Ask an expert

My husband is looking to buy a second hand work vehicle and would appreciate some advice.

He is a self employed builder and is looking for a van/ute/light truck that offers the best value for money in terms of fuel economy, practicality, reliability and driver safety.

He is keen on a Toyota Hiace but due to financial constraints we can probably only afford something in the $10,000 bracket.

What are the best options in your opinion?

Cathy

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 14 December 2009

It would depend on the distance the vehicle may travel in one year as to my recommendation.

For a total distance of less than 20,000km's a year, I would suggest you consider petrol over diesel if your budget is around the $10,000 mark.

I say this because servicing on a older diesel can be more expensive and more frequent than a petrol and with the gap in petrol and diesel pricing narrowing in recent times, the advantages of diesel have become less and less.

Add to that the recent increase in Road User Charges and registration costs and petrol may be more favourable option to you in the long run.

The mainstream Japanese brands are the ones I would start to look at first.

You may only get one airbag and anti locking brakes as far as safety goes with the price range you are in.

I would start by visiting your local new car dealerships to see if they have any trade-ins which may fit your budget.

Remember, you do have some peace of mind buying off a dealer as they have some responsibilities re warranty if you were to have mechanical problems after purchase.

Be careful if you buy privately. Do a vehicle history check for example to ensure there is no money owing on the vehicle before you commit to buy.