They all look like great buys...if you live in a rural area with a big field to park them all up. Then you can sit on your front porch and say "one day I'll fix one of those and do a lap of a big city".
Really enjoying your channel. I agree with your judgment regarding the $20k plus another $10k. Focusing on the BMW 135i model, which I personally own for the last four years (N54, early 2010 model) I must admit, if you buy one for $26-$30k, add another $10k in issues you will have to address in order to enjoy this car to its full potential for let say 5 years with issue free performance motoring. For anyone buying 10+ years old 135i with the N54, unless it already has been done, a water pump, sump, oil filter and valve cover gaskets are a fundamental must as well as walnut blast of intake ports ($500). The later models in late 2009 and early 2010 before BMW moved to the N55 seem to have less issues as the dramas with fuel pumps and wastegates as well as injectors have been addressed post the massive US recall in 2008. If looking at getting one make sure it has the index 12 injectors (can be seen on the top of the injector), avoid ones with tune, aftermarket parts on the engine as it indicates abuse, maxing out and probably cold engine boost runs that kill the turbos (They are both oil and coolant cooled). Good thing is that there is a massive DIY community and parts are not that expansive when considering the newer models. Massive parts bin in Australia (Clickable Automotive in Vic) and US (FCP Euro and ECS); just search the net. I personally recommend if someone wants to get one, get one with manual and do not tune the engine! It has enough ‘Schnell’ to rip the tread. Spend the money on direct swap 1M/M3 suspension parts such as control arms and bushes to tighten the rig, loose the run flats, put coil overs and if you really want to complete the set-up, put a proper LSD from M-Factory or Wavetrack and you have 90% of 1M. If you find one with the optional BMW Power Pack on the N54 that was offered in 2010, you essentially have the 1M set-up, providing you do the suspension and LSD work. Anyway, awesome car that with the laps of time, will mark the end of the analogue era of BMWs. Anything after 2013 post E8x/E9x generation lost the hydraulic steering and the overall feel that was still echoing the classic E46 chassis. Lastly, change oil religiously every 10k, warm the engine before hitting 3000 rpm (peak boost) and drive it! BMW hate standing still!
BMW E82 125i is slept on, doesnt have the power of the 135i but its got N52 engine thats been de-tuned from factory....A basic tune (Celtic tune - Zadtec in Sydney) gets you 211kw...354nm with everything else in stock form...Its one of the best handling cars near 50/50 weight distribution and rear wheel drive...Maintence was around $380-500 a year... Brakes and tyres ate pricey but I did upgrade...
Came to say this. To be fair they pointed out the 330i and 130i which is the same basic mechanical package. I think they may have just forgot that the 125i is the 130i with a detuned ECU. Because of this they’re also cheaper than the 130i. Though the 130i probably has stiffer suspension. But honestly the 125i is the absolute pick of the bunch. Plenty enough power and great handling and general reliability. Yeah they picked on a few issues, but a few gaskets is not exactly unreliability.
@@mattdebyl8806 That's exactly why I had to mention it 😉 Everyone used to assume it had 2.0 or 2.5 litre engine until I would make the point that it was 3.0 ltr 6 cylinder car....A dream would be is to take it to brimtec (in Sydney) and do the V8 conversion with the M3 brake kit... I think its around $45-48k mark once you donor a 1 series....
@@lavine0823 yes it’s a lovely thing with some confusing badges. Don’t know if I’d want to ruin the reliability of the N52 by going with a BMW V8. Currently working on an E30 swap and an M60 has certainly crossed my mind. But in a 1 series? You’d almost certainly be better off with an LCI 135i and some mods. Especially for those kind of $$$s.
@@mattdebyl8806 I currently have a Scirocco R and it's hella fun but I am considering a 240i maybe later this year....There's just something I just miss about having a BM 🙂 Oh maybe an Alfa Giulia just to say I owned that sexy beast....
After binge watching a bunch of your videos while looking for a "family" car it felt odd going off script and getting an Octavia. Glad you are looking to cover it. If you end up down in Melbourne you are welcome to my 162 Octavia wagon! After all I have you to thank for not ending up in a dual cab. Awesome video as always.
@@ravingmad765 my first fwd car, the power and lack of traction makes me laugh. It is really rather quick and have to love the practicality, just wish it had slightly larger cup holders.
@@ravingmad765 162 kW right? So for us none Aussies thats the 220. kW is the reasonable measurement, but it sure ain't pretty when the companies aim for good looking horsepower numbers.
I picked up Octavia VRS Wagon MK 4 beginning of the year. Amazing car, still some annoying features but they are largely liveable with and are worth the overwhelming positives you get from these cars.
Re driven have had dozens of requests from exactly one viewer to feature the Sukuki Alto! Such a low performance car really does require a high performance driver to make it sing, not to mention how fun it is to drive a slow car fast. For $20K you could buy 10 and get 9 of your friends together for a track day and go all out in understeering tyre squealing fun.
I'm a big fan of ReDriven's passion for well balanced "fun cars" rather than fast cars. For our roads it is so much more fun to push a 7-8s car than a sub 5s car.
I've had my 2016 Giulietta QV for roughly 3 years 30k miles, apart from a small coolant leak from the reservoir connection, mechanically she's been flawless. Do not skimp on maintaince, give her love and care and she will love you back. Love the OF model analogy, so true 😂 beautiful, spicy and feckle.
I think R32 golfs are worth a shot, almost certainly will rise in price in the future, you do have to make sure the timing chains are in good condition though because that is around a 4k job. I bought a nice 2 door one(cosmetically atleast) for 12k but had to put about 6k into it over 2 years, that said the owner I got it from treated it like shit, most of it was just catching up on years of missed maintenance otherwise it would of been a fifth of that.
Awesome Video Adam 😊 You mentioned most of the cars I adore and at least 3 that I have owned or are currently driving...Maintenance before performance 😊
I'd love to see a review of the Ford Mondeo XR5 Turbo. They're so different from the focus and uncommon in aus (minus the engine and transmission). I just bought one as my first car on p plates and I'm really enjoying it. Not stupid fast but fast enough to do silly things in, the handling is what I love about it the most, as well as standard leather/alcantara seats, seat warmers and 6 speed manual box. You can't get over the sound of a 5 pot either.
Ive owned the Alfa Giulietta and was so much more reliable than my Japanese cars like my pulsar and Prado! Just get a manual unless you want DCT problems
Criminally underrated is the car that slots in between the first and second cars (Abarth and Giulietta QV), it’s the Alfa Mito Sport (and to a lesser extent QV). Why?! Because it is utterly brilliant. Also because they didn’t have a stupid GTI or ST or whatever badge, they are completely overlooked. The Sport features the same fabulous 1.4T from the Abarth, in a still very small and great platform. But cop this, it’s WAY more comfortable and nicer made in every way. The seats have way more adjustment and are much much more comfortable and unlike just about every car in its class doesn’t need to feel like you’re sitting on top of the car. In fact you can go low, way too low in those things. They look fantastic with frameless doors and a design made as only a 3 door (especially with a few styling mods). They have a 6 speed (unlike the Abarth 5 speed) and are actually generally more reliable than basically all of its competitors, better than the Mini / DS3 / 208 etc with that horrendous prince motor. Better than the VW Polo and Skoda Fabia RS with that POS twincharged 1.4. Better than the Proc’eed and Veloster Turbo. Better than the Fiesta ST. The icing is that they can be had for a fraction of some of those other ‘sporty badged’ alternatives. I bought one as a cheap little fun daily for literally 1/4 of a similar Fiesta ST (years / kms), because nobody knows or cares about them. Is the Fiesta ST a better drivers car? Probably a little. Is it 4 TIMES better? Definitely not. Plenty of tasty upgrades available for them. Just an absolutely fantastic little warm / hot hatch for absolute peanuts. Oh and unlike some to be compared to, it doesn’t have stupid gearing chasing 0-100 times. It’s an absolute little cracker of a car and I would say one of the most underrated ‘fun’ cars on the market.
For ergonomics I would add that the steering wheel is still a little far away for taller drivers. Unlike the Abarth does adjust for reach though. I nearly bought an Abarth so many times and the ergonomics just killed it every time. They are stupidly uncomfortable for taller drivers. Saying that I did have a 500 Sport 1.4 for a bit and that thing was just so much fun. Just enough power and lovely short gearing (like the Mito) that you can absolutely thrash it everywhere you go and not be remotely concerned about the po-po. Plus it’s super light and chuckable and just fun ALL the time. Also unlike the Mito (and all 3 door hatches) it’s surprisingly easy to get little ones in the back. A nicely sorted 500 1.4 6 speed manual is about one of the most fun things you can drive on 4 wheels (incidentally vastly preferred it to the 1st Gen Swift Sport).
Life's also too short to sit on the side of the road 3 hours out of Tamworth waiting for the NRMA to show up, only to have to wait another 4 hours for a flat bed tow truck, in winter, in the rain. Hence I no longer own a Megane RS. - AK
@@ReDriven Yep. Been there before, stranded near Gundagai with a blown KO3 turbo in a Nogaro Blue 2000 Audi S4. The most unreliable car I’ve ever owned hands down, but also one of the most fun family wagons I’ve ever owned & the car that forced me to buy tools & learn how to maintain & repair. What else can you have bought for under $10 grand (four years ago, they’ve gone up a lot since then) that hauls kids, surfboards, carparts & even the occasional track day romp, with a 6 speed manual & 0-100 in under 5 seconds with only a remap? Worth every cent I paid ( & subsequently lost when I sold it) & has instilled the mechanical fortitude to own these things. My daily driver 2008 manual Octavia VRS wagon was a worthy replacement for family duties & still going strong @ 252,000+ & a stage 1 APR tune with no major mechanical issues & only a few small problems that were easily fixed cheaply with some tools, knowledge, & patience.
Interestingly, went from one of the cars on the recommended list (Mk2 Focus ST/XR5) to a Mk6 Golf GTI, as the ST (I'm an aussie living in the UK) was riddled with all sorts of problems and I basically paid for it twice. The golf is nowhere as exciting as the ST but has so far been a far more reliable companion, and only needed regular maintenance. Having learned a lot about both cars since purchase, I think it is fair to say that both ultimately have just as many common faults and failure points, but the car's previous history and owners treatment of them plays a much bigger part in what experience you will have owning it than many other factors. I know that you do point that out in many videos, but I think to label some of these cars as risky might be a little unfair, as I think the reasons that many of them are said to be risky are really true of the majority of modern used cars of any kind. Anyhow, loved the video regardless, just an interesting take on what is considered to be risky- I think a car enthusiast looking for a performance car might have a different appetite for risk than a general consumer.
You're exactly right mate, and if there was a way we could accurately define who is watching our content between say serious performance car enthusiasts vs those that are shopping for a fun fast car, the list may have been different. From what we've seen, the majority of our viewers are the general public wanting sound car advice, that being the case, we tend to lean a little conservatively. - AK
Spot on comment. Reputation can differ wildly from real life experience due to so many variables (e.g. temperatures/weather conditions, previous owner/maintenance and mechanical sympathy, availability of aftermarket solutions to design flaws and whether these have been deployed to name a few). And as you say an enthusiast differs from a regular user and is, for example, more than willing to address design flaws and do all the preventative maintenance, themselves or with a specialist, which, alone, could make a "risky" car more reliable than a "reliable" car
Hello! I love your videos. I would only ask you to please mention the prices in the rest of the world also in this type of video, the same as you do with the reviews. Keep it up! Thank you!
What this boils down to regardless of the vehicle is either have a budget that allows you to buy what you want, or the skills to build what you want. Both methods can lead to nirvana or ruination.
Abarth has a pretty decent following for aftermarket performance parts so its flaws can easily be sorted out. You would need to pick one up for 16- 17k and allow yourself a buffer. DNA Racing front lower control arms are a must have sharpening up the front end massively and also improving the turning circle which is outrageous in stock form. Replacing the rear axle bushes with DNA Racing Uniballs or even Poweflex Purples will sort the wayward rear axle. The factory bushes are much too soft. Abarth Tuning in Ireland sell these parts along with seat brackets for both the standard and Sabelt seats. If you are keen the 1.4 T-Jet engine is a little beast that can easily be boosted to 250-300hp.
I went from V8s - Trans Am, GTO, to a Merkur XR4Ti and Focus SVT. These days I have a 2005 RSX Type S that I am doing a full restomod. Slow by V8 standards even of yesteryear, but tossable fun, screams to 8600 rpm. Fun in its own way without doing ludicrous speeds within three seconds. It's plenty quick if you see it through the lens of time. It could probably run low-mid 14s which is exactly what my A4 94 TA ran stock and probably quicker on the top end.
Had a feeling a few of the cars would appear on this list. 2 that'd be good too see as future videos are boring looking cars with insanely powerful engines aka sleepers and fast looking cars that a slower than a geriatric sloth on valium. Brilliant work as always guys and look forward to Friday's video 👍.
@@ReDriven seen that one but be good to see an updated version like the best buys under $x amount lol. Or even best sleepers in different price categories.
I own a 2012 VW Golf GTI DSG and for the 11 months i owned it, i never had any major engine issues until the 12 month of ownership. Did have an oil leak on the timing cover and did end up fixing it and getting the timing chain done, but i do think the previous owner did abuse it a bit despite it having low mileage when i purchased it at 95,000 KM. Honestly besides that, i have maintained it properly and have driven it responsibly, but i'd say it has been reliable to not have to spend $5k on repairs.... I've seen many golf gti's and R's with higher mileage in the 250,000 KM +. They're not as bad as people think they are.
I was going to replace my V36 skyline for a Mk6R or a 7 gti to because they were better on fuel and more fun to drive but after doing some research it’s risky…. In 6 months you will save about 1.5k on fuel but a water pump failure will bite you back
Preventative maintenance is key bro, I came from a gti with a rattling chain and unfortunately spent all that money saved in maintenance 😅😅 I quickly sold it after I figured vag products call for maintenance every 70-100k miles 😂. I always get a should have kept you feeling when I ever see an infiniti😢
Because the guy who riced up an accord euro or civic type r has absolutely looked after it? Clapped out bodged up JDM cars in this budget are gross POS, generally speaking.
@@mattdebyl8806 the cost of parts and labour I am talking about champ. It's the definition of economical write off because in the end it would cost more to fix than what it is worth..
@@mattdebyl8806 ok champ, you obviously have no idea what parts for those cars cost. Why do you think you still see old jap cars still on the road compared to euro..
Hi Adam - I have watched a lot of your reviews and enjoy the detail and effort you go to as well as the Earthy Opinions - mostly always valid! I know you can't review every car out there, however I am surprised and a bit disappointed that there is no review of one of the most unique looking and iconic cars of it's time (esp its debut). It's a long lived, very commonly loved car all over Europe, the US and here in Oz. And that's the Chrysler 300C and it's many variants. In fact, maybe you don't like Chrysler products (eg , including Dodge) as I did a search for "Chrysler" in your videos and not even one came up. I did watch the video which mentioned the very unique but dreadfully executed PT Cruiser, but after looking and looking I cannot see a dedicated video for any Chrysler or Dodge (or Plymouth for that matter) products. I was seriously considering buying an early (2007) 300C with the 5,7L Hemi and wanted to see one of your reviews on it, as I have enjoyed watching so many of them (Eg Audi's, the Teslas and Commodore VE + others). But no matter, I have seen plenty of reviews now about the 300C and read scores of reader's comments about their experience with high mile examples (150k miles plus!) and almost all have been very favourable and impressive. They are very popular in Europe (UK and on the Continent), obviously thousands in the US and a great deal of them here as well. I hope you can find a good used example of a 5.7 Hemi 300C - and do a review test. There's tons of information about their common faults and good points as well as disappointments on the net and even just here on YT. While the 5.7 engine is really nothing special compared to the vastly superior 6.1 and 6.4 litre versions, but they are far more common and you can find plenty of good used 5.7's around in Australia. And they still pack a very good punch for the buck these days (IMO). The 5.7 are far better than what the UK and Europe mostly had to accept, which was the slightly mundane, but still competent 3.5 litre diesel version. Thanks for reading! (PS, if you HAVE done a review on a 300C, please accept my apology. But I looked everywhere therough your videos and cannot see one)
Great question mate. We had actually tentatively booked an SRT and a Hemi into film and both had issues. The SRT was a mechanical failure and is still off the road months later (it’s a mates car, he loved it, now hates it), and the Hemi was sold a few days before we could film it. We are on the hunt for another, preferably the SRT and as soon as we can find one, we’ll lock it into the schedule. I should mention, Jim and I are not pro or anti any brand. We both deal with so many cars, any loyalty or a particular brands marketing hype is completely lost on us. Jim and I often disagree on what cars we enjoy as our requirements vary enormously but when it comes to Chrysler, we are as open to the facts and experience of the 300 as we are to any car. - AK
I had an 06 AH Astra SRI Turbo for 10 years, from 60,000kms to about 140,000kms, bought it in 2010 and only paid 16k for it. Was very good to me, none of the electronic gremlins or anything that could plague Astras. Normal wear and tear stuff in that time, needed the engine gasket seal replaced, and a plastic sensor (manifold pressure sensor from memory) cost about $50, and had to replace a small part of the Turbo boost hose that had developed a small hole thanks to it sitting on a hose clamp. What finally did it in was oil leaks, was looking at about $6000 or so to 'hopefully' resolve it, and it was time to get a larger car with a second kid on the way. Still the best car I've ever owned, loved it.
Firstly, love your content! On the RS Meganne, I have had an RS 250 for many years and now a RS 280 Cup and they have without a doubt been the most fun cars I have owned, and I have owned way, way too many and gone through a laundry list of hot hatches going all the way back to the Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 (first car in 86), XR3i/ST, RS Turbo, Capri 2.8i, Renault 5 GT Turbo and on and on....okay I was the archetypical boy racer back in the 80's! and still refusing to grow up!!! You are 100% right on maintenance with any car, but a well looked after Renault Megane RS is just immense and used they do not cost the earth unlike current pricing for cars whih are now reaching the absurd...Will not give up my 280 Cup....PS it would be good to see you revew the MK4 RS Megane 280/300 or Trophy!
Would love to see you do a video on what you think on used car prices , specially used sedans vs used suvs (like hyundai elantra, mazda 3 that are probably getting sold at very close price to their original buy price 7 years back and used suvs like Hyundai santa fe which are much better value proposition. what do you think.
Bought 208GTI in March and they are great for the $$$. Can be had for 10K and actually quite a few to choose from. 2013-2015 models are prone to more issues but that's sorted with regular maintenance and the dreaded timing gear of old 207GTI is much improved. Post 2015 models are much improved with more reliable engines, slightly punchier engine and later tech. Overall for the $$$ saved compared to its rivals worth a look. Just be super picky.
I’ve recently picked up an R56 LCI Cooper S from Auction. 90k on the odo and full service history. Unfortunately, I’m guessing the last owner didn’t treat it too well or cooked the service books. So, in the last two months I’ve owned it, apart from general maintenance, I’ve done the following: - PCV diaphragm - Valve cover gasket - Water pump - Oil cooler gaskets - Turbo feed line - Turbo return line - HPFP (genuine refurbished) - Fuel filter - Battery And it’s still leaking coolant somewhere. I’m suspecting it’s the coolant crossover pipe. With all that being said, god it’s such fun to drive! And that Harman Kardon sound system is the icing on the cake. By the way, I also had to replace two of the speakers because they were blown.
I was driving through a small Victorian town with a mechanic mate, when a large defunct (collective noun) of Alfa Romeo’s rolled by. He laughingly said “Where’s the support van?”, as we turned the bend… to find it tending to 2 break downs😂😂
Could you please do a review of the e12 nismo note s & the e13 note aura (nismo fettled one). Iron chef imports have some as daily’s if you need a source.
You guys, would knock it out of the park. If you did a garage series. Call it - Redriven Jim or Redriven Garage. Show us, what's in the shop and what is being done to the cars🚗.....👍
We do pretty much that on Patreon Bryce, but we are looking at how to expend something along these lines to become a regular feature here. Great idea. - AK
I don't know about the Golf R...I had a 2017 Seat Cupra 4drive (same as Golf R) for 3 years as used, and the only issue was the notorious water pump failure (was fixed under used car warranty). I did track days, launch controls and it never skipped a beat. Many of my friends have had those as well and generally they've been pretty much ok. I mean the DSG gets a really bad rap on your videos, but I've heard really not many issues with the performance versions, especially when comparing to the amount of how many those have been manufactured.
My girlfriend had an Abarth 595 and we drove it to Adelaide from Melbourne the most uncomfortable car I've been in ever but it is awesome to drive haha
I went to buy a pair of Bosch wiper blades the other day…$90 (Toyota Aurion/Super cheap auto)🙀. I’ve had Bosch blades before on other cars and they never cost that much. Remembered WiperTech from your channel. Received the WiperTech blades ($54) in 2 days. So far they are performing just as good as Bosch blades… time will tell🤞🏻
@@smiddysmidton8313 … this is my concern, but time will tell! I will be reposting my experience about 1yr from now. (Around the wiper tech warranty date)
@@lukeclifton4392 I've put wipertech on my car too, good for price but had to replace after about a year or so, but bosch didnt last much longer anyway before getting stiff. I can rarely find Bosch ones for my specific car on the rack which is why I gave wipertech a go.
So so so happy you mentioned The r56 MINI 😂😂.. The the “definition” of money pits hahaha!! I have one, and have repaired nearly everything mentioned and probably more too. WORST CAR TO OWN. But I love it 😍 to bits ! They are Character Building, they reveal the true real “ones self” !
It would be good to see a review of used performance cars between $50 -$75k. I was lucky enough to pick up a used w212 E63 (5.5l) four years ago for $67k - one owner with original 56,000 kms. It would be great to know your thoughts on some of the vehicles in that price range and which are reliable and which are duds. BTW my E63 has been awesome with no issues (touch wood).
While I fall into the category of being completely incapable of repairing my own car. I still enjoy hearing about these cars. Even if it's a don't buy these unless you can pay to get it repaired. Or from a case of don't buy these cars. Still worth a look.
Turbo failures and radiator failures on the megane RS? Nah. I have been in the RS community for many years and these are simply not things that go wrong. The things that are expensive and fail are the air con compressor, clutch master/slave cylinders, and main end seal weep/leak
Rather than buying an older Golf R/S3 I decided to buy a newer Audi A3 Quattro, added some extra goodies and its been a great little car and pretty much free of issues for the last 3 years.
You did also mention the Subaru Wrx 1994 - 2000 GC8, 2001 - 2007 and 2008 till 2012 cars, all of the early EJ20 and EJ25's can require heaps of maintenance with the Head Gaskets, Timing belts, oil leaks and higher oil consumption. The problem with buying them is they will most likely been driven to the floor constantly or in rare cases, there is one that has been driven normally, not to mention that they have Body structure issues with rust forming particularly early 00's cars and 90's cars. The WRX for model years 1994 till 2007 should've been on this video...
Really? They're VW. We consider them to be some of the most reliable cars around. They also stay in the second hand market for ages because of how sturdy they are.
Being a part of VW you’d think Skoda would be on par with poor reliability. But my brother bought a 2nd hand Superb (diesel AWD)… it’s lived on country pot holed dirt roads and it’s been fantastic. …and when you do a bit of searching online, Skoda seems to have a higher reliability rating🤷♂️
@@lukeclifton4392 I have had three Skodas. I think it's because of where they are built (put together). Sure they have the same water pump issue (about $1500 to replace.. don't get the OEM replacement) but they are higher ranked than VW for reliability. They are built in Slovakia. Most VW are built in China.
Like most MQB Dubs, the timing belt and DSG mechatronics unit will shit themselves eventually. Cost me approx $1.5k and $3.8k respectively. Still, I love em. Everything is just so well thought out...except the aforementioned issues 🤷🏿♂️
Fiat Chrysler = Stellantis these days. This group also includes Vauxhaul/Opel and Peugeot/Citroen now too, bringing the overall quality levels... up? Down? Unsure. I like to point this out because the group name is bloody hilarious.
Ok so second generation Audi TT, don’t forget that there was a VR32 version with the fabulous 3.2 VR6 engine. These are usually no more expensive than the 2.0s and I’ve seen plenty of one owner ones of these. Would definitely be my pick of the TTs. Not as good a drivers car as the 125i, but look great and the VR6 can sound amazing. Plenty of that NA throttle response as well.
Also consider the Gen1 TT. They also had the VR6 (which would be my pick, again). The design is just better and feels way more special and bespoke than any cheap car has any right to be. The 1.8 Quattro is the same as the S3 and is a pretty reliable unit. I had one for quite a while and apart from a few suspension bushings (given it was already a pretty old car for it’s time) it was pretty much issue free. Still want a VR6 version but tricky to find. Free revving NA in a little coupe for the win over FI. The OG TT doesn’t look like much in pictures, but whenever I see one in the flesh I’m reminded of what an absolutely stellar design they were. The later VR6 with the S-Line body treatment looks even better.
Putting my hand up as one of the "thousands of owners who has never had problems" with VWs. On my 3rd "TSI", this one now with 250,000kms, DSG and a tune. I put petrol in it and it goes. Not sure what all the fuss is about. If it had been my only one I'd suspect I was just lucky, but three of them - all flawless? I must be the TSI whisperer.
My Abarth was reliable AF as it was Manual and a basic car with parts easy to own. I regretted owning an Alfa Giulietta QV though which sent me back to Germans
Yeah a WRX or RX8 or BRZ are all way more reliable than these. Right? Oh it must be all the other great budget performance cars out of Japan and Korea that would be a better option? I mean why buy a brilliant car like a 125i when you can buy a Veloster Turbo for the same money?
As someone who worked at a Jeep/Fiat/Dodge dealership, it seems like the 500 hatchback (not the Jeep models) has a very "eye for an eye" build quality. If you abuse the car and never do basic maintenance, it will treat you badly, if you have common sense and drive the car like a regular person, it will take care of you and be as reliable as a Toyota. I've also never seen bodywork or frame rust issues on the 500 hatchback as much as I've seen them on Toyotas.
So the obvious car missing from this list (or perhaps the previous list) is the Mazda RX-8. It is a brilliant, if flawed sports car, mainly due to the engine. That engine is a real double edge sword.
I believe it was even mentioned in the not so scary list. Can’t remember. If you want that brilliant sports car without that problematic engine, get an MX5. That’s what it’s based on and is way better in MX5 form.
There is a saying in regards to buying cars such as these mentioned in this video. If you couldn't afford to buy them when they were new, then you cannot afford to buy them when they are second hand.
That’s a weird saying. I nearly bought a 100k 330i the other day with 70k on the clock. In grandpa spec for $10k. Not a huge amount to go wrong with them and not that expensive to fix if it did. For the same money I can buy a clapped out aurion with 300k on the clock and the paint coming off. Either way, that BMW would never cost $100k to own for the next 20 years.
Nah. Bought my 02 Alfa 156 GTA two years ago for under $10k (a third of current market price and less than a tenth of the price when new). My daily driver, I just passed 250,000km and it has so far been faultless, roughly $500 to service every 6 months, separate to timing belt/pump every three years (last did mine a year ago). The 3.2 busso v6 is the best sounding engine on the planet with less than 8 cylinders. Rarer than anything else on this video too - only about 100 ever sold in oz of only 2600 manual sedans built (and maybe
I had one from new for 2 years. In that time it managed to drink 1L of oil per 1000km (to be told by VW Aus that this was normal and within spec) and have a mechatronic unit in the DSG fail around 10k km (replaced under warranty). Fun to drive but I sold it as soon as I could, it felt like a ticking time bomb.
A growth mindset and willingness to spin a spanner is really a non-negotiable as you'll want/need to upgrade a lot of the parts anyway to match the potential of the chassis and engine, personally I would stick with the N52 N/A engined MT BMW's e8x if you want something reliable, trackable , reasonably lightweight 1350kg, 50/50 weight distribution = balanced dynamics& handling, low maintenance (relatively), linear power delivery, instant throttle response, hydraulic steering, RWD, great sound, that won't leave you stranded and will keep going forever, also pretty easy to work on.
Next up the BMW 125i. This car (despite the name) has the same engine as the 130i (N52 3.0) and is an absolutely brilliant thing. The 135i completely overshadowed it. But even when new they were considered to be the best balance of the 1 series coupe. While most BMWs were getting big and fat the 125i was small and nimble. It didn’t suffer the rock hard suspension of the 130i yet still has tonnes of balance. It’s the closest thing I’ve ever driven to the sublime MX5 ND, but with a bit more practicality. Plus they’re cheaper and a bit faster (not much but it’s there). Also with much less ‘features’ than the bigger / fancier BMWs there is way less to go wrong. Plenty of people with huge mileage on those N52s. Trouble is finding a manual, but they are out there. Much overlooked like the 86 / BRZ but those get a bit more attention because there is no more powerful version. The 125i is totally overlooked because the 135i and M variant exist.
I can vouch for the 125i/130i/330i n52 engine. Been great with some PREVENTITIVE maintenance. Euro cars get a bad wrap because its generally rich snobs or ignorant people who buy and neglect them, then wonder why they blow up
Agree. I mentioned the 130i in the hot hatch video. Plenty reliable. And great to drive. Yeah it's not gonna be as fast as a 135i. But it's far from slow either and none of the worry something will go wrong.
Think its more that the rich snobs buy new and only keep them for 3 years then trade up to new one before all the big service bills start falling due. Then its the second "budget" buyer who cops the bills but delays/ignores them, condemning the car to rapid decline.
Actually just bought an Alfa Romeo Guiletta QV (a manual one at that) Without being part of an owners club and having a luckily reasonably priced specialist i can understand the fear that comes with it A beautiful car but it will keep you on your toes so don't rely on it as a daily commute
I looked into those a while back and there was nothing that stood out as a huge issue with them from memory? There was a turbo hose that was a poor design on earlier cars but otherwise seemed to be reliable according to the internet. Maybe that's changed but saw a few with high KMs for sale so they must do alright?
@@Peginafication yeah from asking around that turbo hose issue is mostly cause by bad oil They still have issues outside of that bad nothing overly unexpected given the brand haha
I have had many brands over my decades of driving. I have never gone back to unreliable brands that I have owned no matter how much I want one. Had a R5GT turbo back in the day. Never buy Renault again. Had a Vauxhall GSI that had catastrophic engine failure due to a poor mix of steel used in the engine. Not even Honda would I buy again. The only brand I would re-visit would be Toyota.
It sounded like you were providing sensible advice until you suggested lowering a car's suspension to make it look cooler; at which point i just started to question everything
Actually in cars where lowering was also a factory option, it is absolutely a reasonable thing to do. I've had 3 V6 Alfa 156s, two with factory lowered set-up and my current top-spec GTA with factory lowered kit replaced with premium quality adjustable coilovers (as have most GTAs). Having also driven 156s with the "standard" factory suspension set up (25-30mm higher than sport set up and much softer) I can say absolutely the standard set up is wallowy, soft and like guiding a boat into choppy seas. My GTA, however, is like its on rails, and the other two were almost as tight.
I kinda like the idea of a rear drive 3L BMW... but they tend to also be liked by boy racer bell-ends, so most are old, high mileage and thrashed. Sad. And the rest are near new and expensive. There doesn't seem to be a sweet spot in the middle in this market.
125i can be had for the best value in them. Often very well looked after with low kms. Because they were factory detuned they are overlooked. Can easily be unlocked though.
Listen it seems every car has issues Can you recommend a car $20k and under with almost Zero problems Please ? I’m on a strict budget 😊 Otherwise I think Toyota and Honda is my safest bet mate ?
It's more expensive to start itching to replace a car after a year because it's boring, than to maintain a car that you love. If you're the happy guy that is not bored by a Camry then buy a Camry, otherwise buy what you like.
The common theme with European cars is how many points of failure can I engineer into the car just in time for warranty to expire before people stop buying them
Honestly I see so many of the supposedly ‘reliable’ Toyotas and Hondas with all sorts of common and costly problems. The kias and Hyundais are even worse. Yes there are nightmare euro cars, but the stigma way way outweighs the actual problems.
I have to disagree that a MK6 GTI being well maintained helps reduce failures. All the problems we've had with ours over the last 4 years were just a matter of poorly made parts failing. Water pumps dropping coolant, coolant bottle blowing, multiple door actuators, window regulators, roof has fallen down...and that'll all in 40000km. I think it's a great car but logbook maintenance doesn't stop any of these failures
Do you have a favourite car we mentioned or have another car that's awesome but risky? 🤔 Comment below!
They all look like great buys...if you live in a rural area with a big field to park them all up. Then you can sit on your front porch and say "one day I'll fix one of those and do a lap of a big city".
Really enjoying your channel. I agree with your judgment regarding the $20k plus another $10k. Focusing on the BMW 135i model, which I personally own for the last four years (N54, early 2010 model) I must admit, if you buy one for $26-$30k, add another $10k in issues you will have to address in order to enjoy this car to its full potential for let say 5 years with issue free performance motoring. For anyone buying 10+ years old 135i with the N54, unless it already has been done, a water pump, sump, oil filter and valve cover gaskets are a fundamental must as well as walnut blast of intake ports ($500). The later models in late 2009 and early 2010 before BMW moved to the N55 seem to have less issues as the dramas with fuel pumps and wastegates as well as injectors have been addressed post the massive US recall in 2008. If looking at getting one make sure it has the index 12 injectors (can be seen on the top of the injector), avoid ones with tune, aftermarket parts on the engine as it indicates abuse, maxing out and probably cold engine boost runs that kill the turbos (They are both oil and coolant cooled). Good thing is that there is a massive DIY community and parts are not that expansive when considering the newer models. Massive parts bin in Australia (Clickable Automotive in Vic) and US (FCP Euro and ECS); just search the net. I personally recommend if someone wants to get one, get one with manual and do not tune the engine! It has enough ‘Schnell’ to rip the tread. Spend the money on direct swap 1M/M3 suspension parts such as control arms and bushes to tighten the rig, loose the run flats, put coil overs and if you really want to complete the set-up, put a proper LSD from M-Factory or Wavetrack and you have 90% of 1M. If you find one with the optional BMW Power Pack on the N54 that was offered in 2010, you essentially have the 1M set-up, providing you do the suspension and LSD work. Anyway, awesome car that with the laps of time, will mark the end of the analogue era of BMWs. Anything after 2013 post E8x/E9x generation lost the hydraulic steering and the overall feel that was still echoing the classic E46 chassis. Lastly, change oil religiously every 10k, warm the engine before hitting 3000 rpm (peak boost) and drive it! BMW hate standing still!
BMW E82 125i is slept on, doesnt have the power of the 135i but its got N52 engine thats been de-tuned from factory....A basic tune (Celtic tune - Zadtec in Sydney) gets you 211kw...354nm with everything else in stock form...Its one of the best handling cars near 50/50 weight distribution and rear wheel drive...Maintence was around $380-500 a year... Brakes and tyres ate pricey but I did upgrade...
Came to say this. To be fair they pointed out the 330i and 130i which is the same basic mechanical package. I think they may have just forgot that the 125i is the 130i with a detuned ECU. Because of this they’re also cheaper than the 130i. Though the 130i probably has stiffer suspension. But honestly the 125i is the absolute pick of the bunch. Plenty enough power and great handling and general reliability. Yeah they picked on a few issues, but a few gaskets is not exactly unreliability.
@@mattdebyl8806 That's exactly why I had to mention it 😉 Everyone used to assume it had 2.0 or 2.5 litre engine until I would make the point that it was 3.0 ltr 6 cylinder car....A dream would be is to take it to brimtec (in Sydney) and do the V8 conversion with the M3 brake kit...
I think its around $45-48k mark once you donor a 1 series....
@@lavine0823 yes it’s a lovely thing with some confusing badges. Don’t know if I’d want to ruin the reliability of the N52 by going with a BMW V8. Currently working on an E30 swap and an M60 has certainly crossed my mind. But in a 1 series? You’d almost certainly be better off with an LCI 135i and some mods. Especially for those kind of $$$s.
@@mattdebyl8806 I currently have a Scirocco R and it's hella fun but I am considering a 240i maybe later this year....There's just something I just miss about having a BM 🙂 Oh maybe an Alfa Giulia just to say I owned that sexy beast....
After binge watching a bunch of your videos while looking for a "family" car it felt odd going off script and getting an Octavia. Glad you are looking to cover it. If you end up down in Melbourne you are welcome to my 162 Octavia wagon! After all I have you to thank for not ending up in a dual cab. Awesome video as always.
162 wagon. Great car.
@@ravingmad765 my first fwd car, the power and lack of traction makes me laugh. It is really rather quick and have to love the practicality, just wish it had slightly larger cup holders.
@@ravingmad765 162 kW right? So for us none Aussies thats the 220.
kW is the reasonable measurement, but it sure ain't pretty when the companies aim for good looking horsepower numbers.
I just bought a 2018 rs 169 wagon, coming from a VZ Commodore, and I absolutely love it more than enough power.
So much more punchy than the big V6.
I picked up Octavia VRS Wagon MK 4 beginning of the year. Amazing car, still some annoying features but they are largely liveable with and are worth the overwhelming positives you get from these cars.
Re driven have had dozens of requests from exactly one viewer to feature the Sukuki Alto!
Such a low performance car really does require a high performance driver to make it sing, not to mention how fun it is to drive a slow car fast.
For $20K you could buy 10 and get 9 of your friends together for a track day and go all out in understeering tyre squealing fun.
I'm a big fan of ReDriven's passion for well balanced "fun cars" rather than fast cars. For our roads it is so much more fun to push a 7-8s car than a sub 5s car.
I'm still trying to find one to review mate, it'll happen one day I promise. - AK
@@ReDriven 😀😊
I've had my 2016 Giulietta QV for roughly 3 years 30k miles, apart from a small coolant leak from the reservoir connection, mechanically she's been flawless. Do not skimp on maintaince, give her love and care and she will love you back.
Love the OF model analogy, so true 😂 beautiful, spicy and feckle.
I think R32 golfs are worth a shot, almost certainly will rise in price in the future, you do have to make sure the timing chains are in good condition though because that is around a 4k job.
I bought a nice 2 door one(cosmetically atleast) for 12k but had to put about 6k into it over 2 years, that said the owner I got it from treated it like shit, most of it was just catching up on years of missed maintenance otherwise it would of been a fifth of that.
Great topic to cover guys. All those cars will no doubt be as reliable as a politicians promise, and around as expensive to fund.
So basically….. buy Japanese.
Yep. Everyone learns in the end
Not necessarily. Buy what you can work on yourself if you don’t have a substantial budget.
@@rsoul7282… except the “premium” brands are successfully preventing this with module coding etc
Yeah looks that way.
always
Awesome Video Adam 😊 You mentioned most of the cars I adore and at least 3 that I have owned or are currently driving...Maintenance before performance 😊
I'd love to see a review of the Ford Mondeo XR5 Turbo. They're so different from the focus and uncommon in aus (minus the engine and transmission). I just bought one as my first car on p plates and I'm really enjoying it. Not stupid fast but fast enough to do silly things in, the handling is what I love about it the most, as well as standard leather/alcantara seats, seat warmers and 6 speed manual box. You can't get over the sound of a 5 pot either.
Love your videos mate! Keep it up!
Ive owned the Alfa Giulietta and was so much more reliable than my Japanese cars like my pulsar and Prado! Just get a manual unless you want DCT problems
Criminally underrated is the car that slots in between the first and second cars (Abarth and Giulietta QV), it’s the Alfa Mito Sport (and to a lesser extent QV). Why?! Because it is utterly brilliant. Also because they didn’t have a stupid GTI or ST or whatever badge, they are completely overlooked. The Sport features the same fabulous 1.4T from the Abarth, in a still very small and great platform. But cop this, it’s WAY more comfortable and nicer made in every way. The seats have way more adjustment and are much much more comfortable and unlike just about every car in its class doesn’t need to feel like you’re sitting on top of the car. In fact you can go low, way too low in those things. They look fantastic with frameless doors and a design made as only a 3 door (especially with a few styling mods). They have a 6 speed (unlike the Abarth 5 speed) and are actually generally more reliable than basically all of its competitors, better than the Mini / DS3 / 208 etc with that horrendous prince motor. Better than the VW Polo and Skoda Fabia RS with that POS twincharged 1.4. Better than the Proc’eed and Veloster Turbo. Better than the Fiesta ST. The icing is that they can be had for a fraction of some of those other ‘sporty badged’ alternatives. I bought one as a cheap little fun daily for literally 1/4 of a similar Fiesta ST (years / kms), because nobody knows or cares about them. Is the Fiesta ST a better drivers car? Probably a little. Is it 4 TIMES better? Definitely not. Plenty of tasty upgrades available for them. Just an absolutely fantastic little warm / hot hatch for absolute peanuts. Oh and unlike some to be compared to, it doesn’t have stupid gearing chasing 0-100 times. It’s an absolute little cracker of a car and I would say one of the most underrated ‘fun’ cars on the market.
For ergonomics I would add that the steering wheel is still a little far away for taller drivers. Unlike the Abarth does adjust for reach though. I nearly bought an Abarth so many times and the ergonomics just killed it every time. They are stupidly uncomfortable for taller drivers. Saying that I did have a 500 Sport 1.4 for a bit and that thing was just so much fun. Just enough power and lovely short gearing (like the Mito) that you can absolutely thrash it everywhere you go and not be remotely concerned about the po-po. Plus it’s super light and chuckable and just fun ALL the time. Also unlike the Mito (and all 3 door hatches) it’s surprisingly easy to get little ones in the back. A nicely sorted 500 1.4 6 speed manual is about one of the most fun things you can drive on 4 wheels (incidentally vastly preferred it to the 1st Gen Swift Sport).
Life’s too short to buy boring cars.
This is the best list of cars you guys have ever done.
Life's also too short to sit on the side of the road 3 hours out of Tamworth waiting for the NRMA to show up, only to have to wait another 4 hours for a flat bed tow truck, in winter, in the rain. Hence I no longer own a Megane RS. - AK
@@ReDriven Yep. Been there before, stranded near Gundagai with a blown KO3 turbo in a Nogaro Blue 2000 Audi S4. The most unreliable car I’ve ever owned hands down, but also one of the most fun family wagons I’ve ever owned & the car that forced me to buy tools & learn how to maintain & repair.
What else can you have bought for under $10 grand (four years ago, they’ve gone up a lot since then) that hauls kids, surfboards, carparts & even the occasional track day romp, with a 6 speed manual & 0-100 in under 5 seconds with only a remap? Worth every cent I paid ( & subsequently lost when I sold it) & has instilled the mechanical fortitude to own these things. My daily driver 2008 manual Octavia VRS wagon was a worthy replacement for family duties & still going strong @ 252,000+ & a stage 1 APR tune with no major mechanical issues & only a few small problems that were easily fixed cheaply with some tools, knowledge, & patience.
Totally agree.
Interestingly, went from one of the cars on the recommended list (Mk2 Focus ST/XR5) to a Mk6 Golf GTI, as the ST (I'm an aussie living in the UK) was riddled with all sorts of problems and I basically paid for it twice.
The golf is nowhere as exciting as the ST but has so far been a far more reliable companion, and only needed regular maintenance.
Having learned a lot about both cars since purchase, I think it is fair to say that both ultimately have just as many common faults and failure points, but the car's previous history and owners treatment of them plays a much bigger part in what experience you will have owning it than many other factors. I know that you do point that out in many videos, but I think to label some of these cars as risky might be a little unfair, as I think the reasons that many of them are said to be risky are really true of the majority of modern used cars of any kind.
Anyhow, loved the video regardless, just an interesting take on what is considered to be risky- I think a car enthusiast looking for a performance car might have a different appetite for risk than a general consumer.
You're exactly right mate, and if there was a way we could accurately define who is watching our content between say serious performance car enthusiasts vs those that are shopping for a fun fast car, the list may have been different.
From what we've seen, the majority of our viewers are the general public wanting sound car advice, that being the case, we tend to lean a little conservatively. - AK
@@ReDriven That's fair, love the channel anyhow, keep it up!
Spot on comment. Reputation can differ wildly from real life experience due to so many variables (e.g. temperatures/weather conditions, previous owner/maintenance and mechanical sympathy, availability of aftermarket solutions to design flaws and whether these have been deployed to name a few). And as you say an enthusiast differs from a regular user and is, for example, more than willing to address design flaws and do all the preventative maintenance, themselves or with a specialist, which, alone, could make a "risky" car more reliable than a "reliable" car
Subscribed. Awesome video, I was considering getting rid of my ultra reliable Ej20 wrx and getting E90 335i but I think I’ll stick to my rexy.
Hello! I love your videos. I would only ask you to please mention the prices in the rest of the world also in this type of video, the same as you do with the reviews. Keep it up! Thank you!
What this boils down to regardless of the vehicle is either have a budget that allows you to buy what you want, or the skills to build what you want. Both methods can lead to nirvana or ruination.
Excellent video, thanks heaps 😊
Nice video, a list of “maybe buy one”, and it’s good for those who are capable in working on their cars, and have the budget for euro parts.
Abarth has a pretty decent following for aftermarket performance parts so its flaws can easily be sorted out. You would need to pick one up for 16- 17k and allow yourself a buffer. DNA Racing front lower control arms are a must have sharpening up the front end massively and also improving the turning circle which is outrageous in stock form. Replacing the rear axle bushes with DNA Racing Uniballs or even Poweflex Purples will sort the wayward rear axle. The factory bushes are much too soft. Abarth Tuning in Ireland sell these parts along with seat brackets for both the standard and Sabelt seats. If you are keen the 1.4 T-Jet engine is a little beast that can easily be boosted to 250-300hp.
Yep. The Abarth is an awesome car and despite occasional niggles are pretty reliable.
I went from V8s - Trans Am, GTO, to a Merkur XR4Ti and Focus SVT. These days I have a 2005 RSX Type S that I am doing a full restomod. Slow by V8 standards even of yesteryear, but tossable fun, screams to 8600 rpm. Fun in its own way without doing ludicrous speeds within three seconds. It's plenty quick if you see it through the lens of time. It could probably run low-mid 14s which is exactly what my A4 94 TA ran stock and probably quicker on the top end.
Had a feeling a few of the cars would appear on this list.
2 that'd be good too see as future videos are boring looking cars with insanely powerful engines aka sleepers and fast looking cars that a slower than a geriatric sloth on valium.
Brilliant work as always guys and look forward to Friday's video 👍.
This is an old video now mate, but is this what you were suggesting? ruclips.net/video/pgEKhRU8nGQ/видео.html
@@ReDriven seen that one but be good to see an updated version like the best buys under $x amount lol. Or even best sleepers in different price categories.
please please please do a review on the holden trax. specifically the face lifted models available in australia
I own a 2012 VW Golf GTI DSG and for the 11 months i owned it, i never had any major engine issues until the 12 month of ownership. Did have an oil leak on the timing cover and did end up fixing it and getting the timing chain done, but i do think the previous owner did abuse it a bit despite it having low mileage when i purchased it at 95,000 KM. Honestly besides that, i have maintained it properly and have driven it responsibly, but i'd say it has been reliable to not have to spend $5k on repairs.... I've seen many golf gti's and R's with higher mileage in the 250,000 KM +. They're not as bad as people think they are.
I was going to replace my V36 skyline for a Mk6R or a 7 gti to because they were better on fuel and more fun to drive but after doing some research it’s risky….
In 6 months you will save about 1.5k on fuel but a water pump failure will bite you back
Preventative maintenance is key bro, I came from a gti with a rattling chain and unfortunately spent all that money saved in maintenance 😅😅 I quickly sold it after I figured vag products call for maintenance every 70-100k miles 😂. I always get a should have kept you feeling when I ever see an infiniti😢
How are the diesel Alfa Giulietta? Any experience espc with the 2l JTDM
Euro's at that age are hot potatoes, you don't want to be the last guy with it..
Because the guy who riced up an accord euro or civic type r has absolutely looked after it? Clapped out bodged up JDM cars in this budget are gross POS, generally speaking.
@@mattdebyl8806 the cost of parts and labour I am talking about champ. It's the definition of economical write off because in the end it would cost more to fix than what it is worth..
@@hobo1704 nonsense. Really depends on the car and the failure.
@@mattdebyl8806 ok champ, you obviously have no idea what parts for those cars cost. Why do you think you still see old jap cars still on the road compared to euro..
Hi Adam - I have watched a lot of your reviews and enjoy the detail and effort you go to as well as the Earthy Opinions - mostly always valid! I know you can't review every car out there, however I am surprised and a bit disappointed that there is no review of one of the most unique looking and iconic cars of it's time (esp its debut). It's a long lived, very commonly loved car all over Europe, the US and here in Oz. And that's the Chrysler 300C and it's many variants. In fact, maybe you don't like Chrysler products (eg , including Dodge) as I did a search for "Chrysler" in your videos and not even one came up. I did watch the video which mentioned the very unique but dreadfully executed PT Cruiser, but after looking and looking I cannot see a dedicated video for any Chrysler or Dodge (or Plymouth for that matter) products.
I was seriously considering buying an early (2007) 300C with the 5,7L Hemi and wanted to see one of your reviews on it, as I have enjoyed watching so many of them (Eg Audi's, the Teslas and Commodore VE + others). But no matter, I have seen plenty of reviews now about the 300C and read scores of reader's comments about their experience with high mile examples (150k miles plus!) and almost all have been very favourable and impressive. They are very popular in Europe (UK and on the Continent), obviously thousands in the US and a great deal of them here as well.
I hope you can find a good used example of a 5.7 Hemi 300C - and do a review test. There's tons of information about their common faults and good points as well as disappointments on the net and even just here on YT. While the 5.7 engine is really nothing special compared to the vastly superior 6.1 and 6.4 litre versions, but they are far more common and you can find plenty of good used 5.7's around in Australia. And they still pack a very good punch for the buck these days (IMO). The 5.7 are far better than what the UK and Europe mostly had to accept, which was the slightly mundane, but still competent 3.5 litre diesel version.
Thanks for reading! (PS, if you HAVE done a review on a 300C, please accept my apology. But I looked everywhere therough your videos and cannot see one)
Great question mate.
We had actually tentatively booked an SRT and a Hemi into film and both had issues. The SRT was a mechanical failure and is still off the road months later (it’s a mates car, he loved it, now hates it), and the Hemi was sold a few days before we could film it.
We are on the hunt for another, preferably the SRT and as soon as we can find one, we’ll lock it into the schedule.
I should mention, Jim and I are not pro or anti any brand. We both deal with so many cars, any loyalty or a particular brands marketing hype is completely lost on us. Jim and I often disagree on what cars we enjoy as our requirements vary enormously but when it comes to Chrysler, we are as open to the facts and experience of the 300 as we are to any car. - AK
I had an 06 AH Astra SRI Turbo for 10 years, from 60,000kms to about 140,000kms, bought it in 2010 and only paid 16k for it. Was very good to me, none of the electronic gremlins or anything that could plague Astras.
Normal wear and tear stuff in that time, needed the engine gasket seal replaced, and a plastic sensor (manifold pressure sensor from memory) cost about $50, and had to replace a small part of the Turbo boost hose that had developed a small hole thanks to it sitting on a hose clamp.
What finally did it in was oil leaks, was looking at about $6000 or so to 'hopefully' resolve it, and it was time to get a larger car with a second kid on the way. Still the best car I've ever owned, loved it.
Firstly, love your content! On the RS Meganne, I have had an RS 250 for many years and now a RS 280 Cup and they have without a doubt been the most fun cars I have owned, and I have owned way, way too many and gone through a laundry list of hot hatches going all the way back to the Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 (first car in 86), XR3i/ST, RS Turbo, Capri 2.8i, Renault 5 GT Turbo and on and on....okay I was the archetypical boy racer back in the 80's! and still refusing to grow up!!! You are 100% right on maintenance with any car, but a well looked after Renault Megane RS is just immense and used they do not cost the earth unlike current pricing for cars whih are now reaching the absurd...Will not give up my 280 Cup....PS it would be good to see you revew the MK4 RS Megane 280/300 or Trophy!
Would love to see you do a video on what you think on used car prices , specially used sedans vs used suvs (like hyundai elantra, mazda 3 that are probably getting sold at very close price to their original buy price 7 years back and used suvs like Hyundai santa fe which are much better value proposition. what do you think.
Bought 208GTI in March and they are great for the $$$. Can be had for 10K and actually quite a few to choose from. 2013-2015 models are prone to more issues but that's sorted with regular maintenance and the dreaded timing gear of old 207GTI is much improved.
Post 2015 models are much improved with more reliable engines, slightly punchier engine and later tech. Overall for the $$$ saved compared to its rivals worth a look. Just be super picky.
I’ve recently picked up an R56 LCI Cooper S from Auction. 90k on the odo and full service history.
Unfortunately, I’m guessing the last owner didn’t treat it too well or cooked the service books. So, in the last two months I’ve owned it, apart from general maintenance, I’ve done the following:
- PCV diaphragm
- Valve cover gasket
- Water pump
- Oil cooler gaskets
- Turbo feed line
- Turbo return line
- HPFP (genuine refurbished)
- Fuel filter
- Battery
And it’s still leaking coolant somewhere. I’m suspecting it’s the coolant crossover pipe.
With all that being said, god it’s such fun to drive! And that Harman Kardon sound system is the icing on the cake. By the way, I also had to replace two of the speakers because they were blown.
Ive heard of this countless times with minis
I was driving through a small Victorian town with a mechanic mate, when a large defunct (collective noun) of Alfa Romeo’s rolled by. He laughingly said “Where’s the support van?”, as we turned the bend… to find it tending to 2 break downs😂😂
Is this the one that has the Opel/Holden Astra GTC hot hatch?
Great insights
Could you please do a review of the e12 nismo note s & the e13 note aura (nismo fettled one). Iron chef imports have some as daily’s if you need a source.
Already booked in to film mate. - AK
You guys, would knock it out of the park. If you did a garage series.
Call it - Redriven Jim or Redriven Garage. Show us, what's in the shop and what is being done to the cars🚗.....👍
We do pretty much that on Patreon Bryce, but we are looking at how to expend something along these lines to become a regular feature here. Great idea. - AK
This is owed more views!
Got an Octavia wagon VRS 162 with a stage 1 tune. Located in Sydney if you wanted 👍 16:00
I know it is somewhat of an older vehicle, but a review on a mark 5 golf gti/r/r32 would be dashing!? Thanks
Working on locking one in as we speak mate, stay tuned. - AK
I've got an R32 in Sydney
I don't know about the Golf R...I had a 2017 Seat Cupra 4drive (same as Golf R) for 3 years as used, and the only issue was the notorious water pump failure (was fixed under used car warranty). I did track days, launch controls and it never skipped a beat. Many of my friends have had those as well and generally they've been pretty much ok. I mean the DSG gets a really bad rap on your videos, but I've heard really not many issues with the performance versions, especially when comparing to the amount of how many those have been manufactured.
My girlfriend had an Abarth 595 and we drove it to Adelaide from Melbourne the most uncomfortable car I've been in ever but it is awesome to drive haha
I went to buy a pair of Bosch wiper blades the other day…$90 (Toyota Aurion/Super cheap auto)🙀. I’ve had Bosch blades before on other cars and they never cost that much. Remembered WiperTech from your channel.
Received the WiperTech blades ($54) in 2 days. So far they are performing just as good as Bosch blades… time will tell🤞🏻
Can't you buy just the rubber and replace that ?
Bosch are much better , W/T are ok but go hard quickly in my experience.
@@mvnorsel6354 I did that last time (nulon, if I remember), absolute waste of $20. Didn’t last 3 months!🤨
@@smiddysmidton8313 … this is my concern, but time will tell! I will be reposting my experience about 1yr from now. (Around the wiper tech warranty date)
@@lukeclifton4392 I've put wipertech on my car too, good for price but had to replace after about a year or so, but bosch didnt last much longer anyway before getting stiff. I can rarely find Bosch ones for my specific car on the rack which is why I gave wipertech a go.
So so so happy you mentioned The r56 MINI 😂😂..
The the “definition” of money pits hahaha!! I have one, and have repaired nearly everything mentioned and probably more too.
WORST CAR TO OWN. But I love it 😍 to bits !
They are Character Building, they reveal the true real “ones self” !
It would be good to see a review of used performance cars between $50 -$75k. I was lucky enough to pick up a used w212 E63 (5.5l) four years ago for $67k - one owner with original 56,000 kms. It would be great to know your thoughts on some of the vehicles in that price range and which are reliable and which are duds. BTW my E63 has been awesome with no issues (touch wood).
nice car peter
Sometimes I miss my mini r56. And all the good quality time I spent with my mechanic. The guy was expensive but a good mate nonetheless. Hahahahah
While I fall into the category of being completely incapable of repairing my own car. I still enjoy hearing about these cars. Even if it's a don't buy these unless you can pay to get it repaired. Or from a case of don't buy these cars. Still worth a look.
Turbo failures and radiator failures on the megane RS? Nah. I have been in the RS community for many years and these are simply not things that go wrong.
The things that are expensive and fail are the air con compressor, clutch master/slave cylinders, and main end seal weep/leak
Mine did both, as did my mates car and it was his car that inspired me to buy one. - AK
Can you please do 2014 FG G6
I’m in qld but I have a 60,000km factory fresh G6 if you need for the video
The Peugeot RCZ has many motor variants, which is the problematic one?
Rather than buying an older Golf R/S3 I decided to buy a newer Audi A3 Quattro, added some extra goodies and its been a great little car and pretty much free of issues for the last 3 years.
You did also mention the Subaru Wrx 1994 - 2000 GC8, 2001 - 2007 and 2008 till 2012 cars, all of the early EJ20 and EJ25's can require heaps of maintenance with the Head Gaskets, Timing belts, oil leaks and higher oil consumption. The problem with buying them is they will most likely been driven to the floor constantly or in rare cases, there is one that has been driven normally, not to mention that they have Body structure issues with rust forming particularly early 00's cars and 90's cars. The WRX for model years 1994 till 2007 should've been on this video...
Any thoughts on the Elantra Sr Turbo?
Yes. Get an i30N or an N-Line sedan. The 1.6GDI turbo engine is a cracker. That said get a Hyundai Tucson over the Elantra
I had the Skoda, it's a great car, but it needs to have been flawlessly maintained its whole life if you want to depend on it.
Really? They're VW. We consider them to be some of the most reliable cars around. They also stay in the second hand market for ages because of how sturdy they are.
Being a part of VW you’d think Skoda would be on par with poor reliability. But my brother bought a 2nd hand Superb (diesel AWD)… it’s lived on country pot holed dirt roads and it’s been fantastic.
…and when you do a bit of searching online, Skoda seems to have a higher reliability rating🤷♂️
@@Havanu81 they're reliable for a European car. Compared to the rest of the world they sit well below average. That said, they're great cars.
@@lukeclifton4392 I have had three Skodas. I think it's because of where they are built (put together). Sure they have the same water pump issue (about $1500 to replace.. don't get the OEM replacement) but they are higher ranked than VW for reliability. They are built in Slovakia. Most VW are built in China.
Like most MQB Dubs, the timing belt and DSG mechatronics unit will shit themselves eventually. Cost me approx $1.5k and $3.8k respectively. Still, I love em. Everything is just so well thought out...except the aforementioned issues 🤷🏿♂️
Thank You ReDriven! You have saved many people from financial ruin not to mention despair with this video (if they heed your warning).
What I gather from this video is not to buy a Euro, gotcha.
Fiat Chrysler = Stellantis these days. This group also includes Vauxhaul/Opel and Peugeot/Citroen now too, bringing the overall quality levels... up? Down? Unsure. I like to point this out because the group name is bloody hilarious.
Ok so second generation Audi TT, don’t forget that there was a VR32 version with the fabulous 3.2 VR6 engine. These are usually no more expensive than the 2.0s and I’ve seen plenty of one owner ones of these. Would definitely be my pick of the TTs. Not as good a drivers car as the 125i, but look great and the VR6 can sound amazing. Plenty of that NA throttle response as well.
Also consider the Gen1 TT. They also had the VR6 (which would be my pick, again). The design is just better and feels way more special and bespoke than any cheap car has any right to be. The 1.8 Quattro is the same as the S3 and is a pretty reliable unit. I had one for quite a while and apart from a few suspension bushings (given it was already a pretty old car for it’s time) it was pretty much issue free. Still want a VR6 version but tricky to find. Free revving NA in a little coupe for the win over FI. The OG TT doesn’t look like much in pictures, but whenever I see one in the flesh I’m reminded of what an absolutely stellar design they were. The later VR6 with the S-Line body treatment looks even better.
Putting my hand up as one of the "thousands of owners who has never had problems" with VWs. On my 3rd "TSI", this one now with 250,000kms, DSG and a tune. I put petrol in it and it goes. Not sure what all the fuss is about. If it had been my only one I'd suspect I was just lucky, but three of them - all flawless? I must be the TSI whisperer.
Review the GR Yaris always in the background
Stay tuned!
...might have shot it the other day 😉
turbo failure is very rare on the megane rs, its a mitsubishi td04 a very robust and reliable unit
It wasn't on mine :( - AK
@@ReDriven I guess it’s one of those things, they say a bird shitting on you is good luck? Maybe buy a lotto ticket?
My Abarth was reliable AF as it was Manual and a basic car with parts easy to own. I regretted owning an Alfa Giulietta QV though which sent me back to Germans
Basically all these cars on the list are ideal project cars.
Some of them are genuinely fine, reliable cars.
No Japanese cars on the list; colour me surprised!
Yeah a WRX or RX8 or BRZ are all way more reliable than these. Right? Oh it must be all the other great budget performance cars out of Japan and Korea that would be a better option? I mean why buy a brilliant car like a 125i when you can buy a Veloster Turbo for the same money?
When are we going to see the sh forester xt????????
As someone who worked at a Jeep/Fiat/Dodge dealership, it seems like the 500 hatchback (not the Jeep models) has a very "eye for an eye" build quality. If you abuse the car and never do basic maintenance, it will treat you badly, if you have common sense and drive the car like a regular person, it will take care of you and be as reliable as a Toyota. I've also never seen bodywork or frame rust issues on the 500 hatchback as much as I've seen them on Toyotas.
I love watching these vids! I know which cars to stay well away from!! Pretty much all Euro cars!! LOL
So the obvious car missing from this list (or perhaps the previous list) is the Mazda RX-8. It is a brilliant, if flawed sports car, mainly due to the engine. That engine is a real double edge sword.
For sure. Starts around 12k which leaves enough money for a spare engine should you happen to need it sooner rather than later.
I believe it was even mentioned in the not so scary list. Can’t remember. If you want that brilliant sports car without that problematic engine, get an MX5. That’s what it’s based on and is way better in MX5 form.
There is a saying in regards to buying cars such as these mentioned in this video. If you couldn't afford to buy them when they were new, then you cannot afford to buy them when they are second hand.
Maybe that's true if you pay others do to all the work.
That’s a weird saying. I nearly bought a 100k 330i the other day with 70k on the clock. In grandpa spec for $10k. Not a huge amount to go wrong with them and not that expensive to fix if it did. For the same money I can buy a clapped out aurion with 300k on the clock and the paint coming off. Either way, that BMW would never cost $100k to own for the next 20 years.
Nah. Bought my 02 Alfa 156 GTA two years ago for under $10k (a third of current market price and less than a tenth of the price when new). My daily driver, I just passed 250,000km and it has so far been faultless, roughly $500 to service every 6 months, separate to timing belt/pump every three years (last did mine a year ago). The 3.2 busso v6 is the best sounding engine on the planet with less than 8 cylinders. Rarer than anything else on this video too - only about 100 ever sold in oz of only 2600 manual sedans built (and maybe
Offft how about that Mk2 Escort in the background
What are the takes on Polo GTI 1.4 2013?
We're hopefully featuring one soon, just waiting on filming dates. - AK
I had one from new for 2 years. In that time it managed to drink 1L of oil per 1000km (to be told by VW Aus that this was normal and within spec) and have a mechatronic unit in the DSG fail around 10k km (replaced under warranty). Fun to drive but I sold it as soon as I could, it felt like a ticking time bomb.
The f56 mini's are extremely reliable, they use the b series BMW engine's, where the previous generation used Peugeot engine's.
Just go for the 163bhp 2 litre diesel engined Peugeot RCZ, way more reliable than the petrol version.
A growth mindset and willingness to spin a spanner is really a non-negotiable as you'll want/need to upgrade a lot of the parts anyway to match the potential of the chassis and engine, personally I would stick with the N52 N/A engined MT BMW's e8x if you want something reliable, trackable , reasonably lightweight 1350kg, 50/50 weight distribution = balanced dynamics& handling, low maintenance (relatively), linear power delivery, instant throttle response, hydraulic steering, RWD, great sound, that won't leave you stranded and will keep going forever, also pretty easy to work on.
You didn’t include the 1.8 POLO 6c GTI
Guys, thank you for this! Probably going make a bunch of comments on different cars to add or augment the list. Sorry for the comment bombing!!!
Next up the BMW 125i. This car (despite the name) has the same engine as the 130i (N52 3.0) and is an absolutely brilliant thing. The 135i completely overshadowed it. But even when new they were considered to be the best balance of the 1 series coupe. While most BMWs were getting big and fat the 125i was small and nimble. It didn’t suffer the rock hard suspension of the 130i yet still has tonnes of balance. It’s the closest thing I’ve ever driven to the sublime MX5 ND, but with a bit more practicality. Plus they’re cheaper and a bit faster (not much but it’s there). Also with much less ‘features’ than the bigger / fancier BMWs there is way less to go wrong. Plenty of people with huge mileage on those N52s. Trouble is finding a manual, but they are out there. Much overlooked like the 86 / BRZ but those get a bit more attention because there is no more powerful version. The 125i is totally overlooked because the 135i and M variant exist.
you are spot on unless you have the money for a lotus or porsche , the mx5,, 86 or e8x with the n52 is where its at
This is brilliant mate, we’re looking into the 125i. - AK
@@ReDriven please do. I drove a few autos and they were incredibly meh (nice enough but yeah). Drove a manual and it is a completely different car.
Now I'm sad, the Juke nismo RS did not make this or the other list😢😢😢😢
Actually a really overlooked car. They’re cool and a lot of fun. Same engine as the RS200 (on the list) though and they’re not without their issues.
I can vouch for the 125i/130i/330i n52 engine. Been great with some PREVENTITIVE maintenance. Euro cars get a bad wrap because its generally rich snobs or ignorant people who buy and neglect them, then wonder why they blow up
Agree. I mentioned the 130i in the hot hatch video. Plenty reliable. And great to drive. Yeah it's not gonna be as fast as a 135i. But it's far from slow either and none of the worry something will go wrong.
It’s weird you would think rich people would do the maintenance. The money wouldn’t be such a big deal to them.
430,000km 130i owner here.
Yeah they're pretty good haha.
Think its more that the rich snobs buy new and only keep them for 3 years then trade up to new one before all the big service bills start falling due. Then its the second "budget" buyer who cops the bills but delays/ignores them, condemning the car to rapid decline.
What about Mercedes A45 or A250?
A45 is asking more than $20k. - AK
You didn't mention the MGF and MGTF disasters. They did outsell the MX5 in the UK. Or the MR2.
Insignia vrx? Boosted
......finally some awesome Peugeots!!!!
308 GTI pls
Actually just bought an Alfa Romeo Guiletta QV (a manual one at that)
Without being part of an owners club and having a luckily reasonably priced specialist i can understand the fear that comes with it
A beautiful car but it will keep you on your toes so don't rely on it as a daily commute
Might want to buy some comfortable shoes, just saying.
I looked into those a while back and there was nothing that stood out as a huge issue with them from memory? There was a turbo hose that was a poor design on earlier cars but otherwise seemed to be reliable according to the internet. Maybe that's changed but saw a few with high KMs for sale so they must do alright?
@@Peginafication yeah from asking around that turbo hose issue is mostly cause by bad oil
They still have issues outside of that bad nothing overly unexpected given the brand haha
@@0SpanYon0 oh well let's hope you got one of the good ones built on a Wednesday or something 😂
From what i've read the Guiletta is actually a really reliable car and people just echo the Alfa stereotype because its easy to do...
Some cars definitely do not fit in the video. I have experience with multiple second generation TTs and they are all amazing, very reliable.
Vw??
I have had many brands over my decades of driving. I have never gone back to unreliable brands that I have owned no matter how much I want one. Had a R5GT turbo back in the day. Never buy Renault again. Had a Vauxhall GSI that had catastrophic engine failure due to a poor mix of steel used in the engine. Not even Honda would I buy again. The only brand I would re-visit would be Toyota.
Do Audi TT 8S MK3 next?
TT video is coming soon mate. - AK
It sounded like you were providing sensible advice until you suggested lowering a car's suspension to make it look cooler; at which point i just started to question everything
Actually in cars where lowering was also a factory option, it is absolutely a reasonable thing to do. I've had 3 V6 Alfa 156s, two with factory lowered set-up and my current top-spec GTA with factory lowered kit replaced with premium quality adjustable coilovers (as have most GTAs). Having also driven 156s with the "standard" factory suspension set up (25-30mm higher than sport set up and much softer) I can say absolutely the standard set up is wallowy, soft and like guiding a boat into choppy seas. My GTA, however, is like its on rails, and the other two were almost as tight.
I kinda like the idea of a rear drive 3L BMW... but they tend to also be liked by boy racer bell-ends, so most are old, high mileage and thrashed. Sad. And the rest are near new and expensive. There doesn't seem to be a sweet spot in the middle in this market.
125i can be had for the best value in them. Often very well looked after with low kms. Because they were factory detuned they are overlooked. Can easily be unlocked though.
Because the ones in the middle have all been crashed
Listen it seems every car has issues
Can you recommend a car $20k and under with almost Zero problems
Please ? I’m on a strict budget 😊
Otherwise I think Toyota and Honda is my safest bet mate ?
Corolla, Civic, Mazda 3 and Lexus IS are all showing superb reliability. - AK
It's more expensive to start itching to replace a car after a year because it's boring, than to maintain a car that you love.
If you're the happy guy that is not bored by a Camry then buy a Camry, otherwise buy what you like.
The common theme with European cars is how many points of failure can I engineer into the car just in time for warranty to expire before people stop buying them
Honestly I see so many of the supposedly ‘reliable’ Toyotas and Hondas with all sorts of common and costly problems. The kias and Hyundais are even worse. Yes there are nightmare euro cars, but the stigma way way outweighs the actual problems.
Love that VW, one of the largest automakers in the world, can't get basic build quality right 😂
Most underrated performance car under $20k............Toyota Blade Master G.....basically a Corrola with 3.5L v6....fuck me dead its fast, 280kw
I have to disagree that a MK6 GTI being well maintained helps reduce failures. All the problems we've had with ours over the last 4 years were just a matter of poorly made parts failing. Water pumps dropping coolant, coolant bottle blowing, multiple door actuators, window regulators, roof has fallen down...and that'll all in 40000km.
I think it's a great car but logbook maintenance doesn't stop any of these failures