Yes Indeed, in fact it's also MORE expensive than its competition for the base model in US and yet it is still the number 1 selling car in the US.

If the local spec is like the US spec, I have no doubt the sales would be further dominated by them.

Fault is not UMW, it's Toyota. UMW only guilty for profiteering, Toyota is the company that decides the spec for the entire world and they've decided the SE.Asia region can do without VSC and TRC

AFAIK, only the Camry hybrids are fully equipped with all the goodies and they don't sell them here in Malaysia but these hybrids are being sold in other parts of SE.Asia.

You can come to a few conclusion with this info:

1. Toyota is profiteering

and/or

2. Toyota is pushing hard for people to switch to hybrid by making the petrol variant packed with less features

If you guys/gals haven't already noticed, the Japanese aren't jumping on the whole smaller engine with turbos bandwagon, instead they're offering more and more hybrid variants of their more popular cars.

But from a business standpoint, it makes sense to do what they do. Because safety regulations are not as strict in our part of the world as they are in Europe or the US, there is no reason for them to offer anything beyond the bare minimal and still charging a pretty penny for it. Until our government change the automotive safety policy, you can't really blame them from taking advantage of the situation. Unethical? Maybe... but certainly not illegal.

Sure, you don't like what they offer then don't buy it. But it's up to our government to enforce better car safety regulations so companies like Toyota can't get away with profiteering. That was the whole point in my previous statement in the first place genius, lol.

And what's with the grass picking? Is that supposed to mean something coz I sure as hell don't get what you are trying to say here, lol

You know at the end of the day, unless you're paying his car installments, why does it matter what car he choose? He's happy with his choice then can already la.

We all know the K5 is definitely the best value for money D-segment out there and it's also one of the safest but those factors alone aren't enough to topple the sheer amount of sales Toyota enjoys in the US for the Camry. And price wise, the Camry base model is still more expensive than the Accords, the Altimas, the Sonatas and even your Optima, so does that mean Americans are stupid in this respect?

There are a lot of people out there in Malaysia who want something that's fuss free and hassle free. I'd reckon there's a couple out there who are quite technically knowledgeable as well. Both the Accord and the Camry can give you that. Good brand image, relatively cheap to maintain, lots of service center throughout the country and also damn easy to sell off when time to let go. They both have a long history in Malaysia and many people including myself grew up being a passenger in one of these marques, so can you blame them for going with what they are familiar with compared to an up and coming brand like KIA? I myself also struggled between this car and other marques for a long time as well.

Rip-off price or not, there's no denying those are still compelling reasons for a lot of people to choose the Japanese over the Koreans. If I had to do it all over again and could only choose between the Camry and the K5, I would still go for the Camry because I'm already very familiar with the brand and also because I prefer the look of the Camry over the K5. Poor choice? Maybe, but not all decisions are made based on logic and common sense what.

22k base model, the others all start at 21k and 20k. Go look at the websites yourself la, the information all there what.

Accord: USD21,480
Sonata: USD20,895
Camry: USD22,055

Doesn't mean anything what. I got money, I happy I buy 5 series or I buy the E class is totally up to me. If I rich, I buy a couple of Toyota IQs to trash around then donate to charity when I am done also can. Who's to say what I can or cannot do?

Value for money, those luxury cars sure lose cau cau, but at that stage, who even cares man?

Eh, don't argue for the sake of arguing la. No matter how much research and test drive you have done, I'm sure it must be a good car or else you wouldn't buy it, but trying to impose your will onto other people, that's just not right man. Unless you are paying for their cars, you got no right to criticize their decisions either, no matter how good or bad it is.

Eh?! How is that immature? It's a fact what, buyers get their cars based on what they like and their preference.

- I buy this car coz I like how it looks
- I buy this car coz it's within my budget
- I buy this car coz it's XXX brand and I trust the brand
- I buy this car coz I have a history with the marque
- I buy this car coz I need a 2nd car
- I buy this car coz it's the best bang for buck that money can buy
- I buy this car coz its got a great engine and the driving dynamics is excellent
- I buy this coz I happy

Any of the above reasons or not listed is as good a reason as any and is totally valid because the buyer is paying for it with his/her own money. What else is there to say? No matter how great the K5 is, what each individual buyer wants to buy is entirely their own business, so why harp on repeatedly about how much better the K5 is compared to the Camry or even a luxury 3er?

I completely fail to understand where you're coming from with that take a tad lower bit man, LOL. *scratch head*

Are you mad? Push the Milo tin can Vios to 200km/hr? When I had that car, going 160km/hr also my balls shrink already, you can still push it to 200km/hr. If you hit an object or something, the car will fly liao! That time whatever TRC, ABS, EBD, ABC, VSC, TCT, DVD etc also cannot save you man, LOL!

I had autofoam done, I had front and rear strut bars and I still find the car floaty at high speeds. The noise alone already make me damn uncomfortable, let alone maintaining the speeds at 180 ~ 200km/hr.

You more man, I definitely no guts to drive that car at that speed The last time I pushed that car at that speed, I feel like my life is flashing before my eyes, sweat also drop from forehead.

This post has been edited by zweimmk: Jul 4 2012, 03:12 PM

The boredom starts to sink in after 3 years or so, so I totally understand your feeling.

The A class will surely not be cheaper than the new B class. New B price is 225k, A class probably and looks like it will sit around 250k to 300k range.

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Added on July 5, 2012, 7:03 amYou slowly wait long long la LOL

This post has been edited by zweimmk: Jul 5 2012, 07:03 AM

To be frank, the pricing for Lexus in Malaysia is really whack. I have to pay rm280k+ just to own the IS250 and 310k+ just for the full spec version.... Huh? For that money, even if the Lexus is of better quality overall, I also wouldn't want to pay that money for a Japanese luxury brand. I could very well get the c250 or f30 328i or top up 30k more for either x3 or Q5. In terms of image, prestige, the 3 German makes are still a class higher than Lexus.

I catch no ball what you trying to say really. LOL. If you're asking me if I bought the IS250 then no. If you're asking me if I can afford the IS250, sure. If I take a 8 to 9 year loan for it. But I wouldn't take a long loan just for that car, no way!

But buying a car like these, you're expected to keep it for at least 5 to 6 years before you let it go. That's why at maximum, you'd also want to take a 7 year loan for these types of car but even that's stretching it a little too long. Personal opinion is don't bother buying any of these luxury marques if you can't pay off the car within 4 to 6 years. For facelift models, you'd better be able to pay it off in 3 to 5 year period or depreciation will really hit you right smack in the face if its a 7 to 9 year loan.

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Added on July 7, 2012, 8:57 amBut you're the one who posted links for the Optima vs the BMW 3er? So what's the point of that exercise then?

You're also the same guy who is passing judgement on kepalapening just because he placed on order on a car without knowing the spec irregardless if your opinion is true or not.

You think the Camry is overpriced and underspecced - we get it. I get it too! That's why I couldn't bring myself to buy it despite the fact that I know its a car that will give me a huge peace of mind. But right now I think you're going too overboard with your criticisms and opinions and its starting to piss some of the people in the community off. Doesn't do you any good at all so why keep at it?

This post has been edited by zweimmk: Jul 7 2012, 08:57 AM

Wah seh, this kind of comeback also can, ok la whatever you like man. You just carry on doing what you do best.

Toyota usually use Michelin unless they changed their tyre profiles again.

Later go sign documents. SA promised me next Wednesday no thanks to all the JPJ paperwork and puspakom etc and rubbish. Boring boring wait but at least my car is already at the showroom, supposedly they updated the dashboard with my batch of Passat so... I can hope it become nicer and not more pariah

This post has been edited by zweimmk: Jul 7 2012, 10:01 AM

Can afford also doesnt mean I can simply buy and change car like change underwear and I sure don't have some sugar daddy who can pay for all my expenses.

Congratulations! It sounds like you got some sugar daddy covering your ass for you already unlike the rest of us mortal people who still to work to make a living

But you know, it ain't that difficult for Toyota or Honda to match and better the Koreans if sales don't meet their expectation.

All they need to do is keep the same price and throw in everything with the kitchen sink and people will still flock back to them. That's exactly what happened with the Altis FL, it went from not so good buy to being a very decent offering. If the Camry sales cannot maintain the no.1 selling non national large sedan then I won't be surprised if they come out with "upgrades" very quickly to remedy this.