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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: McGirr on October 21, 2011, 08:27:21 PM

Title: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: McGirr on October 21, 2011, 08:27:21 PM
Ok here is the challenge!! Out of 100% what percentage do you rate the following when choosing a new vehicle:

Appearance

Features

Reliability

Value for money

I could add more but it would become messy so let's keep it to these 4 catergories. Please no Nissan , Toyota , Mazda etc crap. It would be interesting to see what people value most.

Mark 
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: CRW on October 21, 2011, 08:37:01 PM
Ok here is the challenge!! Out of 100% what percentage do you rate the following when choosing a new vehicle:

Appearance 5%

Features 10%

Reliability  75%

Value for money 10%

I could add more but it would become messy so let's keep it to these 4 catergories. Please no Nissan , Toyota , Mazda etc crap. It would be interesting to see what people value most.

Mark 
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Maîneÿ . . . on October 21, 2011, 09:53:46 PM
Appearance: 1 %

Features: 30 %

Reliability: 30 %

Value for money: 9 %

I would add 'usability' too: 30 %

No good buying something you absolutely love the look of but has no useful purpose at all to you  ;D

Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Dion on October 21, 2011, 10:35:39 PM
Ok here is the challenge!! Out of 100% what percentage do you rate the following when choosing a new vehicle:

Appearance

Features

Reliability

Value for money

I could add more but it would become messy so let's keep it to these 4 catergories. Please no Nissan , Toyota , Mazda etc crap. It would be interesting to see what people value most.

Mark 

Sorry, I have to change your list and add safety.

Safety ... 50%.
Reliability ... 25%.
Value for money ... 25%.

Safety is my biggest factor when buying a vehicle.

(I suppose I could also add ... size ... not many vehicles take my 2m frame)
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: GU_Thomo on October 22, 2011, 06:32:40 AM
Street Cred ...............100% ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Cheers
Parry
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Bill on October 22, 2011, 06:52:18 AM
Appearance: 4 %

Features: 1 %

Reliability: 90 %

Value for money: 5 %

Bill and Morag
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: cdustbehindme on October 22, 2011, 07:35:26 AM
Appearance 2%

Features 8%

Reliability 80%

Value for money 10%

and as someone mentioned before safety would be a biggy......

MIght have to paste results in the new mazda bt50 thread  ;D hahahahaha
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: cancan on October 22, 2011, 08:56:58 AM
Appearance 10%  You have to like the looks of the car, hate to buy something that I thought was but ugly

Features 30%  never worried about features but now that we are car hunting and currently spoiled with features finding it hard to drop some

Reliability 40%  normally change cars before they get old enough to have issues but less hassles the better

Value for money 20%  Try to get the best deal possible

safety is rated above all else and also useability, can buy the best looking car with the most features that is super reliable and great value but if it doesnt suit the required purpose then useless

Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: McGirr on October 22, 2011, 11:27:32 AM
Appearance 2%

Features 8%

Reliability 80%

Value for money 10%

and as someone mentioned before safety would be a biggy......

MIght have to paste results in the new mazda bt50 thread  ;D hahahahaha

Thats why I started this thread... ;D
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: morgue on October 22, 2011, 01:10:08 PM
I look at 80% reliability...not just with the 4wd, but with the aftersales service and the ability to get spares...no good being stuck outback with roadside service when it would take 5 days for spares, because the dealer is in Darwin and you are stuck in the Kimberly.
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Captain on October 22, 2011, 01:31:10 PM
Just to add a different perspective, when looking at a NEW vehicle, I don't really rate reliabilty !!!

What NEW vehicle isn't reliable? All the Great Walls, Kia's, Jap & Pommy vehicles are very, very reliable and in the first 3+ years of ownership, you get the odd issue with an individual vehicle but there isn't a vehicle made today that has a generic failure within the 3-5 year range IMHO.

So, if reliabilty isn't an issue, what features do I look for?  Safety has to be number one, but again virtually all vehicle meet this now (some models like Great Walls may not pass the personal safety factor level). For me ABS and airbags are a minimum and things like VSC, traction control etc... are highly desirable.

While looks is nice, my vehicle would have to be one of the blandest vehicles in the market so I can say that looks is way down on the priority level.

The pretty much leaves functionality/features as THE deciding factor. No good getting a single cab if you are a family of 4. I would have a HUMVEE in a heartbeat, but somehow driving it to work isn't very practical  :-[

But the real kicker is price. Ask any dealer what stops a person getting the vehicle they REALLY want and it boils down to $$$. I would have that HUMVEE along with my cruiser if I could afford it. Ultimately is value for money that people really purchase on IMHO :)

Cheers

Captain
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: gonfishen on October 22, 2011, 03:38:21 PM
Sorry list change

100% LAND ROVER badge on the front

its safe, looks good, goes good and if serviced correctly is reliable  :cup:
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Maîneÿ . . . on October 22, 2011, 06:16:17 PM

100% LAND ROVER badge on the front

its safe, looks good, goes good and if serviced correctly is reliable

ok,
maybe I should get a new "land Rover badge"
drop oil everywhere, use more fuel than I need too  >:( ;D
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Dion on October 22, 2011, 07:47:58 PM
What NEW vehicle isn't reliable? All the Great Walls, Kia's, Jap & Pommy vehicles are very, very reliable and in the first 3+ years of ownership, you get the odd issue with an individual vehicle but there isn't a vehicle made today that has a generic failure within the 3-5 year range IMHO.


ZD30 Patrol springs to mind  :angel:
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Patr80l on October 22, 2011, 08:28:51 PM
Appearance: 1 %

So that's why you bought a Ssangyong.   (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Under features, do we include off road ability?   (So my Touareg is a compromise between comfort/style and off road ability.   It won't be as capable as the Patrol was but I don't go down as many goat tracks as I used to.)

Value for money is a no-brainer.  We all buy the best we can afford.

Safety is important but nowadays there is a minimum safety expectation.   Safety then becomes a matter of how new a vehicle can you afford?   (The number of airbags is inversely proportional to the age in years).   I reckon the safety factor is more important if the vehicle is also our daily drive and family car.   If the 4WD is an old FJ40 or G60 for weekend bush-bashing we accept a lower safety standard.

Gonfishen, go back and read the original post.
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Maîneÿ . . . on October 22, 2011, 08:57:50 PM

So that's why you bought a Ssangyong.   (Sorry, couldn't resist.)


it's true, just as much as I dislike it's appearance, I love it's on-sand performance  :cup:

But it's very different 'look' is not seen from the drivers seat, so I get to look at all the nice looking cars and they all get to look at what they could look like in a crooked mirror  :-*

Yes, the 'look' is different, but I can find it easily in a car park with those huge 18" wheels



Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Captain on October 22, 2011, 09:08:58 PM
ZD30 Patrol springs to mind  :angel:
Just my point, I had a ZD30, my BIL had one and I knew at least 20 people with them thru the 4WD club. Not ONE had the grenade issue, but there were several individual issues. But then the web rumour mill builds it into bigger than Ben Hur and while there certainly is a bigger than normal problem, its not the inevitable one that is now the urban myth that all are a time bomb IMHO.

Cheers

Captain
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: kiwipete on October 23, 2011, 06:43:50 AM
Because I tend to hold on to a car for a long time I choose a vehicle at the time which I think that 10 years later I would still like driving...  Now that means it has to be a top quality vehicle when new and one that just has those nice lines to it...

we still have the Landcruiser and Celica I threaten to sell the celica for a new Mini CooperS but the Mrs just loves it and when you stand back for a 93 model car it still looks nice, great lines just like the mrs  :)

1953 F100 5 Years
1970 HT V8 Ute 3years
VN SS 8Years
1991 HDJ80 Landcruiser 11years
1993 Celica WRC Pop up lights

The VN was a big surprise to us in the 8 years we owned it I did over 100,000kms in it and the only issues we had was the inlet manifold gasket (replaced free of charge) 2 rear shocks an bushes...  I swear that it cost me less than $700.00 in maintenance....  However I ran Mobile1 oil changed every 10,000kms Mobile1 Gear and diff Oil and it was washed weekly inside out under in, it sparkled...

The Landcruiser was 9 years old when we bought it but had only 75,000kms it wasn't cheap but was in excellent condition,,, I have to be careful here but I still have not seen a vehicle that I would replace it with and I have heard too many ex 80 series owners that have 200's which say "wish I still had the 80"  these are blokes that love a 4x4 rather than a car though...  It is now 280,000kms old and probably had $15K plus spent on it....

Sorry I just have to correct myself --- THERE IS ONE    a FJ Crusier they look just like sex on wheels  But the mrs does not like them so while she is around...   and they probably would just disappoint...   So I'll stick with the 80 and when the engine wears out there is a supercharged option that I would love in the 80 http://www.bulletcars.com/parts/engine-parts/chev-diesel-engines.html (http://www.bulletcars.com/parts/engine-parts/chev-diesel-engines.html)      $40K though   :)
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Patr80l on October 23, 2011, 08:04:23 AM
and when you stand back for a 93 model car it still looks nice, great lines just like the mrs  :)

Who are you kidding???   Sweet talk like that means just one thing: you're looking to buy a new toy!     ;D

Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Patr80l on October 23, 2011, 08:12:08 AM
  a FJ Crusier they look just like sex on wheels 

I agree with your wife.  FJ Cruisers are bad retro on Prado running gear.   "Sex on Wheels"?  Yeah right; in the Mardi Gras!

If you want to be a Macho Man, that requires the original FJ40!
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Captain on October 23, 2011, 08:21:26 AM
,,, I have to be careful here but I still have not seen a vehicle that I would replace it with and I have heard too many ex 80 series owners that have 200's which say "wish I still had the 80"  ....
Yeah sure, I occasionally say that too (I had an 80) but do you seriously think they mean it? Its a nostalgia thing   8)  Any bloke with an 80 would jump at the chance to swap it for a 200. Hasn't happened yet   ;D

Cheers

Captain

PS. sorry for getting OT
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: Jon on October 23, 2011, 08:34:43 AM
Ok here is the challenge!! Out of 100% what percentage do you rate the following when choosing a new vehicle:

Appearance 10%

Features 20%

Reliability 40%

Value for money 30%

I could add more but it would become messy so let's keep it to these 4 catergories. Please no Nissan , Toyota , Mazda etc crap. It would be interesting to see what people value most.


Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: PeterO on October 23, 2011, 10:44:43 AM
Just to add a different perspective, when looking at a NEW vehicle, I don't really rate reliabilty !!!

What NEW vehicle isn't reliable? All the Great Walls, Kia's, Jap & Pommy vehicles are very, very reliable and in the first 3+ years of ownership, you get the odd issue with an individual vehicle but there isn't a vehicle made today that has a generic failure within the 3-5 year range IMHO.

So, if reliabilty isn't an issue, what features do I look for?  Safety has to be number one, but again virtually all vehicle meet this now (some models like Great Walls may not pass the personal safety factor level). For me ABS and airbags are a minimum and things like VSC, traction control etc... are highly desirable.

While looks is nice, my vehicle would have to be one of the blandest vehicles in the market so I can say that looks is way down on the priority level.

The pretty much leaves functionality/features as THE deciding factor. No good getting a single cab if you are a family of 4. I would have a HUMVEE in a heartbeat, but somehow driving it to work isn't very practical  :-[

But the real kicker is price. Ask any dealer what stops a person getting the vehicle they REALLY want and it boils down to $$$. I would have that HUMVEE along with my cruiser if I could afford it. Ultimately is value for money that people really purchase on IMHO :)

It depends WHERE you take your 4WD. It makes all the difference. Your ability to fix any mechanical issues would also influence that decision. I am not a mechanic, so I value reliability more than my mechanic mate. I value even more when he travels with me... ;D

Off road capability is important to me - I had the biggest issue buying my 100 series TD back in 2003 because it only came with IFS, a letdown comparing to my previous GU Patrol. These days this is not that important, because I no longer need such a long wheel travel. Most of our travels is touring on gravel roads where IFS actually performs better.

8 years later, 170,000km across the Outback I haven't had a single failure of anything. zilch. I drives like a new car.

I want to be in control of my car, not the other way around. I don't want computer to decide for me. I have personally seen results of that at the Simpson (talking about computer controlled air suspension) - not pretty.

Anyway, my percentages:

Appearance 5%
Features 20%
Reliability 70%
Value for money 5%

Peter

Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: D4D on October 23, 2011, 10:56:21 AM
I don't have a set %, I base my decision on a set of core requirements then nice to haves.

For instance the Prado decision was based on the core requirements of diesel, auto, daily city driver, weekend tourer. The daily driver meant it came down to the Paj and Prado. Prado then had some nice to haves, such as dual climate control and twin air con, stability control, side airbags. Finally I could get the Prado at fleet price.

Hmmm after all that maybe I do have some %

Features - 40%
Value - 30%
Reliabilty - 20%
Appearance - 10%

Most important it needed one of these :)
(http://www.toyota.com.au/static/images/15isv-toyota-australia-logo-139x91.gif)
Title: Re: What do you look for when buying a new car / 4wd !!
Post by: crackacoldie on October 23, 2011, 12:38:35 PM
Sorry list change

100% LAND ROVER badge on the front


So that's 0% for reliability then ??? ;D