1. Brand :
2. Budget : 55k - 60k
3. New/Used/Unreg : used
4. Specs : max 2.0, best 1.8, good 1.6
5. Transmission : auto
6. NA or FI :
7. Type : sedan, hashbag
8. Remarks : will use for 5-6years.



Looking for 2012 mazda 3, issit a good choice ? skyactive engine ?

1. Brand : Any
2. Budget : RM35K
3. New/Used/Unreg : New or used both acceptable
4. Specs : Anything can
5. Transmission : Automatic is preferred but manual also can
6. NA or FI :
7. Type : Sedan (Hatchback can consider but need more persuading)
8. Remarks : Will use it for 5+ years. Primary car. Must have ABS. Reliable. Not so expensive maintenance and spare parts. Size is a factor since I'm quite tall and big. Will drive to work (20-30 min) and occasionally across states for outstation work (>400 km) and hometown for holidays.

With a little bit of digging around, I managed to find 2 cars that I think may suit my needs which are a used Nissan Sentra Sport and a new? Proton Saga FLX (I think I can manage the size). Care to give some thoughts on both cars? Any other decent alternatives?

The main thing that I worry is the reliability. Can't have a car that broke down too much. Budget is tight but a car to me is a must. Thank you in advance

2003 Nissan March Impul 112s spec - there was a time where a grey importer specifically sold imported Impul and Mitsuoka models which were actually modified from Nissan cars. Impul and Mitsuoka work with Nissan so the cars they modify/upgrade can be thought of like a better version of the stock car like a BMW Alpina B3 is better than a BMW 3series stock or Merc AMG C63 is better than the stock Merc CLA. Nissan March Impul 112s is the code name for the 112hp version of the March modified by Impul. I know "modified" usually has a negative perspective but it is the most simplest way to explain the process. Anyway, if you like this car this is the spec to get but it is an old car that spec is made in 2003 -- although the one advertised in the link still looks in very good condition.

Regarding your question about parts compatibility, I can't really answer you that. I know manufacturers do share parts bin to save on R&D cost and inventory but I'm not too sure what is compatible and what is not. Also is because March is A-segment while Livina is C-segment/MPV. You can go to such as websites as OCP where they list the parts for the cars then see if that part number also exist in other models. It is quite tiring, however, if you like this car although spare parts isn't as easy to find as say a Vios it is still much easier to get parts for this car than parts for say an Alfa Romeo.


Have no idea what is their criteria so lets discuss on a few good cars you can buy within your budget, is not too old and cheap to maintain since you going to use it as a "taxi" the mileage will be high so you need cars that are cheap to maintain.

2010 Proton Persona 1.6 - nice clean looking car with leather seats. Looks like a well taken care of stock car which is crucial since cars that have been modified is usually a whole lot of problem, if it is done right it is a better car but part replacements cannot be stock standard parts have to be specialized modified parts, if it is done wrong then performance, reliability and cheap-ness to fix all go out the window.

2011 Proton Saga BLM - another nice clean looking stock car from Proton's range, it is cheaper and newer than the Persona above but it is B-segment while the Persona is C-segment, and also 1300cc vs 1600cc of the Persona. I am not too sure how this will effect you as I understand there are different categories of cars means different categories of price the consumer pays and thus your income also varies -- you gotta check this out with Uber/GC -- but most crucially a 1300cc car is always cheaper to maintain than a 1600cc car.

2010 Perodua Myvi - because the resale value of Myvi is much better thus market dictates you can only get an older one for the same amount of money vs a Saga. Yet boot space is smaller, this might be a problem if you want to send consumers with luggage but if for short trips within town area this car might save you money because smaller -- easier to park and maneuver in traffic for smaller roads as pickup or drop consumers off at their house many nowadays are dead end so 3 point turn with a Myvi is easier than in a Saga, and fuel saving due to smaller size.

Personally, it is between Saga and Myvi because I'm thinking you don't need something as big as a Persona (unless their rules specify) unless you want to be in a higher class car for more expensive fares. Saga and Myvi would be like the cheaper class of cars and fares which I think the system would assign more jobs to you. Maybe Myvi better since getting jobs with customers with luggage for airport/hotel transit might be rare (i dunno gotta ask the seniors in this field) but what i think are more are the "in between" customers which suits Myvi alot. We've all experience the taxi's refusing to go somewhere nearby (too far to talk but too close to drive) especially around town or after LRT and charge an insane amount of money for it -- usually Uber fair is less than RM5 for such cases you can ask 10 taxi's lined up outside the LRT all of them sure will demand a fare above RM10. This kind of customers is usually once pickup you've gotta drive them to their house via smaller roads and usually dead end roads at the housing estates which is where Myvi would excel.

2007 Civic would be Gen8, and with Gen10 coming soon if you buy that you'll be 2 generations behind. Some people are okay with it if they bought a new car and is about to finish the loan but buying a second hand car 2 generations behind with loan for another 5-9 years can be quite heart sickening for most people.

2011 City is the previous generation of City which is a good car but gearbox issues makes it a fuel guzzler, had it for the weekend recently, the power is decent enough but to really get it moving you need to poke it harder and use more fuel -- which will make it a fuel guzzler. Everything else is fine with it.

2012 Proton Inspira 2.0 - if you want a good C-segment car which isn't too old then you should consider this car, it is only 4 years old and can last you a long time. Although Proton has stopped producing this car they will still produce parts for it in the future, even they don't you don't need to worry being locked in as you can always use any Mitsubishi Lancer parts and they're plug and play -- quite possibly cheaper than original proton parts as well.

Mazda3 with skyactiv engine is pretty new model, there won't be many people selling it in the used market just yet especially at 60k since a new car is above 100k at the moment and is one of the best C-segments you can buy new now with current Honda Civic and Toyota Altis missing the mark.

2013 Mazda3 2.0 - this can be had within your budget but it is the previous model without Skyactiv, it is still a very nice and handsome looking car especially with the bodykit. Parts and maintenance for Mazda's have been getting better recently and although not as cheap as Honda/Toyota it isn't as expensive as a conti. Overall a good car, but don't try to skimp on getting the 2.0 and get the 1.6 instead because the 1.6 is quite underpowered -- but the 1.5 with skyactiv is good cause that's a big improvement on engine technology from the previous 1.6 "normal" engine.

A quick look at your budget if you can get a Civic or Altis or not....well Civic can get the Gen8 not the current Gen9 and the Gen10 is coming soon so better skip it unless you really like the Gen8, Altis also previous Gen and 1.6 only.

Sentra is an older 90's design. I think the only way it fits you is because being a C-segment car when you push the seat all the way back and angle the recline, might be okay when you first sit in and might be okay when you drive to work but when you go outstation it is going to hurt your lower back.

2010 Nissan Latio 1.8 - would be a better choice for you as it is also a C-segment but newer design thus higher roof enables you to sit with a better posture, instead of half way laying down to sleep. In terms of power it isn't that bad either with a 1800cc engine, I don't think there are any 1800cc c-segments at this age and price for a japanese car which is easy to find parts and they are cheap. You can get much more powerful and better conti but the maintenance is a killer, this car is quite a good balance for your needs. Shop around as Nissan is one of the few that still provides a manual gearbox for their mid range models you might be able to find a manual or 1600cc variant if you want but I think this top range model is the one you need.

Here are some 90's sports cars (some of them hero's) you might wanna take a look at....



1996 Mitsubishi FTO - a nice fully restored car being sold reluctantly by a couple of car hobbyist because they're going to migrate it is either a good deal or a good joke (coz it is a scam). FTO's are great cars and you can even fit an EVO engine inside if you want.

1992 Opel Calibra - a very rare and very powerful coupe, if you buy one you're probably in a group of less than 10 owners of this car in Malaysia, and probably the only owner with a car that is fully restored up and running to it's potential. Among the others in this post it is the cheapest because Opel is a dead brand in Malaysia and money spent on maintenance can be quite a pocket burner. Not something I'd recommend as a daily driver not because of reliability but because of lowering the mileage to try and stretch out the maintenance cost as long as possible -- as a daily driver with high mileage it is probably going to cost you the value of the car now to upkeep in 2-3 years time. A great car for the weekend or when you wanna show off a rare car like club meets, occasions, etc. Not much money to spend? Well grab a cheap Kancil as a daily drive for work then this car to replenish your soul during the weekends.

1992 Honda CRX Del-Sol - looking for a nice Honda coupe but don't want an expensive to buy and maintain S2000, well then how about considering a CRX? It uses the same 1600cc engine and gearbox as the Civic of that generation which are rock solid, i've seen Civic's with 300k on the odometer and still running strong with proper maintaining only, no overhaul. The only thing I'm not too happy is the steering and pedals modification which looks cheap and terrible. Everything else looks good even the bodykit isn't an over the top kit but something that looks like it came from the factory for a higher spec model. Lady owner and one picture has those hats the aunty likes to wear for jogging either as proof or adding it to fool people

yay fto bout that car, i have some comments, if anyone is serious about one of those, get a good well kept unit... pay more for it if you must, really nice understated cars ... car is actually pretty easy to maintain since many parts shared with other mitsu's (e.g: suspension, brakes, most of the engine, some electronics) but admittedly some parts like the interior trim are VERY difficult to find. This car, does however have one very prominent issue. rust on the roof... some cars suffer from it some others somehow just dont....

i think the white car on the add is really on sale, has a mivec + 4 speed auto trans, with a facelifted bumper and rare wing

but honestly there is there is another nicer red (manual) unit being sold at that price too, its owned by one of the fto club members who got hitched.... now that car is a really nice car

edit: **ohh ya, can also sumbat 6a13tt if you like torque **

This post has been edited by lsm1991: Apr 18 2016, 01:51 PM

Nice chassis can sumbat anything from lancer evo range to galant vr4 range

yeap, pay more for something that is in good condition better than pay peanuts for something with many gremlins. many people wonder how this can be done, well it takes abit of planning and also luck.

bought a honda jazz when it first came out after finish loan 5 years later it was worth 40-50k. economist will tell you to keep the car or sell it for 50k then buy cheap car to use and put rest in bank. petrol head will tell you to buy cheap car for use and a older sports car for the money. direct trade-in to used car dealer or sell/buy individually.

that price can get an older impreza/evo and a kancil/wira.....just saying

hahaha luck is very very important in 2nd hand cars, especially with one this age..... that was my exact plan too, maintain my old saga + one sports car, but in the end, my place, no space to keep both cars so.... daily driving the sports car lol!

ohh ya bout the engine, cannot sumbat the old evo's, only 4-9 (terbalik).... (it would be very very cramp though, the nose is very low down). I have seen these cars go for under 20k... but honestly its alot of effort to refurbish them. (i mean, what are you expecting at 20k ofc conditions would be pretty poor at that point)

depends on what kind of sports car.
a japanese sports car upkeep is still fine, probably about as expensive as maintaining a D-segment saloon.
conti ah?

yeah i know 4-9, imho it is the only one that matters since it is old enough that parts are cheap but not too old that it's technology is too old and ancient where repairs, parts procurement and amenities are vastly different from what we're used to in cars recently. amenities such as reduce warm up time -- remember old cars like sunny when turn on gotta wait long long for it to warm up before moving? cars nowadays start the engine can go liao.

nose low down isn't too good for malaysian roads thus real hard shocks are needed else every day scratch the bottom

Thx for the information, i am curious about few question, what is the oil consumption different between previous gen engine vs sky active, and the quality wise of previous gen of mazda car issit good as sky activ ?

hahaha!! conti sports car, well..... parts lagi susah, and as wel all know.... parts can cont quite abit.... their rarity, does not help in any way~ i liked the e36/46 coupes and the old clk230... those are abit easier since the mechanical parts are shared (trim would probably be a pain again)

far as the nose height problem i was talking about, its actually to do with the nose's available 'height' in the bay with the bonnet closed (not really the ground clearance) the evo radiator barely fits in there (it does but stuff needs to be modified) and the nose is really cramped with the ac condenser and the inter cooler

as for ground clearance, the prefacelift nose is okay, not really dif from a normal car if you dont lower the car in the 1st place, the facelift nose however is pretty low down.... (but imo does look sportier) there have been members who keep scraping the bumpers when going on ramps

very very huge difference.
mazda2 skyactiv is capable of 600 or more km per tank of fuel.
the best non-skyactiv engines with cvt like honda jazz is about 450 or more km per tank.

like my friend that drives an Alfa Romeo Spyder told me.....conti sports car parts not cheap but so are some korean and china made cars.....but end of the day I'm driving an Alfa Romeo not some shitty China made car.

hehe bigger bulging bonnet macam muscle car?

ohh sheet.... Alfa Romeo Spyder < can die trying to jaga

Thank again, with my 60k budget on used car, 2011 Altis 1.8g issit a good choice ?

Long time never drop by. Got some question to ask over evo. Current lancer is my favor car but too bad CVT not going to give me a fun driving experience. How is the maintenance for this evo? How many common part they share with 4B11?

Current lancer is my favor car assuming you are talking about lancer but too bad CVT not going to give me a fun driving experience. How is the maintenance for this evo? lancer or evo now? How many common part they share with 4B11? they reffering to lancer's b10?

u asking about lancer or evo, am veli confused....

This post has been edited by lsm1991: Apr 18 2016, 11:54 PM

Thank you for the input and suggestion. Will consider the Latio as one of the options. Thank you for addressing my size factor. Honestly, I quite used to any car compactness since I did have to drive around in a Kelisa for a while back. Was a nightmare. Slouching all the time was killing my back. Afterwards, I drove around in a Myvi and it was a relief. Now driving a large MPV so a bit spoiled to the comfortableness. I want to change car as my current one always had problems every 3-4 months or so. And also the FC is killing me.

Thanks again ya

Lancer comparing evo X. 4B11 against 4B11T.

I can't say for sure (actually this should be easily googleable) off the top off my head, but I'm gona say that, its going to be completely dif same like how the 4g63 is actually very different from the 4g63t...... Pistons cams, almost everything was slightly different.... Not sure why u are asking other than you want to bolt on a turbo...

That is why evo come in price. Just like civic type r. Many people thought fd2 same as fd2r after kit up. But they are not aware that type r is running light & strong chassis. Bolt on turbo is big no no for me unless everything from stock. I just want to know the maintenance for lancer evo X. Where to service the car since Mitsubishi will not entertain recon.

lol i think most ppl who really like cars would have known about this hehe, there are always reasons why these cost alot more...... ut sometimes, just sometimes, its actually possible to bring up a 'standard' version of the car up to the performance of the 'performance version'. This however is not always completely legal, and usually costs alot of money (which kinda defeats the purpose of getting the cheap standard variant anyway

about servicing it, u should really just join the owners club..... the really anal guys would be sending the cars to the best. trust me, in every car owner group, you will find guys that i)diy experts ii)technical-spec/data-experts iii)anal-must-be-perfect-103%-perfectionists iv)the dont give a damn guy v)budget oriented vi)hardcore-blowup-all-engines-dont-care-need-more-power guys

they know the car best, and can give you the best info (also depends on where you stay)

This post has been edited by lsm1991: Apr 19 2016, 10:07 AM