topmark
usually they don't allow

you can budget until 90k then get Honda City, best in class with VSA

2007 Toyota Wish - this is the better version, it has pilot seats for the second row and 2000cc engine with TCS & VSC. The 1800cc version might be cheaper but then there have been complaints from owners that its slightly under-powered leading to higher fuel consumption. This is the top spec version which has 2000cc engine and 6AT gearbox, more power and better FC.

2008 Honda Accord - it can't fetch 7 people in one go, which might be a disadvantage if going for family dinners but its a large d-segment car. very low mileage considering its age and condition looks new. a good buy if you ask me.

looked around the net can't find any good mpv/suv within your price range which can shift 7 people in one go.
imho i think the new pajero is the best candidate but its quite expensive at 150k

budget and other considerations?

no problems

then you have a shit load of choices

2010 Mitsubishi ASX - this is a fantastic buy at a fantastic price, but i'm worried it looks to be below market price. wondering why would they sell at such a reduced price, afraid maybe its one of those flood victims or worst accident case and repaired. if the owner is just trying to sell it before he goes overseas then its a good buy.

2011 Honda CRV - same as the ASX the price is too unbelievable, be cautious when you approach such sellers or give it a skip.

2011 Toyota Rush - first of all you must know that this car is made from the same platform as the Avanza thus its more like a souped up Avanza IMHO. I think its a decent buy but then I wouldn't buy one because the 4x4 means higher FC, quality inside is better than Avanza but nothing premium just very basic IMHO. That being said if you're looking for a cheap 7 seater SUV this is the one to get because its cheap to run and maintain.

2011 Ford Focus Sedan - this price is believable because everyone knows Ford depreciates like a rock plus this is the less desirable sedan version, although generally there is a market for sedan cars the focus makes its name for being a hot hatch so naturally second hand buyers will look for a cheap used hatch to add bodykits and stuff to make their own RS all in all a good car, though as you might know maintenance won't be Vios cheap, expect it to be in the same region of cars like Altis, Civic, Jetta, etc. 2010 Ford Focus Hatch

2010 Nissan Sylphy - looks like a well kept car being offered, the total lack of any modification leads me to think this either was a showroom car or fleet car. any private car normally gets a little bit of modification even for lady users like upgraded ICE, visors, rims, etc. this one looks completely stock. Sylphy is a good car and usually being sold for almost 100k. this one is nearer to 50k and i consider a good bargain.

2010 Mazda 3 - more beautiful and powerful than the Sylphy but the cost of maintaining this would be of course higher since its an imported car and not very common on the road parts availability and pricing won't be on the budget side. usually people do not mind that little bit extra premium to get a good car with sporty looks.

2010 Nissan Latio - Impul versions are always the less boring versions of Nissan cars, as you know Nissan cars are reliable and cheap to own but are always painfully boring. Impul lends a hand to make these cars less boring but its mostly on the looks department they don't do extra tuning and upgrading oily bits to make it go faster.

can't really get much more than market rate.
you can try to advertise higher with your accessories but don't feel sad when they aren't willing to pay extra for it.
the thing about car accessories, they're expensive to buy but almost worthless once installed.

it is.
i sold my 2009 civic last year august for 86k

btw remember thats the purchase price of consumers.
when you trade in prepared for 7-14k lower than market price.

If you have the time look around for a Mazda forum.
Then seek for Mazda specialist in your area.
From there pay a visit to the guy and maybe ask for his help to inspect the car, of course he will expect you'll goto his workshop when you buy the car and also buy him lunch

take it to PM

IMHO the top of the line Preve is equivalent to something like a VW Golf in terms of total package value.
Yes of course the Golf is much better spec than a Preve and its consider small for C-segment but that's why you pay double the price for it.
However, being a local car of course there are some quality concerns being a Proton but so far lately they have improved on that aspect.
Just make sure you service it properly and vigilantly as the CVT and Turbo are new technologies to Proton, not too sure if their SC staff is capable enough to recognize issues before they become a major problem.

Sub 90k you can only get B-segment for Japanese brand. Even Korean brand the C-segment models available under 90k isn't really fantastic.


Decent offer.
You should also put an advert in Mudah.my and Oto.com.my for a wider audience.

Under RM100k the Honda Jazz Hybrid CBU was the best offer ever, don't know still available or not.
Other than that there are options but nothing really ideal, you have to sacrifice something.

Forte : Quite popular but don't expect Toyota/Honda kinda resale value
Elantra : Long waiting period and expected poor resale value
City: Only car sub 100k with VSA but fuel consumption abit high
Vios & Almera: IMHO the Saga of the the japanese brand, don't expect the sky and the moon

I think your friend quoted you abit high.

2004 Proton Wira 1.6 XLI Automatic - this baby is only RM10k before nego and much younger car can still do loan, more easy on your pocket.

Best bang for your buck, cheap to buy and maintain would be a decent spec Waja/Gen2/Myvi, others don't bother.

still a good deal.

no disrespecting current owners.
but i really don't recommend buying this.
its not cheap to maintain and its not safe.
better buy kancil, save money.

You can only get the updated loan interest rate when you call the banks. If you're doing your own documents its best to call yourself, runners and agents will have incentive from the banks to choose them so you might not get the lowest if you go through a 3rd party.

2011 Nissan Silvia - 2011 should be the register year and this car is probably a 2003 model, still rare to find this baby at such low price, do give the seller a call to check it out.

2009 Nissan Latio - malaysians normally do not prefer to use manuals which is why this version of the Latio has depreciated so much, which of course is good for buyers looking for a manual car. though be prepared that this car won't fetch much when you want to sell it on later and probably need to trade-in unless you able to find a manual lover like yourself

2008 Toyota Vios - nothing much special here, a basic Vios J manual with TRD bodykit. if you're looking for a value buy car, cheap maintenance and good fuel consumption this is the car to buy, if you have any sporty aspirations then this isn't the car for you even-though it is a manual, there is just too much to upgrade for it to be competitive on the track/spirited driving.

2010 Nissan Sentra - looks like this is a nice one, and with 120% loan it also seems this used car is able to get you full loan with some extra cash to do some modifications. usually i don't recommend doing full loans as you'll suffer when you wanna sell the car later. on the car itself, looking at the website it seems a good buy, however you'll still need to go there yourself to inspect it.

Unfortunately, there are no manual honda's within your price point.

Camry - Looking at the spec, its not an upgrade and many would prefer to buy the old one which is better equipped, don't fall into their trap.
Accord - Its due for a major change soon so buying this wouldn't be much of an upgrade if in 1-2 years time the newest generation of Accord rolls out. However, if going to buy it now, then spec for spec its a mountain above the Camry.
CRV - the newest CRV is coming, hold onto your pocket. The latest looks nicer, spec is better and more spacious.

2008 Honda City - they don't make these fuel efficient cars here anymore because of aunty and uncles whom don't know how to maintain (or refuse to maintain them properly) then spoil the engine and gearbox (which isn't like the usual crappy old tech engines they're used to driving which don't require much maintenance, e.g. Nissan 120Y, Proton Saga Original, etc). So when their new tech engines and CVT gearbox start to breakdown they complain City no good, CVT no good, etc. But it is their own fault for not doing the maintenance properly. Find one in good condition and you'll enjoy driving in this torqy car which is also very fuel efficient. Usually fuel efficient cars in malaysia has no pickup, this one has.

2006 Toyota Altis - i know you've thought about the 2004 Camry but then I don't really recommend it, it is 9 years old and bound to have any parts needing replacement which the owner will definitely not replace and leave that huge bill to you. This Altis is within your price range and isn't that young but at least it looks quite decent. Mileage is low, it looks clean, and accident free. Of course you need to verify and check all this claims and the car itself before commuting. Altis should give you enough prestige at work plus save you a ton of money on maintenance and fuel cost.

2006 Toyota Harrier - if you're willing to part with cheap maintenance and fuel cost for prestige then why not get something better than a Camry? Yeah a Harrier! Just change the logo to Lexus if that makes you happier, nobody will notice except owners or fans of this car. Reason why this car is being traded around cheaply has alot to do with its heavy maintenance and engine. Usually the 2000cc version is always more expensive in the used car market, everything else is higher. Plus they're also notorious for some gearbox issues, do check it out completely before purchasing.

enjoy 168kg of torque at 1000rpm and still get 500kms from every pump is real fun

since you said you're an uncle i suppose you'll be interested in D-segment cars more suitable to your senior position in the company. i'll start with the most outrageous choice.

2008 Skoda Superb 1.8 Turbo - there are two versions of the Suberb, the 1800cc turbo and the 2800cc non-turbo. Of course the non-turbo is going to be a killer once the roadtax and insurance rolls over which is why I'd recommend going for the turbo instead. this is a conti so there will always be 3 guarantees when purchasing one, 1. stable high-speed highway cruising when going outstation, 2. comfortable suspension yet doesn't feel like spaghetti when taking corners, 3. NCAP 5 star safety (of production year because this is a 2008 car if compared to 2013 NCAP it probably won't get 5 stars but of course it is still better than sitting in Malaysian spec Camry that probably only get 2 stars at best). Mileage wise it is quite normal for a 2008 car to be in the 100k kms region so no worries there. The asking price is RM43k but of course you cannot expect it to have maintenance cost of a Myvi or Saga in the same price range, when new this car is about RM200k and is considered a rebadged Audi A6 so its got loads of quality components and refined engineering in it which do cost abit when doing maintenance. You should expect the maintenance cost to be in the region of any D-segment car like Accord, Camry, Passat, etc. But it isn't a killer conti like some of the lesser known brands like Citroen, Fiat, Renault, etc.

2008 Hyundai Sonata - this was made when Hyundai were still trying to copy Japanese marques like Honda and Toyota, you can see it is something like an Accord+Camry, after this they make really beautiful looking cars like the current Sonata and Elantra. Engine technology wise they didn't move much away so the CVVT engine in this Sonata is still a very capable engine, it is considered fuel economic because the 2400cc engine is powerful enough to move the bulk of the car without feeling underpowered thus no need to rev the engine alot to get it to move. Hyundai's have a bad resale value coupled with this model being the not so beautiful one which makes its price so cheap. A good value buy however do bear in mind maintenance will be equivalent to other D segment cars don't expect cheap cheap when things like bushings, mountings and bearings die.

2009 Kia Optima - the brother of the Sonata, spec wise it is similar except this one has a cheaper roadtax engine being only 2000cc. I decided to show this to you because it looks like a rarely used car with a low mileage, from the pictures it looks very new too. IMHO the Sonata above looks to have a more luxurious interior and is cheaper by RM10k which should be the choice if you like Korean marques, however to each its own.

2007 Toyota Altis 1.6 - there are alot of Altis available at this price range, mostly 2007 cars are 1600cc. There are some 1800cc but they're going to be either old or expensive. I chose to show you this particular model because of its overall value, its about RM55k comes with TOM's bodykit instead of some cheap knock-off, has leather seats and mileage is low. Not too sure it is E-spec or G-spec, but since the advert says high spec I'm guessing it is the G-spec. Overall this is the kind of car one would buy if they're looking for something with a cheap price, good brand image, and cheap to maintain.

2009 Nissan Latio 1.8 - another Japanese C-segment car like the Altis, however this one has a better engine. After you testdrive the Altis and feel its underpowered for its class then you can always consider the next model up because C-segment cars here in Malaysia usually vary between 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 depending on manufacturer. The Latio may not be as good looking as the Altis but at least you'll look current buying it, the Altis above is about 2 generations below the current model while the Latio hasn't been superceeded yet so buying it you'll still have a current model in your hand. The Latio does come with a Nissan bodykit and semi-leather seats, it also has a keyless entry system. At only RM1k difference from the Altis you get a car younger by two years and has a 1800cc engine, quite a good bargain if you ask me, thats because Toyota's are abit overrated which makes their second hand value very very strong. Make no mistakes Latio is also a value buy that is cheap to maintain.

2009 Mazda 3 1.6 - spec wise similar to the Altis but of course looks much much more beautiful, a good plus point it also this is a 2009 car and is the current model of the Mazda 3 so you won't feel you bought an old junk when driving around in it. No two ways about it, this car looks alot better than the Altis or Latio but then when it comes to maintenance its abit more fickle. The usual maintenance stuff like air filters, oil filters, etc. are available in abundance and relatively cheap but bigger components start to die like engine mountings, bearings, etc. the bill could go up significantly.

You'll of course have to go see the cars and double check everything, and also see the forums to see the pros and cons of the car you like from real owners before you make your final decision.

I'm not an expert in SUV's and crossovers, but I'll just put up some options and give you my opinions for you to consider.

2007 Naza Sorento 2.5 Diesel - alot of SUV's use petrol engines and have a permanent 4x4 wheel drive, this usually equals to higher fuel consumption as the engine has to work not only to put power to two wheels as most cars but to four wheels. The initial setup for this car is considered quite good, its a 2500cc diesel engine. Diesel engines are known for good pickup, low-end torque and fuel economy. I see this SUV is quite common on the road so I suppose parts isn't an issue, however I'd recommend checking with your nearest Kia/Naza workshop for more information.

2007 Hyundai Tucson - they didn't specify this is a 2x4 or 4x4, I'm not really an expert on this model. My guess it is a 2x4. I don't really have any strong opinions for this car, it looks kinda ugly and not enough information to go by. However, if you do like this model you should always go and ask the buyer.

2007 Suzuki SX4 - a crossover vehicle, its size is somewhere between a B and C-segment car. Being a suzuki and I do see this cars in numbers on the roads spare parts availability should be quite decent, however I don't think the parts would be cheap since this is an import model.

2007 Toyota Harrier 2.4 - first generation Toyota Harrier, the most prestigious one in this round-up. And is going to be the most expensive to maintain in this round up. It is a 2400cc petrol engine which has decent enough power to move its bulk, but this first generation Harrier is known for its gearbox issues please beware on this.

2007 Nissan X-Trail - apart from its horrible looks this is actually a very good SUV. It can transform from 2x4 to 4x4 with only a push of a button. no worries on spare parts availability and maintenance cost is relatively cheap being a Nissan.

2007 Ford Escape - is another real SUV which can transform between 2x4 and 4x4. this is the top range XLT spec with the 2300cc engine. when new it cost nearly RM160k now after a few years of depreciation it is floating around RM50k. this is one of themore popular models from Ford thus spares availability shouldn't be an issue, however maintenance won't be as cheap as an X-trail.

2008 Perodua Nautica - this is a permanent 4x4 SUV and only 1500cc i don't think it would be very frugal on petrol when the car is fully loaded, when you driving alone it will feel quite powerful and fuel saving because of its low cc engine but when you add passengers this would quickly change as the small engine cannot cope with all that weight and you've gotta rev it more to move around, not really ideal. Plus this is a discontinued model from Perodua, although very similar to the Rush. I am not sure what is the future for this model in terms of spare parts. Think about it carefully before choosing.

2008 Toyota Rush 1.5 - similar to the Nautica it has all the same weaknesses however the good thing about this model is that it is from Toyota thus spare parts availability is guaranteed plus being a value buy product the maintenance isn't very expensive. It also shares alot of similarities with the Avanza. Think of it has an Avanza with 4x4 drivetrain.

2009 Kia Sportage - this is the updated Sportage, while the previous one was sized similarly to a Toyota RAV4 this new one is sized similarly to a Toyota Harrier. Since its launch until now we don't see many of these on the road so I'm guessing its not really selling in volumes which is a slight worry as Kia could discontinue it at anytime if its a market failure.

2008 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 Turbo Diesel - about RM3k over your budget, maybe you can drag it back to budget when dealing with the buyer. this is a large SUV like Toyota Harrier and Honda CRV. Spec wise its quite good being 2200cc turbo diesel that means its a powerful yet frugal engine. This is a permanent 4x4 SUV so having a turbo diesel does help with lowering fuel consumption yet giving enough low-end pick-up. This is the current model of the Santa Fe, it looks good plus buying one wouldn't make you feel like you bought something really old.

If you're going for the Preve I think you should straight away just go for the top spec model.
I know its abit more expensive but IMHO among the local cars its the nearest to a conti in terms of features, technology and safety.

you're welcome

1999 Honda Civic - you cannot get pass market forces. the civic in this era is the darling of every petrolhead. they'd even buy a low spec version and turn it into a Type-R, while most will just buy a low spec version do some light mods and bodykit to be like the Type-R because the Civic Type-R was legendary. 1600cc engine churning out 180hp, stock! Although this article i'm showing you isn't a Type-R its the last facelift for this model before being discontinued. This is what they usually refer to as Taiwan spec looks like. A value buy car and its one of those last breed of cars that are made to last.

2000 Honda Accord - this wasn't a very popular accord but still sold in numbers, decent looks and power. just that the accord after that was so significant in changes, updates and technology this model quickly went to the dustbin. i think it has depreciated well enough that its worth to buy. its also a cheap to maintain car but not as many stuff to modify as a civic.

Lets just get a few things out the window first.

CRZ - its a boring hybrid like Insight in a coupe bodyshell, don't expect sports car like performance.
FFS - it ain't no sports car but is a hatch back with sporty looks, good handling and decent power output. this is the car for those whom want a daily drive yet something abit fun.
Sirocco - depends on which model the normal 1.6 or 2.0, the 1.6 would be in a similar mold as the FFS but with much better quality and power output. the 2.0 sirocco that's a different level altogether but that should break your budget by alot.
Veloster - looks sporty looks fast, but its more like a Kia Rio in a coupe bodyshell. practically no fun, you'd be the laughing stock during track days.

2008 Ford Focus XR5 - if you like Focus this is the one to get, its faster than a Focus ST, its faster than a Focus RS. This is the XR5 version. It comes with a 5cylinder 2500cc force induction engine and AWD. Its more of a competitor for Evo's and STI's, its seriously fast and powerful. The bad bit is the maintenance on this puppy, I'm not going to mash my words this is going to be an expensive car to maintain because it will most likely be the only one in Malaysia or one of a handful, thus spare parts won't come cheap and won't be always available. Being a second car for you I guess it fits that role since it might have to sit at the workshop for weeks just waiting for parts if anything fails. At least you've got a unique ride nobody else has on the road

2010 Fiat Bravo - if you love Fiat's you'll love their "jet" engines, this one is fitted with the T-Jet engine which outputs 148hp from a 1400cc engine, plus it also has an overboost button for that extra bit of madness. Its not as fast as the Focus XR5 shown above but its so much cheaper only RM78k. Again this is a rare car on the road so maintenance is expensive and parts availability is limited. Some say there are better Fiat SC at Singapore and with a 10,000kms service interval going to Singapore once a year (or twice a year if you drive it alot) for servicing isn't really unpractical. I do know some Renault and Skoda owners that swear by Sg SC's.

2008 VW Polo GTI - looks of this car isn't for everyone, i think its an ugly combination of trying to look like a Golf and Myvi. Performance wise there is no question about it. The 1800cc turbo engine was used previously in the MK4 Golf GTI and Audi A6, inside a lighter body its still a fun drive but the asking price. Parts availability is guaranteed since it was an officially sold car by VW Malaysia. Cost of maintenance would be cheaper than the two above.

2009 Honda Accord Euro-R - this is one of the few cars that can really do both duties or a weekend sports car and daily driver. it is a D-segment car, however its not going to be spacious and big like a passat or camry. it is a compact sports sedan like the kizashi. you might even sell off your Sonata for this baby as its powerful, fun and relatively cheap to maintain.

2011 Mazda 3 MPS - the best spec new car available within your budget, do go to the showroom for a view and maybe test drive, you'll be pleasantly surprised how well spec and powerful the car is. Much better option than buying a recon RX8 which is going to spend more time in the workshop than the open road. New car with warranty so don't worry about issues for 3years, Mazda going 5years nowadays I don't know if this model is covered or not.

2010 Toyota Innova 2.0G - boring looking and boxy but has most of the creature comforts you should need from a 7 seater plus its the only one in this round-up that should carry 7 people comfortably. Mileage very low for its age. It looks like the most current facelift, so you won't be buying a dated looking car and need to spend more money to do aftermarket facelift. One of the good things about buying a used car is you are able to get the best bang for your buck. For the asking price now you can only get a comparable Proton Exora for new, where this used 2010 model is the top range for its model line-up. Its a good buy if you're okay with its weakness, its built using IMV platform which is shared with Hilux and Fortuner, its not awfully comfortable when going through bad roads and the drivetrain isn't considered one of the most fuel efficient from Toyota. Otherwise, its a comfortable MPV which is cheap to maintain.

2010 Toyota Wish 1.8 - this is the JDM version of the Wish as all the ones sold locally through UMW are the 2000cc version. Aside from the smaller engine the imported version usually comes with better build quality and materials. Its more compact therefore the last row isn't really for long distance travel, you can pack 7 people into the car for short trips for lunch with your officemates but 7 family members in a car from KL to anywhere is going to be tough because there won't be sufficient room for luggage and legroom for the last row. But the ride comfort is alot better than the Innova since its suspension is close to comfort levels of sedan cars. Since UMW is selling this model also spare parts won't be an issue and maintenance should be cheap, only issue is perhaps maybe specific items for the 1800cc engine might need to be bought from chop shop or imported.

2009 Nissan Grand Livina 1.8 - when considering this car as a used car you've got to choose the most top spec for the budget. It is the cheapest in this line-up that is because even when new its price isn't over RM100k. Internal space is decent for 5 passengers but for 7 its abit uncomfortable as this car is made from a car platform which is why it rides lower to the ground for easy entry/exit and better ride-handling-comfort but is abit cramp when compared to the Wish even, just a little bit. Spares and maintenance is cheap for this car though.

Those are the value buy cars, there are some better quality cars in the recon market but they're either too expensive or too old (2006-2008). Then again those import only cars will have maintenance issues due to spares availability.

2000 Honda CRV - since it is for site visit shouldn't you consider an SUV? For the price you get a nice 2000cc VTEC engine and low mileage, according to the owner it has low mileage because its a weekend car. On face value when looking at the mileage it does look high but then remember this car is 13 years old so its considered very very low, less than 1000kms per year. I think the owner is mistaken because this version of the CRV shouldn't be 2000cc IVTEC engine and doesn't have VSA - its the model after that which has those features.

1991 Honda Prelude - for a 21 year old car it still looks beautiful today. this particular article looks to be in great condition and looks almost new. the engine might be considered barbaric in terms of emissions by today's standards but that could be a good thing because without so much emissions restrictions you're going to get the maximum out of the engine, those days environmental sentiment wasn't the name of the game, horsepower was the name of the game and the 2200cc VTEC is a monster and can easily keep up with some Turbo monsters. However, if you have a tree hugger girlfriend she might not like your car

1992 Honda CRX Delsol - this is the grand daddy of the S2000. this one looks mostly in stock condition except for the wild color choice and rims. An automatic version is even rarer, so if you can't drive a stick and love this model you should quickly grab it now before someone does.

No two ways about it, cars old like this are going to require alot of TLC before reliability goes up.
You might buy the car and enjoy for a month before alot of problems crop up.
Probably you'll need to budget another minimum of RM3000 for maintenance when you buy over the car as even long lasting items like springs are only rated to last for 15 years.

This post has been edited by zenix: Mar 7 2013, 10:14 AM

On a pure math equation it looks pretty nice however the big assumptions:
1. from the calculation is that the depreciation is only 49% within 5 years
2. maintenance cost is equal
3. total hours wasted in service center is zero

Whats the reason behind it?

1. Resale value is market force driven thus it is a benefit/factor from each individual buyer in the market that creates this value.

Why is a Vios J when new cost about RM70k and after 5 years its resale value is about RM50-65k, where else a better spec Ford Fiesta when new cost about RM90k and after 5 years its resale value is about RM55-70k which is quite near the Vios. Vios normally fetches a higher resale value because the man on the street gives Toyota cars a reputation for being frugal on fuel, maintenance is cheap, parts new/old/recon widely available, service network is huge plus also any workshop can also work with their cars so for a less hassle car they willing to pay the premium even for a used car. Where else the Fiesta although a better car the after sales support Malaysia is weaker compared to Toyota, also because there isn't significant numbers on the road not many stockist would have parts for it especially uncommon ones thus for those rare few that keep stock they want to make money from it because there isn't economics of scale, or getting from SC which is confirmed new and original but at a higher price.

You'll also notice the popular trading price for cars is around 45-75k, this I guess is considered an affordable price range for Malaysians and the used car wouldn't be too old at this point - around 3-5 years depending on brand. So the average Joe can finally buy an imported car after it being used 3-5 years at the price of lets say RM60k, deposit RM10k, 3.5% interest rate for 7 years it is at a manageable RM750 per month.

2. Continental cars service frequency is different from Asian cars, so that 10,000kms before service requires better quality parts and lubricants. That equates to higher cost already for the parts and lubricants. Of course a benefit would be less frequent visits to service centers which is also good since they are few and far apart.



Although from my experience resale value is only an issue if you're planning to change car every 5-7 years.
Once the car is above 9 years old most cars of the same segment would depreciate to similar levels unless that particular model is popular then it would retain its value for a long time.
Case in point the Honda Civic EG and EK they hold their value well for a very long time, they would probably become too old physically and technologically once Honda comes out with their next generation of Vtec engines, the current is the i-Vtec as opposed to the Vtec in the Honda's of the 90's.

not yet bro.
used cars too many variables so i guess whatever i said 3 months ago wouldn't be applicable now

Lets say you choose the cheapest Preve which is RM60k, downpayment RM5k, interest rate 2.5% for 7 years loan.
Your monthly commitment will be about RM770.00, can you handle that?

Just going to focus on unregs. Choices for new is only CRZ in my eyes at the other coupes available new from Korea ain't that much fun.

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Ralliart - this reminds me of a song "i am a girl not yet a woman" because although it has the recipe to be an Evolution X, it isn't. It doesn't come with the sedan body and AWD drivetrain the Evolution X does. However, it does come with the 2000cc Mivec Turbo albeit not as powerful as the Evolution X. It also comes with the SST gearbox (dual clutch tech similar to VW DSG). While an Evolution X new will set you back near to RM300k, the asking price for this is only RM170k, even for a recon Evolution X you'll need to spend RM200k at least. One plus point though you won't be mistaken for a modified Proton Inspira

2009 Subaru Impreza STI - the legend is now available as a paddle shifting automatic, it isn't a DSG but a wet box 5AT. IMHO I prefer this to the current sedan version being sold by Motor Image (official distributor in Malaysia) of which the new asking price is about RM250k. The benefits of an STI over the one above is of course it not only has AWD it has the settings traction control settings just like the manual STI, the WRX doesn't have this eventhough it is also AWD. My only qualm with this car is of course the front which looks too much like a Saga/Preve, I don't think many driver looking at their rear view mirror would know its a Subaru chasing them if not for the sporty exhaust note

2009 Mini Cooper S - Mini is more about style and handling than pure speed. You'll love taking this around Ulu Yam its small and nippy with great handling. It can of course keep up with traffic and overtake most cars out there due to its good power to weight ratio (but this one is abit heavier due to the pano roof) but you'll need to give way to bigger cars especially 2000cc turbo's like Impreza and Evo

2009 VW Scirocco 2.0 - why should you buy recon instead of new? New for this price you can only get the 1400cc TSI engine without sunroof and nifty electronics. This one comes with sunroof, the same engine and gearbox as a Golf GTI, and also the electronic differential as in the GTI which you can adjust between comfort, standard and sport - each mode adjusts the R&H of the car. Of the cars in this round up this would be considered the most mass produce and common, which normally means cheaper and more options for maintenance plus guaranteed parts availability.

2009 MB CLC180K - depending on your age this will be a hit or miss. If you're above 36 years old and have a very high position in your company, business owner or mingle with high society then this is the car that would suit your image more. Its a beautiful car but if you're a youngster this would "uncle-rized" you plus it ain't a lala mui magnet because of the brand and technology behind it this car wouldn't get outdated for quite sometime, plus MB's here hold their resale value very well, though normally MB's are cheap to maintain but not too sure about this model.


How much you willing to spend on monthly repayments and how much downpayment you're going to put?

Lets calculate for Inspira 1.8 Manual Solid color. RM79K deposit RM8k, 2.5% interest rate, 7 years loan is RM994.00 per month.
Can you afford that?
Remember you'll need to budget another RM200.00 for each minor service, and at least RM500 for each major service.
If you buy it this year then next year you need to pay for roadtax and insurance.
Lets say the car depreciates to RM70k next year, comprehensive insurance for west malaysia 1800cc car without NCB (assuming new car new insurance) will be RM2100.00 for insurance alone then roadtax is RM280.00 so next year will have one month you need to pay for loan repayment, insurance and roadtax totaling RM3374.00 that is assuming no need to service the car that month already burst your salary.

So can you afford an Inspira?

You're correct about the Forte.
Floating around 3% - 4% depending on bank.

2009 Nissan Latio - an alternative to the Forte and Japanese brand would be the Latio, similar size and segment. Although Forte and Latio are considered C-segment cars they're more compact than Civic, Sylphy and Altis which are bigger in size. I wouldn't say compact c-segments are uncomfortable to be in, they're still larger than b-segment cars plus better spec. A Latio will give you peach of mind since its cheap to maintain, parts are available everywhere, and resale value much better than Forte.

Rio - looks very nice, I mistaken it for a MK7 Golf when I first saw it at a car roadshow at Tropicana Mall, the top spec is about sub RM80 with alot of safety features. I think the car itself is pretty decent but then ownership experience.....don't really think resale value will hold so if she changes cars after 5-7 years don't go for this car, service centers for Kia nowadays increase alot there should be one nearby you so not really an issue there, even their parts holding also better nowadays. Although, I still have my reservations on it as an overall package its a decent buy.

Mazda 2 - i would rate it about the same as the Rio eventhough its a Japanese brand. Its much more beautiful, yes. But thinking about the ownership experience I don't really think resale value will be any good and Mazda service networks are still quite limited.

Fiesta - best car among the ones you've chosen. IMHO if you're going to have to put up with limited service network and high depreciation might as well get a car thats worth it, I think the Fiesta is worth it. Its beautiful, high tech audio player, good fuel consumption thanks to its DSG and powerful too.

I'd suggest you break the budget and get the Honda Jazz Hybrid CKD, it has everything for RM89k
The normal Jazz comes with the 1.5 ivtec 5at which IMHO isn't abit of a mismatch as both Jazz and City with this drivetrain seems very heavy on fuel consumption.

The price really depends on you.
You can search Motortrader Mudah Oto to compare before pricing it.

well depends on what you really want.
if you want a fun coupe/hatch you can still have it but it will be older.
or you can buy something just to drive around until you can afford something you really love.
imho even rm1000 per month is quite high risk for your salary base.

Well if you're alright with the BMW being more than 10 years old already then its a decent buy. Take note it was manufactured in 2001 but only registered in Malaysia at 2006. Between 2001 and 2006 what was it doing? Standstill at the showroom, showroom car or overseas registered car then imported to Malaysia later on. Can't tell, normally used car also never provide the user manual because all these details will be exposed for better or worse. From the advert it looks decent enough, but do you know any BMW specialist in your area?

2005 Honda City - okay i know you might not feel a huge upgrading going from a Savvy B-segment to another B-segment car, but the City is much more spacious than the Savvy plus it uses the VTEC & CVT combo drivetrain which I think is superb because you get a really good pickup and power from this car without having to sacrifice on fuel consumption. Used this car before the FC and performance is like no other.

2005 Toyota Opa - if you must try JDM quality car once in your life this isn't a bad choice. It is a smaller than a Wish but it rides lower on the ground. Think of it as a slightly larger Alza without the cramped 3rd row of seats. Opa is a wagon not MPV thats why its lower on the ground and uses sedan-like suspension which gives a better ride and handling. This is a very low production model which makes rarity high, but the bad part is parts availability might be difficult. Most of the mechanical parts can be sourced from other Toyota models but the big problem is after an accident body panels and model specific parts aren't freely available might need to be imported from Japan.

2003 Mitsubishi Lancer - this isn't even the top range for the plain vanilla lancer, it is the 1500cc variant not the 1600cc one. I think thats okay since you get to enjoy a cheaper roadtax. The car itself is very cheap no doubt because it is already 10 years old. Good or bad depends on your taste, everyone loves this model because with abit of make-up you can have an Evo look-alike (without the performance of course). This one already comes with the standard MX bodykit which is quite handsome already. Bad part is you need to pay cash and it is a 10 years old car. Good part is that Lancer has alot of common parts because its the brother of Proton Wira and Waja, so maintenance is very cheap but instead of driving around in a Proton you have a true blue Mitsubishi

2007 Nissan X-trail - saved the best for last. its not very old. its a 4x4 which i hear is a better suit for driving around in East Malaysia. Cheapest not so old car listed. I think its a great buy for the price.

Unfortunately, not many listing for East Malaysia at most of the websites. You gotta go to the dealers nearby and have a look.
Decision is up to you but then try not to take something too old as many things will need to be replaced or maybe is beyond repair.

BMW is a great car at a great price but it is quite old. Unless you got a trusty mechanic whom specializes in BMW's the repair/restoration bill is going to be huge. As you know those all rounder mechanic don't really know how each car is made so if they don't know or cannot pin point the issue they will keep guessing and replacing parts until it is solved or temporarily solved. As the owner you'll be paying for his experimentation

As long as there are Wira and Waja the Lancer MX will have lotsa parts

One thing about the City you need to be really careful the CVT gearbox isn't broken or beginning to fail, you can go ask Honda salesman/service center people tips on how to check.