Criteria

• Auto transmission, Kat needs to drive it
• Hatchback preferred
• Features like bluetooth and cruise control would be great
• Not expecting to drive heavily, maybe 100km every week or two, plus the odd long holiday/photoshoot trip
• Higher running costs are okay with me

Think about

• CD player and stuff
• Aux input
• GPS
• How many airbags?
• Tacho?

Maybe interesting cars

• Toyota Corolla, basic and reliable
• Mazda3, slightly more interesting than a Corolla
• Hyundai i30, plain but reliable enough workhorse
• VW Golf sounds decent-ish
• Subaru Impreza, seem to run well enough

Finally, we saw a very nice looking Mercedes C200 in a yard: http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/_/OAG-AD-1634793

It has low enough mileage, seems to be in perfect cosmetic condition.

Advice from mechanic

• Adan at Maag & Stucki in Woolloomooloo.

• They specialise in European cars, obviously have a bias towards them.
• VW he reckons only in manual, their automatic transmissions cause trouble too often to recommend.
• Mazda3 is decent but doesn't really take his fancy. Similar for Subaru Impreze and Liberty that I mentioned, because they're not European.
• A Corolla would be the most reliable and cheapest to run for sure ("If everyone droves Toyotas we'd be out of business"), but they're utterly boring and uninspiring to drive - "agricultural" was the word he used.

About that Merc

• Based on the VIN, that C200 has a delivery date of 2001-11-13. For that age it's got great mileage on it (77,000km), and it has a 111-series engine. That's apparently from the end of that series' lifetime, which is a good thing because all the engineering kinks have been worked out.
• Expected running costs are ~$3,000 per year on average; lower some years and higher some years.
• Broadly speaking, that engine and transmission should be pretty right, not too much trouble.
• He's less inclined to buy from a dealer for this sort of car, but I couldn't fully understand his reasoning/logic on this point.
• It absolutely needs a pre-purchase inspection. Recommends test driving, and if I really like it then hassle them to let it get inspected, they quote $200+GST.
• Context for this was unclear, but he said absolutely do not accept an arrangement where they take a deposit and agree to return it if any problems are found. No deposit without passing inspection. Inspection MUST be done by someone not associated with the dealer.

Other advice and recommendations

In terms of other recommendations in the price range that I outlined, he mentioned:

• Mercedes has "sports coupe" models that might fit the budget and are worth looking at, they're apparently the ones with the squarish headlights

• I've not had a look yet, but they can be found on carsales.com.au by putting in Merc -> C class -> 2-door

• He also mentioned the 3-series BMW range, maybe the 318i

Other C200 models

These look like potentially better deals.

http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/mercedes-benz-c-class-used-review-2001-2012-13650

http://www.drive.com.au/used-car-reviews/used-car-review-mercedesbenz-c180c200k-200205-20071014-14ss9.html

"Fiddly problems such as malfunctioning switchgear and rattly interior trim are the most likely problems. Watch out for stained interiors. Any Benz of this age without a stamped service record should be treated with suspicion."

• 2006 model with 123,000 km, black interior, parking sensors

  • Seems quite nice and fair value, major service around 100,000km should be taken care of at least
  • $13,000 list price

  • http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Mercedes-Benz-C200-Kompressor-2006/OAG-AD-2130904/

  • VIN: WDC2030422R249246
  • Croydon, across the road from Eddie Nash Automotive

  • Motor Gallery, 3 Regatta Rd, Five Dock, 9747-3777

  • http://www.redbook.com.au/cars/research/used/details/2006-mercedes-benz-c200-kompressor-classic-auto-my07/SPOT-ITM-253815

  • Insurance is interesting:

    • Valued at 14,900 by default, range of $11,175 to $19,370 selectable

    • $953 for Comprehensive cover with GIO, $13000 valuation and $2150 excess
  • In pretty good shape, very clean and tidy, sports pack, not much wear on the driving controls
• 2002 model, 101,000 km, white interior
  • $9,990 list price

  • http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Mercedes-Benz-C200-Kompressor-2002/AGC-AD-16672349/

  • Phone number 9715 7772, looks like Auto Drift, 426 Parramatta Road, Strathfield

  • http://www.redbook.com.au/cars/research/used/details/2002-mercedes-benz-c200-kompressor-elegance-auto/SPOT-ITM-253695

  • A bit rough around the edges, worn in, not in bad shape. Chips here and there around the doors and boot, underneath front bumper scraped pretty roughly
• 2004 model, 95,400 km, silver on grey, Elegance
  • $11,500 asking price, probably eager to sell having been on the market since February

  • http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Mercedes-Benz-C200-Kompressor-2004/SSE-AD-3249598/?Cr=2

Buying

• Purchase: $12,000
• Transfer of ownership: $31
• Stamp duty: $360 (3%)

Yearly running costs

Mechanic advises expected running costs of about $3000 per year.

• CTP: $545 with GIO (2006 car)
• Rego: $346
  • Registration: $62
  • Motor vehicle tax: $284 (1155-1504kg vehicle)
• Insurance: ???
  • GIO comprehensive: 1100-1200 depending on options. $2150 excess, insured for $10000
    • See notes on 2006 model for insurance difference
  • NRMA comprehensive: website offline
  • Woolworths comprehensive: $1411 (or $580 without collision insurance)
• Servicing: $800-1000
• Tolls: ???
• Roadside assistance: ???
• Fuel: $1600 (guess)
• Maintenance (eg. tyres, etc): $324 (wild guess)
• Payment towards next car for replacement (aka. depreciation): $1000

Green slips

Comparison of features, good to know: http://www.greenslips.com.au/green-slip-comparison.html

Fuel costs for C200

https://motormouth.com.au/pricesearch.aspx

Assume 6000km per year, and economy of 9L/100km. That's 540L/yr, about $825 at $1.53/L.

BMW 318i

Not that many matching search criteria (Sydney, Auto, 80000km max): http://lzma.so/53SOJK

• Remarkably low mileage
• Quite cheap
• 2002/2003 models
• $8500 at one dealer, $10500 and $13500 from two private sellers
  • Dealer is again Auto Drift, 426 Parramatta Road, Strathfield

Another 318i (can't discern location): http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/BMW-318i-2003/OAG-AD-2614098/?Cr=1

BMW 3-series

If you get less picky we don't actually get a lot more results within budget (capped to $15k): http://lzma.so/SW2FTR

• Four below $12,000
• Half a dozen at $13-14k

• All in the E46 class

More models

Merc E240 Elegance

• http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/Mercedes-Benz-E240-2003/OAG-AD-2140000/?Cr=11

• Fair insurable value looks to be $15460 (11595 to 20098)
• $931 yearly with GIO CTP
• Private price guide of $9,900 - $12,300 with 120-220k on the clock

• http://sydneydirectautotraders.com.au/vehicle/mercedes=benz-e240-4d_sedan-2003-5335

  • 51 Parramatta Rd Auburn

Dealer near Glebe

http://www.saapauto.com.au/contact.php

60 Parramatta Rd, Glebe

They have a 2005 model C200 for $15,000

BMW 120i

• 2004 BMW 120i E87 Auto

• http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/BMW-120i-2004/OAG-AD-2198707/?Cr=10