I have friends who are desperately needed cars that they DON"T TAKE their TIME Choosing their "New" ride. They ended up with "BARGAIN" Cars, BUT often in Average or POOR condition. They failed to realise that CONDITION MATTERS MORE THAN AGE!!! Ie. a Retiree's 8 yrs old car in "Showroom" Condition is OFTEN BETTER and Cheaper to run than a 4 yrs old "Average condition car". In this scenario, both cars are priced around the RM5,000 variance...
Let's take Mr. Lin (Not in real name) as an example:
He's LOOKING for Satria 1.3, urgently needed one, budget as LOW as Possible. The PROBLEM is that there's about 130,000 UNITS OF Satrias available in Malaysia produced from 1995 to 2005. He should take his time choosing a GREAT one...
BUT no! He ended up buying a 1998 Model Satria 1.3 IMPULSIVELY at a "Bargain". The condition was Quite Poor... He ended up paying additional thousands repairing the car. He refused to reveal how much he bought the car but an educated guess (by me) would be around RM12,000. 12,000 add est. 3,000 for repairs = RM15,000 (ACTUAL COSTS).
With RM13,000, RM2,000 less than his Actual buying price, he can buy a 1997 (Slightly older) 1.3 Satria WITH AIRBAG, Low mileage, 1 owner, tiptop condition. (Yes, 1996 to 97 Satrias came with Driver's Airbag). IF ONLY HE HAS THE PATIENCE to shop around... There's after all 100,000+ units of Satrias on Malaysian road...
MY POINT is, Condition of cars NOT Age matters.
Example 2: There's 2 Honda Accord 2.2i up for sale. One is 1995 Accord SiR and another 1998 "Kah Motor" Accord 2.2i SOHC VTEC. Priced: One is RM43k another ALSO RM43k. BUT the 1995 model has ORIGINAL 2.2 DOHC VTEC Engine, Sunroof, Airbag, Elec Adj Semi-Bucket Seats, Leather seats, Climate Control, TCS, Autocruise, ABS, LOWER MILEAGE (Below 100,000km), 1 Owner, Original Paint, 40-something familyman owned, NO REPAIR NEEDED, 100% STOCK.
WHILE the 1998 model has ORIGINAL 2.2i SOHC VTEC Engine, Only common feature as 1995 Accord is "Autocruise" and "Leather seats", 3 owners, NEW Paint, Above 200,000km, Early 20's "Girl" owner. NOW, A "NORMAL" Malaysian would automatically go for the 1998 model, "LADY" OWNER, "SAME PRICE BUT 3 yrs NEWER". BUT what about hidden costs?
As it's not properly maintained, The 1998 Accord might need lots of repair... Eg. Driveshafts, Suspensions, Possible overhaul of Engine and/or Gearbox. Whereas the 1995 Accord is in A+ Condition... IN THE LONG RUN, It is WISER to Choose the 1995 model as it is MUCH CHEAPER TO RUN... ALSO, the 1995 Accord comes with ORIGINAL H22A Engine!!!
If you are buying USED cars... TAKE YOUR TIME... ALSO, Don't be fooled by "Younger car (Say 2001 model) at a LOW PRICE (But poor condition). Repairs and maintaining WOULD COSTS A LOT in the LONG RUN, often another RM3,000 to RM5,000 extra... IN CONTRAST, an "Older" car (Say 1998), Which priced "The Same" or RM1k to RM2k more with 1 Owner, LOW MILEAGE, Original Paint, Accident free, ALMOST PERFECT Condition with NO REPAIR NEEDED, would be a BETTER CHOICE... Why?
As there's Little or NO HIDDEN (or REPAIR) Costs, ie. Actual COST is MUCH MUCH Lower... GOOD LUCK in finding your IDEAL Used car... DON"T BE IMPULSIVE!
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