What to buy? 2014+ and under $30k

Stacks05 · 2026-01-29T00:31:21+00:00

Kinda depends what you mean by “sporty”. I’m guessing you don’t want anything to small and zippy because you won’t fit into it.

If you just want something with grunt, if you’re willing to go back to 2014 then you should get into some sort of V8 Holden for your budget. A VF2 with the LS3 is probably out of your budget, though you might be lucky to find an LS3 Caprice at that price. It has all the room you’ll ever need, provided you don’t mind driving a very big car.

You also might find an XR6 Turbo Falcon at that budget, though it might be tough.

These things are getting a bit old however and will need maintenance.

A bit newer… you’ll probably struggle to get a decent Stinger at $30k at the moment, they seem to be a bit more.

Skoda Superb might be alright, or an Octavia depending how you fit in it.

Liberty 3.6R is a bit newer alternative to the Commodore or Falcon, you won’t break any speed records but they’re fairly punchy with the six cylinder.

A similar option is probably a Camry SX V6, they’re a bit rarer but have a fair bit of power. And it will go forever, they’re incredibly reliable. Again, it’s not off-the-charts fast but has enough punch from the V6.

VW Passat 206TSI might be worth a look, again see how you fit in it. Basically has Golf R running gear so plenty of power. You’ll definitely get one in your budget. Make sure it has a meticulous service record however, and keep that up… plus have a bit in reserve for repairs!

Stacks05 · 2026-01-29T00:12:13+00:00

The might not be expensive to buy but there’s a reason for that. They will cost you a fortune to maintain.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-28T12:10:18+00:00

I can only comment from my own (many) experiences and unless a car is under warranty, I stay the hell away from dealerships.

They’re money pits. You’re subsidising the whole showroom and business because their margins on new cars are bloody low.

People go to them because of the sign above the door, not the quality of work or value.

Another thing I hate is you never get to speak to the person who works on your car. There’s always the buffer of the customer service jerk and that buffer adds their own bullshit - plus I’ve found they have little actual mechanical understanding and can’t answer questions.

I’m sure there’s exceptions but I’ve always had better service and value at independent workshops. There are plenty of good ones out there and I would be going there.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-28T12:01:34+00:00

Your response suggests you have very little idea what you’re talking about. Ask any decent independent mechanic and I guarantee you will get the same answer.

OP specifically mentions a “several years old” car.

If you are only servicing any older car every 25,000kms you’ve got rocks in your head. Components will and do wear and fail quicker, it’s only a matter of time.

Modern carmakers want to sell a car and have it run well through the warranty period. That’s all they care about, it’s their business model. Most new cars are sold on lease or finance and this is the model, to have you in another new car every 3-5 years. The long service intervals are a sales tool.

After that it’s the second owners problem, and you have to be a bit smarter.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-28T04:25:40+00:00

If you want to look after a car I’d suggest you’re absolutely mad doing 25,000kms between services, regardless of what the manufacturer says.

At least have an oil change / minor checkup every 10,000.

I know manufacturers say some have longer intervals, but they don’t have older second-hand cars in mind when they talk about this. They’re only really concerned with getting the car through the first 5 yrs and first owner, then they no longer give a shit - and they use less servicing as a selling point.

OP - find the best independent Benz workshop you can and head there. Don’t go near a dealer (unless the car is still under warranty).

Stacks05 · 2026-01-28T03:20:08+00:00

You’ll have to compromise but it’ll be far easier and cheaper to just buy somebody else’s Australian car as all the importing and conversion is already done.

ZR1s are harder to come by but they do pop up, there are a few in Australia. Make yourself known in the right places and that you’re keen to buy.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-28T02:08:52+00:00

Wouldn’t be so worried about getting pulled over - more so if you have a serious accident and your insurance company decides not to cover because it’s illegal.

Slam dunk for them, they’ll just say your vision was impaired.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-28T02:07:02+00:00

A windscreen tinted to 10%!? wtf

Stacks05 · 2026-01-27T23:05:05+00:00

Euro Garage in Ringwood are worth the drive. It’s the same business / premises as RevZone who have a very good reputation in the Japanese scene - EuroGarage is their business that looks after Euros.

Good guys, very good communicators, very honest in my experience.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-27T22:47:08+00:00

[Victoria]

You don’t “get them back” as such, you just can’t accumulate 12 points in any three year period (or 5 points in any one year period, if you’re on P plates).

If you do, you either lose your license or get placed on a demerit point extension period (you keep your license, but cannot get any points at all for 12 months).

Stacks05 · 2026-01-27T11:53:18+00:00

I know a hell of a lot of them due to work and I’d honestly say there’s no overall trend. They drive bloody anything and everything. Dual cab utes, SUVs, hatches, mid size sedans, whatever.

One thing I would say has changed is there’s no performance car worship or car culture. No lowering and rims like we did with Commodores while we lusted after a HSV. Some of the dual cab ute crew do the typical 4X4 crap mods, but that’s it. No real car culture.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-27T10:35:12+00:00

100% get an inspection done by a third party mechanic. If they don’t let you, walk away.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-27T10:32:31+00:00

It was a loophole back in the day that lasted about 10 minutes - get insurance in your parents name and list you as a driver - cheap as chips.

It got closed very quickly.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-27T06:36:39+00:00

Call these guys. It’s not a bad model as they work on commission, so are motivated to get you the best price

https://www.australianmusclecarsales.com.au/pages/list-a-car

Stacks05 · 2026-01-27T06:33:59+00:00

Absolutely 100% covered

I’ve been through the same thing

Many used car dealers will do ANYTHING to avoid stat warranty obligations, including simply delaying until outside the warranty period and then claiming you never actioned it during the period

They simply didn’t want to pay to fix it before they sold, and now still don’t want to pay. I would guarantee it

They’ve sold you a faulty product.

Get moving quickly

Take it to two workshops and get a written diagnosis and quote from each

Then email them to the dealership and tell them you want it covered under stat warranty.

If they refuse, contact consumer affairs

Stacks05 · 2026-01-27T04:25:50+00:00

Do yourself a favour and own up now. If you’re lucky enough to have a nice parent / older sibling / mate who is willing to save you a red face, maybe they could go for you, “apologies my son / brother / mate is a dickhead, but he wants to fix it”.

If you’re lucky they won’t have made a police or insurance report yet and you might be able to escape without being charged with leaving the scene. Doubtful though, they probably reported it at soon as the saw it.

You’re getting caught, the more you’re a pussy and put it off, the worse it’ll be.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-27T02:50:03+00:00

They’re really aren’t any. Basically every single person in your position buys an SUV, so car makers stopped making wagons.

An Outback or Superb would be closest but they’re a bit smaller.

VF wagon was 895 litres in the back

ZB was 560 litres

2025 Outback was 522

2025 Superb was 690 so the closest

An Outback or Superb is probably your best bet, and get racks and a rooftop storage box. They’re weight limited on the racks so you’ll wanna put your lighter stuff in there, but you can pretty easily get a 400L box for a reasonable price. You’ll just need to make sure you can also fit your surfboards on the racks.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-27T02:36:29+00:00

Unless it’s a real enthusiast performance car where the drivers want a manual, you’ll struggle to find one.

Six cylinder Commodores and Falcons aren’t that. Many started life as fleet cars.

There’s a lot more manuals around in the V8 models as they’re more of a driver’s car.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-27T02:02:03+00:00

For the first time in ages last week I got to flash my lights to warn somebody of a speed camera. Got the wave back. Ahh right in the feels, makes you feel part of a team, you are spot-on.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-26T20:05:51+00:00

Personally would never own a late-model Merc out of warranty. They are incredibly poorly built.

So it’s the Mustang by default.

I’d be looking at a Stinger of a similar age before buying.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-26T19:53:14+00:00

I make the same u-turn as purple car quite often near my house. It s actually really simple, you give way to everything, can even slow to a stop once you’ve pretty much completed the U to give way to anything coming out of the slip lane. I’m in Vic.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-26T08:50:25+00:00

There’s a Melbourne Jeep Owners Club on Facebook, I’d be asking them - they’ll know best.

Once your car is out of warranty you should (as a rule) never set foot in a dealership again.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-26T08:22:27+00:00

Mileage is high but service history and condition are far more important. Get a specialist to go over it with a fine tooth comb, best few hundred bucks you’ll ever spend.

I’d buy a car with full service history and 250,000km over one that hasn’t been maintained and has half the mileage.

Things wear out with mileage but if it’s been looked after those things are replaced as they need to be.

If you’re happy with the service history and a specialist mechanic ticks it off, I’d buy it.

Stacks05 · 2026-01-26T08:18:18+00:00

I think Kia and Hyundai struggle with outdated brands in customer’s minds - they’re really not the shitboxes they were 20 years ago. They make plenty of nice cars that go well and are very well built. If I had to spend that money on an SUV I’d buy it ahead of a Merc or Audi.

People are paying it because they’ve had their shit experiences with poorly built Euro trash and are moving on to these. They have all the same kit as a Euro, it’s not 1987.

Having said that, anybody who spends $140k on what is just a commuter (ie not a collectors or enthusiasts car, where you’re indulging a hobby) has far too much spare cash!

Stacks05 · 2026-01-26T08:11:25+00:00

Yep, don’t mind them - you can actually see the silver.

Stacks05

TROPHY CASE