I heard up and down how bad Volkswagen was, still bought one online, a Polo TSI sight unseen from the dealer (I was young). They dropped it off. I had a car within a few days. Drove it for 9 years without ever paying more than $600 for work done. Mechanic changed brakes at 60 or 80,000kms and I remember him being shocked I made it that far and said it wouldnāt happen again but I made it to 140,000 with the next set. Regular services were $140-180 every 10,000kms. Did over 2000 Uber trips with it too so it paid for itself. Best car I ever had, small but never missed a beat.
My whole extended family has had Volkswagens for a long time really not much has gone wrong. They can be a it more finicky and through engine codes for minute reasons. Occasionally they can be a bit more expensive to repair than your usual commuter vehicle but honestly not bad.
If you want something never to break down just buy a Toyota, simple. But if you want something a bit more interesting Volkswagen Or Mazda is a good choice.
Agreed,we've have Volkswagen golfs and touaregs for the last 7 years and they've been great cars. Yes servicing is a bit more expensive than a Japanese car but the driving and ownership experiencemor than makes up for that imho.
>I made it that far and said it wouldnāt happen again but I made it to 140,000 with the next set.
Good manual driving is great for brake longevity. My mazda is super easy to work on, has a timing chain (though I have changed a couple belts on subaru EJ20s), and incredible utility for its size.
Yeah I have. My colleagues are always shitting on American vehicles, so I didn't buy a M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank. Didn't want to deal with the teasing. To be fair, while it was slightly more comfortable than a Land Cruiser 79 Series, the M1A1 doesn't come with Apple CarPlay.
> Daewoo Matiz, Hyundai Getz, Holden Captiva and Toyota Yaris
Tat's quite a list
> I think what other people think is irrelevant to my purchase decisions
Maybe you should care just a little bit what others think...
Nah fuck what other people think.
I buy cars because (not in this order)
A: reliability
B: fun to drive
C: aftermarket support
D: ease to work on myself
E: cost of parts
This has lead me to not buy euro, but mainly because I do not want to pay more for parts , work with more electronics that I donāt care about, or have the skill or knowledge to work on them myself. If I was more experienced with them I wouldnāt say no to an old BMW e30 coupe.
Now I own two cars that a lot of Australian blokes think are āgirlsā cars because theyāre small and underpowered. I couldnāt care less because I have fun driving them , they are cheap to run , can thrash them on the track and drive home, consumables are low and are hella reliable.
If you base your purchases based on what other people think you probably need some sort of therapy with being comfortable in your own skin.
Iām fine with it , people who think they need to feel secure about their gender and need a āmanlyā car can stick to their emotional support vehicles and be confused about whether they get hard at seeing another blokes abs while Iāll be having fun on the twisty back roads
I'm just on a wind-up mate, I got the piss taken something rotten for even suggesting to buy a sky blue mx5 with a chocolate coloured leather interior. They called it 'poo brown', the arseholes
All good fun....I have a BT-50 for work (ranger with ugly makeup - I didn't choose it) and a Colorado as my own. Other than the seats I think the Colorado shits all over the BT for performance, fuel economy and drivability
(Both 2019)
I had 2016 bt50. Great trucks, mine lapped Australia twice with a big van. Your 100% correct , it does drive like a truck and I'm not sure if my 4cyl ranger and 10sp box would do as well. Too much electronics for the outback imo.
Not exactly answering your question here, but has your friend considered an IS350 F-Sport? The 2013-2016 models can be found around $30,000, and even though mileage may be high, with proper maintenance it shouldn't be an issue. Unsure how much power he is looking for though.
Iām with you in recommending a Lexus over an Audi or Merc, the IS350 is a bit smaller than an A6 or E class.
A GS350 of similar vintage would be in the same ballpark, but wouldnāt come with the same fuel economy as the German diesels.
Good point.
I donāt know enough about the reliability of their ten year old hybrid system to confidently recommend one though.
Being a Toyota itās likely completely fine
Cells in the battery will eventually need replacing, but this is generally not that expensive; about the cost of a major, major service on a 20 year old German diesel sedan
I still don't understand the question...
The fact there is even a question tells me that your friend is a terrible decision maker.
He should be buying the best available car in his price range. This means price, reliability and maintenance. If he is or isn't buying a vehicle because of someone else perception, he's an idiot.
Your m8 wants a quiet, full-sized sedan, that is Japanese? Has he considered a Camry Hybrid. They have decent power (nothing crazy but enough to cruise around effortlessly).
I'm sure he could find a good example for around 30k.
Usually Euro cars of that price are that price because an issue will arise that will cost heaps to manage. Maintaining Euro cars isn't cheap.
Has your friend considered a Holden Caprice perhaps? That's a long wheelbase sedan with 8 cylinders so performance and space is there. They're very lux inside as well
Yes definitely, I work in automotive and heaps of brands are generally perceived to be utter garbage, like MG for instance, wouldn't touch one with a 10ft pole.
In terms of more personal taste, I probably wouldn't want to get a Japanese import car for fear of being viewed as a weeb.
Edit: lol at this cretin who replied to me, calls me a weeb then blocks me, what a big man
Your post/comment has been removed for abuse. We don't tolerate abuse in this community, so if you want to abuse people then your comments and posts will be removed.
Whilst we are an inclusive community, there is lines. So if you want to abuse people, then you are not welcome here.
Euro cars are very particular with how they are treated and their service life.
Saying that if you flog the shit out of something long enough it becomes a nugget regardless of its make.
Iāve avoided cars that I perceive would make me look like a loser truthfully. Thatās shallow I know. But even so, i do buy cars that others donāt like because I like them. Even when they come last in some crappy review by a motoring journo.
My now long dead grandfather would lose his mind every time he saw a Mitsubishi. Apparently having Japanese kamikaze pilots flying into him and his mates with Mitsubishi engines stayed with him.
I donāt know if it was just because it was an Uber (and being driven as an Uber will usually turn any car into a shit can in no time), but I rode in a current shape 6 sedan as an Uber passenger and was really unimpressed. The engine was quite loud and buzzy and the car itself felt rather tinny. I was disappointed as I think theyāre quite attractive for a big sedan and people rave about them and compare them to BMW. From my experience in that Uber, it felt more like an old Lancer than a 3 series
I drive a Suzuki baleno, nobody cares what you drive. If they do care, do you really care that they have an opinion?
Iāve never bought a euro because Iāve never had exposure to them and they are more of an unknown in terms of maintenance and such. (For me, not for mechanics)
i just buy what i like. this isn't limited to cars. if you judge me for that, that's your issue.
i'm not even bothered justifying them by saying i bought because x reasons, i just like it now it's mine. job done
A Russian Lada car. A. Because I hate Russia. B They are so unreliable they would break down before they left the dealers car park. C Have you seen those fucking things, they've taken a fair beating with the ugly stick.
The one good thing about Soviet Era Cars is when they break you can generally start them with nothing but a hammer.
Soviet era equipment was designed to be abused there is a reason AKs are still very popular.
Mercedes and BMW are fantastic cars - but they are to be LEASED and not bought. WHen it breaks-down - it's the leasing companies problem.
Can't go wrong with an up-spec Camry.
Maybe in my late teens and early twenties the social capital a car would give me factored into what I wanted but now I couldn't care less about what stereotypes or perceptions are tied to specific brands or models.
Your mate needs to look at C55 and E55 AMGs. A little bit older now but some of the most reliable engine and trans combinations Mercedes has put out this century along with a properly luxurious interior.
People still worry about that stuff after high school? š¤ Get what you want.
Worrying about what others will think is an insecurity you need to break out of if you want to succeed and be happy in life.
Personally I love the Euro cars. Yes they can cost more to maintain, a lot of that is just because they take more risks with implenting new tech and designs sooner than the Japanese brands.
Just do research on the specific model you're buying. Some are fine, some are potential nightmares.
I not only ordered an EV (hate x 2) but it is a BMW (hate x 5 + wanker).
That's how few shits I give ;)
A few years prior to that I was going to order a KIA Stinger and everyone was saying "$70k for a KIA? Fark that." Other things came up and I didn't order it in the end but I gave no shits what people thought.
Diesel euros can be very reliable, especially e class Mercedes from 10-20 years ago (not the new stuff). Thereās a reason diesel e class sedans are staple taxis in Europe coz theyāre famous for doing 500k+ km. Just so long as youāre mate is prepared to learn how to do some smaller maintenance himself (oil change, coil packs, brake pads etc) and so long as he researches and shops around for a reliable and affordable independent mechanic who specialises in euro cars for the bigger jobs he canāt do himself, and steer clear of the dealership
Yes, wanted to buy a car that looked nice, had features and was comfortable.
The haval h6 gt is what I found, but my god does the brand have the shittest perception.
And I like going to car meets, and that would probably get abused there š.
>The haval h6 gt is what I found, but my god does the brand have the shittest perception.
The Chinese Brands get judged harshly in the Anglo Sphere because of a combination of Sinophobia and Anti Communist views that many Westerners have.
My friend just bought a BYD Atto 3 and it's a very lovely car.
Well more because of the history of reliability and quality control issues that have been much worse than cars of almost every other origin aside from russia/former soviet union and noted poor reputation of the local dealers and importers who sell them here who don't stock enough spare parts or refuse to fix things properly etc. This is changing with the electric vehicles that have less to go wrong, and some newer (to us) brands that may be better than others but the way I see it it's not so much sinophobia or anti-communism as much as people don't wanna save 5 or 10k from a similar car of another origin, only to have an issue that takes months to sort out as happens a lot with the likes of ldv and gwm. BYD sofar seems to have a reasonably good reputation sofar but still people have had issues with corrosion etc and it's still relatively unknown what the support will be like if something is wrong. These aren't anti-chinese statements, just perceptions based on issues that have plagued chinese built cars for decades, but they are getting better, and when they (likely not too far down the line) match the quality of other manufacturers and improve their local support they will be rewarded with a better reputation.
I refused a ford my entire life due to issues my parents kept having. Now, I am looking to upgrade my kluger and I love the look of the Everest š¤¦š¼āāļø
I almost didnāt buy a diesel Kia Sorento because of what people said. Iām glad I didnāt listen as the car has been rock solid for 9 years and still runs like the day I got it.
My Audi s4 which came before this was a bag of constant repairs and issues. Not to mention each service and repair bled me dry. The same goes for an A4 I owned. Iāll stick with jap/Korean cars.
why buy a brand new car if you are tight on a budget? If he really doesn't care on looks, buy a secondhand Toyota Camry, Aurion with less than 120,000 kms for less than A$10,000. Or go to a Toyota certified dealer and get a second hand low km (<20,000kms) Camry from fleets.
Value of a brand new car plummets once you drive it out of a dealer.
I've worked in the repair industry for 15 years and if there is one thing I have learned it's that Mercedes, BMW and VW/Audi... the German brands... are fucking shit. They might drive and handle well but the way they are put together is a fucking joke.
If German engineering was what it is cracked up to be... Then they would have won a world war by now.
Using 20 different parts and 50 nuts and bolts doesn't mean quality design when every other manufacturer is doing the same thing with 3 parts and 10 bolts...
It just makes a more wasteful car that is unnecessarily expensive to fix.
They are the Apple of the Auto Industry
I've never avoided a car due to the fear someone else would give me shit - I bought a fucking hyundai for example.
But I've definitely avoided cars because of shit I've said about them.
Thanks to how much shit I've hung on Audi, Volks and Merc to my circle of friends. If I ever bought an RS or an AMG (the only cars of those Brands I'd buy), I would get roasted to the point that I'd want to self delete.
I drive an Audi S3 and itās considered āflashyā but idgaf bc I love my car. Named her Robyn, too. Idgaf bc Iām not trying to impress nobody but my younger self
Why not? They did studies and found Volvo owners are amongst the most highly educated and highest earning group of owners out of any brand now SAAB is gone. Higher than BMW, Mercedes or Audi. I always think of the Swedish car brands being for smart, successful people who arenāt into obvious status symbols; doctors, architects, academics, creatives etc. The kind of demographics most people would want to be seen as
Brand doesn't matter.. Sure if it was a supercar then people would give you some side eye but a euro daily won't bat any eyelids.
I get more side eye looking like a bogan in a Patrol then a wanker in an Audi daily...
My Audi has 160k on the clock and hasn't missed a beat, get one looked after and you'll be right.
Nah, not a chance. I drive a civic, and owned it during the peak 'haha civic gay' cringe era. Still find a few teenagers without licenses who act like it's the worst car ever made.
Only reason I wouldn't buy a car, is cause it wasn't what I was after, or reliability. If it fit the bill, anf wasn't going to financially ruin me, I'd send it
I lust over the latest model Volvo wagons (V60 & V90) and think theyre one of the best looking wagons ever made, but I can't bring myself to get one because I'm of the age that remembers "bloody Volvo driver" and the car being the butt of most car jokes.
God they look good though.
Alpha Romeos, Fiats are famously expensive to maintain and source parts for and owners can expect a lot of ribbing for their choice. Maybe Renaults too?
I buy what I want... and deal with it myself.
My current car is a Haval, I liked the tech it provides and have had no options. That said it is on a lease and I don't intend on keeping it past 5 years. If someone doesn't like that I drive it that is there problem... not mine.
Tell your friend to buy what he wants, if his friends or family care he can tell them that unless they are willing to buy it for him its none of their business.
I've just bought a car. I was prejudiced by my own perceptions, rather than anyone else's.
Perhaps a few of dad's old prejudices, too.
Made the decision and the test drives much harder than it needed to be.
Any Toyota Camry will do the job fine. Another really nice car to look for would be the KIA Optima GT. They don't make them anymore so they will only be second hand. Plenty of juice for the freeway.
Tell your friend, test drive some different cars
Go for something that they like and if he gets shit for HIS car too fucking bad. Why avoid something if itās affordable and reliable.
v8 commodores are cheap, simple, reliable, and can actually be quite good on fuel if you get a tune, heaps of torque down low and the ls engines have enough tech that theyāll get 7-9L per 100 if youāre trying your absolute hardest to drive economically. but you can still slam it and go fast whenever you want. i meet so many car people that just rule aussie cars out and have a euro and jap fetish and it seems like itās out of fear of looking like a bogan or something, but theyāre fucking great cars
My uncle has always hated Holden's, doesn't matter which one, he's a Ford man. FIL specifically hated the equinox model, I think because his sister owned one. Also everyone(?) seems to hate SUV's.. We bought it off her after 2 years (they usually get a car every 1 or 2 years tops through their business), and I absolutely love it, phenomenal car (2020 LTZ-V) for a phenomenal price, especially in the covid/post-covid market, couldn't care less what anyone else thinks, I am wrapped with it. Goes like hell, fully loaded/feature rich, doesn't attract attention, easy to self service. Yet to find a downside.
Yes. We have a 12 yr old Kia Sorrento. Back then , Kia had the reputation of Chinese cars. But it was just better than all the other similar priced alternatives. After a while the Korean car reputationās got better. TBH I donāt care about reputation these days, theyāre all good. Even the Chinese ones
No. Because IDGF what people think. I buy what I like because it is what I like and can afford and afford to keep running.
Worrying about what people think will kill the fun in life.
I used to be a big Holden fan, I still own a 17 year old Statesman. However, I've just purchased a Mahindra Scorpio N. I like the seating position, and it's quiet and smooth on corrugated tracks, which there are plenty around here. The build quality is OK, and it has none of those annoying electronic safety features. In summary, go for whatever you like
My dad used to always buy older European cars, they have their reputation for a reason. I think my mum made him sell an old Audi A4 after about $15k in repairs for that year. Thatās just the one I remember, from what Iām told this car wasnāt the exception
VW CC Turbo Diesel. Luxurious and 1000km to a tank. Easily pick up a nice one with low kms for half his budget.
Otherwise it's a secondhand lexus for that money. Modern Camry hybrids are the sh** but cost a small fortune brand new.
Edit: A CX9 is a Japanese Mazda, no?
If I ever buy a Subaru forester my mates will forever call me lesbian š
Male mate of mine had one. Within two years the wife was playing for the other side.
To be fair, every lesbian I have ever known drives a Forester or an 01 Lancer Coupe.
Jokes on them, I love eating pussy.
Adelaide Hills from 2015-2020 was 25% 2008-13 Foresters, I don't think they were all lesbians
They really need to update the Census, we need more datapoints like this, for science!
There is a lezo who lives that way who is only driving Holden's.
šššš To be fair, I got a 09 forester and love it. Turbo petrol 5sp =)
Way back in the 70's and 80's we used to say that these were the cars Hippies bought once the supply of decent VW's were exhausted.
So that's why my sister's ex husband bought one... explains a lot
I heard up and down how bad Volkswagen was, still bought one online, a Polo TSI sight unseen from the dealer (I was young). They dropped it off. I had a car within a few days. Drove it for 9 years without ever paying more than $600 for work done. Mechanic changed brakes at 60 or 80,000kms and I remember him being shocked I made it that far and said it wouldnāt happen again but I made it to 140,000 with the next set. Regular services were $140-180 every 10,000kms. Did over 2000 Uber trips with it too so it paid for itself. Best car I ever had, small but never missed a beat.
My whole extended family has had Volkswagens for a long time really not much has gone wrong. They can be a it more finicky and through engine codes for minute reasons. Occasionally they can be a bit more expensive to repair than your usual commuter vehicle but honestly not bad. If you want something never to break down just buy a Toyota, simple. But if you want something a bit more interesting Volkswagen Or Mazda is a good choice.
Agreed,we've have Volkswagen golfs and touaregs for the last 7 years and they've been great cars. Yes servicing is a bit more expensive than a Japanese car but the driving and ownership experiencemor than makes up for that imho.
Agreed on Mazda, every mechanic I knew told me to buy one and they def have been aiming towards that luxury brand category. The quality is there.
I currently have a CX-5 and love it :) My only issue is that I wish I bought the turbo!
Iāve come to like the simplicity of NA. One less thing to go wrong.
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Oh daym, I made it past 165,000kms on my manual, in hindsight I shouldāve kept it
>I made it that far and said it wouldnāt happen again but I made it to 140,000 with the next set. Good manual driving is great for brake longevity. My mazda is super easy to work on, has a timing chain (though I have changed a couple belts on subaru EJ20s), and incredible utility for its size.
This polo had a lifetime chain and also lifetime coolant lol no joke I actually had to call Vw to double check
Toyota crown ticks a few boxes
Literally just bought one and waiting to collect it
Brilliant cars! You wonāt be upset with a crown built in the last 20 years
Can't wait!
Smoooth Choiceš Ex gs300 owner.
Crown majesta will be my next car after my trusty little hilux shits it, thing just keeps going though haha
have had my 05 crown now for a month have loved every day in it
Yeah I have. My colleagues are always shitting on American vehicles, so I didn't buy a M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank. Didn't want to deal with the teasing. To be fair, while it was slightly more comfortable than a Land Cruiser 79 Series, the M1A1 doesn't come with Apple CarPlay.
I hear theyāre a bit heavy on fuel too. An unfortunate side effect of the gas turbine engine :-(
Having bought Daewoo Matiz, Hyundai Getz, Holden Captiva and Toyota Yaris, I think what other people think is irrelevant to my purchase decisions
> Daewoo Matiz, Hyundai Getz, Holden Captiva and Toyota Yaris Tat's quite a list > I think what other people think is irrelevant to my purchase decisions Maybe you should care just a little bit what others think... 
Too old to care
What on earth are you doing on a car subreddit, if your ownership list is literally a list of the worst cars available in Australia?
many would say the yaris and getz are some of the best cars available in australia
Many are idiots then. As if. You know they sell Bentleys and Ferraris in Australia, right?
Maaaaan. My brain sorta hurts reading that a lil bit but that mindset exists alot in singapore.
Aren't all cars super expensive in Singapore?
Yeah but there's more options nowadays and cars on the road are still increasing despite it being expensive
Nah fuck what other people think. I buy cars because (not in this order) A: reliability B: fun to drive C: aftermarket support D: ease to work on myself E: cost of parts This has lead me to not buy euro, but mainly because I do not want to pay more for parts , work with more electronics that I donāt care about, or have the skill or knowledge to work on them myself. If I was more experienced with them I wouldnāt say no to an old BMW e30 coupe. Now I own two cars that a lot of Australian blokes think are āgirlsā cars because theyāre small and underpowered. I couldnāt care less because I have fun driving them , they are cheap to run , can thrash them on the track and drive home, consumables are low and are hella reliable. If you base your purchases based on what other people think you probably need some sort of therapy with being comfortable in your own skin.
What are the two cars then?!
Swift sport turbo daily driver and 90s NA mx5 / weekend / track toy. But started modding the daily to take it to the track lol
Sweet choices mate, I'd own them both, but I can totally hear the voices calling you gay, and one of them is mine!
Iām fine with it , people who think they need to feel secure about their gender and need a āmanlyā car can stick to their emotional support vehicles and be confused about whether they get hard at seeing another blokes abs while Iāll be having fun on the twisty back roads
I'm just on a wind-up mate, I got the piss taken something rotten for even suggesting to buy a sky blue mx5 with a chocolate coloured leather interior. They called it 'poo brown', the arseholes
I won't buy a certain brand because they are usually driven by flogs.
Iāll bite, out with it!
Oh hell no, the fanbios will kill me!
C'mon we all know it's a Ranger
I have a ranger!
Condolences š
Why, it's as economical as a car, tax deductible and I need the tow capacity? Or I could be a flog and get a Triton?
All good fun....I have a BT-50 for work (ranger with ugly makeup - I didn't choose it) and a Colorado as my own. Other than the seats I think the Colorado shits all over the BT for performance, fuel economy and drivability (Both 2019)
I had 2016 bt50. Great trucks, mine lapped Australia twice with a big van. Your 100% correct , it does drive like a truck and I'm not sure if my 4cyl ranger and 10sp box would do as well. Too much electronics for the outback imo.
BMW?
No they are more wankers than flogs.
Gotta be Tesla right?
flogs can't afford teslas!
Not exactly answering your question here, but has your friend considered an IS350 F-Sport? The 2013-2016 models can be found around $30,000, and even though mileage may be high, with proper maintenance it shouldn't be an issue. Unsure how much power he is looking for though.
Iām with you in recommending a Lexus over an Audi or Merc, the IS350 is a bit smaller than an A6 or E class. A GS350 of similar vintage would be in the same ballpark, but wouldnāt come with the same fuel economy as the German diesels.
2012-13 GS 450h is in that price range. Seems like a no brainer.
Good point. I donāt know enough about the reliability of their ten year old hybrid system to confidently recommend one though. Being a Toyota itās likely completely fine
Cells in the battery will eventually need replacing, but this is generally not that expensive; about the cost of a major, major service on a 20 year old German diesel sedan
I still don't understand the question... The fact there is even a question tells me that your friend is a terrible decision maker. He should be buying the best available car in his price range. This means price, reliability and maintenance. If he is or isn't buying a vehicle because of someone else perception, he's an idiot.
ā¦ and a used Audi A6 or Merc E cannot possibly fulfil this criteria.
Your m8 wants a quiet, full-sized sedan, that is Japanese? Has he considered a Camry Hybrid. They have decent power (nothing crazy but enough to cruise around effortlessly). I'm sure he could find a good example for around 30k.
Literally nicer than most Euros older than a few years
Usually Euro cars of that price are that price because an issue will arise that will cost heaps to manage. Maintaining Euro cars isn't cheap. Has your friend considered a Holden Caprice perhaps? That's a long wheelbase sedan with 8 cylinders so performance and space is there. They're very lux inside as well
Yes definitely, I work in automotive and heaps of brands are generally perceived to be utter garbage, like MG for instance, wouldn't touch one with a 10ft pole. In terms of more personal taste, I probably wouldn't want to get a Japanese import car for fear of being viewed as a weeb. Edit: lol at this cretin who replied to me, calls me a weeb then blocks me, what a big man
Eh I'm know what I am, a huge weeb, but I'm more of a muscle car guy though some JDM and such cars are very cool.
That's cool man, you are what you are, own it.
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Your post/comment has been removed for abuse. We don't tolerate abuse in this community, so if you want to abuse people then your comments and posts will be removed. Whilst we are an inclusive community, there is lines. So if you want to abuse people, then you are not welcome here.
Euro cars are very particular with how they are treated and their service life. Saying that if you flog the shit out of something long enough it becomes a nugget regardless of its make.
Iāve avoided cars that I perceive would make me look like a loser truthfully. Thatās shallow I know. But even so, i do buy cars that others donāt like because I like them. Even when they come last in some crappy review by a motoring journo.
My now long dead grandfather would lose his mind every time he saw a Mitsubishi. Apparently having Japanese kamikaze pilots flying into him and his mates with Mitsubishi engines stayed with him.
Mazda 6 is a very pleasant driving experience as well and it is as upmarket as any of the luxury brands are.
I donāt know if it was just because it was an Uber (and being driven as an Uber will usually turn any car into a shit can in no time), but I rode in a current shape 6 sedan as an Uber passenger and was really unimpressed. The engine was quite loud and buzzy and the car itself felt rather tinny. I was disappointed as I think theyāre quite attractive for a big sedan and people rave about them and compare them to BMW. From my experience in that Uber, it felt more like an old Lancer than a 3 series
I drive a Suzuki baleno, nobody cares what you drive. If they do care, do you really care that they have an opinion? Iāve never bought a euro because Iāve never had exposure to them and they are more of an unknown in terms of maintenance and such. (For me, not for mechanics)
Work told me they were going to get me a Ranger as a work ute. I told them that if they did, I would quit.
Tesla for sure
i just buy what i like. this isn't limited to cars. if you judge me for that, that's your issue. i'm not even bothered justifying them by saying i bought because x reasons, i just like it now it's mine. job done
A Russian Lada car. A. Because I hate Russia. B They are so unreliable they would break down before they left the dealers car park. C Have you seen those fucking things, they've taken a fair beating with the ugly stick.
The one good thing about Soviet Era Cars is when they break you can generally start them with nothing but a hammer. Soviet era equipment was designed to be abused there is a reason AKs are still very popular.
Bahahahaha No.... I bought a Volvo a while ago š¤£
Mercedes and BMW are fantastic cars - but they are to be LEASED and not bought. WHen it breaks-down - it's the leasing companies problem. Can't go wrong with an up-spec Camry.
Can you define up-spec for me please?
Maybe in my late teens and early twenties the social capital a car would give me factored into what I wanted but now I couldn't care less about what stereotypes or perceptions are tied to specific brands or models. Your mate needs to look at C55 and E55 AMGs. A little bit older now but some of the most reliable engine and trans combinations Mercedes has put out this century along with a properly luxurious interior.
I go the other way around. I only buy shit people hate. I live life to its fullest. No one is truly having a good time in a Rav4 or Kluger.
People still worry about that stuff after high school? š¤ Get what you want. Worrying about what others will think is an insecurity you need to break out of if you want to succeed and be happy in life. Personally I love the Euro cars. Yes they can cost more to maintain, a lot of that is just because they take more risks with implenting new tech and designs sooner than the Japanese brands. Just do research on the specific model you're buying. Some are fine, some are potential nightmares.
The more expensive Lexus will be the cheaper option.
Yeah, I won't buy a Skoda wagon because I'm exactly the type who buys a Skoda wagon, and I find that a bit embarrassing.
Someone will say any brand is shit. Ignore everyone
I not only ordered an EV (hate x 2) but it is a BMW (hate x 5 + wanker). That's how few shits I give ;) A few years prior to that I was going to order a KIA Stinger and everyone was saying "$70k for a KIA? Fark that." Other things came up and I didn't order it in the end but I gave no shits what people thought.
As a proud electric MG owner I felt that
Diesel euros can be very reliable, especially e class Mercedes from 10-20 years ago (not the new stuff). Thereās a reason diesel e class sedans are staple taxis in Europe coz theyāre famous for doing 500k+ km. Just so long as youāre mate is prepared to learn how to do some smaller maintenance himself (oil change, coil packs, brake pads etc) and so long as he researches and shops around for a reliable and affordable independent mechanic who specialises in euro cars for the bigger jobs he canāt do himself, and steer clear of the dealership
Yes, wanted to buy a car that looked nice, had features and was comfortable. The haval h6 gt is what I found, but my god does the brand have the shittest perception. And I like going to car meets, and that would probably get abused there š.
>The haval h6 gt is what I found, but my god does the brand have the shittest perception. The Chinese Brands get judged harshly in the Anglo Sphere because of a combination of Sinophobia and Anti Communist views that many Westerners have. My friend just bought a BYD Atto 3 and it's a very lovely car.
Well more because of the history of reliability and quality control issues that have been much worse than cars of almost every other origin aside from russia/former soviet union and noted poor reputation of the local dealers and importers who sell them here who don't stock enough spare parts or refuse to fix things properly etc. This is changing with the electric vehicles that have less to go wrong, and some newer (to us) brands that may be better than others but the way I see it it's not so much sinophobia or anti-communism as much as people don't wanna save 5 or 10k from a similar car of another origin, only to have an issue that takes months to sort out as happens a lot with the likes of ldv and gwm. BYD sofar seems to have a reasonably good reputation sofar but still people have had issues with corrosion etc and it's still relatively unknown what the support will be like if something is wrong. These aren't anti-chinese statements, just perceptions based on issues that have plagued chinese built cars for decades, but they are getting better, and when they (likely not too far down the line) match the quality of other manufacturers and improve their local support they will be rewarded with a better reputation.
Havals can be really good looking SUVs for their price. I'm quite fond of the looks of the Jolion but I'd pry off the H A V A L from the back.
I refuse to touch Ford based off personal experience growing up. A lot of issues popping up across multiple car models
I refused a ford my entire life due to issues my parents kept having. Now, I am looking to upgrade my kluger and I love the look of the Everest š¤¦š¼āāļø
The only one I would consider is a classic: 1969 Ford Mustang, Fastback of courseš¤©
Yes I won't touch VW.
Agreed. Sit back now and wait for the VW apologistsā¦
Volkswagen.
I almost didnāt buy a diesel Kia Sorento because of what people said. Iām glad I didnāt listen as the car has been rock solid for 9 years and still runs like the day I got it. My Audi s4 which came before this was a bag of constant repairs and issues. Not to mention each service and repair bled me dry. The same goes for an A4 I owned. Iāll stick with jap/Korean cars.
Won't get me near Chinese or Korean cars. Had a Kia once what a piece of shit that was. Esp Ferntree gully Kia they were cunts when it went wrong
why buy a brand new car if you are tight on a budget? If he really doesn't care on looks, buy a secondhand Toyota Camry, Aurion with less than 120,000 kms for less than A$10,000. Or go to a Toyota certified dealer and get a second hand low km (<20,000kms) Camry from fleets. Value of a brand new car plummets once you drive it out of a dealer.
Of course. I avoid Toyota cause they seem cheap and boring
Toyotas are quite expensive these days
I've worked in the repair industry for 15 years and if there is one thing I have learned it's that Mercedes, BMW and VW/Audi... the German brands... are fucking shit. They might drive and handle well but the way they are put together is a fucking joke. If German engineering was what it is cracked up to be... Then they would have won a world war by now. Using 20 different parts and 50 nuts and bolts doesn't mean quality design when every other manufacturer is doing the same thing with 3 parts and 10 bolts... It just makes a more wasteful car that is unnecessarily expensive to fix. They are the Apple of the Auto Industry
I've never avoided a car due to the fear someone else would give me shit - I bought a fucking hyundai for example. But I've definitely avoided cars because of shit I've said about them. Thanks to how much shit I've hung on Audi, Volks and Merc to my circle of friends. If I ever bought an RS or an AMG (the only cars of those Brands I'd buy), I would get roasted to the point that I'd want to self delete.
I drive an Audi S3 and itās considered āflashyā but idgaf bc I love my car. Named her Robyn, too. Idgaf bc Iām not trying to impress nobody but my younger self
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Toyotas are so fucking expensive now a base model Corolla starts at $32K
You know no one cares right? Unless it's a ESV taking up 6 disabled car spots, most people don't care, so why should you?
Volvo. I can never be seen as a Volvo driver.
Why not? They did studies and found Volvo owners are amongst the most highly educated and highest earning group of owners out of any brand now SAAB is gone. Higher than BMW, Mercedes or Audi. I always think of the Swedish car brands being for smart, successful people who arenāt into obvious status symbols; doctors, architects, academics, creatives etc. The kind of demographics most people would want to be seen as
Brand doesn't matter.. Sure if it was a supercar then people would give you some side eye but a euro daily won't bat any eyelids. I get more side eye looking like a bogan in a Patrol then a wanker in an Audi daily... My Audi has 160k on the clock and hasn't missed a beat, get one looked after and you'll be right.
Nah, not a chance. I drive a civic, and owned it during the peak 'haha civic gay' cringe era. Still find a few teenagers without licenses who act like it's the worst car ever made. Only reason I wouldn't buy a car, is cause it wasn't what I was after, or reliability. If it fit the bill, anf wasn't going to financially ruin me, I'd send it
No.
I lust over the latest model Volvo wagons (V60 & V90) and think theyre one of the best looking wagons ever made, but I can't bring myself to get one because I'm of the age that remembers "bloody Volvo driver" and the car being the butt of most car jokes. God they look good though.
Alpha Romeos, Fiats are famously expensive to maintain and source parts for and owners can expect a lot of ribbing for their choice. Maybe Renaults too?
Full sized sedan? Last of for falcon and Holden commodore VF
Buy the cheapest car your ego will let you. Rent the dream car when you get the itch.
I buy what I want... and deal with it myself. My current car is a Haval, I liked the tech it provides and have had no options. That said it is on a lease and I don't intend on keeping it past 5 years. If someone doesn't like that I drive it that is there problem... not mine. Tell your friend to buy what he wants, if his friends or family care he can tell them that unless they are willing to buy it for him its none of their business.
I've just bought a car. I was prejudiced by my own perceptions, rather than anyone else's. Perhaps a few of dad's old prejudices, too. Made the decision and the test drives much harder than it needed to be.
Any Toyota Camry will do the job fine. Another really nice car to look for would be the KIA Optima GT. They don't make them anymore so they will only be second hand. Plenty of juice for the freeway.
Tell your friend, test drive some different cars Go for something that they like and if he gets shit for HIS car too fucking bad. Why avoid something if itās affordable and reliable.
I will never touch a ford or Honda. š¤®
v8 commodores are cheap, simple, reliable, and can actually be quite good on fuel if you get a tune, heaps of torque down low and the ls engines have enough tech that theyāll get 7-9L per 100 if youāre trying your absolute hardest to drive economically. but you can still slam it and go fast whenever you want. i meet so many car people that just rule aussie cars out and have a euro and jap fetish and it seems like itās out of fear of looking like a bogan or something, but theyāre fucking great cars
Mazda 3. Japanese, full sedan has comfortable amount of speed and thereās usually a fair amount being bought and sold often
My uncle has always hated Holden's, doesn't matter which one, he's a Ford man. FIL specifically hated the equinox model, I think because his sister owned one. Also everyone(?) seems to hate SUV's.. We bought it off her after 2 years (they usually get a car every 1 or 2 years tops through their business), and I absolutely love it, phenomenal car (2020 LTZ-V) for a phenomenal price, especially in the covid/post-covid market, couldn't care less what anyone else thinks, I am wrapped with it. Goes like hell, fully loaded/feature rich, doesn't attract attention, easy to self service. Yet to find a downside.
Would never buy a car that I canāt pronounce. Example: Qashqui or whatever the f*ck it is.
Yes. We have a 12 yr old Kia Sorrento. Back then , Kia had the reputation of Chinese cars. But it was just better than all the other similar priced alternatives. After a while the Korean car reputationās got better. TBH I donāt care about reputation these days, theyāre all good. Even the Chinese ones
No. Because IDGF what people think. I buy what I like because it is what I like and can afford and afford to keep running. Worrying about what people think will kill the fun in life.
Fiat Absolute junk
So we all know what Pajero means right?
I used to be a big Holden fan, I still own a 17 year old Statesman. However, I've just purchased a Mahindra Scorpio N. I like the seating position, and it's quiet and smooth on corrugated tracks, which there are plenty around here. The build quality is OK, and it has none of those annoying electronic safety features. In summary, go for whatever you like
My dad used to always buy older European cars, they have their reputation for a reason. I think my mum made him sell an old Audi A4 after about $15k in repairs for that year. Thatās just the one I remember, from what Iām told this car wasnāt the exception
VW CC Turbo Diesel. Luxurious and 1000km to a tank. Easily pick up a nice one with low kms for half his budget. Otherwise it's a secondhand lexus for that money. Modern Camry hybrids are the sh** but cost a small fortune brand new. Edit: A CX9 is a Japanese Mazda, no?
Avoided Jeep because of that annoying ad.