Top 10 dependable cars under $3000

All of us at some point in life will need to choose a third-rate drive over a first-rate walk.

The car we can afford will not resemble in any way the car we desire but putting The Dream on hold for a while reveals some surprisingly decent vehicles that can be bought on a limited budget.

Sure, they might be wearing panels of different colours, with a roof-lining that is held in place with staples, a leaky windscreen and air conditioning that hasn't kept anything cool in a long time. But they are going to get you there and home again.

Struggling to buy a car when you have minimal money is going to involve compromise. However, where and how you cut corners need not affect the vehicle's reliability, comfort or how well it might protect you or yours in a crash. Here’s a KISS list to guide you in your shopping:

Check list when buying
• Keep it practical: Aussie, Japanese and more recent Korean models,
• Don’t buy a 4WD for the once-a-year holiday,
• Buying online (through carsales) will provide you with a wider choice of cars,
• But don’t settle for a car at the ends of the earth, shipping it home will cost you,
• Factor in some bucks for making the car roadworthy if it’s sold without rego and RWC,
• Have the car inspected by professionals for any expensive mechanical problems looming,
• Consider an older car without power steering or air conditioning if money is really tight,
• Younger drivers should check that they’re legally permitted to drive an older turbo or V8 model.

So, with that out of the way, let us look at some of the options out there to suit our needs and fit our budget.

These listings show the model, body type and age range surveyed. The score out of 100 considers such attributes as durability, performance, equipment and economy. Typical pricing is based on vehicles being sold via online sales sites like carsales and through auctions during July 2020.

These are solid, well-built cars and ten years of typical use certainly won’t reduce them to a pile of unreliable rubbish. The Toyota Corolla Seca hatchback provides plenty of access to the load space and it can be extended by folding the seats.

Toyota air conditioning is among the world’s best and switching on the ‘air’ in a warm Corolla should produce a rapid drop in cabin temperature; if there’s a problem it could be costly to fix.

The 16-valve engine is almost indestructible and with regular servicing should exceed 250,000 kilometres. Front constant-velocity joints can clatter from 120,000 kilometres but aren’t expensive to replace. Remember to check that cars showing more than 100,000 kilometres have undergone the essential cam-drive belt change.

Buy a Toyota Corolla AE102 Seca on carsales

The original Outback offers comfortable, reliable transport for people who live in rural areas or need to make more than an occasional trip on rough roads.

The 2.5-litre engine should use 10L/100km of unleaded fuel in normal use. Manual Outbacks come with low-range gearing which helps them in rough going. However, limited clearance makes them unsuited to rutted tracks or soft sand.

Even the basic version was well equipped, with air conditioning and power windows included. The more expensive Limited variant came with partial leather trim and a sunroof.

Head gasket failures are a common problem with the 'flat four' engine and a car that overheats should be avoided. Clunks from the rear end can signify drive-shaft wear or worn differential carrier bushings. Camshaft drive belts need to be replaced every 100,000 kilometres to prevent serious engine damage.

Buy a Subaru Outback on carsales

After suffering sales losses due to its disastrous AU model, Ford worked hard to overcome its shortcomings and the BA was rewarded with the Wheels magazine ‘Car of the Year’ award for 2002.

The BA Series used the same basic structure and design but delivers improved handling and performance while keeping used prices low. Along with more power from the six-cylinder engine came independent rear suspension across the sedan range and a neater and more logical interior design. These cars were pretty much indestructible and widely known as 'the cabbie's choice' because Falcons survived so well the rigours of being taxicabs.

Although fuel consumption from the 4.0-litre engine is around 12L/100km, other running costs including servicing, parts and insurance compensate for the extra spent at the pump. Ignore Ford’s service intervals and have the engine oil and filter changed every six months or 10,000kms and the transmission oils renewed at 50,000.

Buy a Ford Falcon BA sedan on carsales

Early models of the Mazda 323 SP had twin-cam, 1.8-litre engines with 92kW of power and an optional 2.0-litre V6. Later cars went backwards, with 1.6 litres and only 78kW.

Other features included alloy wheels and an electric sunroof, while cars built after 1995 had a driver's airbag and anti-lock braking. Air conditioning was standard after 1998 when a restyled BJ model was introduced.

Performance from 1.8 and 2.0-litre Astinas is excellent, as is their handling and four-wheel disc stopping ability. The seats and interior finish are also among the best available in mid-priced Japanese cars. Fuel consumption from manual cars averages better than 9L/100km.

These are also the kind of car that will attract over-enthusiastic use, so avoid any that display unusual body rattles, obvious crash repairs, imprecise steering or a sloppy gearchange.

Make sure that engine oil has been changed every 7500 kilometres or less and that camshaft drive belts aren’t overdue for replacement as it’s an expensive job.

Buy a Mazda 323 Astina on carsales

The compact Toyota RAV4 appeared on Australian roads during 1994 and has remained high on the list of best-selling ‘compact’ four-wheel drives. Sales climbed from 7000 in 1999 to almost 15,000 annually by 2006 so availability is excellent.

RAVs of this age came in two or four-door versions; the longer wheelbase four-door seating five and still leaving a decent amount of room for luggage. The 2.0-litre engine generates a healthy 96kW and posts fuel consumption figures averaging better than 10L/100km.

Sun, sand and surf play havoc with the RAV underbody. Even if a car you like is sitting in a yard hundreds of kilometres from the coast, get it onto a hoist to check for rust and damage.

The transmission uses a centre differential rather than a full-on transfer case and 4WD in manual models needs to be engaged via a button on the dash. Get the vehicle onto some kind of unsealed surface during your test to make sure torque is being fed through all of the wheels.

Buy a Toyota RAV4 on carsales

More than half a million of these Commodores were made and cheap ones are very easy to find. V8 engines were available but the cheapest car to buy and run will be an Executive or Berlina with the 3.8-litre 'Ecotech' V6 engine.

These normally come with four-speed automatic transmission (five speed manual was optional) with cloth interior trim and power steering. A station wagon will cost no more than the sedan and there was a utility as well.

Independent rear suspension is fitted and while more complex and costly to maintain, the improved stability makes these Commodores more controllable. Air conditioning was an option but almost every Commodore had it. Fuel consumption averages around 12L/100km, rising to around 20L/100km if towing.

The V6 engine will last 300,000km and when it does fail, slotting in a replacement motor is cheaper than doing a rebuild. Be wary of a transmission that thumps when down-changing and look for edge-worn rear tyres that indicate rear suspension problems.

Buy a Holden VT/VY Commodore on carsales

Pulsars built after 1996 don't attract enthusiasts in the way earlier versions do and that is one reason why these excellent cars sell so cheaply.

The basic LX model has a 1.6-litre engine, with a 1.8 in the later ST. Both come as a sedan or hatchback. Ride quality is the feature that sets the Pulsar apart from comparably priced cars.

The hatch is roomy and practical and the way to go for anyone needing to accommodate a young family and all of their associated baggage.

Rear drum brakes were standard on sedans, so for better braking choose a Q or Ti Hatch with four discs and ABS. These models also deliver a range of uprated inclusions such as power windows, remote locking and air conditioning.

Listen for engine rattles at start-up, exhaust smoke that signals engine wear, sloppy steering and front tyres that are wearing on their inner edges. All signify problems that will turn a cheap Pulsar into a very costly one.

Buy a Nissan Pulsar N15/N16 on carsales

The Hyundai Elantra was the Korean brand’s rival to Toyota's Corolla, designed for conservative owners who more than often took very good care of their Korean-sourced hatchbacks.

Cars in this price bracket will most often be pre-2006 models in basic GL trim. The GL engine was a 1.8-litre, 97kW four-cylinder and moving up to the 2.0-litre GLS/Elite motor only increased power by 7kW. Five-speed manual transmission was standard but a lot of Elantras were sold with the four-speed automatic.

These cars need to be revved reasonably hard to deliver decent performance and that’s reflected in fuel consumption that averages more than 9 litres/100km.

With all-independent suspension the Elantras do a reasonable job of keeping occupants comfortable and the car on the road over rough surfaces. Around town, providing you don’t use the 6000rpm maximum, they are quiet and reasonable refined.

Every 90,000 kilometres these cars need a camshaft drive-belt and water pump change that costs around $800. They may also need new brake disc rotors and front driveshaft joints. Check the service history and choose a car that has already had this work recently completed.

Buy a Hyundai Elantra on carsales

We don't have a logical explanation of why these Jackaroos are so much cheaper than other 4WDs of similar age, but buyers with not a lot of money to spend really don't care.

Yes, the 3.2-litre V6 is a guzzler, but not a lot worse than other biggish engines pushing hefty 4WD structures. The Isuzu-based Jackaroo is well regarded for its off-road ability but buyers in the lower price range do need to take a punt on the complex selectable 4WD system.

Most provide seating for five, however the occasional seven-seat SE or Monterey might sneak into the sub-$3K price bracket. Later versions come with dual front airbags and factory air conditioning.

Pre-1998 V6 engines had less power than later versions but with a timing chain and fewer moving parts are more reliable. The selectable 4WD system needs to be checked to ensure it is engaging, and be prepared for clutch shudder in manuals.

Buy a Holden Jackaroo V6 on carsales

Lots of people need to carry a load and the family without spending much money. A dual-cab is the answer, however the majority in the market cost well above $3000.

A Ford Courier from the late 1990s is one that does the job, offering the reliability of Mazda-sourced mechanicals in a (typically) inexpensive package. Couriers and the equivalent Mazda B2600 come in single or dual-cab versions with 2.6-litre petrol engines, five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission.

Most in this price range will not be pretty, so expect faded and mismatched paint and perhaps some minor body damage. They seem not to suffer too badly from rust but avoid any with rotten sills or bubbling around the windscreen.

The front seat is likely to be worn and needing some repairs or a cover. Some come with a canopy covering the load area but don't trust these to be weatherproof without giving it a test in heavy rain.

Buy a Ford Courier Dual-Cab on carsales