GREEN MACHINE
Volume 11, No. 44, June 01, 2006

Your motoring questions answered by Maj Hugh Green.
WHAT TO BUY

Q. I am looking to buy a car for about $15,000. What do you recommend?

A. A car is a commodity just like a pair of shoes. If there was the best of anything we would all buy it, but clearly the availability of choice with many commodities, and in particular cars, show there is no such thing as one size fits all – it is really a personal preference. Even the old Leyland P76 has its admirers and good ones go for $15,000 – but I wouldn’t recommend that for you.

What makes your choice of car better then anyone else’s is that you buy something that you like. That’s always a good start. The rational issues like shape, size, space, running costs, insurance, and maintenance issues and so on are all valid, but in the end, it is one of choice.

My experience is that the deal makes or breaks you, not the car itself. Cars can/are a financial drag no matter what the initial purchase price. Buy the best that you can afford, bargain hard and, most of all, make sure that you can afford it.

If you have a motoring question, email motoring@defencenews.gov.au