Hi Guys,

I am planning to get a car for daily and long distance driving. I am looking out for a car which is durable and has low maintenance fee. Budget is below RM45k. My idea has narrowed down into New 2019 facelift Proton Saga or Used Nissan Almera, but i heard that Saga always got problem. Which one to choose? or there is other recommendation?




Thanks for your advise.

Given these two choices I will pick brand new Saga. Using a Hyundai sourced 4 speed automatic. More solid than the Altima, new car got warranty no worries.

Long distance Saga will be more stable. Altima is very tin kosong car really.

Even if Saga got problem it’s covered by warranty. Altima got wear and tear you need to fork out money. The Saga engine is very mature and the transmission is widely used by Geely in China.

This post has been edited by Jason: Sep 24 2019, 10:46 PM

Sorry to say Almera is an ugly design.

New Saga would be your better choice despite is a Proton brand and lower price where it gives you
better ride & handling, cold aircond, more value for money, better features, acceleration and better safety like
stability control and hillstart assist over the Almera even is 1.5L

Nissan badge like Almera pre-facelift ones has quite number of issues
from wheel bearing, radiator fan failing less than 3years, exhaust cover rattling, aircond system and etc.
(my family owns one and was really shocked that it has more problem than past proton cars owned and in fact
two of my colleague also has the same problem)

but if above not a main concern for you, the Almera can be considered especially the large boot space
and rear seating room which excels the Saga.

45k you can get a persona lo.
safer car than the two mentioned.

If have to be between those two, go for saga. Nissan has a lot of issues when they get older and higher mileage.

Why Almera? It got no vehicle stability control and the design interior and exterior is just plain boring

Increase your budget to 50k can get used 2014 honda city spec E with vsc equipped

If 45k is the max limit, get the saga premium or persona standard cvt

If you want something Japanese, can opt for 2015 Honda city which is going around 45-47k for the E spec which is equipped with stability control. Still got about 1 year warranty.

Want something French, Pug 208 from 2016 matches your budget. Nice car but you need some luck dealing with SC & vehicle reliability.

Anyway, I'd go for saga premium instead of the almera.

This post has been edited by budang: Sep 25 2019, 09:27 AM

If you plan to drive long distance... New saga have its perks like warranty. buy, drive and go.

Almera i say only go with the 2015 models onwards. Just save some extra money to change the suspensions set (whatever thats connected to it), Spark plugs, tuneup and cleaning of throttle body. The rest is just change oils. as after 100k km/4 years normal wear and tear.

After warranty general maintenance Almera is cheaper. For parts of course proton is more affordable.

Space and comfort Almera. Driver feel & pickup Proton. Test drive then decide yourself

I rather buy a new proton than a used almera

Heck. I'll choose proton saga new or any new city or vios. Not in between New almera

This post has been edited by cempedaklife: Sep 25 2019, 11:37 AM

new saga premium
reliable, cheaper, lower maintenance, latest tech gadget

brand new car for sure....

New Saga

Cheaper, no more CVT, safer and looks so much better

Don't buy Almera until Nissan brings this in as the new Almera

new saga or persona

New persona lor..its fit ur budget for standard cvt.

Long distance travel better 1.6 owh. 1.3 power a bit smaller and tiring for long distance. Been there done that. That is why I suggest 1.6

For all cars
U want to go for a shitty almera

With 45k, u can go for persona standard cvt

Almera aren't free from troubles. Unless u put vios in your list, I am voting for new saga.

Nissan despite being Japanese brand is not known for their reliability since partnering up with the French

if next gen Almera then ok.. not the current one

stay away from Malaysia Tan Chong - Nissan at all cost. Their car is a total rip off.

Tried that been there...

Get a Saga Bro, Almera have a lot of issues...I'm driving one..i know. The SC also not good.
Parts are expensive and their wheel bearing issue have not been solved.

This post has been edited by carnby77: Sep 26 2019, 09:48 AM

saga

Nissan was fine... their Teana was well received all around the world, especially in the US.

but then they decided to partner with Renault, king of shit cars.

How's a Teana relevant to the Almera?
And how is Renault involved in Almera?

Almera is Nissan's own dog shit.

They should know there is something called as internet. Nowadays people go online and post reviews. Car makers must understand this , they just do a good job in building the cars, if not people will give bad comments on the internet, there goes your reputation.

I would say go for 2019 new saga. Alot of perks installed for new variant. Used Almera has many problems from air conditioning to engine those 100k above mileage

Which model you owned ?

- Sylphy 2011
- after driving for 3 years, their absorber became like jello, feels like a boat floating in the water when driving highway more than 90 KM/h
- ridiculously small battery for this car size, need to replace it annually and its not cheap.
- the whole car built up was filmsy with cheap materials
- there's a tons of "pre-removed" safety parts from Tan Chong side (only get to know on the day when the sales person handover the keys telling all the light on the - dashboard that doesn't really exist physically for Malaysian CKD, felt cheated - part of it is my mistake for not reading the details carefully before this purchase due to urgency at that point of time)
- their audio system is the worse among all, literally no sound even when the volume was maxed out -> turn out I need to have it replace a 3rd party player after a few weeks drive despite the case was escalated and brought up to the consumer board, everything has been ignored by Tan Chong and NCCC cannot do anything about it as it claimed "the unit is working as per design"
- Service center wise, better prebook your slot 2 weeks prior the service, 1 month is preferable just to secure a slot
- Service Advisor will scold customers for late service


Lesson learned
- test drive the targeted car from a few dealers
- bring a couple of passengers to fully fill in the car to make sure the car is not underpower
- see a puddle on the road, drive through it to make sure the absorber is not a Jello
- try their audio and max it out
- most importantly, take your time to decide which car to go for, don't rush


own verdict
- Given the kind of "customer experience", I will NEVER try Nissan ever again
- avoid Tan Chong car dealers at all cost

**sorry for the long story, but hopefully can shed some light to all car buyers

All along I thought that sylphy is a good car ...

ALMERA , even proton has upgraded the safety and engine performace of saga.
the car design ,room space and comforts are remain suck..

Go for Saga, VSC is a no brainer.

Saga for safety, handling and peace of mind warranty.
If you can stretch just a little, go for the Persona. 5 stars safety and 1.6 engine.

Nowadays, active safety system like VSC is a must.

New saga FL premium > used Almari

Can consider Persona too if you are looking for slightly higher power for long journey travelling.

its a good car before it landed local's shore, until Tan Chong rip us all
That's y end point is avoid Tan Chong at all costs

RM45k can get you Saga top spec or Persona Standard.
The Persona std seems to be more suitable if you are travelling long distance often.
Spec wise, the Persona Std is superior to the Saga except the absence of DRL and perhaps the CVT.

Persona std dont have 6 airbags

I know. So it's equal, and not worse than Saga nor superior.

Saga premium have 6 airbags

What?

Thats persona

Not true.

Avoid the Almera. Many problems and it is not as reliable as the City and Vios. My house have all these 3 cars and I can make comparison.

Suggest you to get the new Saga instead as it comes with warranty.

Saga. New is always better. With VVT and notmal 4AT, should be peace of mind

mada ada. 2 only.

2 airbags je la

Oops maybe i got confused between persona and saga
It doesnt have 6 airbags

This post has been edited by Daylight2018: Oct 1 2019, 09:50 PM