Okay so i am looking at a first car that i will actually own, as a p-plater i obviously must have an N/A and my requirements also include airbags, and be a manual. I was wondering how much i am looking at spending buying something that is in good condition and basically stock. Also wondering if you guys think this is a good idea for a first car? Will i be spending too much on maintenance, what should i look out for when buying, are they reliable, how rare are parts. etc... Thanks heaps
Fine for a first car as long a you've got the coin to maintain it. Not going to be cheap. Are you still in cool? No RHD Z32 had airbags, but the mid-models had a driver's side airbag. They're much much less common than the earlier models, and generally go for a bit more money. There's an immaculate looking '97 slicktop N/A manual (with airbag) for sale here at the moment. Looks the goods but it's 11k.
Yeah i am still in school, and i am looking at spending less than 7200, would prefer a ttop, but i will go for what i can get, i need airbags, and i dont want to be spending heaps to maintain it. How much would you estimate i would spend per year to maintain, what sort of jobs would i be doing?
Honestly no way to say. These cars are at the age where random shit fails all the time. You need to have the money ready to keep the car going. Fuel bills are also going to run you out of house and home. You would be better off budgeting maybe 5 for the car and keep the rest for maintenance. Wouldn't be clinging on too hard to the airbag idea either
Unfortunately the airbags is not an idea, if i cant get one with airbags, i cant get one fullstop, do you think the risk is worth it, is there a high chance of it majorly screwing me over, or is it worth the risk? I want to keep the car for 2-3 years and not have to spend mroe than 2k on maintenance or lose 2k on value, beside basics like services, maybe timing belts, or unfortunately a high pressure power steering hose.
Personally I'd rather buy one without an airbag rather than risk a 20yo. airbag going off in my face in a car with 20yo. airbag technology. You're restricted to 1994+ zeds there which is fairly rare, that said there's this one this this or this.
I agree with you ryzan, unfortunately it is a rule set by my family, and as for the cars you linked, the first one is perfect besides its distance away from me, i am only looking for manual, and the last one is a bit too expensive for me. And that last one, the swap or trade, i got that one in my sights, offered him cash, he said not yet, maybe he'll consider cash if nobody trades something. But that last one is what i am after, if i was to get one checked by a mechanic and he was to say it was in good condition, do you think there are high chances of things breaking at random, i dont want to go spending more than half the value of the car to keep it healthy.
Don't buy a Z32 Honestly, you can spend less than 7K on other far, FAAAAR....more pocket friendly cars for example say a 2001-2002 KQ Laser SR1.8 OR SR2.0 (Mazda equivalent: 323-SP2 - 2L) with air bags and with the 2L you get the works. Great suspension setup. Dual Airbags, Economical, good power for a P plater. Bulletproof mechanicals. Fantastic looking cars with the spoiler kits and sports wheels. Parts at any wreckers and on Ebay. Quiet on long trips. Easy to park. I warned you. Sorry Z lovers. The Z32's are awesome, but at the age that they are now and for someone on P plates they require maintenance and can hit the pocket hard especially after they hit a wall Also, they will be run down to nothing and devalue them even further. I wouldn't recommend. IMO My 0.5c worth. Peter
Yes, it's a complex, old car at the end of the day and if you can't swing a spanner on it yourself I'd plan to spend a couple grand on maintenance at the least. The less you spend on the car the more you'll probably spend on the maintenance. Budget for a major 100k service (timing belt, water pump etc.) and a plenum pull (replacing all the fuel, water and air hoses on the top of the engine) at the very least. And that's assuming you don't have any other problems to fix from 20 years of wear and tear.
So you're suggesting i would be spending a min of like 2500 on maintenance for 3 years of owning it, is that assuming i buy one in poor condition. If i was to find one with regular servicing that perhaps had already had the 100k service would i still be looking at a high possibility of high maintenance, or are these things reliable enough that i may be looking at just your average servicing?
Would you call any 20+ year old car reliable? Honestly I think you're asking a lot to find an airbag model with all the work done and in manual at what you're wanting to spend. As far as maintenance goes you're probably going to spend more in the first year fixing everything up than just routine maintenance down the track. There was a young kid who signed up here recently bought a nice auto 95 aus spec zed for about 6k or so I think and spent another 3k+ just on small things getting it up to scratch for rego.
Okay, thanks heaps everyone, i appreciate the input, maybe ill keep my eyes out for a suitable one, maybe ill change my requirements and go for a subaru which my family are good with. I'll keep you informed, and please keep the input coming guys, i dont want to buy a lemon, but i do want a zed for cheap.
Jimmy, the pick of the crop is the last one IMO. It looks like a nice well looked after unit. Have a look at the maintenance log book that he says he has & look to see how well it's been maintained & what parts have been replaced if any. The two you really want see that have been done are the 100tho Klm service & the under plenum water by pass. If they have been done that's good because they're the two that are most important. It doesn't matter what car you own they all have to be maintained. I know a later model car is less likely to give you trouble but that is not a given either. Parts wear, parts break, parts can be faulty. Why not see if a forum member will go with you & check it out you might be surprised. Good luck.
If i come across a good deal, and if this guy takes cash i will do that, thanks heaps, ill keep my eyes out for one that is in real good condition. And i will find out if a forum member can check it out with me.
Where are you and the car located? I can check head gasket, compression and error codes for not much... Cheap insurance
commodore or falcon? sorry to be the devils advocate but lets be real.. you want something cheap RWD and parts everywhere.... these 2 cars have just check every single f*cking box.
When you say you need airbags, do you actually mean your parents want a car with airbags for your safety? These cars are terrible first cars btw. More expensive than most to maintain, harder to work on, parts cost more. If you just want something RWD and manual to do skids, a Falcodore is the best choice. Break it and buy another one. They're cheap to replace / fix. $5k gets you a lot of commodore. I've been looking at VT S packs with LSD so I can do skids too.
If you are considering a Subaru, then you don't care about the sports car style of the Zed. So plenty of options out there. P platers can only have one passenger, right or wrong? If he is going Commodore or Falcon, then get a two seater because they are better at the skids :br: but I would guess they hold their value better and are heaps more useful for a bloke than two useless seats in a sedan.
