You no longer have to pay top dollar to get a car fitted with airbags and ABS brakes. Whatever your budget, there’s a used car out there that can help you and your family stay safe while on the road.My first car was very nearly a Fiat X1/9. Styled by Bertone, it was Monica Bellucci with wheels. I fell in love. My father, however, didn’t. He was muttering something about fixing it again, Tony...
So there we were at the local used car dealership with me drooling all over the Fiat’s seat. I may have even thrown myself across the bonnet. But my father was immune to the Italian’s charms - I think he was sharpening a stake.
No, the car he had his sights on was a beige-coloured Toyota Tercel. Never heard of it? No, neither had I, but he’d made his mind up. It was like having Nigella Lawson within reach and being told I’d be going home with Delia Smith. Both are great cooks but only one has va-va-voom.
The Tercel was boxy-looking, had tartan seats and seemed awfully safe. It definitely lacked the devil-may-care attitude of the Fiat. But then it also lacked some of the Fiat’s ills (do a Google search). And that’s exactly why my father preferred it.
There are some real advantages to buying a used car. For one, the buyer avoids savage depreciation costs associated with buying a new car (which can be as much as 40 per cent in the first two years). But buying used can be a bit like tightrope walking. Generally, a vehicle’s most maintenance-free time is in the first few years. And if the previous owner hasn’t properly maintained the vehicle, there’s a chance you could end up shelling out for some serious hidden defect.
It’s worth noting that a lot of used cars, particularly older models, aren’t equipped with the same safety or technical features as a new car.
Depending on your price range, different safety features will be available in different cars. Below are some common used-car-buying scenarios and what you should look for in each case.
Scenario 1: You’ve got $6000 to buy your child their first car. It’s got to be reliable and economical.
The choices: Most of the cars worth buying are late-’90s ‘stripper’ models sold at budget-beating drive-away prices, and so, sadly, airbags and ABS don’t feature. In this price bracket you’re looking straight at cars like the Hyundai Excel (1997-1998) and the Toyota Starlet (1996-1999), both in three-door guise. Of the tiddlers these two models are the pick. Both are sturdy and dependable if well maintained; make sure the Hyundai has had regular oil changes. Neither car is what you’d call a sporty vehicle, but they ride and handle well enough, will accommodate four (although the Starlet will be tight) and are good on fuel. If you can stretch to a little more than $6000, an optioned Toyota Echo (1999-2005) would be the way to go.
Scenario 2: You’ve got $15,000 to buy a second car that’ll mostly be your child’s first car. It has to be reliable, economical and safe.
The choices: With more than $10,000 to play with, the used car world opens right up to reveal some tasty treats. And it’s in this bracket that you’ll find airbags and ABS brakes, as long as you look hard.
If it’s a tiddler you’re after, then Toyota’s Echo is the only way to go. Make sure you hunt around for one that was optioned with ABS and a passenger’s airbag (they weren’t standard items). The Echo is a reliable and well-built machine that was equally popular with women and inner-city couriers. You want a car owned by the former (if the car’s showing 200,000km, it was probably thrashed by a courier).
Push a little higher, say somewhere between $6000 and $15,000, and undoubtedly the best buy, funnily enough, comes again from Toyota.
The Corolla, either the AE101/102 (1996-1998) built here in Oz or the imported AE112 (1998-2001), is an excellent car that is virtually indestructible. If you’re looking at the Oz-built cars then look for one that was optioned with ABS and passenger airbags, and if it’s the import you’re after, then go for a CS-X model as it came standard with airbags and ABS.
If you’re after something with a bit more room you could look at a Toyota Camry (1997-2000) or a Hyundai Sonata (2001-2004). Just make sure the vehicle was fitted with the optional airbag and ABS safety pack. On the other hand, the Mitsubishi Magna (2000-2004) is an absolute standout in this category. Big with rental fleets, the Magna is a cheap and effective car (even a late-model car will cost no more than $15K). The base model ES came standard with four airbags and ABS.
A used car’s quality and condition also contribute to its safety. Take a good look at the car for any signs of rust: check under the doors, along body seams and in the base of the boot (you’ll need to lift out the spare and, while you’re at it, make sure it matches the other wheels). Look for any modifications the previous owner may have made. Alarm bells should sound if you see a cannon-sized exhaust, if the car has been lowered, or if dodgy wheels and tyres have been fitted. The latter two items can really throw out how a car rides and handles.
Once you’re behind the wheel, make sure the radio is turned off (but do check that it works) - you need to be able to hear the engine. Adjust the seat and steering to suit your driving position.
Try and simulate your own driving conditions. Take the car onto a highway, along back roads and up hills, try reverse and parallel parking it. If you can, take the car over a speed hump, and if it causes the car to groan or jiggle, then the suspension could be on the way out. How’s the steering feel? Is it light or slack? How do the brakes and gearbox feel? The engine shouldn’t be too noisy.
Once you’ve finished driving, check under the bonnet. Is the oil on the dipstick thick and dark? Does the engine bay smell of fumes? Does smoke come out when you unscrew the oil cap? Walk away if you spot just one of these things.
Check the car has been serviced at regular intervals and that there have been no major repairs such as valve jobs, transmission rebuilds or engine overhauls. Check the stamps too - if they’re from all over the place, flee.
Before you flick to the classifieds in the newspaper, work out what you can spend on a used vehicle. Be realistic with your budget and be sure to include servicing and running costs (not just fuel).
While you’re sorting that out, have a think about the type of driving you’ll be doing: inner city, country, off-road. This will help determine the car you look at.
Easily the best way to research cars is through CarWise. Call 1300 239 473 or visit nrmacarwise.com.au.
Once you’ve found a car you like, ask the dealer or owner for the vehicle identification number (VIN), engine number, registration number and current odometer reading and, for a small fee, CarWise will generate a report which includes a REVS check, valuation, recall information, road tests (if available), common faults, and whether it’s been stolen or re-birthed.
By Isaac Bober, motoring journalist and editor of Australian Caravan + RV magazine.
Open Road May/June 2008
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