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Hi -- My Subaru Legacy has got to that age/mileage where it's costing too much in repairs, and I need to find another station wagon in time for our family camping roadtrip coming up!

I've got a few questions about buying a car. I hope it's OK to have them all in the same message.

I don't know a lot about cars but I'm wanting something reliable and safe for the family, with lots of space for camping gear and trips to the tip, etc. So I want boring and sturdy and, I'm guessing, Japanese. And I can't spend more than 10K and would rather spend around 7K.

1. Auto vs Manual. I've always gone for Manual, partly because I prefer it as a driver, and partly because I've always believed an Auto will be more expensive to run, more likely to break down, and more expensive to repair. However, trying to find a Manual car is proving difficult. Am I misguided in my beliefs about the superiority of a manual gearbox, or should I not worry what sort of transmission the car has?

2. Is it better to have a chain belt or a normal cambelt?

3. Can you suggest places to look for the sort of car I'm after? I've been looking at the AA site, TradeMe, and Autotrader, as well as a few dealer sites (I'm in Wellington), but am not coming up with many cars that fit my criteria.

4. I'm currently looking at, in order of preference, Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Corolla wagon, Ford Mondeo. Would you recommend adding or subtracting anything from this list?

5. What would you recommend as an upper odometer reading for buying second-hand?

6. As with Auto transmission, I've also been avoiding Turbocharged vehicles as being likely to cost a lot in repairs. Is this sensible or not?

Thanks in advance for your help. This is a great service!

Sadie.

Hi Sadie,

Just my two cents but I would add these cars to your list as well

2003-2007 Mazda 6/Atenza wagon: These are fantastic cars with a lot of room which handle really well. They're chain driven so no cambelt to worry about. They are popular so tend to hold their value well and will be in the upper limit of your price range. Its quite a good looking car as well and is pretty reliable. Comes in a 2.0 or 2.3L engine

2003-2007 Honda Accord Euro Wagon: The Accord wagon has a high back which may not be to everyone's liking and it is generally cheaper than the sedan version- which is great for you! Its quite roomy and handling is fantastic. It also comes with a 5Spd auto trans which is very smooth and economical. It comes in a 2 or 2.4L engine. It will be cheaper than the Mazda 6 and is also chain driven

I agree with the above comments on the Mazda 6/Atenza and Honda Accord as long as you can find them in your price range. You could also consider the Toyota Corolla or Caldina with a 1.8L (non-D4) engine - stay away from the 2.0L models as they will likely be fitted with a direct-injection motor that can be costly to repair if something goes wrong.

The manual gearbox is cheaper to repair in most cases and any mechanic should be able to repair it whereas an automatic transmission should be repaired by a trained/specialist auto-transmission repairer and the parts can be costly.

You should look for a low mileage vehicle but in this price range you might struggle. Look for a vehicle with less than 150,000km. Stay away from a turbocharged vehicle in this price range - stick with something basic.

Thanks heaps for your help Pat and Donavan.

I have a few cars watchlisted to think about viewing now.

Do you have any thoughts about the difference between:

an automatic 1999 Toyota Camry GS wagon, 120k on the odometer, 2164cc, cambelt replaced at 100k; and

a manual 2003 Ford Mondeo wagon, 150k on the odometer, 2000 cc, with timing chain; and

an automatic 2002 Toyota Corolla Fielder S wagon, 115k odo, 1800cc, imported, not sure if cambelt done.

Thanks again. :-)

They're all pretty good mainstream cars. What's the pricing like- that will help the guys give you better advice

Oh, also a manual Subaru Legacy TS-R 2000, 85k on odo, cambelt done, 1990cc.

Thanks!

The Toyota Camry or Toyota Corolla Fielder would be the better options as the mileage is lower - the risks of a major mechanical failure will be less than a 150,000km vehicle. To choose between the Camry and Fielder you need to check which vehicle has the better maintenance history - at a guess it would seem the Camry as the cambelt has been replaced at the correct mileage. The Fielder 1.8L motor is a good option for everyday use whereas the 2.2L Camry will be a bit thirstier. Let’s hope that the Fielder has been well maintained then you could try negotiating a better price as the cambelt will need replacing.

Unless you need an AWD vehicle (Subaru Legacy) you are better to avoid buying one. The maintenance costs are a lot more as there are more drivetrain components and more things to go wrong. Also the fuel economy will be higher too.