New Car Suggestions

[HQGTS74]

hi all, my grandmother is looking to buy a new small car, and shes leaving it up to me to decide for her:D Although she has to like it and feel comfortable in it ofcourse. She currently drives a 1995 Honda civic like this one:
http://www.carpoint.com.au/used-car/HONDA/CIVIC/Victoria/csn6510304.aspx

She wants to spend around $15,000-$20,000 on maybe a 2005, 2006 model. So, car has to be a sedan, automatic, not look too ugly:D and have a sort of low dash and sitting position suitable for a grandmother aged 67;). Also, the more economical the better

So far i have in mind a 2005 Honda civic, ford focus 2005 sedan or maybe a mazda 3...

ANY SUGGESTIONS WELCOME!!!!

Chris

[monarocveightz]

Maybe a Mitsu Lancer?

[HQGTS74]

I was just going to add that one in mate, thanks for the suggestion.
Keep them coming;)
Chris

[monarocveightz]

Nissan Tiida sedan.....although they aren't attractive imo...

Subie Imprezza....

[dropped]

kia rio... there cheap to buy....$13,990 i think they are now?

[monarocveightz]

Proton Persona.....Proton Gen 2

May I ask why she needs a sedan....there's plenty of hatches that could be good....ie VW Golf, Focus, Astra, Corrola, Mazda 3 etc

[whitlam]

Maybe a Mitsu Lancer?

That's what I was going to suggest, they go for around $20K brand new, do around 8L/100Km (combined) and look great too ;)

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v296/156/2/723557211/n723557211_1048535_9916. jpg
(http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v296/156/2/723557211/n723557211_1048535_9916. jpg)

[HQGTS74]

That's what I was going to suggest, they go for around $20K brand new, do around 8L/100Km (combined) and look great too ;)

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v296/156/2/723557211/n723557211_1048535_9916. jpg
(http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v296/156/2/723557211/n723557211_1048535_9916. jpg)

thanks mate, will call over grandma later, see what she thinks;) She's quite a fussy woman but i think the lancer is a great car..
Cheers
Chris

[monarocveightz]

That's what I was going to suggest, they go for around $20K brand new, do around 8L/100Km (combined) and look great too ;)

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v296/156/2/723557211/n723557211_1048535_9916. jpg
(http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v296/156/2/723557211/n723557211_1048535_9916. jpg)

Just needs a spoiler Peter....would set the car off nicely....

Personally out of the current medium sized cars....new Lancer would be my pick:)....in Peter's colour too;)

[Bully]

I'm holden man thru and thru but my sister buy's suzuki's, her latest is the liana it's quite sweet 4 a jappa and like all her previous suzuki's it has been bullet proof. Mate's sister has that new wanna be rally suzuki and it looks cool and am told very good.

[whitlam]

Just needs a spoiler Peter....would set the car off nicely....

Personally out of the current medium sized cars....new Lancer would be my pick:)....in Peter's colour too;)

I really like spoilers too much and I couldn't bring myself to putting holes in the boot to install one :( just performance mods for me :D

[lukey73]

Chris what is she going to do with the current car? Is the $15-20k budget on top of selling that or a total?

Few cars to look at and depends on few factors, i would at the following list based on service costs , reliability and function:

Holden Astra CD

Mitsubishi Lancer ES

Honda Civic VTi

Ford Focus CL

I would stay away from a Corolla as they use more fuel and are noisy, the Mazda 3 is a nice car but anyone sitting in the back will have a horrible booming noise which is a design fault. I wouldnt go any smaller than those for safety reason, the only smaller car i would think of is the Toyota Yaris or Mazda 2 ( new one )

There are heaps of deals on at present so depending on the the exact budget you could pick up a new or demo as the dealers are very keen to move some product.

I used to be a Fleet Manager for a Holden / Nissan dealer so if you need any help let me know.

Cheers

Luke

[brchi17]

A late model Honda Jazz with the 7spd CVT transmission is a good buy & considering they're just been superseded their price should be dropping even more!!!

[El Cheapo]

I'd go with a Mazda 2. Very cute :D quite nimble little things and not too big for gran :) My mum has an old 121 (2001) and it's great. Apart from it being a box and having horrendous road noise.

[8hype]

we just bought a focus brand new for 19990 driveaway.lovely car.great on fuel.at the moment it's 7.8 litres per 100 kms

[monarocveightz]

I really like spoilers too much and I couldn't bring myself to putting holes in the boot to install one :( just performance mods for me :D


Fair enough:)

I reckon even a lip spoiler would look nice:)

[8hype]

the focus is quite easy to see over the dash also has the seat raiser which raises the seat quite high

[sodonnell]

corollas are cheap and easy to run, good for the elderly

[HQGTS74]

Chris what is she going to do with the current car? Is the $15-20k budget on top of selling that or a total?

Few cars to look at and depends on few factors, i would at the following list based on service costs , reliability and function:

Holden Astra CD

Mitsubishi Lancer ES

Honda Civic VTi

Ford Focus CL

I would stay away from a Corolla as they use more fuel and are noisy, the Mazda 3 is a nice car but anyone sitting in the back will have a horrible booming noise which is a design fault. I wouldnt go any smaller than those for safety reason, the only smaller car i would think of is the Toyota Yaris or Mazda 2 ( new one )

There are heaps of deals on at present so depending on the the exact budget you could pick up a new or demo as the dealers are very keen to move some product.

I used to be a Fleet Manager for a Holden / Nissan dealer so if you need any help let me know.

Cheers

Luke

Thanks mate, those cars you have listed are what i am sort of looking at. I reckon she will only get about 8,000 for the civic she has now but she wants to SPEND around $17,000 ish.
Just showed her a few cars now and shes interested in the mazda 3 hatchback after all:D:D Thanks for all the suggestions but if you have any others keep them coming. You've all pretty much covered what me and my grandmother are interested in.
Chris

[david5]

Corolla has the best resale & has the least warranty claims.

Get the sedan though as Lukey said the hatchs are noisey.

David

[GOBBO]

id go corolla or mazda 3 they seem to very popular

[Thunder]

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg106/bambam1-1-1/Minicar.jpg?t=1227502190


Hey Chris, I think she will love this one :D

[monarocveightz]

My mother had to take her bosses Corrola (not current generation) to get serviced sometime last year....she said it was one of the most aweful cars she had driven.....

[Damage]

Hmmm, VT SS :D

[supa-roo]

What about 1 without the roof
http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo343/supa-roo/TheSmorscheTarga.jpg
http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo343/supa-roo/TheSmerrari.jpg
http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo343/supa-roo/TheSmorvette.jpg

[supa-roo]

Or for a bit up market
http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo343/supa-roo/TheSmamborghini.jpg

Or if u wanna go off road
http://i390.photobucket.com/albums/oo343/supa-roo/TheSmaudiA3AWD.jpg

[Chev_350]

I have seen a Monaro in Melbourne for $20,000, She will be the most awesome Gran around.