Car purchase advice

[spetz]

Hey guys,

I'll be coming to Australia next month and wanting to buy a daily driver to get around with.
I will have no job, but will be looking for work.

I am thinking what budget to set for the car.
Option 1 is to buy something cheap in the $3K range (eg, Mitsubishi Mirage, Pulsar, Civic) just to get around in, and then once I get a job and settle a bit upgrade to roughly a $15k car (eg, just superseded Toyota Aurion Sportivo, superseded Honda Accord Euro, possibly current Mazda 6 if within budget).

Option 2 is to buy something in the $9K range (eg, Mitsubishi 380) from the start and not upgrading it later.

Option 2 would "save" me money in the longer term, but maybe it'd be a good idea to have extra cash to fall back on while looking for work. I guess there could be a third option where I get a $3K car at first and then upgrade to the $9K car I would have got in option 2. I am not too much of a fan of this option as I am just losing money on buying a cheap initial car, going through more trouble etc and ending up at the same place, though on the positive side it gives me a bit more of a financial safety net before finding a job.

What do people recommend?

[kiz]

I'm always a big fan of keeping cash in reserve especially until you find work. I know in some places here in Australia it can take months to get work, even for qualified people.

[-Nighthawk-]

If you don't have a job you're far better off spending less on a car, even at all until you find one. Australia is in a pretty bad state at the moment in terms of finding work. What work are you looking at going into?

[rock_it]

If you don't have a job you're far better off spending less on a car, even at all until you find one. Australia is in a pretty bad state at the moment in terms of finding work. What work are you looking at going into?

This ...

[ObsidianRadio]

When I left my restaurant management job in December, I couldn't find work until last week, AND THAT JOB WAS AT MCDONALD'S. Can't complain about $20 an hour, though. Work is work, and sometimes you have to settle for less to get by.

[kiz]

Yea Australia's economy is looking rather grim at the moment.

On the other hand, money is money

I left a $63k/year job for a ~$34k/year job. But that was my choice..

[silverGPX]

Probably best to contact a financial advisor.

[Taz]

You can get some pretty decent cars for around the 2-3k mark if youre looking - can get most small <2l hatchbacks in relatively good condition. If you dont have anything lined up then i highly recommend not spending anything more than absolutely necessary as like others have mentioned work is pretty hard to come by over here nowadays.

[spetz]

Thanks for the advice guys.
I guess the best thing to do is get a cheap run around until I get a job. I knew this was the smartest choice but here I have a pretty nice car and the thought of a $3K rust bucket... Anyway it could be worse and a car beats walking.

For cars in the $3K range I am thinking of: N15 Pulsar, or the early/mid 90s Accord.

Is the job situation worse than before over there?
I have a bachelors and masters degree, though with no family etc in Australia I will not have few luxuries until I find work so I would be willing to do most office jobs.

[BorepYano]

Where in Australia are you heading to?

[spetz]

I have spent a few years in the ACT before 2007 so initially I'm going there as it's a familiar place.
I'd like to experience life in a bigger more vibrant city though, preferably Melbourne, but this all depends on job opportunities and to be honest I see it difficult to do considering I have neither knowledge of Melbourne nor any acquaintances/friends there

[rock_it]

I have spent a few years in the ACT before 2007 so initially I'm going there as it's a familiar place.
I'd like to experience life in a bigger more vibrant city though, preferably Melbourne, but this all depends on job opportunities and to be honest I see it difficult to do considering I have neither knowledge of Melbourne nor any acquaintances/friends there

Honestly.. Good luck finding work in ACT. Large population, limited tourist attention, limited businesses.

Head to a major city..

[aza013]

If you are looking for a car talk to dstocks you can pick up a FTO from him for a good price .

As for jobs if you want a job bad enough there are jobs out there, you just can't be picky.

[-Nighthawk-]

Do you have enough savings to justify a 3k car? Is it really needed at this stage or is it more of a want?

[shadowarrior]

Not sure about ACT but in Melbourne you can roam around every where with public transport. They are well connected and has good frequencies unlike Gold Coast, where you need to have a car to go anywhere. So if you are moving to Melbourne, you can hold off the purchase till you can source a job. My 2 cents.

[Supplanter]

Keep it on topic, please.

[Taz]

Keep it on topic, please.

Errrr what?
When did it go off topic?
He wants to know his options regarding cars - public transport as an alternative option is relevant?

[Supplanter]

The 121 hissy fit between the usual suspects wasn't relevant to this thread.

[-Nighthawk-]

That's why I mentioned holding off on a car until he gets a job, because yes public transport is sufficient. And if you are close to the CBD you can just hire a car from GoGet if needed, other than that it's irrelevant.

I live close to the CBD in Melbourne now and rarely use my car now, it's only needed to make things slightly more convenient, but I could quite easily be without it.

[shadowarrior]

That's why I mentioned holding off on a car until he gets a job, because yes public transport is sufficient. And if you are close to the CBD you can just hire a car from GoGet if needed, other than that it's irrelevant.

I live close to the CBD in Melbourne now and rarely use my car now, it's only needed to make things slightly more convenient, but I could quite easily be without it.

When I was in Melbourne for 3 years, all we used the car for was picking up month's shopping from Safeway/Coles. The random day or weekend trips we made, could have been done on a rented car as well easily. Also, good luck finding a parking spot in Melbourne CBD for a car....motorbike, different story. Park on almost any footpath for free, including CBD zones; makes it quite convenient than public transport or car. You can always have a nice Ventura rack on your motorbike with one of those 180l bags from Rjays (for $150) and it can carry two weeks grocery shopping easy.