Toyota Problems

Typically you're looking at a car around 2010 vintage for that money, so it's got a few years on it and will have done a few kays. With that in mind it's best to go for a car that's going to give you a good run for your money over a few years. Steer clear of European brands, that includes Ford as its small cars come out of Europe, and go for a solid brand with a good reputation for reliability. In my view that means a Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, Mitsubishi Lancer, Kia Rio, Hyundai i30.

I am not a fan of the new Kluger, so it would definitely be the Lexus RX for me.

The car with the lower kilometres can be an attractive proposition, but it's a Cruze and should be avoided as they have a terrible history of unreliability. The Yaris is smaller and it has done more kilometres, but it would seem to be a much better bet.

Car washes are generally not good for any car and really should be avoided by everyone. Being hammered by high pressure water and swept by brushes doesn't do the paint any favours. Hand washing using clean water and a clean cloth is the best way to look after your car if you can do it.

It's an interesting put-down of the Mercedes-Benz. The Territory is an all-round good car that has been developed for Australian roads, it might be more comfortable than the 'Benz, but I wouldn't say it was of a better quality. You could also look at a Toyota Kluger or a Kia Sorento, both of which would handle the roads well, be comfortable and are of a decent quality.

I doubt that your engine had a problem with the cooling system; it sounds like a major meltdown, perhaps due to oil starvation, or a problem with the fuel system that has caused it to severely lean out and damage the pistons. I would suspect it's the latter. Whatever has caused the problem you are up for a new engine, and I would go for a new one over a reconditioned one. While it's more expensive your car has only done 118,000 km so it's still relatively new. I would suggest you remove the aftermarket computer chip and return the computer to factory stock. The chip could well be the cause of your problem. As for assistance you can only consult mechanics, in this case I would consult one that's experienced in Toyotas and Prados.

Stick to respected brands like Mazda and Toyota. A 2007-2008 Mazda 2 or Toyota Yaris would meet your requirements and would be good reliable cars for your daughter.

Your mechanic is wrong. The new Sorento has been out less than a year, has zero engine troubles and is the one I would pick.

So many options. It's great to hear that you have had such a good run out of your Corolla, and that you would happy with another one. The Corolla is certainly a good option. So too is the Mazda 3, which would satisfy all of your needs. Both cars would be good choices. The Mazda CX-3 is a different car in that it is an SUV and gives you the advantages of a high driving position for good visibility and the flexibility of a wagon style body. It too would be good option, and I would suggest that you had a test drive of it to see if does what you want. All three are well built, reliable and I would expect them to give you many years of good service.