Mazda 3 or Mitsubishi Lancer

[Mao]

Don't get a small japanese plastic toy car for the first car. Go get a commodore or falcon.

- Cheaper to buy
- Cheap to maintain. Imported cars are a lot more expensive to service/spare parts.
- Put in gas tank, cheaper to run. And it has more power.
- Teaches you how to drive an actual car, as opposed to a toy car.
- Less heartbreaking when you crash it, cheaper too (and you will end up in a crash, it is your first car)
- It might be buyer's bias, but I believe bigger cars are safer. The build feels more 'solid' than a japanese plastic box.
- People don't assume you're an Asian driver. Makes life a lot easier.

[Callum]

It might be buyer's bias, but I believe bigger cars are safer. The build feels more 'solid' than a japanese plastic box.

This.

[SDPHD]

@SPDHD I know, I was all for getting a used car, but even then it would be a 09', 10' sort of old LMAO But dad said Brand new, and I said OK.

IMO you're better off getting a slightly older car, 2008 - 2011, will be much cheaper or you can get top of the range for the same price as a brand new base model.

[LOL]You people and your definition of old![/LOL]

[86]

Don't get a small japanese plastic toy car for the first car. Go get a commodore or falcon.

- Cheaper to buy
- Cheap to maintain. Imported cars are a lot more expensive to service/spare parts.
- Put in gas tank, cheaper to run. And it has more power.
- Teaches you how to drive an actual car, as opposed to a toy car.
- Less heartbreaking when you crash it, cheaper too (and you will end up in a crash, it is your first car)
- It might be buyer's bias, but I believe bigger cars are safer. The build feels more 'solid' than a japanese plastic box.
- People don't assume you're an Asian driver. Makes life a lot easier.

If I'm not mistaken, any car from the early days of power steering will teach you how to drive. The feedback through the steering response is enough to see where your mistakes lie. The new cars of today teach you very little with their electric steering and overall no feel from the tires to the wheel.

Bigger, yes, but reliable? Japanese cars are known for rock solid reliability. Toyota, anyone?

Most new cars have the same level of safety anyway. The way the front and rear are designed to crumple to increase the time of impact and reduce the force while keeping the middle area intact is more than adequate.

I can't say I agree with everything you've mentioned. the 'plastic box' definition is only because Japanese cars generally weigh less than American cars. They're still both made of steel, and have plastic dashboards and interior pieces.

In which speaking of weighing less, Japanese cars can still run on less petrol without the need for an LPG conversion for weighing less. You'd find that newer Jap cars weigh in the 1200kg range, Falcons and Commodores >1500kg.

Although the engine and power is a no brainer. I'd still rather have balanced fun though. You don't need all the power to have a well-performing car. If your car weighs less but has the same amount of power it'll be theoretically faster. A higher power/weight ratio.

[funkyducky]

^ Falcons are very, very reliable cars. In fact, most Australian made cars are incredibly well-built and hardy. You can just feel how solid they are, everything from the doorhandles to the steering to the brakes. Even the Cruze is really solidly built. Toyota Camrys feel wimpy in comparison to Fords/Holdens (Aurions are fairly tough though).

What's soon to be my car (as soon as I get my Ps) is a 2001 AU Falcon Forte, gone >340,000 kms, LPG converted (cheap to run and can switch to petrol when I want more power), surprisingly light (~1400kg), surprisingly tight turning circle for a large car (handling and manoeuvrability is amazing), lots of fun to drive. The small cars within my price range (and new because my Mum would only let me get a new car if it had a 5 star safety rating) are boring, sucks all the fun out of driving. Only flaw is that it's kind of ugly.

As for safety, those tiny cars with their gazillion airbags and 5 star safety ratings can't hold a candle to a RWD or AWD car that has good handling (controllable in tricky situations) and a vigilant, defensive driver who knows what to do if they get into a sticky situation. And physics says a heavier, larger car is simply safer when crashing because it'll absorb more of the impact, you'll absorb less. Plus, large front and back ends = more non-human stuff to absorb the impact. Getting rear-ended in a hatchback = the whole back of the car caves in onto the back seat, smushing any passengers there. Getting rear-ended in a commodore or falcon = there goes the back of your boot.

[paulsterio]

funkyducky, you do know Camrys are Australian built right, they're built at the Toyota plant in Altona my uncle works there

Anyways, I'm thinking of getting a Corolla, brand new, cause I have a 21% discount on all brand new Toyota cars (my uncle can buy it for me - he works for Toyota).
Boring, but oh well, it'll get the job done of ferrying me to uni and back every day, probably won't get me any ladies though

Btw, since when did 5 star safety ratings mean anything? :S

And oh, anyone have any opinions on the Mazda MX-5? - might save up for that

[Thu Thu Train]

I'm confused Paul. Which family member works for toyota?

[paulsterio]

My uncle! =.=
i.e. my dad's brother

[nacho]

My uncle! =.=
i.e. my dad's brother

he's just calling you out because u mentioned that your uncle works at toyota twice XD

funkyducky, you do know Camrys are Australian built right, they're built at the Toyota plant in Altona my uncle works there

Anyways, I'm thinking of getting a Corolla, brand new, cause I have a 21% discount on all brand new Toyota cars (my uncle can buy it for me - he works for Toyota).

[xZero]

MX-5 IMO is for old people who wants a sporty car, the corolla is nice (mum just bought 1) but if you have the cash get a rx-8,integra type r or an imprezza wrx

[paulsterio]

no wrx because that has a turbo

[86]

And oh, anyone have any opinions on the Mazda MX-5? - might save up for that

MX5 is a driver's car - the feedback and feel you get from the steering tell you a lot about what's going on in each individual mechanical system operating within the car. Much like a Porsche 911 - famous for the feedback you get from the steering wheel.

For me personally I'd like to own a first generation MX5 with a hardtop, they just look fabulous with a nice set of wheels!

Although me I haven't experienced it, but it's a trademark of the MX5 and it's marketed as a driver's car.

@funky The point I was making offering older cars was for the same reason. Every single new car out there is boring with no character. I prefer my beat up Corolla.

You're right though, and I guess I'm looking at things from a performance perspective with all the lightweight, short wheelbase and all that. But for a first car it's probably better to have a small car. A falcon/Commodore is a full-sized family car and you can only have up to 4 cylinders on P plates right? Or is it 6 cylinders without a turbo? I can't remember.

[paulsterio]

It's 6 cylinders without a turbo

But either way, I dislike big cars, they're harder to park and harder to judge! =.=" Plus Falcon/Commodores are known to be huge petrol drinkers, I wouldn't want to spend too much on petrol considering the prices are going up.

In fact, I'll actually consider a Camry Hybrid instead of a Corolla.

[ShortBlackChick]

KAZDAWG DOES NOT WANT A FUCKING TOYOTA.

[dc302]

What's wrong with a toyota anyway...apparently they're one of the most reliable cars along with mazda.