A MYVI FOR NOT A LOT OF LOLLY
Good-looking, versatile - and it's so cheap too
Richard Hammond 08/09/2006
"HERE'S how to gauge a car's desirability. Imagine you are in a fashionable bar. The jazzy mood music dips and the barman shouts: "Will the owner of the green such-and-such a car move it because it's blocking the cellar doors."
If the car is yours and you leap up to claim it, then it's passed the test. If you hide under your stool hoping the thing will be taken away on a lowloader and crushed, it's failed.
Aston Martin, Maserati, Alfa Romeo - these are makes that pass this test. Some people jump up even when they don't own them.
Perodua is not one of those. Many people have never even heard of them. It doesn't help that no-one is ever sure how to say it. When I try, it sounds like I'm sneezing. Well, it is a Malaysian company and they make really cheap cars.
The Perodua Kelisa currently retails at about 4.5 pence and uses so little fuel I can't see why they bothered fitting a filler cap.
The Perodua Myvi - again, how do you say the name? - is their flagship vehicle. And it looks it.
No jokes, this is a good-looking car. But if it looks familiar, that's because this is a Daihatsu Sirion in all but name. You see it costs billions to develop a new car - you design them on computers then build lots of them to crash into walls. So Perodua let someone else do it and spent their money sticking a new badge on it.
But they kept a bit back to spend on styling. Which is why, even though it shares bits and pieces with the Sirion, the Myvi is better looking.
Inside, there's a ton of space. It's versatile too - the rear seats fold to make a huge loadspace. The 1.3-litre engine means 0-60mph takes 13 seconds - hardly sports car territory, but it handles so well you can just get it up to speed and keep it there with ease.
The Daihatsu Sirion, on which the Myvi is based, is itself partly based on the Toyota Yaris - still one of the best small cars. It has air-con, electric windows, and remote central locking and when it goes on sale soon will cost £7,799 - around £300 cheaper than a Sirion.
But I've heard that Perodua will also give £1,000 cashback for the first few weeks to get us in the mood.
So under seven grand for a good-looking car, built in a factory shared with Toyota, which handles as well as a Yaris, does nearly 50mpg with a three-year warranty - yes please.
I just wish I could say the name.
THE RIVALS
Daihatsu Sirion
Similar car, different price. Is the badge worth paying extra for? £8,000
Suzuki Wagon R
Not pretty and starting to look dated. Reasonably well built. £7,999
Chevrolet Matiz
Cheap to buy and run, managing 50.4mpg. Proven reliability. £6,595
THE FACTS
Perodua Myvi
Five-door hatchback
Price:
£7,799 with £1,000 cashback
Engine: 1.3-litre, four cylinder, 86bhp
0 - 60mph: 11.3 seconds
Fuel consumption: 48.7mpg
LOSERS PAY
For the price of a new Myvi you can drive off many old bargains
Richard Hammond
"WHEN I was growing up, a new car was an incredible rarity. There was certainly never one on our street.
But today, cars like the Perodua Myvi - tested on the previous pages - mean that many more of us can have the pleasure of driving out of the showroom in a brand new motor.
But it also means many more of us will be hit with the mighty hammer of depreciation. The moment you leave the showroom, your new car's value is falling. Many people are happy to pay this price in return for the security and confidence of a new car with a manufacturer's warranty - but not everyone.
Why buy new when you can get more for your money if you buy secondhand? Of course, the older you go, the more you get, but the bigger the risks. So, here's a guide to how to win in the depreciation stakes. Just how much car can you get for the price of a new Myvi and is it worth the risk?
ONE YEAR OLD: RENAULT CLIO
IT doesn't have the space or versatility of the Myvi, but it's a chic and cool little French supermini with a great image. Renaults are not as fragile as French cars used to be and for this money, it should represent a safe buy. You'll even have some of the original manufacturer's warranty left to run.
CLASSIFIEDS: 1.4 DYNAMIQUE, 5,000 MILES, £7K
3 YEARS OLD: VAUXHALL ZAFIRA
NOW we're into MPV territory, albeit mini-MPV.
The Zafira, with its clever and super-versatile flat-folding rear seats, was king of the mini-MPV pile for a while and still makes for an excellent family car.
It may not be dripping with school-gate cred, but the kids will love being that bit higher up and the extra space will mean holidays and shopping trips can be coped with easily.
CLASSIFIEDS: 1.8 CLUB, 23,000 MILES, £7K
5 YEARS OLD: VW SHARAN
GET that bit older and you get that bit more. In comparison with the little Myvi, the full-size Sharan MPV is huge. You get seven seats and enough luggage space to live in it. It's not a bad thing to drive either, despite the size, and diesel versions, while not too quick, should return reasonable fuel economy if not in the same league as the frugal little Myvi. Remember, there are other costs in running a car, not just depreciation and if you're going to do high mileages, fuel economy is a big consideration.
CLASSIFIEDS: TDI SE, 64,000 MILES, £7,495
8 YEARS OLD: MERCEDES E-CLASS
CARRY the family in style. If you're happy to drive something a bit older, then there's no reason why it can't have a three-pointed star on the bonnet. Leather seats, air conditioning, you'll get the lot on a Merc, but you won't enjoy paying if things go wrong. By now, an E-Class will have shed a huge chunk of its value, which means not only do you get a bargain when you buy it, but it shouldn't lose a fortune when you sell it on. Insurance, fuel and servicing costs will be higher though, but when the man in the pub asks the owner of the Mercedes to move it, you won't feel embarrassed.
CLASSIFIEDS: E220 CDi, 92,000 MILES, £7,250"
END OF ARTICLE. What do you think of this article? Is it BETTER than Clarkson? Right to the point AND Less crapping right? Do give comments on this article.
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