People who worry about 5-digit maintenance cost per annum, should just drive a B segment car. They are somewhat more reliable, lower cost to maintain and cheaper parts. Never buy a car that you can't afford to maintain or worry about a big repair bill. Period.

Don't buy a car if any unexpected repairs mean using up your credit limit on your card, means defaulting on car payment or house payment. Don't buy a car if and when subsidies get taken away, then complain not enough money for fuel, like I've been seeing on some diesel vehicle owners. A friend decided to just keep the pickup at home and ride a bike instead.

I had a weekend car E90 M3 previously, RM6k for yearly road tax, spending 5 digits per annum to replace wear and tear parts and upgrades, being a 2009 vehicle. Pumped RON100 at Petron to give my V8 the best. Sold it off not because of the cost to run it, but because Malaysian roads no longer give me joy to drive on. There's only so much time I have to go on Genting runs during weekends.

Sure, when getting a 5-digit repair bill sure sakit hati lah ... but, next day just move on and enjoy the car. If kena once or twice then balls shrink and want to sell, then don't buy such cars.

My opinion and how I personally practice. To each their own.