EXCLUSIVE
The cost of living crisis has hit Australian drivers, with huge upfront costs for new vehicles, rising interest rates on car loans, plus skyrocketing insurance premiums, car registration and fuel costs.
But one of the new presenters of the latest series of Top Gear Australia, Blair Joscelyne, said you can still get a reliable car for less than $10,000.
He shared his top picks with Daily Mail Australia, including the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Hilux, Subaru Forester, Suzuki Swift, VW Up and Honda Civic.
Blair Joscelyne (pictured) is one of the new hosts of Top Gear Australia
Blair Joscelyne (right) with her Top Gear Australia co-hosts Jonathan LaPaglia (left) and Beau Ryan (centre)
2005 Toyota Corolla 1.8L – under $5,000
“The Toyota Corolla is probably one of the most popular, affordable and reliable cars you can buy in Australia,” Blair said.
“Not only are there tons of Toyota Corollas out there, but you can get them for about $5,000, and because they’re so popular, the parts are cheap.”
Blair said he recently needed a new bull bar for a Corolla and it only cost him $100.
“Compare this to a more modern European car, where the bumpers alone can cost thousands of dollars,” he said.
“This car is ideal for daily city driving and affordable maintenance.”
“The Toyota Corolla is probably one of the most popular, affordable and reliable cars you can buy in Australia,” Blair said.
Toyota Hilux (various years)
“If you search ‘Toyota Hilux under $10,000’ in Australia you will find there are almost 200 for sale and the reason is that they still run,” Blair said.
Blair thinks they’re incredibly popular with weekend warriors and professionals alike, and the 4×4 option means you can use them off-road too.
“There are so many variants, including petrol, diesel, crew cab, space cab and steel pans, so it really comes down to what features you are looking for,” he said.
“But if you need a car that can run and play, then you can’t go wrong with a Hilux.”
Blair said the Toyota Hilux is incredibly popular with weekend warriors and professionals alike.
Subaru Forester (2002 – 2008)
Whether you like snowboarding, mountain biking, or just hauling kids and pets, the Forester is a great choice.
‘Subaru’s are known for their safe handling and AWD traction. Add this to a car with a huge boot, lots of utility and aftersales support and you’ve got a fantastic deal,” Blair said.
The Forester also makes a decent tow vehicle if you need to tow a motorcycle trailer or box trailer.
“For those looking for a little more performance, there are multiple turbo variants available,” he said.
“Just make sure you keep an eye on the oil, Subarus are known for using it.”
Blair said Foresters vary in price, mainly due to the JDM STI variant which can cost more than $40,000, but advised that good, honest examples of the standard models can be found for less than $10,000.
He said the Forester is ideal for road trips, interstate trips, weekend adventures and even some light off-road work.
The Forester also makes a decent tow vehicle if you need to tow a motorcycle trailer or box trailer.
Honda Civic EK (1996-2000)
Blair said that in recent years the hatch version of the Civic has become much more expensive as enthusiasts modify it, including engine swaps and turbochargers.
“These are hugely popular because of their decent looks and reliability,” Blair said.
“But the base models are still available and if you’re looking for a sedan, you can buy them for cheap.”
He said there is a large aftermarket for these cars, so those looking for something they can drive every day but can also take to the track will be impressed.
‘You can also upgrade to more powerful engines (like the Civic Type R’s B16B with V-TEC) and upgrade to adjustable suspension for track use. Overall, it’s a reliable car that can also be a lot of fun.”
Blair said the Honda Civic is ideal for daily driving and some track performance days with slight modifications.
“The base model of the Honda Civic is still available and if you’re looking for a sedan, you can buy it for cheap.”
Suzuki Swift 2005
Blair said that with the smaller-capacity engine, the Suzuki Swifts consume good fuel and are surprisingly comfortable for a light car.
“These cars are a lot of fun, plus they are small and cheap, which makes them perfect for driving in the city,” he said.
Blair said they get good fuel economy thanks to the smaller displacement engine and are surprisingly comfortable for a light car.
He said they also make awesome little track cars for weekend fun with many modifications available at pretty cheap prices.
‘I have one of these that I bought for $6,000 and then spent another $20,000 adding high-quality Japanese modifications. Yes, I added a lot of things.’
Blair said the Suzuki Swift is ideal for daily driving with a decent boot size once the seats are folded.
“The Suzuki Swift is a lot of fun, plus it’s small and cheap, making it perfect for city driving,” Blair said.
VW up! (2012)
“So I had to include at least one European car on this list, and although I was initially going to add the iconic VW Golf, when I mentioned it to a group of mechanic friends, they each formed battle lines to discuss whether they were reliable or not. “Blair said.
‘It ended up with a 50:50 split and I needed something that was unanimous. That’s when I mentioned the little VW! with multiple nods of approval.’
“In my experience, the Golf is a great car and I even built one of the fastest road-going Golf R’s in the country (0-100 in 2.8 seconds).”
Blair said he has owned almost every model year of the Golf MK1, MK3, MK4, MK5, MK6, MK7, MK7.5 and the new MK8.
‘But for this list of the most reliable cars, I needed something that was cheap and unanimous, and this is where the VW stands out! come in,’ he said.
‘It’s a strange little microcar built by VW with a 1-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine.
‘You can get them in 3 doors and 5 doors and overseas they even made a turbo GTI version. We never got this version in Australia, but I recently built my own GTI by converting a local version from a wrecked car I imported from the UK.
“I am now the owner of the world’s first (and only) converted 1-litre UP turbo GTI.”
Blair said the cars are fun, light, reliable and a little different than regular hatchbacks.
“You can get them for under $10,000 and I’ve even driven mine across New South Wales to the desert.”
Blair said VW up! It’s also perfect for driving in style in the city center, where small cars are ideal.
Blair said VW up! It’s fun, light, reliable and a little different than your average hatchback.
Blair’s five tips to avoid costly repairs
TIRES:
The best safety and performance option for your car is good tires.
They not only help with braking, but also with acceleration and cornering.
Your car will have a recommended tire pressure; Make sure you respect it.
Your local tire shop can check your tires for you and rotate them to get the most out of them.
Also consider getting a wheel alignment if you have a second-hand car to make sure it is set up correctly and safely.
For daily use I use Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires and on my weekend track cars I use Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
Blair Joscelyn (pictured right) with her Mighty Mods co-host Marty (left) have had over a billion views on their YouTube channel.
OIL:
Oil is the lifeblood of your car and is easy and inexpensive to change.
You can learn to do it yourself or stick to maintaining your logbook and make sure it is done regularly by your local mechanic.
As long as you check and change the oil and filter regularly, your car should run for years.
You can potentially save a few dollars by purchasing your car’s oil and filter yourself and leaving them in the car for your mechanic to use at your next service.
I use Castrol Edge exclusively in all my cars.
WASH:
Washing your car covers many important areas.
Not only will it keep your car in good condition, but it will also remove contaminants and insects that can ruin your paint.
Most importantly, however, is the buildup of debris that can block drainage areas and cause car leaks.
Remove leaves and mud from your car just as you see it.
Also be sure to check and wash all rubber seals around the windows and trunk liner.
Washing your car is also a good opportunity to examine tire wear and general maintenance.
TOOLS:
If you’re feeling handy, a decent tool kit and service manual for your car are invaluable.
A quality tool set will last you a lifetime and could save you thousands of dollars in repairs.
Of course, you can take it to your local mechanic and this is often the best idea for larger jobs, but there are many things you can learn to fix yourself by watching YouTube videos and talking to other owners.
A proper tool kit is invaluable.
DRIVING SCHOOL:
Some of the best money you can spend is learning to drive.
Most people never push the limit of their car on a racetrack or on a skateboard.
Learning to perform cornering and emergency braking and experiencing the feel of ABS makes better drivers.
Being a better driver means being more aware and more likely to get you and your car home in one piece.
Check out driving training in your area and do yourself a favor and book a class.
It’s also a lot of fun!
Blair is the co-creator of the successful YouTube channel. Powerful car mods with fellow Top Gear Australia presenter Marty.
Top Gear Australia is streaming now Supreme+with new episodes available every Friday of the season.