Good value second hand cars - COVID times, Falcon/Commodore tax

[oldel]

Like I mentioned in the other thread, seriously thinking about landrovers.
But that's only because of where I work dealing in 4x4 gear. My boss has a ranger but got insulted because it wasn't the new model (they're ordering a new dual cab landcruiser but of course a 1 year waiting list at least)

I think if they got classic old 4x4 no one can pull you up on the fact it's 3 years old if it's a classic 30-40 year old and that's the point.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by oldel

Like I mentioned in the other thread, seriously thinking about landrovers.
But that's only because of where I work dealing in 4x4 gear. My boss has a ranger but got insulted because it wasn't the new model (they're ordering a new dual cab landcruiser but of course a 1 year waiting list at least)

I think if they got classic old 4x4 no one can pull you up on the fact it's 3 years old if it's a classic 30-40 year old and that's the point.

Got two mates with Land Rovers, they are great when they are going, I reckon they spend about 66.6% of their time at the mechanics. One mate calculated its cost him $24500 all up in 10 years for maintenance

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Got two mates with Land Rovers, they are great when they are going, I reckon they spend about 66.6% of their time at the mechanics. One mate calculated its cost him $24500 all up in 10 years for maintenance

My mum had an 01 mercedes m class from new. Traded it in in 2017 for $3500. The 18 months before she traded it it cost her $21,000 in repairs. No accident damage, just faulty electronic modules and such that need proprietary software to program to the car.
The car had 200k on it, but youd expect a lot better from a luxury car manufacturer.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

My mum had an 01 mercedes m class from new. Traded it in in 2017 for $3500. The 18 months before she traded it it cost her $21,000 in repairs. No accident damage, just faulty electronic modules and such that need proprietary software to program to the car.
The car had 200k on it, but youd expect a lot better from a luxury car manufacturer.

I'm betting that she took it to a dealer to sort out.

A lot of independent mechanics that work on Euro's have the equivalent to Benz's STAR diagnostic system.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by GasoLane

I'm betting that she took it to a dealer to sort out.

A lot of independent mechanics that work on Euro's have the equivalent to Benz's STAR diagnostic system.

They'd probably have the Mercedes STAR diagnostic system if Mercedes didn't want circa $15,000-$20,000 per YEAR for it.

We had one in the company where I did my apprenticeship, we'd send it between all the branches nationally via couriers.

I'm surprised it didn't get damaged/lost, might as well as go to Crown Casino and chuck $20,000 on 0/00 split on the roulette table if you're trusting Australia Post with that kind of spondoolies

The genuine Ford IDS was a bit cheaper, from memory was circa $3800 USD for the scanner equipment itself and then only $660 USD per year, but it also did Ford, Mazda, Jaguar et al. Not sure if it still does all that now given they're not part of the group anymore.

But OEM diagnostics are so much better than all the aftermarket stuff, especially when you're talking an electronics orphan like the Falcon.

Noticed even Pajeros are now demanding circa $20K for 10+ year old unleaded V6 variations, they used to be good value, I guess compared to an equivalent Land Cruiser or Patrol they still would be but it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

[oldel]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Got two mates with Land Rovers, they are great when they are going, I reckon they spend about 66.6% of their time at the mechanics. One mate calculated its cost him $24500 all up in 10 years for maintenance

There's two types of euro owners. Those with newer ones that like throwing away money (new or near new, and buying for the badge and can't DIY), or those that want a DIY classic that isn't stupid amounts of aussie tax.

Yeah, I'm not interested in paying dumb money for a falcon, kingswood, commo or toyota, patrol etc; neither would I take a modern euro that's semi broken or cheap.
But older ones were fine and because of opinions like yours, cheap in comparison.

E:
my 2005 BA ute cost me $15500 (in 2010) and I've had to rebuild trans ($4k), it has electrical gremlins, needs a respray, did headliner some rubber, gaskets brakes.
My 1990 e34 cost me $2400 (in 2017), I did headliner and some rubber, hoses, gaskets, susp and brakes, (about $4k). No electrical gremlins, can still buy most parts, doesn't need a respray! Probably worth more than the falcon these days as well.

Don't mean to bite your head off., but the conversation ended up talking about a 2001 merc. While there's some iconic mercs around the owners aren't really in the diy category and neither were the landrovers you mentioned.
I first liked maxdas, then fords, then bmws, going back into the hey days where they'd be running around bathurst (falcons, rx3s, bmws etc)

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by oldel

There's two types of euro owners. Those with newer ones that like throwing away money (new or near new, and buying for the badge and can't DIY), or those that want a DIY classic that isn't stupid amounts of aussie tax.

Yeah, I'm not interested in paying dumb money for a falcon, kingswood, commo or toyota, patrol etc; neither would I take a modern euro that's semi broken or cheap.
But older ones were fine and because of opinions like yours, cheap in comparison.

E:
my 2005 BA ute cost me $15500 (in 2010) and I've had to rebuild trans ($4k), it has electrical gremlins, needs a respray, did headliner some rubber, gaskets brakes.
My 1990 e34 cost me $2400 (in 2017), I did headliner and some rubber, hoses, gaskets, susp and brakes, (about $4k). No electrical gremlins, can still buy most parts, doesn't need a respray! Probably worth more than the falcon these days as well.

Don't mean to bite your head off., but the conversation ended up talking about a 2001 merc. While there's some iconic mercs around the owners aren't really in the diy category and neither were the landrovers you mentioned.
I first liked maxdas, then fords, then bmws, going back into the hey days where they'd be running around bathurst (falcons, rx3s, bmws etc)

Didn't bite my head off mate, all good.

I just bought a 2009 335i convertable for $7500, which is good value, but I will flip it, because even being a little DIY, if anything electrical goes wrong, it'll be $$$.

My falcons have cost me practically nothing and i've only had good experiences. I'm blessed that I have mates that know them back to front and help me. I currently own 6 falcons and a territory, upkeep is bugger all. For my manual V8 Au's, the prices have sky rocketed and mine are worth a pretty penny now. horses for courses i guess. No way I would pay what mine would fetch now.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Didn't bite my head off mate, all good.

I just bought a 2009 335i convertable for $7500, which is good value, but I will flip it, because even being a little DIY, if WHEN anything electrical goes wrong, it'll be $$$.

My falcons have cost me practically nothing and i've only had good experiences. I'm blessed that I have mates that know them back to front and help me. I currently own 6 falcons and a territory, upkeep is bugger all. For my manual V8 Au's, the prices have sky rocketed and mine are worth a pretty penny now. horses for courses i guess. No way I would pay what mine would fetch now.

Fixed, there's a reason that sort of Euro stuff depreciates so quickly

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by oldel

Like I mentioned in the other thread, seriously thinking about landrovers.
But that's only because of where I work dealing in 4x4 gear. My boss has a ranger but got insulted because it wasn't the new model (they're ordering a new dual cab landcruiser but of course a 1 year waiting list at least)

I think if they got classic old 4x4 no one can pull you up on the fact it's 3 years old if it's a classic 30-40 year old and that's the point.

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Here's one - what about second hand 4x4s that aren't Toyota or Nissan?

Land Cruiser and Patrol have gone absolutely crazy, even the unpopular unleaded variations that used to sell for sub $10K are now well over $20K, and diesel, forget about it.

What other out the box options are now 'in the box' because of the prices of the usual suspects?

Yep, my young fellow did just this during 2020-1 and Toyaniski prices going mental was a contributor, so he got a LR with all the time to go 4wding. The early Disco has appreciated in price a little since, too. He didn't get negged for it at all, the other offroad guys loved the V8 rumble and roar. Maintenance wise, he got a good one, that had been maintained well. Little electrical stuff has occurred, like indicators needing replacement switch unit, but it's a 28 year old car! Overall, very reliable so far. Daily driver and work beast.

[Sprintey]

And for me a common garden variety VF or SZ wagon has some appeal, just the 6, maybe even the base model with cloth trim (leathers age so poorly). They've probably gone up the 30% the used car market went up, but are about to go back down now we've been hit with the beginnings of interest rate rises on top of fuel going up. That said, I don't consider them too expensive compared to some of the other daylight robbery in pricing of most things new, and I know the drivetrain (on Ford at least) will last for ever.