it, till it falls to bits, because then I've promised to get myself a small diesel. Not while the kids go everywhere with us though, we need the space.

Stitch

Cheers guys

Ginny

SiennaRowe

I have an "atlantis blue" Holden Barina...bought it brand new, 20km on the clock, for 15k. Me and hubby think this was quite a good deal!

Hubby has a Nissan Pulsar....the less said about it the better!

S x

MisterTwo

I would go for a P38A Range Rover:
http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsa...ch_distance=25
Good interior space for five and a dog, four wheel drive capability and will be comfortable on long drives with the air suspension. Has all the toys too. I know Range Rovers are not the most reliable of vehicles but if you buy carefully and look after it you cannot go far wrong. There are plenty of websites with a wealth of info to help you buy, maintain and enjoy these cars. Just put "Range Rover" into Google.

As a runaround I can highly recommend a Honda Civic:
http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsa...ch_distance=25
I used to get one as a courtesy car when my Accord went in for a service. The interior is immense. It has almost MPV dimesions on the inside without driving a van with windows!

Me and Laneylou are looking at getting a Range Rover as we would like to go 4 wheel driving in the country and join a 4x4 club (good way to meet people!) We also want something which can go from Melbourne to Sydney/Adelaide etc in limo comfort.

Hope this is helpful.

MisterTwo

Sorry I fluffed up the Civic link: http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsa...ch_distance=25

RogerUK

I would avoid Range Rover/Discovery at all costs. Very unreliable, costly to repair and expensive to buy. You can do better than buying these. Even in UK they have a terrible reputation for being unreliable. Very sad.
Roger

NickyP

We have a Holden Jackaroo as we needed 7 seats and wanted to go off-roading. We like it and it is easy to drive with cruise control etc and doesn't drink the petrol like some of the others in the same class.
We are now having to look for a second car as I am going to need one to ferry the little darlings around over the summer holidays but will go for something cheap and cheerful.
Nicky

Rabc

We have a Honda CRV a smallish 4WD. Small enough to be a car and big enough to haul the boat up the ramp. The cost of a second hand CRV here made it not worth considering. Our CRV was $32K and a 18mth old one was $29. (It;s not a fleet type car so they hold their price.

We are well pleased with it.

Hope this helps

Centurion

Agree. Avoid completely. The only ones I see around here are being driven by Poms!

Too expensive, look like a brick/taxi combination, breakdown at every turn and if you think the service costs and parts are expensive in the UK...wait till you get here!!

Australia is the land of the real 4x4 and there are heaps of alternatives and most much better than the Range Rover/Discovery offerings.

Stitch

Thanks for the info, even the fluffy bit!

Cheers

Ginny

Stitch

Cheers,

Never really liked the idea here in the UK. Don't have a preference for a particular make. Whatever is a good runner and not particularly expensive to repair.

Cheers

Ginny

Stitch

Yeh, great info. Don't know about spending that amount though. Bit pricey considering all the other things we'll have to buy.

Thanks

Ginny

Stitch

Thanks.

Definately looking for something on the cheaper side.

Ginny

MisterTwo

As I said in my post, they are not the most reliable vehicles and if bought carefully and looked after can last for years - I mean if you are one of these people who just expects the car to go every day without bothering to maintain it then you will get big bills. I know plenty of people who have had Land Rovers for years with no problems and would never drive anything else. Obviously depends on how much you want to spend and how much of a car enthusiast you are. I am a car enthusiast so I will be buying a Range Rover - if you are not then buy a Hyundai. Will be worth nothing in 5 years though when the warranty runs out (if the 5 yr warranty is available in Oz that is).

annqldau

We had a Freelander in the UK which we had for 3 years and only thing to go on it was the IRD which Landrover replaced no problem under warranty. The Series 3 Lightweight Landy was just FUN. No stopping it - and for a car that was ex-army and 26 years old it still went like a bomb. 2.25 litre petrol engine with the Army carb still on so yu could put almost anything into it and it would run. A great beach/quarry basher, and just unstoppable (if a little uncomfortable) off road