[mickd]

Got that " Dad, there's something WRONG  with my car "call yesterday. 
She was returning to Canberra,  heard  a rattle and pulled over .
Got there,  filled radiator,  cranked it and blew most of the water back out.   
Whatever the reason her 97 Mazda 323 with 127k km is   

The to Canberra and back trip was at 6.2 to 6.5 /100 at 120kmh.  The only good news.

Looking at 2007 to 2011 models
Will go manual to avoid possible auto valve body faults and will stick to petrol.
Any thoughts or suggestions on these or the Kia  versions would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance  👍

Anyone want to buy a cheap 323 , good mags / tyres ? 

[Surferdude]

If you move forward just one year (to 2012) you get into the current model Accent.
On my advice both my daughter and my sister-in-law have these.
They're sort of like an FD i30 at 90% of the size. But at 6'2" I'm more than comfortable in them.
My daughter drove hers to Darwin when she worked up there for a year. I went up with her and flew back, reversing that a year later.
The car was loaded up to the hilt with enough stuff to add the weight of 3  adults in the back seat, PLUS a boot full.
Cruised easily on the Barkley Highway at up to 160 130 kph  . Even in October the aircon never needed to go above the second setting.
Both these cars are manual, petrol.

[Dazzler]

Sorry to hear that Mick. 

Just had a look on Carsales and not much if any difference in price between a 2011 and a 2012 Accents. There are a few reasonable 2012 Accents  under 8k in NSW. Hopefully your Daughter can stretch to one of those.

Edit: see below, she mightn't have to!

Strangely, i30's of the same vintage are even cheaper!    From about $6,000! (The one for $4500 is damaged)  Although the mileages are up a bit. (Yippee, a potential new member!) 

We've taken a wrong turn

[nzenigma]

Hi Mick,

As they say sh*t happens. Unlucky too because the 323 was a decent car.
I haven't dabbled directly in the Accent, but like the Corolla competitor they can be popular because they have the larger and more secure boot.
I wouldn't discount the auto i30 / accent because of the rare valve body failure. That said; We should await  our resident key board warriors who will tune in with every alleged failure , irrespective of its relevance.
But, the positive is this, if you like a manual gearbox, in Oz you are a rare specimen ( as I am) and you will find they are cheaper and more negotiable than the auto.
G'Luk mate, G 

[mickd]

Great start so far,
Thanks guys, 

We got the 323 with 97kkm, 5 1/2 years ago.

Dazz, she's doing a double degree at ANU in Canberra, 
I'll be the one sttrreetttccchhheeeddd ,      

[beerman]

If she is doing 6k per year and is studying at uni, would uber, the occasional hire car and well booked flights home be cheaper?

[mickd]

Hi Beerman,
It may be , but would be bus /train instead of plane.
Also looking for a new job and wheels may well be needed.
What we get will now do her until she can afford to replace it herself and that will be5 years at least.

Must say am thinking of getting low water alarms fitted to our cars.

[mickd]

Thanks for all the input,  looked at a couple of both and was disappointed.
Scored a RED 2012 FD Trophy hatch, 53k km, all up just over $10 k.




img free

[Surferdude]

Nice

[Dazzler]

Nice find! Your daughter should be very happy with that. 

[nzenigma]

Mate, nice, uncomplicated, German designed, proven reliable, car with' just run-in' Kms. And its RED 

[The Gonz]

... and it's got the 16" alloys and not those steel and plastic combos.

[mickd]

Thanks all,
Yeah she's absolutely wrapped. 
Will fit a low coolant alarm next week,  probably like shutting the door after the horse has bolted,
but if it  happened again. .............

[John B]

That looks really nice.  Safe car as well.