Ask an expert


gghosh2

Hi

Not sure if it is appropriate to ask this but: any thoughts on these cars below -- which is the best buy ... for you, by your standards and preferences whatever they are. For us: (i) we want to be safe (have kids) and (ii) not get taken for a ride, so to speak.

TOYOTA BLADE:
2008 wth Low mileage:
http://www.mikescars.co.nz/usedcars/2008-Toyota-Blade/6058
15,400 NZD

2010 with higher mileage:
http://www.mikescars.co.nz/usedcars/2010-Toyota-Blade/5852
15,900 NZD (white)

ONE VW POLO, 2008
http://www.mikescars.co.nz/usedcars/2008-Volkswagen-Polo/6047
14.000 NZD

TOYOTA COROLLA 2008:
http://www.mikescars.co.nz/usedcars/2008-Toyota-Corolla/6127
14.000 NZD

SUBARU IMPREZA 2008 2 L
70.000 Km 14.000 NZD

Thanks

Anon

Hi there,
As a general vehicle overall, my picks would be in this order Impreza, Corolla, Blade, Polo.
Japanese vehicle safety specs are difficult to obtain as they don't have the safety rating system like our ANCAP.
The Impreza is a good vehicle, the all wheel drive system gives it very good road handling. The Blade has a very large engine and a 1-speed transmission, this will be very smooth but not sure on fuel economy. The Corolla/ Auris would be a very good engine size for a power and economy balance, still has a 1-speed CVT but is not really known to give many problems. A used older European car like the Polo may not be the best choice with regards to trouble free motoring, but the vehicle build quality and features are very good.

gghosh2

thanks for the above?
some more specifics -- we need to buy this weekend, or early next week, latest.

2006 toyota blade G red 27.000 km, price: 14,500
2008 toyota blade G grey 18.000km, price: 15, 500
2008 toyota blade G grey 54.000 km, price 14.500

Question is the year more important than mileage?
Is a 2008 with more km better than a 2006 with less km?
If year counts, then, is it worth to spend 1,000 dollars more and have lower mileage or should it be good enough to just go by the year and have 36.000 km more on the car?

or 2007 Subaru impreza Sport 2.0, 69.000 km, 13.000 NZD
or 2007 Subaru Impreza 20S, 2.0, 27.000 km, 16.000 NZD
With the latter: why such a huge difference in price???

Is a 2008 Toyota Blade G with less km better than a Subaru Impreza 2007, with 10.000 km more? It should be, so is the price difference JUST for an all wheel drive?
Would a 2.4 power engine on an automatic car allow one to go up to Wanaka ski fields? like an all wheel drive? (Subaru Impreza)? Is the Subaru Sport more expensive to run than a Subaru 20S?

that's a lot to answer. anything you can offer is appreciated!

gghosh2

OK, we've narrowed down to 2 candidates:
2006 toyota blade G red 27.000 km, price: 13,500 -- dropped $1k
2008 toyota blade G grey 18.000km, price: 15,500. -- dropped $500

1st comes with 12 month warranty and 2nd with 3 month.

Option of 3 year warranty, same price for both ($500) -- 1st with autosure and 2nd with protecta.

Thanks

Anon

Hi there,
The Blade will have plenty of power to get up the mountain, but is front wheel drive so if the conditions are less than ideal you may struggle and need chains.
Both cars are priced quite high, but that is because the km's are so low.
It's hard to know what changes were made between the years, but in this case I would get the newest one I could afford, the km's are not a lot different between the two.

gghosh2

Thanks!