Holden Barina RS

[Lurkin]

Looking at small, new hatchbacks that are fun to drive and cost less than AUD$25,000. (In Australia).

Test drive a Holden Barina RS today.. rather liked it.

Does anyone know much about these? little concerned as the predecessing Barina did not appear to be great on reliability....

By no means have I made a decision. The vehicle will just be a general run about and does not need to be a rocketship, just fun to drive.

Other comparable vehicles for consideration:-

- Hyundai accent (No)
- Kia Rio (No)
- Toyota Yaris (not really a fan)
- Suzuki Swift (considering test driving)
- Ford Fiesta Sport
- Volkswagon Polo (some form of base model)

Any suggestions re alternatives/comments would be great.

[thegreatestben]

Skoda Fabia.
Ford Fiesta.

[Nuty|Mike]

On price only id go for a Polo 1.2 tsi on runout (bout 16-18k I think ) http://volkswagenaustralia.com.au/dasdeals/ orrrr

Ford fiesta 1.0 ecoboost cos all the sales guys at work are raving about them .

However if you can stretch a little more you could get a deal on a fiesta ST for under 30k.

[KwS]

Honda Jazz? Great cars, lots of space and the 1.5s are peppy enough to be fun. Not sure what the range is like is Aus, had a quick look on the Honda sit and it looks like you have a very difference range to what NZ gets. There is the option os manual though.

[FST4RD]

Honda Jazzs are very good. I have as my work car. There is a mugen version that you can get now, but it's basically a sport version with a body kit.
I would either have that or a ST fiesta.

[Lurkin]

Since found out the Holden is manufactured by Daewoo and is sold any various different guises... see wikipedia. I don't want a rebadged Daewoo....

Test drove Ford Fiesta Sport.
Whilst the fuel consumption stats were impressive, pretty underwhelming to drive. The wanga, over buttoned dash and the claustrophobic front seat were pretty unappealing. Not to mention it sounds like a tractor! The Ford Fiesta ST would have been better, but beyond budget and the dealer didn't have one. Sat in a Focus ST instead... yep, can understand why they sell! (well beyond budget).

Test drove a Volkswagon Polo 77TSI equivalent (2014 model). Ticked all boxes... except that it's a Volkswagon... Just not sure if I can depart with the $$ after all those defects.. It's so annoying because the way they operate, the information the dealer provided and transparency of the deal was excellent.. except when we asked about the recent DSG defects (not that they really mattered, we are buying a manual). Both of the guys we asked (seperately) got weird about it "to my knowledge, there are no current defects".

Then they go through the car with us and have to explain that the 2014 Polo has buttons on the steering wheel for operating the dash screen - which do not work and a discount of $500 or an optional package to replace the screen to one that will work with the buttons for $1,500 was offered. GTFO.

Test drove a Suzuki Swift Sport. Bonus of no turbo (want reliability). Interior is a bit on the plastic fantastic takky side of life, but refreshingly simple. None of this auto turn off bullshit at the lights. Discovered that whilst they do not come with a spare wheel, the actual fitting to bolt a spare wheel to, is in the boot as per usual.

Has anyone got/had a Swift Sport? thoughts?

[thegreatestben]

My mum bought one new in 08. Traded it in in Jan this year with 100,000km on the clock. In that time she had worn a hole in the carpet and in the seat. They are cheaply made, Went through 3 sets of tyres in the 100,000km.

Wouldn't buy one. Happier with the SP23 she traded it for which is 2 years older.

[Boosted_162]

I had one too. Bought in 2009 as an ex demo (with 7km on the clock )

It's nice as it's a new car, but thats about it really. As Ben says they are cheaply made, the interior is not great. Don't really have enough power either. Driving by myself was fine but as soon as I had a passenger or 2 I could really notice!

I'll admit that with Tein springs, TE37s with T1Rs it was quite good fun in the corners.

Lasted 18 months and 30000km, then sold it and bought an R33 GTR

[Lurkin]

Yeah, find that pretty easy to believe.

Really struggling to make a decision.

We have been offered a Black (metallic paint) swift sport for $23,000 drive away... But it doesnt have a spare wheel or a tow bar (bikes) and frankly, its pretty slow.

The Polo really is the pick, it has both a spare wheel and an option to have a tow bar... , but I still cant get past the idea that it might crap itself.... turning up asking about recalls, then trying to sell me a car that has features that don't work... hmmm.

Not really a Honda fan...

Arrrgh, just wanted to simplify the decision... .

[Jdawg]

Get a Renault Clio.
Paint it Purple with a Yellow nose and drive around with a big grin on your face

[Lurkin]

In the suzuki dealership again now... about to buy a swift!

Will be asking for floor mats and a spare wheel, considering the seat covers but last time they said they were $600??? doesnt sound right.

[KwS]

Yeah, find that pretty easy to believe.

Really struggling to make a decision.

We have been offered a Black (metallic paint) swift sport for $23,000 drive away... But it doesnt have a spare wheel or a tow bar (bikes) and frankly, its pretty slow.

The Polo really is the pick, it has both a spare wheel and an option to have a tow bar... , but I still cant get past the idea that it might crap itself.... turning up asking about recalls, then trying to sell me a car that has features that don't work... hmmm.

Not really a Honda fan...

Arrrgh, just wanted to simplify the decision... .

Considers a suzuki and volkswagen, yet doesnt look at the Jazz becuase "not Honda fan"

[thegreatestben]

Buys the one nobody said to buy.

The internet strikes again.

[Lurkin]

Did have a look at the Honda, just wasn't impressed. I assumed this was due to the range here being different to what you get in NZ

Also looked into Renault Clio, but the one I wanted was well outside the budget

Earlier in the year, I test drove a Mazda 3. Car seemed much bigger than what we wanted and with the decent features it was outside the budget. We also inquired about the run out on 2013 sp23 models - only to find there were no manual ones left and the dealer wanted to change the price on the auto due to being the last one left.....

The Skodia Fabia is the only car we did not investigate - because my partner didn't want it.

Unconcerned about the interior - will be looking to replace the seats with the JDM Recaros, if and when they fail and have floor mats to protect the carpet. The rest will be fine, turns out it is the 2014 model which includes sat nav. I was more concerned about mechanical reliability of the vehicle over the longevity of the interior, which the Swift seems to have been rated well for on the internet (yes, the internet does strike again ). At $23k its been a very very nice price. We also dealt directly with the dealership manager who was commercial to deal with and no bullshit (detected). Further we are comfortable going back to him as he was not desperate or a creep.

Overall, its been a surprisingly difficult experience. The dealers we dealt with were typically, weirdly desperate to get a deposit (when I just wanted to pay in full!), did not provide the forms required under Australian law to purchase a motor vehicle, do not understand their own fine print.. the list goes on. I am really amazed that they can earn a living in this way!

I have become incredibly intolerant of dealers who: change prices/advertise stock they don't have/ say "what do I need to do today to get you to buy this car"/state that a deal is "only good to 6pm today" then proceed to harass for the rest of the week/are unorganized/ do not know anything about the cars they are selling/try to ram finance down the throat when they have been clearly told in the beginning, it will be purchased with cash/ try techniques to keep you in the dealership as if 'waiting it out' will result in a sale/ made sexist remarks which were awkward and ridiculous and acting generally creepy when on test drives with my partner on her own "proximity keys are just for women, you can find them in big handbags" (what? had to accompany on test drives after that weirdo...)/ try to only provide parts of sale contracts and then pressuring for signatures (what???). We walked out of more than one dealership because the dealers were just appalling to deal with.

Is this typical? I was surprised - I would expect it buying used cars... but surely not new ones!

[duddley]

Sounds like typical behaviour for a corporate company!.

[Leon]

The joys of dealing with a company that drives everything from sales targets!

[Dell'Orto]

'Straya