Used Japanese car is easier to find spares and cheaper to maintain too.

Used conti cars is more expensive to maintain and harder to find spares.

If u have a deep pocket, go for conti cars else a Japanese car would be a wiser choice.

It depends on what you want... But remember, if u plan to get a car loan, and u regret after buying a certain brand or make, and u plan to sell it off to cut losses, u need to settle the loan before u can sell it.

Conti cars are harder to sell and lower resale value.

Cheap used conti cars are BMW, Audi, be

I saw a VW Jetta 2012 selling for RM 36800.00. parked next to it is a Camry 2009 selling for RM 52k.

Also a 1 year old VW Tiguan with 5k km selling for RM 128k. New car price is RM 178k.

Conti cars are nice to drive. Good luck and happy searching.

I don't own any conti cars because the spares are too expensive for me. VW gearbox can easily reach 30k to 40k. Where else u can get a good used unit Japanese gearbox for less than 3k.

You do the math. If your income is below 5k, these conti cars will make your life very interesting. Assuming u have no house loan, study loan, personal loan, credit card late payments.

U can go for the prius c.... but be prepared to fork out rm 8k for the battery replacement, excluding replacement of suspension system. Usually used cars have suspension problems which is pretty normal. U wont go wrong with toyota. That being said, hybrid cars in malaysia have lower resale value because malaysians tend not to maintain their cars.

Common drivers only know how to change engine oil and air filter. Most of them tend to neglect other parts that needs replacement or service. Example, automatic transmission fluid, service air cond, power steering fluid brake fluid, radiator coolant.
New cars have air cond filter, most of them used until the filter disintergrated also never bother to change. When they found out, they will say, air cond has filter? Need to change? I didnt know that lah.
Just pure ignorance. It is a very sad chapter of our society.
Actually, whatever moving parts that need lubrication need servicing.

Some drivers even made me laugh. They asked, car air cond need to service? I actually asked them back, did u service your house air cond, they answered me ofcoz. Well, i just smiled.

Rule of thumb. Set aside rm 100 every month as a sinking fund to repair your car / service your car. U wont go wrong with it. For japanese car only.

For conti cars, i am not sure, may be rm 400 every month? Nearly every single part of conti cars are more expensive than japanese cars.

For your budget, a hassle free car would be ideally myvi, go for 1.5. Fuel consumption is either better or same as the 1.3, and u get better specs.

Wanna drive conti cars? Pay more for maintenance and spare parts.

Myvi =
Hassle free
Less problem
Easy to maintain
Lots of spare parts
Easy on your pocket
High rv
Easy to sell
Less comfy
Less style compare to conti cars
Nothing to show

Conti cars
Something to show
Feels different
More comfortable than japanese car of the same segment
Expensive to maintain
Low rv
Spare parts are slightly harder to get, it gets even harder when the car becomes older
Harder to sell, used car dealers will offer very low price
Oil leaks are very common in conti cars even if u have just repaired it, within 6 months it will come back to haunt you, unless u seldom use the car.

Myvi 1.5

Picanto and peugot 208? I wont go for either. I will go for myvi bcos i wouldnt wanna spend a bomb fixing these 2 cars and in the end with very low resale value.

Go search in car list, u will know what i am saying. Go search for myvi and these 2 cars u mentioned in car list, write down their year of manufacture, and u can compare their depreaciation rate.

Happy hunting.

Iris:
Nice handling
Campro engine is nothing to shout about.
Punch CVT gearbox is sloppy, changes gear like old man, rubber band feeling.
Low resale value.
Since geely took over proton, campro engine is seeing its engine end of life, meaning less spare parts in the near future.

Myvi:
Handling not as good as iriz.
The rear passenger will feel the rear suspension stiffn bumpy due to the light weight n simple design of myvi rear suspension.
Engine is from daihatsu with
Toyota technology.. meaning long life engine.
Gear changes is smooth n fast.
Fuel consumption is normal.
Car is zippy.
High resale value.
Lots of spares.

Myvi from 1st gen till the latest gen all good.
1st gen only 1.3 daihatsu engine
2nd gen has 1.3 n 1.5 daihatsu engine
3rd gen has 1.3 n 1.5 Toyota Vios engine, tuned down 1.5, 1.3 still daihatsu engine.

Go for 1.5, don't be penny wise n pound foolish. Fuel consumption is the same, u get a smoother ride n better specs.
Road tax extra RM 20 per year. Wider tires for 1.5. better handling.

Axia's running cost is very low compare to myvi. Axia runs on 3 cylinders wherr else myvi runs on 4. City drive definitely not a problem for axia bcos mostly will be under 100km, the car is also zippy and lively. Drive it above 100km n you will feel that u need to step harder on the accelerator.

Remember, get ready for repairs when you buy a used car. Dont expect the car to be in good condition. The most important factors in buying a used car are:
1. Accident free ( minor dents, minor scratches r excluded)
2. The car is not cut n join
3. Check for original welding joints.
4. Smooth gearbox
5. Smooth idling after warmed up.

Used cars usually will have lousy absorbers, can be replaced easily after buying it.
Change atf fluid
Change engine oil
Change brake oil
Change power steering fluid
Change air cond and fan belts.
Record down the mileage ofnthe things u have changed. Remember to service your car according to the mileage specifed by your car automaker.

Remember, as one of the forumers said in one of the forums befofe, if you drive the car like a dinasour, you will get dinasour out of the car.
If you neglect your car, your car will neglect you.

The engine code.

Toyota has 40 percent controlling stake in dahaitsu. Reently, toyota controlled more than 50 percent, and the new myvi n bezza use toyota engines, so u will notice the old myvi uses dvvt, the new myvi n bezza use vvti. Both are the same technology. but since toyota commands control over dahaitsu now, it can put vvti badges on dahaitsu cars. Daihatsu in return controls perodua.

May i know if you have just graduated? OR u have been working quite sometime?

Myvi SE 1.5 lagi best is a good choice for you. Auto or manual it is subjective. If you enjoy driving, manual transmission is always more fun to drive. If driving is a hassle for you, get automatic transmission. The 4 speed auto from Aisin is bullet proof, long lasting.

Go for Iriz if you are able to find the 1.6 manual transmission. It is limited edition with limited units. Iriz handles better than Myvi SE.

I dont recommend the iriz auto cvt gb. The punch CVT is just too poor. Go for a test drive and u know what i mean.

If u have the budget, the Honda Jazz is always a good buy. Get the 1.5 petrol not the hybrid. Zippy car with good fuel consumption. and it is really roomy for such a compact car.

May i know if you have just graduated? OR u have been working quite sometime?

Myvi SE 1.5 lagi best is a good choice for you. Auto or manual it is subjective. If you enjoy driving, manual transmission is always more fun to drive. If driving is a hassle for you, get automatic transmission. The 4 speed auto from Aisin is bullet proof, long lasting.

Go for Iriz if you are able to find the 1.6 manual transmission. It is limited edition with limited units. Iriz handles better than Myvi SE.

I dont recommend the iriz auto cvt gb. The punch CVT is just too poor. Go for a test drive and u know what i mean.

If u have the budget, the Honda Jazz is always a good buy. Get the 1.5 petrol not the hybrid. Zippy car with good fuel consumption. and it is really roomy for such a compact car.

DVVT is the same as VVTi.

TOYOTA
Direct injection is only the Thai Spec engine Toyota Camry. which is the Dynamic Force, code A25A-FKB 2.5 litre NA four-pot with VVT-iE on the intake cam for better response (VVT-i for the exhaust) and D-4S, eight speed automatic. It is dual injection, which is Direct and port injection to prevent deposit build-up.

Malaysia UMW is still using the outgoing 2.5 DUAL VVTI 2AR-FE engine, 6 speed auto.

HONDA
Honda Civic, Accord, CRV, these 3 models use the same 1.5 turbo engine with different horsepower is using direct injection.

Direct injection engine has better power and better fuel consumption compare to port injection engine. However, direct injection engine will have deposits build-up at the intake port because newer engines recycle the exhaust gas and send partial of the exhaust gas back into the combustion chamber.

This post has been edited by lhgoon: Jun 16 2020, 12:21 AM