Whether it’s that first job, a big promotion, the pitter patter of tiny feet or well-earned retirement.Sometimes the change is borne out of necessity, other times it’s a reward.Here are the things you should look for when making those big decisions.
The first job
Unless there’s a well-heeled parent or grandparent involved, the first car is usually a second-hand one bought on a limited budget.
This involves a delicate balancing act between affordability, reliability and safety. Unfortunately COVID has resulted in a shortage of used cars, as people avoid public transport, so prices have risen sharply.Hatchbacks are the go-to cars for first-time used car buyers and the most popular are the Toyota Corolla, Mazda3 and Honda Jazz. They have well-earned reputations for reliability but the flip side is they cost more.Ten-year-old, low-kilometre Corollas are still fetching between as much as $10,000. If you don’t have that type of cash to spare, the Hyundai i30 and Kia Cerato are good options. They’re proving to be reliable and you’ll get a later model with more equipment for the same money.Steer clear of European brands, as they are expensive to maintain and can be unreliable.
Our tip: if the budget is tight and you can drive a manual, you’ll save money shifting gears yourself. Also consider the sedan version of that popular hatchback – they are less popular and you could land a better deal.
The promotion
A promotion can often be the trigger for a new-car purchase.Hatchbacks are a popular choice, as are small city-friendly SUVs.
The Kia Picanto is good value at $16,490 drive-away for a manual ($17,490 for the auto). For that you get Apple CarPlay/Android auto, decent safety gear and a seven-year warranty.If you want something bigger, with a little more oomph under the bonnet, the Kia Cerato and Hyundai i30 start at $21,990.If you’ve got your heart set on an SUV be prepared to pay significantly more.The CX-3 is a popular choice, but it starts at $24,990, compared with just $21,990 for the Mazda2 hatchback it’s based on. The cheapest SUV on the market is the Chinese-built MG ZS at $21,990, although the Hyundai Venue is good value at $22,690 drive-away with $500 cash back.
Our tip: don’t be seduced by the SUV. Hatchbacks are better value for money, more fun to drive and just as spacious and practical.
The baby
The pitter patter of tiny feet often necessitates a new set of wheels.That sporty little hatchback might have impressed the friends at weekend barbecues, but it won’t cut the mustard for hauling prams, nappies and car seats.
A decade ago, the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon – either in sedan or wagon form – would have been the default choice but these days the SUV rules supreme.Beware, though, all SUVs are not created equal. Some have smaller cargo areas than the humble hatchback. They’re more show than stow.The Toyota RAV4 hybrid is our reigning Car of the Year and is proving incredibly popular.The hybrid version costs $2500 more but will use roughly half the petrol of the standard model in city traffic. It’s not cheap, though. A hybrid 2WD GX model starts at roughly $39,500 drive-away.Subaru’s Forester is ideal for lanky teenagers. The tall, boxy body provides generous head and leg room, while all-wheel-drive adds another level of safety in wet and slippery conditions. Also consider the Mazda CX-5.If you don’t need as much space, it’s worth checking out the new class of SUVs that sit just below these favourites. The Kia Seltos, Volkswagen T-Roc and Mazda CX-30 might fit the bill for less money.
Our tip: if you’re a city slicker, save thousands by choosing petrol power over diesel and two-wheel drive instead
of four.
The growing family
In the same way teens outgrow shoes at an alarming rate, a family can outgrow a car. Even if you’ve got only two kids, you can find yourself needing more seats for weekend sports and sleepovers.The good news is you no longer have to plump for a boring people-mover or fuel-guzzling 4WD, thanks to the wonders of modern vehicle design.
There are relatively compact SUVs that have a third row of seats for occasional use. They’re not ideal for adults or bigger teens on longer journeys, but they’ll do the job for ferrying teammates to the footy or netball.The Volkswagen Tiguan AllSpace, Skoda Kodiaq, Nissan X-Trail and Honda CR-V are the best of the breed.If you want more space and more pampering, Kia’s Sorento and Hyundai’s Santa Fe fit the bill, while the Kia Carnival is one of the few vehicles that can swallow seven people and still have room for their luggage.
Our tip: if you’re planning to tow and do lots of miles on the open road, then diesel is worth considering. It will
cut your fuel bills and you’ll appreciate the extra pulling power when you’re fully loaded.
The Griswalds
With the international borders closed, it’s time to embrace the Australian outdoors, and nothing does that better than a ute.
They can be workhorses during the week, family cars on weekends and getaway vehicles on school holidays.The Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger are the most popular, but Isuzu’s new D-Max is great value for money and loaded with technology. If you want the go-anywhere ability of a 4WD ute but also need the practicality of a seven-seater, many makers have spun seven-seat SUVs off their ute platforms. Popular choices include the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Isuzu MU-X and Ford Everest.
Our tip: don’t skimp on safety. These things can prove a handful for less experienced drivers, especially in the wet.
The empty nesters
The Mazda MX-5 and the Ford Mustang are the preferred toys for a midlife crises. Both are purely focused on delivering fun – from the meaty growl of the Mustang’s V8 to the corner-carving precision of the lightweight Mazda.
If you want to parade your success, luxury cars have become much more affordable – you can get a Mercedes Benz C-Class sedan or Audi A4 for the same price as a mainstream SUV or 4WD ute.
Our tip
: if you’re prepared to downsize, you'll be amazed at what luxury brands you can afford.
Super (annuation) cars
What better way to spend that superannuation payout than a new set of wheels.Those ads for the funky new city SUVs may be filled with millenials, but the truth is their popularity is driven by pensioners with dodgy hips.
They’re easier to climb into, have better vision and are easier to park. Favourites include the Mazda CX-3, Mitsubishi ASX and Hyundai Kona.If you’re planning to join the ranks of the grey nomads, though, you’ll have to think big.That’s when the big 4WDs finally make sense. The ubiquitous Toyota LandCruiser is the default choice, but it’s very expensive. Alternatives include 4WD utes and the wagons based on them. Again, diesel is the best bet for that lap of Australia.
Our tip: if you’re budgeting in retirement, consider a two or three-year-old vehicle. Nearly all the brands have five-year warranties these days – some have seven – so you can dodge the depreciation costs and still have warranty coverage.
FAMILY MATTERSMother of three Lindell De Marte says her car choices over the years have often reflected important new phases in her life.Prior to motherhood, she scooted about town in a zippy Toyota Corolla, but alas the little hatchback couldn’t fit a stroller, so her and husband Generoso bought themselves a Falcon.As their three kids grew out of strollers, Lyndell returned to the trusty Corolla until growing teenagers complained about the lack of space and the De Martes traded up to a seven-seat Pathfinder.
“The boys hit their teens and they’d sit in the Corolla with their knees around their ears,” the Brisbane resident said.Now that their eldest son Declan has his licence, and daughter Zahra is on her L-plates, they’ve decided to reward themselves with a go-anywhere 4WD Nissan Navara ute – perfect for camping trips to Fraser Island.“We were barely using the seven seats so we thought let’s get a four-wheel-drive for those weekends away with friends,” she said.Meanwhile, Declan has inherited their grandmother’s 1999 Mitsubishi Lancer and will pass it on to Zahra when he starts work and buys his own car.“Declan thinks it’s hilarious that it doesn’t have central locking and they’ve got to wind the windows up. He’s locked the keys in it twice because he can,” she said.
Nan Rhonda Farrer had the Lancer trucked up from her home in Melbourne to the Del Martes’ after trading up to a new Mitsubishi ASX SUV that was easier to get in and out of.“My husband’s had a hip replacement and I’ve had a knee replacement – and my husband’s six foot one so as we’ve got older it was just getting harder to get in and out of the car,” she said.“The SUVS are just so much easier to get in and out of.” Her husband recently turned 70 and bought a Ford Everest 4WD that they planned to drive to Longreach in Queensland for a family reunion, until lockdown grounded them.“We love to do road trips so he got the bigger car so we could do all that and of course we haven’t ended up doing anything because of COVID. He reckons it’s the most expensive shopping trolley he’s ever bought,” she said.
Source link
