Hi all, I'm shopping for a full size continental sedan / suv (think S class / 7 series / GLE / Cayenne / X5) and I'd like the car to be productive while I'm not using it ie. making it available for chauffeur hire for weddings or just on demand car hire like Moovby or Trevo. I have other smaller cars for my daily drives.

Question:

Is there a particular colour to avoid if I want this to be favourable for Chinese as their wedding car? Should I avoid black exterior as that's considered a taboo? There are choices of black, white and grey for the model I'm looking at.

As for interior, I am thinking of going either all black or red and black two tone.

Thoughts anyone?

white is universal acceptance

interior no ppl bother so far. all acceptabled

G wagon

My friend used a matte black Urus for his wedding. If the car is impressive enough i dont think people care much

just use myvi, cheap and get the job done. thanks me later.

Any Genesis is superb OR Hyundai Palisade bro.. have you seen it on the road? road presence is superb.

This post has been edited by babisotong: Feb 23 2024, 02:50 PM

I used my own car for wedding, it's blue. No issue

what job u talking about ??

he want to invest rental biz. not his wedding

Use own car more meaningful. Create memories, no need to rent just for face.

Sooooo many possible problem u gonna face.

1. If u rent out privately beware LHDN cumming.
2. If accident not covered unless u dont disclose u rent out, but if found out not only cant claim may also kena fined/fail for fraud.
3. Its gonna be quite hard to rent out unless to friends coz why ppl rent from u when can rent from proper established car rental company?

Guys, let's focus back shall we? Colour DOs and DONTs haha..

Is red interior a plus and considered more "Ong"?

Seriously non of the 90's, 00's, 10's friends, relatives I know would be interested to rent the cars you listed.

You will be better business with cars such as
- Mini Contryman, Clubman, 3 doors convertible
- Macan
- Cool looking EV like Smart #1, Volvo C40, Taycan
- Merc CLA, CLS
- BMW 4 series convertible
- 911 Carrera Cabriolet
- you know cars with more youthful image - like X4 instead of X5, X3... CLS instead of S Class.
- or show personality like Suzuki Jimny, Merc G Class
- or some well kept 70's 80's vintage boxy cars like E30 3 series, E28 5 series, Volvo 240, W126 S class for people want retro style, but not the W220 or newer S Class (not old enough).
- Myvi with popular pop culture decals

Really depends on customer target.
Unless you got source of customer not exposed to modern day pop culture, otherwise 7 series/S Class would not be preference of young generation, it is easier to rent a C Class to be honest.

The new generation is about individualism and show off personalities. The overall lifestyle image different from old generation definition of luxury.
FYI - my cousin rented a C Class with her dad's new E Class leaving at home, said too old... lol

On interior, those who will rent is all for show, they really don't care interior color.

Get a lowest spec of the vehicle, as even if no accident for sure there are scratches everywhere. People get in/out stepping on door sills, accidentally kick the glove box, kick the back seat. Get something you don't pamper.

This post has been edited by constant_weight: Feb 23 2024, 07:34 PM

or axia e ( axia rahmah ) , looks good plus cheap

Good advice! Can’t go wrong with a 911 …

just go for white color

The common colours I've seen are white (quite classic) and silver. Black and blue are questionable if you have older, more conservative Chinese parents to worry about, and other colours like yellow, green, maroon etc might clash with the ribbons and floral displays.

Just my 2 cents worth - and, since I'm offering my 2 cents: don't get a Cayenne or an X5 as a wedding car - the back seat of these SUVs are not as comfy as that to be found on an S-Class or BMW 7 series. I should know, I've owned all the cars you mentioned: Cayenne (9YA), X5 (F15), W223 S-Class (present) and the G12 740Li in the past

If you’re talking about the ultra Chinese types* – you know, the types who will have an entire row of cars honking outside the wedding house and pop enough fireworks to give the whole taman sulphur poisoning – the most common colour for their Merc E/S Class, Lexus RX, Alphards, 5/7/X5 BMWs, is white. Bonus points for red accents in the interior.

*Unless they’re the new breed (common in /k) that wants to be more Chinese than China. For those people, you’d need a certified wumaowagon like a Biyadi.

This post has been edited by dev/numb: Feb 23 2024, 11:22 PM

How many of those types still single? Most are middle age already.

How many of younger generations are adopting that taste/culture?

Of those younger generations with such taste/culture either super rich no need to rent, or poor cannot afford to rent nice car. I notice at least those around me are very binary financially, not many middle class.

Even if one from that kind of family, once get more educations, become a middle class, open to global and exposed to pop culture, there is not turning back.

If that's TS plan, what's left target customer for TS are middle age but still not married + young people that can't speak English/Malay (which is sad), little pinky type of Chinese.

And I'm Chinese, my friends and relatives basically just give a few honks near the house. We don't honk like maniac from main road and go around Taman honking then blast fire crackers non-stop. We try not to disturb the neighbors, be a good polite citizen.

No littering, no spitting on the floor, giving way to ambulance... if you observe the improvements in past 10 years or so. It all start from some of the elite boomers 70's, majority of the 80's and thereafter. We are the future.

As a 90s I agree with the forumer above

1) I dont care about exterior colour. Even black is fine. Although out of respect for elders I will most probably go for white

2) No fucks given about interior colour. Nobody cares

3) And yes, i wont choose bulky long ass cars like 7 series or s class. I wont choose GLE or X5 also. Cayenne maybe more acceptable but I personally wont unleas my bride wants it…

4) If I call the shots, I will go for sportier and younger cars - c class is good. Mustang, A45 etc.

Point 3 and 4 just my 2c. To answer your question, white is safest.

You’d be surprised. In the backwater state of Johor, particularly J.B where I live, there are tons of youngsters who are like that. Can’t speak a word of English (but still having western style names), talk to each other like shouting (even though standing two feet away), honking like no tomorrow during weddings, QQ number plates. Basically, if TS start his white wedding car business here, sure got a long list of customers.

Lol...that's culture shock for me. Especially JB so close to Singapore. No wonder so many Ah Beng/Ah Lian style influencers doing prank, no value contents from JB, and they seems popular. Now I can guess where bulk of the followers from.

Not that I never seen one, but minority on the places/people I hangout primarily around Penang/Ipoh/KL/Melaka/Maur, couple of JB relatives, but they also quite civilized.

Some peers the parents are like that, but they are very civilized. I've seen some bigger family with 4-5 kids, most modern civilized mix with 1-2 still Ah Beng as you mentioned

I have an aunt form 3 drop out, but she talk politely, and willing to pick up Excel and some IT needed for her job given her limited English.

Education is more important for manners, morale, modern universal values.

Guess good info for TS where to focus for his customer base.

naw... education in Malaysia means jack shit for manners / moral/values.
I sure as hell encountered or even personally know many more educated people but act like ah beng ah lian or just generic uncivilized barbarian/ruffian

I personally am a drop out but i work as IT in MNC serving clients regionally (hard for your average ah beng that struggles with English)
it kinda depends on the upbringing and people you surround with more than just education. but that's an entirely different topic than of this thread.

Yeah, I'm with you on this.

Education, going to school is most people first entrance to grow social network.
Especially college when most live in different city/country first time, meet people with different backgrounds/cultures/races.

Working in MNC, working abroad have the same perks. Learn modern universal values, respect each others, and best thing is try every culture's food.

But there is always some weird shabby, put them in different country also the isolate in small corner with few of them from exact same background.
Some of them very smart, professionally training doesn't paint full picture manners/education.

Ok... too far, back to topic one more information for TS.

- Target for Ah Beng/Ah Lian yes. White + Red + Ong... works.
- Target for modern kids, very hard.

few examples of what's trending among them.
- No sure you seen DIY mechanical kit watch on kickstarter. Showing off watch they put together themselves = Cool. Most luxury expensive watch = Not really.
- Teapot from a tiny village, the maker is raising fund to rebuild village due to natural disaster, the teapot full of thumbprints of the surviving kids after the disaster = Super Cool. Teapot from master maker from China with most precision crafting = Not really.
- Vegan/Humane leather from Polestar (I think YSL too), where the leather come from cow that already slaughter for their meat. No double killing. If the leather is qualified as "vegan" is debatable, but the latest kids around the block absolutely lovessss this kind of story = Super Cool. Top smooth quality leather from calf = Not really


In summary branded cars, bags thingy no longer attract those people. But their story does.
If you notice, all the major luxury bag brands have more and more offering with tiny subtld logos. There are more and more youngsters appreciate the story, the quality, but it is all about individualism. The bag suite me, my taste, it is all about me, not the brand + daily use don't catch too much attention.

If you notice, the traditional cafe/bakery/bak kua shop after taken over by new generation, they start putting banners/ads on the story, like how they discover the coffee beans use, or go around finding coffee bean that give the owner smell of his/her childhood etc...

That's the modern definition of luxury, again the modern civilized youngsters loves them.

Want their business either include top trending pop culture, or build nice story around the car you wanted to rent out... (true or fake ... no one verify LOL)

So wedding car
- Good taste, good choise = Super Cool.
- Wah, expensive car, you buy or your dad car? = Not really

Suzuki Jimny is the easiest example. If the couples are into camping, outdoor lifestyle, even get to know each other during camping. Jimny shows the couples personality, interest, echo with their individual values. Modern luxury not necessary = expensive.


This post has been edited by constant_weight: Feb 25 2024, 09:05 AM

What has TS decided?

Looking at the feedbacks received here, truly an eye opener for me - perspective wise especially!

Taking into account everyone's input and yours especially (having owned so many of the cars I'm considering), and putting myself first ahead of other productive ideas (wedding rentals etc), I am inclined to the latest, facelifted Cayenne the CKD version. Price is just right and the depreciation is manageable. Terrified at the viral contents of poor quality of the latest MB S580e sounds like bottomless pit nightmare. We have a W222 S400h at home gathering dust, hardly used these days since dad left for the better place 4 years ago.

Three exterior colours for this Cayenne:
Carrara White, Quarzite Grey and Chromite Black

Two interior colour choices:
All black leather
Two tone red and black leather

I am generally conservative where interior colours are concerned so by default would go for all black BUT this is my first Porsche - the red black combo adds a little bit of panache to the whole color scheme in the absence of the full customizable option exclusively available for CBU models. Also, the red black interior costs extra abroad but offered at the same price for our CKD version.

Black exterior with black interior?
Black exterior with red black interior?

My SA told me so far the highest demand with longest waiting list (Aug / Sep 24) is for white exterior with red black interior.

The Quarzite Grey seems a little dull to me a bit of a passe where Porsches are concerned. I actually like Crayon!

What's your take taiko?

In other news, I quite like the new BMW M340i Brooklyn Grey lol

Excellent choice as your first Porsche! My Cayenne is Dolomite Silver externally with a full leather interior in black but if you’re at on a black exterior, may I suggest the 2 tone interior. Bordeaux Red and black will definitely give it a much needed contrast.

Black is actually a GREAT colour for the new Cayenne. Given that the new shape is now a little less swoopy and just a touch more boxy, black IMHO helps to hold the squarish lines better.

Sounds like you’ll be getting a great deal with what the CKD build has to offer!

Congrats in advance and many safe miles on the road ahead!

Do you foresee the maintenance will be high? Or should be alright while within the warranty period and if I decide to extend the warranty period?

The prospect of an all black (exterior and interior) Cayenne does present an attractive stealthy proposition with the right alloys.

Both my Cayenne and 911 GTS in Sydney are covered by extended 7 year warranties which I bought for AUD3000 or AUD4000 per car. Servicing (eg oil change etc) is AUD900 alternating with AUD1800 IINM. I just did the first service for the Cayenne last June or July. The 911 isn’t due yet (still less than a year old).

My Macan in Singapore is covered by a complimentary 5 year all inclusive warranty which also covers the routine servicing. I just had its first service last September.

My W223 also enjoys a 5 year all inclusive warranty programme. We sent her in for her first service in February this year.

Yeah. My cars are all within a year or 2 old.

Prior to this, I was driving the G12 740Li and W222 (non hybrid) and before that, was my F13 M6, F02, F30 and F15 x5.

I love my cars.

This post has been edited by hksgmy: Feb 27 2024, 05:28 AM

If I have time, I'll take photos of the backseat of my W223 and compare that with the backseat of my Cayenne and you'll know why I say the Cayenne doesn't quite fit back passengers in as much comfort as the W223.

Your late father's W222 should have the same multifunction contour seats, with heating and cooling and massage as my W223 - the Cayenne doesn't have any of this, and the leg space of the W223 > Cayenne.

Before zooming town into Cayenne, I was considering the XC90 T8 Recharge Ultimate, Audi SQ8 E-tron and BMW X5 50e. I've decided I'd like something tall and well above other motorists (Cullinan will cost me kidney and I need mine, latest full sized Range is just mind boggling pricewise and maitenance I was told could even wake up the dead in their cemeteries).

1. XC90 Recharge Ultimate - timesless appearance despite its age, beautiful build quality with amazing list of gizmos but the 4 cylinder 2.0 turbo is deal breaker. It sounds too tortured one cruising along. It sounds like it's being pushed too hard. I want my engine sound to be a treat to my ears.

2. SQ8 E-tron - paid deposit had my loan approved. Last minute, I decided the rear seat was hard and I think I don't want an ECV for my long distance car. Also, I dont get an ounce of excitement when I drive it - the air suspension is too soft. I already have my Mini Electric for my daily errands in the city and love it to bits. The pocket rocket handles like its on rails, puts my MK 7.5 Golf R to shame.

3. BMW X5 50e - test drove this yesterday. But after trying the Cayenne last week, this just pales in comparison in every way. Build quality is one. When driving and at corners, I don't feel confident pushing it. Air suspension too soft - this is obviously geared to comfort.

Quality wise, once you go Porsche (I know I'm a newbie and I can't preach lol), it's hard to go back to other mass affluent Germand brands like BMW and Mercedes.

The only two SUV which I find is confidence inspiring handling wise so far is just the Cayenne and Range Rover. Others just seem to want the skin in the game.

On a separate note:
However, the BMW M340i is still calling my name I don't like it. Would you consider buying this add into your already nice collection? I'm tempted, unfortunately - most of all it being a sleeper!

Bro, you're preaching to the converted haha. You're 100% spot on: once you go Porsche, it's so damn hard to go back.

My Cayenne has the optional air suspension because Her Majesty is used to the air chambers of the previous G12, W222 and the present W223, and even she's impressed with how wafty the car feels without being floaty. This is in stark contrast to the 911, which I'd have to tranq gun her, lasso and drag her into next to me - she absolutely refuses to go on drives with me in the 911, as the GTS comes with the Sports PASM and is lowered 10mm. In Australia, there's no local Cayenne (or 911 for that matter) assembly, so what we get is directly from Leipzig or Zuffenhausen, and there's something to be said about German quality. My extended leather interiors are impeccable, and every double stitch looks like it'll outlast PMX's term as PM (although that's actually quite a low bar haha).

I'm really happy for you and please share with us your new baby when it arrives!

Oh, as for the BMW? I've already weaned myself off the addiction some years ago. I was (as you can see from my previous collection) quite the fanboy - but the new design language really didn't appeal to me, sleeper or otherwise.