Buying first car

Sureshananth · February 15, 2018

Hi friends, I am looking to buy a used Toyota corolla141 or Yaris or axio ( 2008s). I am a doctor and I want to use this car till I get my permit (5years) which after I can go for a new one.please be kind enough to give your ideas about fuel efficiency and other issues about these three.thanks.

iRage · February 15, 2018

Hi Suresh

There are plenty of discussions on the models you have mentioned. Please do a search in the forum.

Finally, any particular reason why you are focusing only on the Toyotas ? Most do so because of resale value and "ease and low cost of maintenance". In reality:

* the Toyotas that you are looking at are somewhat over priced and finding a good unit is easier said than done.

* if you use good decent parts and take the car to a proper garage the maintenance cost is not that much different between other models

Although I am a hardcore 80s and 90s Toyota fan; even I would suggest you look at a few other options like the Axela and Lancer as well.

Sureshananth · February 16, 2018

Thanks rage,I heard that Mazda has issues with spare parts availability. And of course I am thinking about resale value.

matroska · February 16, 2018

due to hearsay such as 'mazdas having issues with spares ' Toyota's are overpriced and people tend to use them like currency (buying and selling) as a result most of these cars are improperly maintained and then nicely polished and painted and sold on to someone else. Plus this whole image is with the 1990s Toyota's running even after being severely abused which no longer holds - there are multiple issues with Toyota of later vintage : CVT gearbox issues ailing the JDM imports Axio, Allion etc. Resale value in 5 years time is anyone's guess people selling cars these days no it's not as easy as it was few years ago due to the peoples preference of buying unreg and brand new Kei cars over used vehicles.

If you must still go with a Toyota then: The Yaris and 141 are non-JDM hence have regular A/T as opposed to the CVT boxes found in Axio and Belta the Axio will give you better fuel efficiency than the 141 (~10 KMPL Vs ~8KMPL) the yaris is a grade below the corolla fuel figures will be around the 9-10 KMPL mark.

You have a better chance of finding an unabused Yaris or 141 than an Axio - there are many brand new imported Yarii/141's still out there.

iRage · February 16, 2018

The Toyotas of the 90s are pretty solidly well built (some models even a bit over engineered) and is by itself the issue. Most of these cars have been hacked and are still running which makes it easier for people to dress up and sell it off.

Mazdas not having parts is nothing but complete BS. True...you might not get cheap Chinese parts made out of third rate materials as you would get for Toyotas and Nissans, but then those kinds of parts should not be anywhere near a car. Besides...think about it. If there were no parts for Mazdas there should be some huge graveyard for Mazdas in SL to go die. However, we still see these cars on the roads. So...yeah

I sound like a broken record saying this..but there is no such thing as a perfect car ! They ALL have issues irrespective of the vintage.