as a first-car buyer i'm really not sure what to go for.. I really want an EF gli but that'd mean getting a loan of about 4 grand on top of the 5 grand i've got to work with.
What would ppl here go for? Parents are pushing for a 4 cyl car (91' toyota camry or something similar) but i'd much rather spend the money and go the HAD :) I've been looking at a few EF's and a few VS's too (yes, i know..how dare I) but still not sure.
So its either a 5 grand 4cyl or be in debt 4 grand and go for a very nice EF/VS... ??
Location: gold coast and off playing with 32psi of boost pumping into 4.1lt of pure ohc feralness and developing a 350hp n/a kit for ea-au i6, also making 5.0lt gear soon enuf
Posts: 1,043
Re: What would you buy with 5 grand?
what about a ea/eb and with the money left over you could do some basic mods to it???
cheers.joe.
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I'd stay out of debt, no matter what you buy. Cars ain't a good investment ( financially ), and its not the best to be in debt to one. Loans have their places, but for a younger guy, with a first car, I don't think its the go. Your paying off a loan, maintaining the car ( if its second hand this could get expensive ), and paying insurance & fuel. Remember that a car with money on it will have a higher premium as well . . . At the end of the day, you want to own the car, not have the can owning you !
If you can hang off until you have the money to buy the car you want, go for it that way. Otherwise, think about exactly what you want out of the car before you go buying. Cheap transport until you can afford something better ? Something to last for a while ?
If its a survive and save for a bit, you might be better off buying a $500 bomb thats rego'ed for a year and go banging about in that until you've got more cash . . . At least a total bomb should prevent the "upgrade bug" from biting :)
To keep you moving, go for a 4 cyl thats easy to work on and popular ( i.e. cheap parts ). And try an avoid a popular rice mobile ( e.g. excel ) - it'll only hurt when insurance comes due . . .
Best bang for your buck in the Falcon range would a be a I6 EB/ED 5spd.
They are very responsive to cheap mods, handle quite decent with the right (cheapish) stuff, are cheap to maintain and lastly are a nice big (read safe (for the folks benefit)) car.
Should easily be able to pick one up for the 5k or so.
1) Go a EsCortina (a natural, given Im playing with a MkII Cortina 440). Any model, they've all got plusses and minusses, mainly plusses. If you cant find a good EsCortina for $5k you should give up on cars and spend them money on a stamp collection.
2) Buy a Mini. $5k gets a good 1275 (Cooper S) Mini Clubman. It'll go really well, hook through corners, and the birds love them. Stupidly cheap to run and fix too!
3) Get a Sigma/Corona/etc. An 80s Japanese RWD 4 cylinder, 2L and bigger. Again the cheap, go hard route. But you may get laughed at. Then again, the Japanese did make tough cars in the 80s.
4) An XE-XF or EA-EB Falcon. Watch for Ex-Taxis, and go for the latest model in each shape (ie, XF or ED). Says he with an EDV8. Bonus: Spares are really easy to get.
Just to annoy you guys, about a week ago I got offered a 1977 Fairlane. V8, One eldery owner, bugger all rust, 200,000-odd kays - $1200. Have too many cars, not enough dollars so I passed on it. And its already sold. :(
L8a,
Prud
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