Touring vehicle $20,000 budget

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Pretty much every question can be answered with Falcon/Commodore/Territory

What should I buy for my first car - Falcon/Commodore/Territory
What car should I buy for a road trip - Falcon/Commodore/Territory
I want a car thats cheap to maintain - Falcon/Commodore/Territory
I want a project car - XR6 Turbo Falcon/SS Commodore/Turbo Territory
I want a car thats cheap to run - Falcon/Commodore/Territory (on gas)
I need something to carry goods - Falcon Ute/Commodore Ute/Territory with back seats down

All these cars on VFACTS every month, we only need the three that answer all questions and solve all problems

You left out the answer to every car question:Falcon on gas.

[DTFRMONT]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

This is not going to be an interesting or exciting suggestion but get yourself as much Toyota Camry as you can for your $20K budget.

I have done some looooong distance driving in a couple of the previous generation Camry, just the basic 2.5 four-pot. The handling will not excite on a twisty road, although the body roll and tyre squirm on the Snow Mountains Hwy was amusing. But they are quite, comfortable and just "run".

If you're looking at Camrys, I would suggest an Aurion, the last generation from 2012 onwards. If you look hard enough, you can get a top-spec Presara or a high-spec Sportivo for not much more than a standard Camry.

With the top-spec Aurions, you get nicities such as xenons, automatic wipers & high-beams, satnav, DAB tuner, keyless start & a retractable rear blind that is actually quite effective at cutting out the sunlight on a hot day. You also get reasonably modern safety gear.

Although the handling is no XR6, it's much improved from the earlier models.

[Citroënbender]

TBH if one of my toys took a serious dump travelling, I’d be hitting up forums I haunt - does anyone want to (cough, cough, rustle banknotes) ”loan” me a usable car for a couple of weeks?

[mad2]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

You left out the answer to every car question:Falcon on gas.

right there.....

[au2000]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

You left out the answer to every car question:Falcon on gas.

Lol you would think but these days that’s a risk, the boys current work car, bf dedicated gas, had to ring 4 local petrol stations tonight before he found one with lpg

[Dr Terry]

Originally Posted by au2000

Lol you would think but these days that’s a risk, the boys current work car, bf dedicated gas, had to ring 4 local petrol stations tonight before he found one with lpg

I run a few cars on LPG & I use the NSW Govt's FuelCheck app for LPG, as well as finding the cheapest petrol. Definitely easier than ringing around.

Dr Terry

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

The difference is aint no one in Taree seen a MA/MB Mondeo XR5T, Lexus LS460 or a Citroen C5 before let alone worked on one, nor do the local parts resellers have parts for them

Its not so much the tow truck, its the local experience, knowledge and parts availability.

Yeah you need a front left airbag for the Lexus LS460, we have one in Melbourne distribution warehouse, then they send it by road or with other stock transfers and you're in Taree for 2 weeks because the transit time or they held onto it to wait until they could justify putting it in with other items for other customers in a stock replenishment.

You could go to IGA Alice Springs and they'll have a DXA552 on the shelf for a KUN26R Hilux and pick up 2x JB9979 at the Maccas drivethru

Or even something like an uncommon tyre size, our Fiesta ST has 205/40R17, thats not a common size that people are likely to keep in stock.

Correct out in regional areas sourcing "parts" for lets say uncommon vehicles and thats been the norm forever BUT sourcing has improved alot through software systems.
In saying that there has always been the well off cocky or local business who has a euro and lets say more so uncommon vehicle.
Local machanics as you know some have nouse some not depending what their abilities are same goes for the local parts shop.
The usual safest vehicle winner is the Toyota as much as some say otherwise.
Mining/farming you name it they are the leaders hands down due to Toys distribution channels covering way more than any other brand and the Aftermarket covers parts galore as well as you know.
au2000 asking whats the best for cruising out there etcetc well dual cabs arn't his thing by the look of it despite it probably being the most suitable all rounder period.
Hilux/Prado (<even) parts etc are plentiful and local machanics know them that well they eat them for breakfast.
Euro type wagons (Pug/Mondeo) etc forget it.
Does he wish stepping back into a Terri or old Falc ? can't go wrong there re parts and mechanic support as well.
The Lexus's I put up would be great bit of kit driving for many hours but not much use for little offroad track work.
You'd know IF something serious occured and sourcing the parts you just have to stay in that town for a week thats how it is but it sure wouldn't breakdown much unless you got a lemon.

[BENT_8]

AWD Rav4?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

AWD Rav4?

Rides like *** I reckon

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Rides like *** I reckon

Bollocks we hired one in NZ and spent 30 days touring around the South Island, dirt roads and all, the ride was that bad we bought a new one for the missus when we got back, she's on her second one now, there a great little AWD and I'd have no problem recommending one....

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

Bollocks we hired one in NZ and spent 30 days touring around the South Island, dirt roads and all, the ride was that bad we bought a new one for the missus when we got back, she's on her second one now, there a great little AWD and I'd have no problem recommending one....

yep agreed.
OK early model was a bit ho hum but they improved as the gen aged.
2nd better but 3rd gen really started coming together.
I know some of the beachy holiday people I knew way back loved their 1st gen.
The current one they can't get enough but thats not applicable to the thread.
Need some weight in the back and the ride smooths it off.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by FTE217

yep agreed.
OK early model was a bit ho hum but they improved as the gen aged.
2nd better but 3rd gen really started coming together.
I know some of the beachy holiday people I knew way back loved their 1st gen.
The current one they can't get enough but thats not applicable to the thread.
Need some weight in the back and the ride smooths it off.

The one we hired was a 2014 model and when we got back we bought the 2015, she has the 2021 Hybrid AWD now.

[FTE217]

yer nice medium SUV good buy, bro inlaw bought one for sis inlaw arrived few months ago.
Very popular.

[M&Ms]

Depends if you're after something a couple of years old or if a couple of decades old will do. For me, can't go wrong with a BA or BF XR6/XR6T/XR8 which I always found to be most comfortable with the cloth seats or the sports leather, NOT the full leather. They eat up the miles well and are spacious. Only thing I think is lacking are rear adjustable head restraints.

Not sure how people find the VE / VF seats comfortable, I know my back has never agreed there.

[FairmontGS]

Originally Posted by FTE217

yer nice medium SUV good buy, bro inlaw bought one for sis inlaw arrived few months ago.
Very popular.

Leaves some cash over for the paper bags you'll have to wear over your head in shame

$20K for a touring car? It would be an MD Mondeo Avant surely?

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/for...0/?sort=~Price

[XR Martin]

Awd ravs are pretty damn thirsty, and the 2wd 2L ones are horrendously underpowered.
New hybrid ones arnt bad, but now have bugger all ground clearance.

Was tempted on getting one of the V6 ones at one stage.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by FairmontGS

Leaves some cash over for the paper bags you'll have to wear over your head in shame

$20K for a touring car? It would be an MD Mondeo Avant surely?

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/for...0/?sort=~Price

Suspect on DSG, yes I'm aware its the 'wet clutch' one but it still craps out - yellow festiva here has a great story about his wet clutch DSG LV Focus

I reckon MD Ambiente Ecoboost wagon, comes with torque converter auto. I think the wagon came in povvo spec ecoboost, I'm not sure.

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...20036472/?Cr=0

I'm still convinced Territory is the best choice in budget constraints.

Or maybe a 1996 Hyundai Excel and $19,000 allocated for feeds and ****. You can buy a heap of nice steaks and fancy beers for $19,000.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Don't rule out a Mondeo hatch or wagon either. We had a MC Titanium for a number of years, one of the first made with the 2.0 EcoBoost. Because these are made for European highways, they absolutely devour km's and sit at 100-110 absolutely rock solid. Handling is pretty good too when required.

image

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/for...n-15000-20000/

I would say go for the later MC model, or the MD.

For MC, the base models still had the lethargic NA 2.3 with a 6-speed torque converter auto. The diesels were fitted with the dry-clutch DCT, as were the 2.0 EcoBoost.

For the MD, all diesels had the dry-clutch DCT, Ecoboost's had the 8-speed torque converter auto.

Bugger it, I typed the wrong thing here, should have typed WET CLUTCH DCT, these did not have the issues the dry-clutch versions in the Focus, Fiesta ect.

[Franco Cozzo]

Tez for $20K

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...20769726/?Cr=2

Budget for new screen when it craps out the moment power is removed from the battery

[DTFRMONT]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Tez for $20K

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/det...20769726/?Cr=2

Budget for new screen when it craps out the moment power is removed from the battery

That's partly why I sold my FG2 XG6. Had a couple of scares during the first couple of lockdowns where the lack of use lead to the battery draining to the extent that the screen took a while to come back up. Knew better than to take the battery out to charge it......

[au2000]

Been lucky with my 2, lost a screen on the GTE while it was under warranty, but both that and the GS have been perfect since even with flat batteries…

[au2000]

Originally Posted by FTE217

au2000 asking whats the best for cruising out there etcetc well dual cabs arn't his thing by the look of it despite it probably being the most suitable all rounder period.
Hilux/Prado (<even) parts etc are plentiful and local machanics know them that well they eat them for breakfast.
Euro type wagons (Pug/Mondeo) etc forget it.
Does he wish stepping back into a Terri or old Falc ? can't go wrong there re parts and mechanic support as well.
.

I think you are right there, I have a certain comfort with the good old Barra, and that makes me hesitate to step outside the grain with a diesel so to speak,
I’m lucky I have time up my sleeve to make the call, I’ve even considered cleaning up and raising the vs to use but think the old 304 will have me visiting more servos than sights of the country,
My son recently brought an old triton to begin his 4x4 learnings, maybe I have to get over the smooth power of a 6 and seriously consider a 4x4

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

Bollocks we hired one in NZ and spent 30 days touring around the South Island, dirt roads and all, the ride was that bad we bought a new one for the missus when we got back, she's on her second one now, there a great little AWD and I'd have no problem recommending one....

Totally agree!
Had a 2014 AWD RAV4 for 5 years in Costa Rica… Absolutely bullet proof and handled conditions there great (believe me… way way worse than here!)
As for ride?… Also regularly drove the 4 odd hr trip to San Jose and back on Pan-American highway.. rode & handled effortlessly!
Boring possibly?…. But feck me, streets ahead of anything in the similar class (especially Korean!)

[Franco Cozzo]

Since its only you and the missus:





What about a Suzuki Carry 4WD? 660cc turbo 3 cylinder, will probably do 80km/h flat out

https://www.ironchefimports.com/cars...uki-carry-4wd/

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Since its only you and the missus:

image

image

What about a Suzuki Carry 4WD? 660cc turbo 3 cylinder, will probably do 80km/h flat out

https://www.ironchefimports.com/cars...uki-carry-4wd/

I was thinking it looks as spartan as a 79 series. Then saw the cup holders in the middle.

[bb_zetec]

That reminds me of our old 2 door Suzuki GV SQ series me and the wife had in early 2000s.

Lethal at anything over 80. Mind you it was well equipped with a CD Player and no less than 6 cupholders for a 4 seat car.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Since its only you and the missus:

image

image

What about a Suzuki Carry 4WD? 660cc turbo 3 cylinder, will probably do 80km/h flat out

https://www.ironchefimports.com/cars...uki-carry-4wd/

No good mate, you’re paying mighty car mods tax on them.
Surely the best touring car is any rental spec Corolla/cerato upto 5yo, tall sidewalls for rubbish roads. Buy it, drive for a year, then sell it for what you bought it for.

[Sprintey]

Another vote for the Territory. If doing lots of gravel, go the best AWD SYII you can get, Barra + AWD is in my signature! Should be less than 20K by now.

If you are doing mainly sealed roads, go the SZ or SZII Barra petrol RWD. That's what I'd look at to replace our 2007 SY AWD (and sadly miss the real full time AWD).

SZ has same ZF as before
SZII has the lighter, more fuel economical one (but more fragile?)

They are superb road/touring cars.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Can’t speak for Melbourne but in Sydney the Wollombi pub is apparently a big journey into the bush.

I seriously think people are overrating their concerns about cars failing. You can be reasonably prepared, accept the rest with good grace and look to see the adventure in it. If you try to second-guess every possibility the journeys become a dead weight of stuff that probably won’t be touched. In later 2019 I drove an Alfa from Sydney to the back-blocks of Melbourne and back (Kinglake area), only stopping to sleep at a truck stop near Gundagai. I knew it had a slipping clutch but nursed it sensibly and all went fine. My point is that even with a modest defect you’re not necessarily finished.

Damn straight. My wife's uncle took an already old and beat up classic Range Rover V8 entirely over the middle of the continent, his prep was to get 2 spare tyres. It... prevailed.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by smoo

Add to that the old cliche of ‘fix it in the bush’.
People aren’t driving Kingswoods or FJ40 cruisers anymore.
If your Falcon trans milkshakes or Terry ball joint separates or V8 cruiser does a starter or any other modern car stops in its tracks **** all is being fixed without a tow truck.

This is probably why a Kingswood at 20K might be in with a chance in this thread.