DECISIONS, DECISIONS!

[the_great_she_elephant]

OK folks, I need advice. the Elephants are looking for a new car. Our little shopping trolley (Suzuki Swift)  has served us faithfully for 21 years and has nearly 300,000 ks on the clock, but it is  now fast approaching retirement. We want something small, nippy and cheap to run  - a car that will only be used around town as we have a Lancer for longer runs.

Options we are looking at are Mitsubishi Mirage, Suzuki Alto, Volkswagon Up!  Nissan Micra, or Mazda 2.

Which one would you recommend and why?

Or would you suggest something other than any of these. (I would dearly love a smart for 2 but Mr Elephant says no and anyway they are a bit outside of our budget.)

[freakiness]

The mirage is a 90s, 00s car. not around in the 70s

[freakiness]

A small Mazda parked next to me yesterday and I was surprised to see rust bubbling through the paint.

[viewmont1071]

Got any dirt on the Yaris viewmont?

recall for models with power windows below. A friend had a switch replaced

http://www.toyota.com.au/news/toyota-recall-due-to-power-window-master-switch

Ticking motor when cold on start up = incorrect/extended engine lubrication maintenance period = engine damage caused by "sludged" sump causing reduced engine life.

[punch*drunk]

Ticking motor when cold on start up = incorrect/extended engine lubrication maintenance period = engine damage caused by "sludged" sump causing reduced engine life.

What does that mean? That the oil should be changed more frequently than they recommend?

[viewmont1071]

Ticking motor when cold on start up = incorrect/extended engine lubrication maintenance period = engine damage caused by "sludged" sump causing reduced engine life.

What does that mean? That the oil should be changed more frequently than they recommend?

No, it means when you are assessing a specific Toyota Yaris in the caryard if the engine ticks upon cold start up then it is probable that sludge has built up in  the sump and in the oil galleries that supply oil to the timing chain. The sludge is caused by changing the oil at greater periods than 10 000 kms as per manufacters specs. It could aslo be caused from the use of an incorrect grade/structure oil.

The Yaris only has a small sump capacity 2.5 litre so the oils capacity to operate effectively is reduced and sludging therefore becomes more critical.

[punch*drunk]

ok, so if it doesnt tick on start up its good and if its already warm when I get there, be suspicious 🙂 I'll be looking for service history too.

[viewmont1071]

ok, so if it doesnt tick on start up its good and if its already warm when I get there, be suspicious 🙂 I'll be looking for service history too.

like;-)

[rosymog]

l can't give you manufacture details etc

l can say l drove the new mirage the LS middle of the range one 4500 kilometres from qld to melbourne last week in varying climates and roads, downthe coast way and back up the Newell hwy and it went fine, better then fine, l couldn't fault it, plenty of go to pass the big semi's and  caravan setups,  up hills down dales etc etc.  comfy. l have got thick sheepskin seat covers on it though.  fuel  lol.  well averaged between 5.6 litres per hundred k's up to 6.8 when l got a bit 'fangy' on it perhaps?  It has taken me a while to get used to it, l am used to driving very large dual cab utes and the like, but its working out ok thus far.  l did find them more responsive then the nissan micra's.  the mazda' 2's are great , l really liked them too but for the extra dollars and mostly l will just be using this car for zipping around locally, l went for the auto mirage.

[karliandjacko]

My sister got a new mirage, so jealous  😄

[joz*garage]

joz my other post came out wrong I didn't mean it to "sound" like it did I apologize. 

thats cool, but, if you meant it to sound like theyre advertisments they arent, theyre C/Ps of independent car reviewers