in need of advice

[ZEP 082]

long time no see guys!!! it's been a while since i've been here apart from a couple of times here and there.

anyway, i would like some advice from you guys. i'm in the process of changing my current car (again) a 2000 yrv turbo. the candidates for my next one are an '08 toyota auris 2.0 d4d and an '08 focus tdci style.

i'm more leaning towards the auris but the 102k miles are scaring me a bit being only a 3 year old car. the focus has 60k something.

should i be worried with this kind of mileage for the auris or is it normal? also do you know of some common problems with these two models? the focus i've heard that at some stage you have to replace the flywheel.

just to say both of these cars come with a jevic certificate of genuine mileage and with full service history.

any comments or replies welcome.

 

[Sheldon]

hey mate, no more starlets then eh? id go for an auris if these cars are the only ones your looking into... maybe wait a bit more till you find one with lower miles? id guess your looking into more family cars?

 

[ZEP 082]

aw shel! a family car which is reliable and economic is the priority right now. i've been starletless for about 18 months now. starlets are reliable if standardish but not economic as such. i am looking for a modern diesel euro 4 or 5 car coz i heard that euro 1-3 road tax will be getting higher also. the thing is that i got a "good" deal on my two cars and would like to take the opprtunity if i can. the only thing which is putting me off the toyota is the relatively high mileage.

 

[Sheldon]

Yep euro 1 to 3 will be very expensive, i wouodnt worry much as its a toyota, alkemm toyota arent what they really used to be!!! I personaly dont like ford.. but i have 4 friends with a focus and they neger had any problems as far as i know!!

 

[ZEP 082]

i was sceptic about ford until two years ago when i bought my fiesta mk3 1.8 diesel which proved me wrong and became my second best car i've owned being super economic and very reliable. it's sad to let her go now but i can't justify keeping it with a road tax that will eventually be almost what's the car is worth in a couple more years.

 

[dark_knight]

@ ZEP 082: what does your heart tell you mate..? then what does your head tell you..?
about the high mileage, if there are genuine service records, you can give the car a few drive-arounds in different conditions and see how you like it -- based on the presumption that you will let go of it in a few months maybe.. a year or two..?

 

[ZEP 082]

i intend to keep it for quite a long time as long as everything is ok with the car. my only concern is if it's already a high mileage for a 3 year old car.

 

[Rev]

I did a long trip in a new toyota camery in oz. The seat was like a rock experienced pain driving 900 km in 5 days. I did not enjoy the experience. No feedback for the driver like driving in a hermetically sealed bubble. The rear mirrors showed cars a lot further than they were which was really dangerous. Steering was over reactive to what I am used too which meant more concentration required . On the Focus side I do not like the small crash zone at the front , crash saftey is the main reason I would consider changing my car. > IMO .... know what you want ........and drive it a long way maybe try a hire car as I did to be sure.

 

[dark_knight]

the ideal motor

so Rev, which car would be your ideal if money and availability was not a concern..?

 

[ZEP 082]

in poor words what i'm asking is high mileage should be a concern on a 3 year old toyota?

 

[dark_knight]

high mileage in a young car proli means the previous owners did more highway cruises than short drives with it, and most times, highway cruising is gentler on & better for the engine in general. so i wouldn't worry, but of course the general condition of the rest of the car should also be taken into account. people always focus too much on the engine but also have a look at the tranny (is there crunching/whining)..? does the suspension feel firm and not wobbly..? does the underside of the car look like they were using it to play skid-plate..? things like those..

 

[ZEP 082]

high mileage in a young car proli means the previous owners did more highway cruises than short drives with it, and most times, highway cruising is gentler on & better for the engine in general. so i wouldn't worry, but of course the general condition of the rest of the car should also be taken into account. people always focus too much on the engine but also have a look at the tranny (is there crunching/whining)..? does the suspension feel firm and not wobbly..? does the underside of the car look like they were using it to play skid-plate..? things like those..

cheers for the info mate. will be test driving them both later this afternoon.

 

[dark_knight]

@ ZEP 082: have the stereo off so that you can listen more to the car -- for any odd noises that are not known to be normal to the car..
all the best mate.

 

[Rev]

in poor words what i'm asking is high mileage should be a concern on a 3 year old toyota?

As above providing oil has been kept up. My Sister in laws Mazda 626 car with poor oil up keep needed a new engine at 160,000 km this was a lot of short trips to the station of 500m I had same car with good up keep had no problems at 265000 km still going strong.

 

[Rev]

so Rev, which car would be your ideal if money and availability was not a concern..?

You ask a difficult question - I am interested in having a real car to share ie. one with a back seat which eliminates a lot of cars.
My current favorite is > Caldina/2.0_GT-FOUR_N_edition_4WD 0-60 auto under 7sec

Most importantly this car also achieves good country fuel figures approx. 28mpg country; 21.7 mpg city.[ More powerful than this in a family sized car eg 270bhp twin turbo Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 (1999) 0-60 5.9sec and the fuel econony is lost - achieving only 21 mpg on the highway ]

If fuel cost and purchase price is more generous I would get a > Lexus IS F v8 0-60 4.2sec

It does not look as sweet as my Sera but crash zone is better so i would try the advantages of driving a sleeper vehicle until a better looking car arrives.

 

[dark_knight]

@ Rev: the caldina GT-4 is defo a sleeper.. very good motor that one.. plus, it's still in the toyofamily so no love lost..

 

[Rev]

I should add - the new Subaru STI looks interesting but none of the above have the power to weight potential of the Starlet and will use more fuel.

Personally I would like a car with performance of 200bhp and 200 ft lb that weighs up to 900kg and has a decent crash zone and 4 comfortable seats but this car does not seem to exist. Say 220 bhp/1000kg, you will note the above Caldena is 180 bhp/1000kg as is I think the MX8.


I think in the future electric cars have the potential to achieve this performance and will become the norm. In the mean time Starlet gives fun performance with fuel economy.

To put this in a financial context >>
I recently put solar panels on the house that pay me $1500 /yr because I put the power back to the grid. The capital cost will be paid for in 2.5 yrs then I will have 22.5 yrs of power from the cells to charge my cars.
It is not rock science currently I pay fuel for 3 cars thats 150/wk or $175,000 saving over 22.5 yrs if I go electric.( ignoring battery replacement as this is becoming less significsnt)

In fact I live thanks to borrowed money so the saving for going electric would be around $350,000 including interest ......... do I have a choice ?

 

[dark_knight]

hehe.. interesting observation and notation Rev..