I've been thinking for quite some time about buying a brand new saga. But considering the price, 40k(saga) is not a small amount to me. Therefore I'm thinking about maybe try looking in second hand market and see what hidden gem I can find...

Looking for a daily
I don't mind driving a manual, and I don't mind driving old cars or local.
As long as it's reliable, parts easy to find, I can fix it and maintain it myself since I'm a mechanic myself.

I'm not familiar with second hand markets or old cars in general. Therefore I'm wondering if there's anyone out there who knows quite alot about second hand cars and which brand or model to tackle.

What I've looked on are
Saga Flx
Wira
Inspira
Satria
Satria neo
Toyota SEG/KE70/GX/GL/Altis/Vios
Honda civic EJ/EG

If I'm not buying any, I have an old E36 sitting at my parent's home waiting to rust. Either spent the money restoring that or ditch the idea altogether.
Restoring it won't be small amount of money either, plus with the parts that are rare and hard to source 🥲

Thanks in advance to everyone that will be replying to this thread.

chery > all

Why you mechanic but still ask this

If u r a mechanic, i think car is not a thing u transport in to enjoy to sit in to.
Unlike office worker, they buy car to enjoy the ride to Office.

But, if 40k seems to big deal to you, and, reliable would play a role to save you more money....i guess
1st, Toyota SEG/KE70/GX/GL/Altis/Vios
2nd, Honda civic EJ/EG

Buy a bezza, use until it falls apart.
That's the only way car is worth your money.

Any other method are just compromise in different trade off

Heh. I was like u, bought my first car a toyota seg ae101 with 4age blacktop engine, 6 speed manual. Still misses that car. Then i upgrade to nissan sentra b13 with sr20ve 20v neo vvl, 6 speed manual. Now im driving honda civic es with k20a type r engine, 6 speed manual. In my "journey", i gained a lot of experiences then my friends started to ask me help them buy used cars also lol. And sometimes sell their old cars too.

So happens now i have 1 friend asking me to help him sell his very well maintained 2011 honda city. He also sayang kereta one and all use original parts. I already checked and test drive his car and its really good. If u interested pm me.

This used, Premium version.

If bring passenger, jangan la bezza.. the back seats really cham.. just sat a grab car today adoi..40mins also feel x syok d. I would recommend saga compared to bezza.

myvi

Why not buy P2? Reliable, spare part ramai. Can put in Japanese turbo if you're bored.

Kelisa best. Upgrade yrv turbo engine, and gino looks. So cute. But even stock kelisa also over 10k. So expensive...

Anti Perodua?

You're a mechanic. 40k budget you can now get a Volkswagen Golf GTI MK6. Perfect daily car, parts are plenty and very cheap now

Underrated car. Best bang for the buck if dont mind image and slightly high fuel consumption. But its so much cheaper compared to japanese rivals.

Not a wise choice to take a VW since his financial not that strong. VW is quite manja.. heck even my colleague just sold his Passat for a honda hrv stating that maintenance and repair costs are high.. maybe having more issues than he would like.

Just thanks to Daihatsu. Nothing to anti until they fix their problem.

Yup, I would advise TS to go for a test drive and decide. Drove a rental recently and was pleasantly surprised. No other small car surprised me as much as another rental...moons ago, Kia Rio. Buy used and you will not have to worry about depreciation too. 20K + dah boleh dapat earlier Premium models but those will be noisier at highway speed I'm told.

You're a mechanic but are you a car mechanic?

If so, which type of cars you usually work on, if can get similar type then opportunity to enhance your experience since you're still young.

Axia black manual new rm21k only hghhhhhhh

Either used Toyota vios or Myvi.
Nuff said

kereta lelong?

I want to say…for a mechanic…your English is very good…serious…sorry for the stereotype

Planning to be in this line forever?

Perodua with turbo, ativa. Try test drive it

wira janji spare part mana pun boleh dpt.

don't buy a wira. consumes too much fuel.

axia or myvi

question to urself.
1. New vs 2nd hand ( u need to bring an experience person to view before buy a good 2nd hand) from what i see, u wish to travel to work, weekend = seems not heavy but sooner u rely on this vehicle for maybe min/max 10 years before your next upgrade such as build up a new family ?

2. monthly installment - worth it for a New or 2nd hand ?

3. Are you thinking the resale value after another min/max 10 years ?

4. many factors to think, maintenance price, tyre, fuel, some upgrade such as accessories interior, dashcam, etc.

too many to consider. a commitment will tight up with ur monthly payment.

This post has been edited by Manuk1188: May 9 2024, 07:37 AM

if u ask me , i would recommend new saga or used toyota only. (altis/vios).

used satria / wira is often a thief magnet. no to civic as well.

inspira has common gb problem. .

new or used for me is how u value reliability? if u have time and money to spend to repair stuff, then get the used. But if u want a hassle free experience (at least in the first 5 years) then better get new. also if u buying cash then better get 2nd hand .

why no korean cars on your list? kia /hyundai? they are pretty decent as well , although their resale value is shit later.

This post has been edited by MegaCanonF: May 9 2024, 07:50 AM

Donno if TS is really a mechanic, myvi first gen or lagi best most reliable. I still have the first gen myvi with me, never sell it, still tip top condition like new.just need some luck to find a super good condition one without ODO meter being altered. And lastly, their spare parts is so damn cheap and they are everywhere

This post has been edited by johnnycp: May 9 2024, 07:53 AM

If I mechanic go buc 1982 Toyota just like a few apek mechanics I know.

used altis/camry..

Even if you’re a mechanic, it all depends on your usage. Are you using the car for weekend drive only or it’s your main transport vehicle. Will you be ferrying passengers and how old is your passengers? Even if you’re a mechanic and knows how to repair cars, I think you should know that any new cars are always cheaper to maintain than new older cars. Do you have the time to constantly repair your car as you’re a mechanic and already fixing cars everyday. Do you want to do the same thing in your spare time too?

The best recommendation is still Proton or Perodua. If you need to carry passengers and your passengers are older people like your parents, then Saga is the best choice. If you can spend a little bit more, than Persona is an even better choice.

Alternatively, Perodua is always reliable. If you want cost effective, you can’t go wrong with Axia, Bezza and Myvi especially if you don’t need to carry passengers most of the time or your passengers are your young kids.

Oooo so cheap. But all kosong la

Oh another suggestion. Reliable and too cheap.
Proton savvy. Manual. 5k can get good unit

Civic FD RM2+k

This post has been edited by croydon: May 9 2024, 08:57 AM

Rm2k iswara wira
Sap sap sui
What parts oso can fit
Mechanic konon

burukdua ?? not consider ?

But his knowledge of cars very poor

Well one can’t have everything 🤷‍♂️

me not a mechanic, but I can tell u what NOT to buy:
Chery Omaigawdnobrakesandaxle

inkambing LOD

used myvi not good meh? daily driver.. good enough for one person or 2..

Restoring would be fun for some ppl...

Masuk RB20DET

vios ncp42, cheap second hand, bullet proof engine. get parts from shopee and replace it yourself since you are mechanic too

If 1.5
Vios
Jazz, GD or GE or GK
Myvi

If you want packed a punch like 1.6 above
Civic ek/ej/eg with B16B/B18Cr
SEG with 7age

Stay away from proton, unless you like repair it.

car is depreciate, beli axia jer
cheap easy to maintence cost tak tinggi
cuma takdapat cari jodoh jer.

Can see he just starting out...but based on my experience, good command of English can bring you far...Singapore is a good start

cheap daily drive, Axia.

daily + tahan lasak

NA + 4AT + As new as possible

Jepunis + Na + manual + as new as possible

Fix that E36 la, it's robust AF, M52 engine FTW, VANOS rosak also car still can jalan.

Shit tonne of half cut parts at glenmarie and klang, maintenance spare parts are cheap.

Don't let go of that car. I miss my E36.

This post has been edited by ak101ss: May 9 2024, 09:47 AM

Peugeot 508GT diesel, cheaper than lowest spec current gen axia, but got features that BMW Merc or Audi don't have.

From your list I highly recommend the Toyota.
I opt out on national car because of the build quality.
Buying used car on a budget, most important is parts availability.
Fixing the E36 would be more of a hobby if you can afford, it is a very nice car to drive, but be prepared at least 5k-10k.

I used to own the SEG and I still miss it today.
Another cheap option maybe the KIA RIO around 25k but parts are slightly hard to come by, good build quality.
The VW Polo 1.6 hatch back is fun car to have and quite reliable from 30K, dont touch the TSI or the sedan.
Lastly, you cannot go wrong with the Axia if you just want 4 wheels.

Why not buy axia?

You're mechanic? Mechanics dont get the luxury to choose their ride. They drive whatever car customers dont want to pay and leave at their workshop to rot.
Anyway get a Vios, parts are cheap and plentiful. Engine and Gearbox are bulletproof proven for decades.

Mechanic means no problem fixing. If I were you I'll just get VW Golf or Passat. Fun car to drive, powerful engine, plenty of spare parts.

Axia aircond very fast spoil

Sohai TS kata sendiri mechanic tapi masih tanya apa jenis kereta beli .

U won.t go wrong with altis plenty of spare part available
Wira is a no no too old old most of the part is OEM or second hand

actually this is the place to ask if you are serious
https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3987849

Don't tell me you dunno about safety hazard? Car with extra fuel left in tank are considered as fire hazard you know , so to protect themselves, car with plenty of fuel left must be used and driven by them in the name of "doing a test drive". Be it using the car to carry spare parts or household chores. Less fuel in car, means lower risk of fire hazard. When i go to my mechanic friend, when i want to buy drinks or food, he give me his customer's car to drive On top of that after he refuel the car, he charge it back to the customer.

My mechanic friend is a VW specialist, he drove a proton saga and honda city. I ask him why u don't buy one to drive? He say u always comes my shop, u also know what the common prob of typical VW and Audi car lo

Ts pro mechanic. Modify own hghhhhhhh

axia je la

If used try Inspira , check with mechanic for GB and suspension . It's one of the nicest cars for the money and very good FC long distance not so much within city.

Comfortable and reasonable power. Fit and finish don't expect soft touch plastic but it's very well built .

Personally TS at this juncture if I were you I'd just go for new saga as it has warranty and its a solid first car with cheap maintainence I prefer this over Persona in terms of NvH and comfort. Also with a 4AT its reliable.

Pressure you are young and want to build your career so if you don't like workship visits and shock expenditure the Saga is perfect cause any old car there lot of things to look for which you can't tell

1. Gearbox lifespan.
2. Suspension components
3. AC/Radiator hoses cooling system
4. Plugs/gaskets/coils/timing chain/belt
5. Tyres.
6.Brake system
7. Steering system.
8. Wiring.
9. Bodywork
10. Interior .

Are some I can think on top of my head which might suddenly fail or may need replacing albeit the last two is superficial but it's part of your experience day to day.

This post has been edited by lordgamer3: May 9 2024, 12:57 PM

macam dead je. /k more traffic

The older gen Persona drives lot nicer and more comfy for this one. If you are generously proportion this car is not for you unless you amoi with tiny bekside then ok .

more nonsense too

Actually, once tumpang this car all the way to Penang for a funeral. had to sit at the back.

May be I'm a bit tall, cannot berdiri once reached destination...3 hari sakit belakang until kena pi massage. Never again.

TS, if u r adamant on spending 40K on a used car, may be look at a Lexus? My good buddy swears parts are cheap.

Many yrs ago, can still consider second hand cars

With so many fake parts, floods, traffic and accidents, buy a new car
In the long run, its not really that costly

Kena second hand car, rosak here n there, u spend even more

adui u are a mechanic, and u still in dilemma?

go with Myvi 2nd, it's more reliable if got issues easier to find parts to fix and common problem also already identified with the vast users here

mechanic should know what type of cars sell cheap, easy to get parts, easy to fix right?

I work on mostly BMW and Mercedes.... Definitely couldn't afford them that's why I need suggestions on other cars hahaha

Lol thanks for the compliment 😅 I never expect I would be in this industry either... Probably will stay since it's what I'm good at currently

Because of factor 4, I thought about second. Let's say I buy a brand new saga 40k monthly installments. I haven't consider the fees for maintenance and minor upgrades.

Tho for upgrades I'll only be aiming for dash cams and radio. I won't be making the car look beautiful, I'll mostly keep it stock and maintain it so that it's as reliable as ever.

Therefore I'm worried about getting tied up by the monthly commitments of the car 😅

If second hands can be rebuilt or repaired at low price, and I do include radio and dash cam upgrades, 10k+ would be more reasonable, but not sure if can find a decent car at that price point and THerefore I'm here HAHA

Thanks for your insights, I've narrowed it down to
Saga, Toyota Altis/Vios, and maaaaaaybe inspira.
Previously did consider satria and civic. Forgot about the fact that they are thief magnets 😂

Never mentioned Korean cars because I don't have a single friend that drives them 😅 that's why I don't know whether they are reliable or not. Plus they feel expensive, not sure about the price. I'll look into it.

You have a good point there...most likely not want to do the same thing in my spare time 😅

Definitely for main transport, it'd probably rare for me to ferry passengers but I do want them to be comfortable enough.

That's for the insight, I'll narrow down to saga and persona if I'm getting a first hand. I don't really like perodua as they feel flimsy at times.

invest in unit trust till kaya?

Goood, if can get from someone U know that takes good care of the car... Otherwise it's kinda scary

Since you are mechanic yourself, nothing can stop you buying 2nd hand car.
Look among your relatives/friends who thinking selling or changing their car, surely it better than go for 2nd hand dealers
Even you go look in 2nd hand dealership, you know more than us about car condition and parts need to be repair $$, then you can justify lowball them the price you want.

U not mechanic ka

Used myvi simple and affordable.
bought one 2 years ago still selling the same price now

This post has been edited by anangryorc: May 9 2024, 03:21 PM

Vios dugong?
I think can afford jazz GD
Probably look around civic and seg also.

That's for the insight 🙏

Wow 😳😳

That bad huh 🤔😟😰

The old one?

just buy yourself the new car, no matter cash or loan

you will thank me later

all the cars you listed are very old and requires (alot) time and money to make it comfortable & reliable for daily usage

trust me, i was in your shoes and life was so much better after getting rid of oldshitboxes

also

avoid any used old cars with performance engine (b series, 4age, 4g92/3 or campro cps) , i can guarantee you the cars have been abused and have underlying engine issues

if anything, just pick something like a first or 2nd gen myvi in fully original condition

Drove Kia Forte since 2011 until now. Minor issues.

Not sure about Peugeot.. fixed a few 308 hatchback. Not very good reviews from the owners. Never seen a 508 especially diesel on the road. But I'll look into it. Thanks alot

Wow 👍 thanks for the insight.
The Kia and the VW would be an upgrade for me. But I'll look into it.

But not sure about the axia from second hand market.. if I could find one from a friend I know would be better I think. Hard to find good condition one I guess?

Wow 👍 thanks for the insight.
The Kia and the VW would be an upgrade for me. But I'll look into it.

But not sure about the axia from second hand market.. if I could find one from a friend I know would be better I think. Hard to find good condition one I guess?

I would probably do that if I'm the boss hahahahah

HAHAAHHAHA that's a great story, if I'm the boss, I would drive a non paying customer's car too I guess 😂 I'd probably agree why he didn't want to buy one to drive 😅 thanks for the insight

Used mazda 3/6 skyactiv previous gen. Pretty reliable