A person paying for a RM50K-RM70K for a car may not be paying much attention at the depreciation rate but a person spending around RM140K will definitely think twice. Even a mere 9% depreciation a year will mean a lot that's why resale value is serious business in Malaysia.

I think pricing it at RM130K-RM140K ranges will be a tough sale even if it's a good car. Of course, there will always be a group who always buy during launches but looking at it a year or two later, will these sales be sustainable if it is priced too highly?

LOL you definitely lost me there with the argument above. How can a different segment buyers have different type of mentality with regard to resale value as a factor? Unless you have more money than you could count? I have seen people placing much more emphasis on resale value than any other things whether it is a D-segment car or a premium compact C segment cars.

Your example serves nothing more than to show a car will suffer depreciation and on that note I will agree with you but it does not show why the Kia Optima deserved to be priced at RM140K-RM150K (or any other figure you have in mind) and whether the resale value will be on par with the japanese make.

The figures given is obviously for ease of reference and understanding but your point is redundant since assuming the bank loan rate and the years of repayment is the same then I guess the only variable factor is the resale value isn't it?

I'm not some Toyota and Honda fanboys and hell I will even get a Kia car myself if it is priced right but I do not think Kia is at the stage where it can price this car any way near its competitors at least not in this country anyway. Even Naza knows this fact otherwise why would they sell the Kia Forte 2.0 (RRP: RM97,800) for at least RM30,000 cheaper against the Honda Civic 2.0 (RRP: RM130,980)?

Knee-jerk reaction? People merely pointed out that too high a price will make it a tough sell in this market and then you just came barging in with your "analysis" on resale value for a Japanese car.

So I guess when you're losing in terms of rational arguments you resort to childish retorts? How old are you? 15? But I do guess it's my fault trying to reason with someone who is obviously mentally-challenged.


You may try browsing at other forums catering for premium marques and you see people are still bothered about resale values. A good case in point is Audi. Seen as a better car elsewhere but it's not selling much here. The reason should be obvious but somehow it's too difficult to understand for certain people here.