When you put the word GaGa together, I think you're qualified Plotong owner and espeically talking about SAGAs since you've been following. So, here's the gig.
It's not worth for a 1st car to buy a new car. Namely for the reasons below:
1) New car came with warranty, and warranty means expansive. You'll have to service at the authorized service centre, which will cost you a bomb.
2) New car means, a lot of butt hurt in terms of depreciation. 1 can have a new car for 45k, after 5 years when your daughter feels it's time for a small upgrade
PREVE VIOS, realized the 45k had shrunk to merely 20, set aside the initial deposits/downpayment and bank interest, you'd probably getting back some RM10k or so. How do you think that justify to get another car?
3) Driving in this idiotic country, means new car gets a lot of bump and bruises on regular basis. You may park at shopping mall, happily went for family dinner and after that did some small shopping. By the time you reached your car, you still find it safe and ride it home happily. The next morning when you ready to go to work, realized there's a huge scratched and chipped paint on your rear bumper. Spraying a solid paint bumper will only cost somewhere around 150 ~ 200, but a metalic paint would cost RM350 and above. And that, doesn't guarantee next week when you go shopping it wouldn't happen again. I have no problem with this, because my 2nd hand car bumper were never perfect and usually I leave them as is. The most I did is curse the motherfucker who banged my car.
Enough of rant. Let's talk about benefit of owning a used GaGa, which I'm totally agreed with
V12Kompressor1) By saying your daughter, I believe she wanted an automatic transmission car. GaGa is 1 of the least problem automatic car so far, within given 2nd hand price range. You can compare with Inokom Atos, which clocks around RM12k from the used car dealer, but their transmission if blown would cost you RM11k to fix it(exclude GST). And, 9 out of 10 ATOS on sale now, is having pre-symptoms of transmission failure. Kelisa, has not much problem with the transmission, but the car is too damn old. Would you spend the same amount of money to buy a 2003 car? Oh the engine mounting is failing EVERY YEAR on this 3 cylinder engine.
2) Economy wise. Plotong is 1 of the well known worst resell value brand. Any 1 who talks about resell value of a Plotong, they're an idiot and should buy VIOS. A 4 year old FL is currently running around RM18k. A 5 year old BLM is currently running around RM15k. Pre 2010 models BLM is good at RM10 ~ 14k range. The 1st owner already took all the losses, how bad can the resell value be? You buy 10k after driving 5 years, if you managed to sell it off at 5k, you only loss 5k!!!
3) Safety. It's a theft proof tank. I've seen snatch theft crack MyBi/BiBa windows despite they're cheap car category, but seldom a GaGa. 1 thing is, because the car SO HIGH. Let alone, Plotong S16 is a 3 star NCAP worth safety car.
So, what kinda automatic GaGa we should buy?
1) FLX has better control on CVT transmission. Maintenance wise, it's slightly more expansive an ordinary Automatic. So, if you want an easy maintenance, stick to FL/BLM auto.
2) FLX CVT transmission is way more expansive and lack of servicing parts if the transmission damaged. If you're sending for transmission fluid change, better make sure you use the right oil. Ordinary AT fluid will kill the transmission. FL/BLM uses Mitsubishi automatic transmission. If the damn thing broke, find a nearby Mitshi cousin and swap the tranny and you're good to go. Cheap and fast solution anytime.
3) Fuel efficiency wise, CVT wins big time. FLX CVT fuel consumption yields about the same as manual transmission. So much better then traditional AT.
4) Power delivery, CVT wins big time as the "gear" ratio continuously evolved according to your engine torque output. CVT will continue acceleration anytime anywhere as long your right foot told it to. Buttery smooth accelration, and oftenly lead to unwanted speeding ticket due to comfort acceleration and low engine noise at high speed(can imitate 6 speed transmission yo!)
5) BLM is definitely the oldest model. The newest you can get is 2010 make. Beware of MUDAH seller, which they usually use the REGISTERED year to advertise their trade cars. So if you seen 2011 BLM going cheap, don't be surprise if it's a 2009/2010 car. The look for BLM is slightly aged, your children may not like it. FL, will have a similar outlook with the FLX. If you remove all the badges from the back, majority of the public can't tell whether it's an FL or FLX(except FL got Latte Color which replaced by Gold color in FLX). FLX? Depends on what year you're getting. If it's too new as in 2014, the selling price in MUDAH is calling at 25k high. There are a lot of hidden charges here and there which will add up to 28k close to 29. If you put in bank interests for a 7 years old, the pricing is as much as getting a new SV. Don't forget, purchase of new car entitle to lower interest rate compare to a used car.
So, there you have it. I'm working with insurance company, dealing with used car/dealers is my passion and responsible. I hope the above can be your reference and save some money from the great depreciation of a brand new Plotong.
Very good advice. Quote for future reference