Ask an expert

We are interested in buying a smaller car and have been asking three questions that you may be able to help us with.

1) Is there a better time of the year / month to buy a car such as after New Years?

2) Do later model cars (2002 +) cost more to fix (if you are wanting to use second hand parts rather than new) due to the lack of second hand cars for parts?

3) I have read your suggestion of Toyotas, Mazda's and Nissans as good reliable cars. Would a Holden Astra City measure up just as well, or are they more costly to maintain or have common faults?

Kay

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 22 December 2009

Often the best time to buy a car (from a dealer) new or used, is at the end of a given month as sales staff try and meet set target numbers.

Some of the franchised dealers work on a set total volume target for new and used stock and instead of concentrating on individual sales figures they will look at what has been achieved as a total over a given period. If the target is unlikely to be reached heading towards the month end, the incentives to purchase can be better than that offered at the beginning of the month.

If a new model is being released there is always a push to get rid of stock of the previous model. In a perfect world there are limited numbers of the old stock when it comes to launching the latest model. It does depend on the market and the push to clear the old model leading up to the release of new product.

Some dealers get caught with a lot of old stock while others have a lean period waiting for the new model to arrive in showrooms.

Often new car buyers will wait for a new calendar year rather than buy in December to ensure their new car on paper, is registered in a new year (2010 as opposed to 2009). If you are not too worried about when the car is registered you may buy better in December 09 than say January 2010.

Repairs should not be more expensive, in theory the later the model the fewer the problems. Second hand parts are often used by insurance companies (accident damage) where vehicles are over three years old.

The Holden Astra has not enjoyed the same reliability record as the mainstream Japanese vehicles to be honest. Nothing overly major, but electrical and engine management issues can mean more visits to the garage and ultimately a higher ownership cost.

To be honest it's hard to beat the mainstream Japanese and the very latest Korean vehicles in the small, medium class. They do in general provide good value for money.