Ok - I have some ideas of what I want myself...
For someone wanting to obvious fit kiting gear in the boot/ hatch area, before I go to check them out and test drive them myself later in the week, what do you recc. for an AUTO under $21 k drive away.
I know sales are on atm; before 31st March, so let me know.
Brisbanites especially who know of some good deals! =]
Thanks in advance 
I am guessing you also want a 4cyl for economy and to only fit kiting gear easily?
Do you want a mini SUV thing to get down beaches (easy 4WD'ing)?
In the mean time, for little cars, Toyota, Subaru and Honda for quality.
Let us know what you decide Liz, I'll be following this thread with interest. I will be upgrading my small car to another small car within the next 1-2 years. However, unless I was buying a sports car, I'll probably get another 2nd hand mule (5-10 years old).
Ja
why do you want to buy a new car. you will lose 5k as soon as you drive out of the showroom.
anyway, shameless plug of my fully pimped out 2001 CR-V Sport (black).http://www.carsales.com.au/used-cars/private/HONDA/CR-V/details.aspx?R=6844164&__Dx=mode%20matchany&__Ntk=CarRego&State=All%20States&__Nne=20®o=266jzu&__D=266jzu&silo=1003&seot=0&__sid=12000AA0B73A&state_id=0&__N=0%201216%20834%20285%20257&__Ns=pCar_PrivateSpecialFlag_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_ImageCount_Int32%7c1%7c%7cpCar_LastModifiedDate_DateTime%7c1&__Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&distance=25&Cr=0&__Ntt=266jzu&trecs=1
Get a subi forester thats a coupla years old. One of the turbo ones.
Those things can really shift with a very small amount of work.
Dont buy new, that is my big tip. If you are looking up to $21000 you will get an ace car second hand. I just recently bought a subi. I test drove dozens of small and medium sized cars and it was by far the best drive. Comfortable, kick arse stereo for a factory one, and should be good for several hundred thousand km.
As for carting gear, pay attention to what size your board is, only one of my boards fits in the boot, the other is too long so it has to poke through the centre fold down bit of the rear seat.
Another vote for not buying new, especially in today's economic climate. 2 Years old from a dealer and you should be able to get a very good price on a low mileage motor. Hondas have definitely got a good reputation at the moment.
Chris
I would also recommend going secondhand, my mate just bought a i think 05-06 VW Golf 2.0 TDI for $20k.
Really tidy car, heaps of grunt and he gets 5L/100km in it too :D
I wouldn't recommend one to a windsurfer, but probably perfect for a kiter.
I'll be following this with interest too. My sister has the exact same question.
I've shown her some 2nd hand options, as of course you get better value for money (including a 4yr old BMW 318i)
... but what she is looking for is low cost of ownership over the next 5 years, and I just can't go past her current choice:
A brand new Toyota Corolla (yawn)
www.toyota.com.au/corolla
Toyota + 3yr warranty inc. guaranteed $120 service = low cost of ownership.
Any other suggestions welcomed.
on a serious note I would have to agree with the toyota corolla....(also good resale value)
When I went through this a couple of years ago, subaru came with the most fruit by a mile... Servicing it has never been $120 though, ever
The last couple years has been a disaster with cars and now have gone away from European Cars (Audi and Landrover) to a Toyota RAV4 - second hand low kms.
No breakdowns, cheap to run, can load up with boards, luggage, other toys and bikes on back. With the extra load, it doesn't seem to affect the driving of the car at 100 to 110km/h.
I haven't taken it offroad yet - but I've heard that they are pretty good on most tracks and some beaches.
After sales service from dealer is great and the bank account hasn't been copping the hiding it was with the expenses from the other two cars.
There are a lot of Nissan Navaras within that price range, though I think you'll find they're all manual transmission.
i agree with the gents who have said you'll get better value for money buying a low km, recent year model, second hand car. I have just bought an 04 subi outback for less than you are talking and its fantastic.
best bits of advice i can give buying a secondhand car is
1- buy a japanese car, preferably, honda, toyota, subaru or nissan. they are so reliable and also hold their resale value better than many others.
2. get an RACQ pre purchase inspection done on any car you are seriously intrested in. they check hundreds of different points and can find mots of things that could be expensive later.
3. run the car you want to buy through this website (it costs money) they will tell you if its title is clear, if its stolen or if its been written off previously.
www.autocheck.com.au/?gclid=CObEjvO6vZkCFZgtpAod32gg5w
Sister just bought the Corolla. Meh, it's a sensible decision.
Personally I'm kinda... nah, I love my current car... but this is perfect for boards and gear...http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/dealer/details.aspx?R=6960657
70,000Kms
White
LEATHER
Dual sunroofs.
"All options"
Outback with a little more clearance.
$17K asking price
Droool.
Im working on a similar budgt for my daughter, and the subaru forester keeps coming to the front of the recommended list. I would lik to try one on a beach first tho
Thanks heaps fellas. I've taken your advice, and had a good look at a Nissan X-Trail, Navara (which yes Pat, I need a manual license; that's my goal for the end of the year) and Subi Forester.
My Mums just recently bought a new Forester which she loves, but yes, I see the sense in buying second hand.
I hav my eye on this atm.
2004 NISSAN X-TRAIL T30 II ST
144,672km BUT I can take it on the beach... yeah!?
$14 990
Noice
I just got me a Nissan Navara after much much debate and kerfuffle.
She's a beaut tho and am very very happy with my purchase.
Now Elizabeth wasn't there something sometime ago about if i had a Navara then you'd..........
If you are looking for something 80% driving around town, down the highway etc, but with beach ability, go the x-trail for sure. I have a couple of mates who swear by their x-trails; they love the beach, camping etc, but dont want proper 4wd ability.
I say bring back the swb Patrol... (ok, another conversation, probably best left alone)
if it didn't require an oil refinery to run one i'd have a SWB patrol also. big fan.
hyundai are releasing a wagon version of the i30 sometime in the next few months.
not top of the road with quality but certainly better than a lot of other cars on the road these days.
and dirt cheap to run. the sedan is the most economical around.
euro lines for a bogan budget.
but it's a hyundai so i'm not recommending anything.
looking towards on for my next car. 
In general the suzi's are well built cars. Some have small persistent problems but in general are pretty solid, the new Grand Vitara is definitely in the list to consider for my next car.
Anyone who thinks toyotas of late are reliable is kidding themselves, i've had dramas with them some of which have taken many months to resolve and there is a long wait on some parts. Excluding the 4wd's they feel lightly built and interiors belong in the 80's. That all said i'm not all anti toyota- the new camry/aurion are a nice bit of kit... they feel more solid, the interior has improved, they handle better etc. Corolla's are boring as but consistent, i've never been a fan of the handling but they straight line well. The corolla and yaris haven't impressed me on fuel economy either. In short toyota- they are just a car.
Nissan- the 4wd's are great, the x-trail is a good car my only critisism is the interior being a bit bland. The jap built nissans are acceptable 350z/maxima/skyline (great engines and some nice features), though looking at all makes again they are just a car. Stay away from the smaller stuff- tiida's i like as much as kia (not at all).
Holden- (cuz liz was considering one) holden made a bad move with shifting almost their entire range to daewoo build. The euro cars didn't look that bad, the top astras where nice cars. The captiva has been selling well but isn't as nice as outlander etc but hey it's looks that matter to soccer mums. In short the only holden I would consider is commodore and im not a fan of the way they drive much anymore either.
BMW- haha hahaha make sure you are in racq.
Hyundai- I actually like the Getz 1.6 its a well built little car and it's surprising how much stuff you can fit into them, the syncros have a life of 60-80,000k's so go the auto. I'm not much of a fan for the i30, new elantra etc. Hyundai apparently last year spent more on r&d than any other make. The new 300hp rwd thing they are making will kick holden in the balls if they bring it here and it handles well.
So brands I would consider-
Mazda in general good cars, a bit pricey but well kitted, some fuel consumption issues.
Ford at the moment their range is great (and that is coming from someone who was never a ford fan).
Subaru some engine fouling issues, I wish the interior of the Forester/Impreza was similar to the liberty (it may have improved, i've not been in them for a while).
Honda- great cars, good on fuel, go well, kitted well, a bit pricey and some parts can cost a bit too.
Mitsubishi- some are built a bit light, but generally consistent. The 380 vrx and new outlander vrx are the only cars i've driven in the last few years where I have gone "I want one of these". Though the outlanders gearing takes a bit to get used to. My wife not long after bought the previous Outlander vrx which we both love (it could use a turbo though... mmm).
Liz watch the km's of any car you buy, 2nd hand I try to grab them not above 110,000. Cars unfortunately are not built to last as long as say your skyline. No late model cars are reliable above 300,000 and certainly no resale value above that so make sure you wont go above that with an average of 30,000km/year x the life of your loan. Negotiate your on-roads and even small things such as getting the dealer to tint the windows etc. Dealers have alot of room to move, if they tell em you aren't happy with the offer and walk away- there are always other cars to look at.
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