Mazda, Toyota, Or Hyundai

[Neeranam]

I have my eye on one of 3 cars.

Hyundai Accent 97 - 135,000 baht - nice sporty-looking 2 door.

Mazda 323 Astina 98 - 290,000 baht - very nice car.

Toyota Corolla 96 - 265,000 baht - it seems a pretty boring but reliable car.

The Mazda seems, for me, the best car - I can't understand why it is only 5,000 more than the corolla - any ideas?

I'm not sure if I can afford the Mazda, but it's a really nice-looking car. maybe I'll have to settle for the Hyundai as it's cheap. Doess anyone have any comments about a 97 Hyundai.

The finance is 7% and being sold by an ex-minister of Khon Kaen church - but I feel he may be a bit dodgy.

[taxexile]

personally i would go for the toyota , they are generally reliable and when things do go wrong , parts are readily available and most mechanics can fix a toyota.

if the hyundai or the mazda are imports , then spares will be expensive.

below , from 'honest johns' uk website

What's Good about the hyundai.

Replaced Pony X2 and a much better car with something akin to sporty handling. 'Coupe' was 13' 5" long by 5' 4" wide and weight 930kg. Also a 5-door hatch and 4-door saloon. Engines include 83 bhp 1.3, 87 bhp 1.5 or, from Jan '97, a 98 bhp 1.5. PAS standard on 1.5s. 4-speed auto optional on 1.5 saloon and 5-door hatch. Quite well screwed together and value for money. Proper three-year warranties. Good reputation for reliability and helpful, inexpensive dealers. Came top in Which? Y2k reliablility survey. Run-out models like the 1.3 coupe in the photo sold for less than £6,000 new. Hyundais generally had below average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 78.85 v/s lowest 31.93). Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk

(Please note Haynes manual is for US spec.)

What's Bad

Comparatively poor 1.5-Star NCAP crash test results. Base 1.3s don't have PAS. Dumpy looks. Styling of front valance is dubious. Replaced by new Accent for 2000 model year.

What to Watch Out For

Some did go onto leasing, rental and particularly Motability fleets. With older cars watch out for same inadequate or incompetent kerbside home servicing as Pony. Front tyres tend to wear badly. Must have cambelt changes every 3 years or 36,000 miles. Rust prone, so check for this carefully.

Recalls

1998 (built 1994-1997): possibility of road salt corrosion to front coil spring causing spring to damage tyre.

What's Good about the 96 corolla.

The world's most popular car (even though Corolla can mean different cars in different markets). Blandly efficient and extremely reliable over first 5 years or so. Easy but dull to drive. 87 bhp 1.3 quite powerful, but economical. 1.6 has 113 bhp. Autos on 1.3s are 3-speed; on 1.6s are 4-speed. Full range of hatchbacks, saloons and estates. Well regarded and hold their value well. Has been top or near top in J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Surveys. In June 2001 Toyota was rated by Motor Warranty Direct as Britain's 3rd most claim-free used marque. BMW, Toyota and Ford jointly suffered the fewest breakdowns attended by German ADAC during 2001. Toyota had fourth lowest average cost in warranty claims for cars up to 10 years old in 2002 Warranty Direct index. Toyota generally 10th lowest average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 74.95 v/s lowest 31.93) Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk 1995-1997 had fewest breakdowns, problems and faults in 2003 Which survey.

What's Bad

Too bland, too dull for enthusiasts (this is not a criticism - they are deliberately made this way).

What to Watch Out For

Early cars had 6,000-mile service intervals and all need an oil change every 6,000 miles or every 6 months (whichever comes first) if you want to them to last. Quite likely to have been mini-cabbed and clocked, so look for excessive back seat wear and tear, worn door mechanisms, etc. Look for signs of a tow hook as may have been towing something too heavy. Estates may have had a hard life visiting cash & carrys for small businesses. Look for signs of sagging rear springs, damage to trim inside load area.

What's Good about the mazda

Range shrunk to just one body, the 323F, until 1997, when a new 1.3 hatchback and a new 1.5 saloon both appeared. Some of 3-year warranty may remain. 20th from top in 'R' reg J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey. In June 1991 Mazda was rated by Motor Warranty Direct as Britain's most claim-free marque. 12th from top of 100 models for reliability in Auto Express 2002 survey. Mazda had lowest average cost in warranty claims for cars up to 10 years old in 2002 Warranty Direct index. Mazda generally 4th lowest average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 47.61 v/s lowest 31.93) Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk

What's Bad

3-door hatchback and pretty 4-door saloon disappeared from range from 1995-1997. New model range arrived late 1998/early 1999. 'F' model name dropped, but concept of the car remained similar. High 7 point death rate from accidents in this model.

What to Watch Out For

As above. Some 1995 cars suffered from a faulty batch of clutches. Check complex quad cam 24v V6 carefully. Smoke could mean any one of 24 valve stem seals. Timing belt failure means disaster and replacing the belt is expensive.

Recalls

1997: 'Mystique' special edition based on 323F 1.5LXi may have loose wheel nuts on spare wheel.

[Neeranam]

Thanks Tax. - very useful info.

What's that 'honest John' website?

Looks like the nazda is the best - does the price seem ok?

[taxexile]

google "honest john"

its a comprehensive motoring website with road tests and details of older cars.

dont know much about used car prices here , other than they are high compared to the uk.

whatever one you buy , get it serviced , fluids and cambelt changed as soon as you have bought it.

if possible get someone who knows about cars to check it over and drive it before you commit yourself , check especially for any crash repair welding to the structure of the car.

any servicing records with any of these cars ?

[Patex]

Neeranam,

I think you should not choose one of these cars. Hyundai is a problem with the spare parts, the Mazda and Toyota are (imho) too expensive.

Why not looking for an used Toyota or Isuzu Pick up?

Patex

[Plus]

Forget Hyundai. Just forget it.

We used to have that old 96 Corolla in the family. It was bland by er.. UK standards, but it would kick any other Thai car's ass.

Astina is a good looking car, they both were designed in pre 1997 crisis era when power, not fuel economy, was the king and Mitsu Galant had 200 hp, 1992 model.

There haven't been any major technological breakthoughs since then - all you get is a better auto gear box or an MP3 player. Otherwise those Corolla and Astina have the same equipment as modern day's cars.

Check how these two particular cars have aged and choose whichever feels younger inside and on the move, and make sure you have a garage nearby to take care of Astina should you choose her.

[Skyline]

Hi Neeranam,

If the Toyota is a twin cam Corolla 16v jobbie.......go for that!They are reliable,nippy and cheap to repair,but 265,000 seems high!

Have u thought about a Honda Civic???......Great little cars IMO,and can be quick too,for around 200,000!

Sky.

[terdsak_12]

An old Bird of mine had a Mazda Astina, great power and in these thing, and pretty reliable too.

[stumonster]

some price comparisons for the toyota

http://www.one2car.com/CarInfor/carresult....%bb%d5%2091-96)

http://www.one2car.com/CarInfor/carresult....%bb%d5%2095-97)

I would forget the hyundi

[Neeranam]

thanks pal, that's just whatI was looking for.

[Neeranam]

I went for the Mazda 323 Astina 98 - 285,000 baht - it's awesome to drive.

Took me a day to get used to the automatic gears, but feels great now.

[Thaising]

For peace of mind, I will go for brand that has plenty of spare parts available in the repair garage.

[Plus]

Congrats on your new wheels, Neeranam.

[Neeranam]

Cheers Plus - I wish I'd got a decent motor ages ago instead of buying cheap.

[taxexile]

good luck and happy motoring in the new car , a couple of years with the mazda and then you'll be ready for one of these

[Neeranam]

Man, that's an awesome looking truck!

Maybe in a couple of years - I'm a reformed pick-up truck disliker, not quite an fanatic yet.