Car advice

[Hitman]

think honda is still quite reliable & u can find plenty of parts. but dun think u can find good value coe cars of that year. most of the them in used car mkt now are those whose coe renewed to 8/2011, at $18444. these cars got not parf & paper value is just dependent on coe rebate, which by now, shd be around $9k.

 

yet, u'll not find any such cars selling at close to paper value. most of them asking for abt $22k. u can probably negotiate down to $20k. if u go by linear deprn, yes, its quite affordable cos its probably less than $4k/yr. but do u think u can drive all the way til 2011? if not, then when u sell, those dealers will chiak u at paper value! then how much wld u lose? plenty!!

 

if that's the case, its not worth to buy, how can these dealers survive? answer very simple. for each car they chiak at paper value, but mark up according to annualized deprn of $4.5k. so they make ard 8-10k for each sale. they can afford to wait for some greenhorn 1st timer, to buy..by convincing him how low his deprn, how low the loan he can get, how low insurance, etc..

 

if u really interested in coe cars, go find one whose coe not renewed til 8/2011. very hard to find, but if can find, at least better protection.

[Hitman]

since they so yah-yah, let them wait out lor..when new car prices drop further, then see who has last laugh.. to me, these used car dealers are simply greedy..& they're playing with fire.

 

Personally, I feel that with so much changes to the new car market these days ... these used car dealers are still sticking to their old-brand sales tactics when new 1.5 & 1.6 litre cars were selling at 78K and above.

 

To a greenhorn (like you say ) who knows nothing ... its a web of lies that they will fall for. However those with cars more or less know better.

[Hitman]

Thks Bro,

 

In this case ,which year used car should i look up,izit 2001,2002 or 2003 type better? or year 98-99 type?.i m narrowing down to Honda Civic & Mitsubishi Lancer.

 

BR

Ed

 

Buy Mazda lar ... better still buy mine

 

S$37K .... paper value

 

Want or not ?? Very high paper value

 

Fully agent maintained

 

Got Mazdaspeed sticker to add 50 bhp

 

Yr 99 .... no problems at all

 

FC = 13.8 - 14.5 km/l

 

Manual ... lagi shiok

 

Car name : TarzanBoy

[DarkLord]

hi bro,

 

In this case ,which year used car should i look up,izit 2001,2002 or 2003 type better? or year 98-99 type?.i m narrowing down to Honda Civic & Mitsubishi Lancer.

 

BR

Ed

You still want to get used car?

[Looneytune]

well Gdi engine is notorious for buiding up carbon. so its advisable to get it clean up after running every 40000km. once cleaned up, u'll find the the engine's power is improved. stamford tyres offering a package to clean up speed carbon in the engine for only $70. only their HQ in jurong lokyang way has that equipment.

 

as for the engine oil part, so far i've not had any trouble with topping up engine oil. u may wanna check if there is a leak. if the engine is vibrating badly, u may wanna check if the engine mount have worn out.

 

as for the transmission, yeah u won't feel it changing cos it does not use gears. the lancer was the 1st generation cars using CVT (way before nissan & company). CVT uses pulley system & the beautiful part of it is that u won't feel the changing of gears.

 

there's alot of complaints abt lancer transmission giving problem. think pple do mitsubishi plenty of injustice, cos the chief culprit of spoiling the CVT is when we send the car for maintenance. alot of wksp fellas are ignorant and simply top up the transmission with normal ATF. that will spoil the CVT cos they use another type of fluid. u try doing that to nissan's CVT & it'll be gone too.

 

when i go for servicing at comfort, i either tell them not to touch the CVT & bring the car separately to any stamford tyres service ctr, to get them to flush the right type of CVT fluid; or bring along my own CVT fluid for them to top up. for flushing, i usually do every 20000km or abt once a year. stamford charges $100 for CVT flushing of mit cars.

Edited January 28, 2005 by Looneytune

[Looneytune]

[reply]

Civic and Lancer is using the CVT transmission, repairing the gearbox is a headache unless still under warranty and is a manual car. [reply]

 

 

when lancer 1st came out with CVT tranny, it recieved alot of flak for transmission problems. the main trouble lies with ignorant wksp fellas, who simply topped up the transmission with normal ATF. that will spoil the CVT cos they use special cvt fluid. overtime, the tranny is gone!

 

now with CVT becoming more popular & available in most car makes, maintenance fellas now shd be able to differentiate what transmission fluid to use for which type of cars.

[Schneider79]

it all comes down to budget. but for your case, budget is not a problem. 20k to play around? get an used Mazda 3.... new one 70+, used and less than 1 year... maybe you can get 65-73 depend on which model.

 

Civic and Lancer is using the CVT transmission, repairing the gearbox is a headache unless still under warranty and is a manual car.

 

If get lancer, find the new model and best is Sports Edition or at least an Elegant model. 2 airbags is safer than 1.

If civic, get the new face-lifted civic, next time want to sell also easier.

 

was thinking about the ES8 (2001-2003) civic but scared of the cvt. heard so much problems about it leh. somemore if no warranty, KM wont repair for u for free...sianz...

 

hahahah no choice... i got 1 manual...

[Schneider79]

your car can scrap !!!!! the monthly installment you're giving can buy new car!!!! 2l somemore !!!!

[Hitman]

Dun poison me lar ... I wanna change to Kelisa Super duper downgrade

[7seater]

For used car, if Honda Civic is too costly to own, then you can also consider Honda City Vtec (2G). Engine same as the EG oe EK. I have driven this car for 5 years and is trouble free. Although is Thailand assembled. If you do not mine. Bottom line you have to consider the depreciation amount you are going to loose annually prior scrap or paper value. Because most 2nd hand cars, dealers will only offer paper value when you want to sell. Getting used car better send to a thorough inspection by inspection cnetres to avoid major repair before deciding. Although it does not guarantee after inspection your used cars is trouble free. But it helps to reduce.

 

For new car, you need to choose wisely now. because the scrap or paper value is very low. Once you have committed, you have to keep your ride for about5 years or more. Depending on your loan to break even. Other you depreciation will be very great. Of course, those saleman will show you the over 10 years depreciation period and always looks low and attractive. Most Singaporeans will not keep their ride for 10 full years. Especially when trouble start coming and repair become a hassle. you need a ride ro service you and not the other way round. Always down on the road and workshop.

[Schneider79]

downagrade???? dun like tat leh...

 

now is the best time to upgrade... for those people who are middle-class high income is the best time to change cars...

[Looneytune]

how's ur hunt for a mpv? my friend, one of the samba boys (he not regular) just got a 2 y/o nissan praire for 62k. annual deprn ard 6k. not bad, very spacious, CVT, & power alright leh..

 

can pump ron92 somemore (aiyah..forgot u patronize MLand one, so cost saving not really applicable for u). think i'll get a praire too if my fmy size go up..

[Porker]

Your Tarzanboy got your bang pui inside lah.. No good No good

 

Edited January 28, 2005 by Brandonsoh

[Hitman]

... upgrade = new loan = very very scared liao

 

Now my car is worth more than my loan by about 8K plus .... feel quite safe. Like the feeling that if anything happens, I still get money from the car

[Hitman]

Not looking no more ... period for now.

 

Thinking of going the co-op scheme, so i'll rent an MPV whenever I need it as most of the time .... I can be moving around in a Kelisa

[Hitman]

Good dah .... psst psst

 

Waaaaahhhhh ... such a shiok feeling. The louder the sound .... the bigger the boost

[Ah_benz]

Looney. Thanks For your such detailed explaination. ChEers

[Mivec9]

u can bargain to $16k & they LL oso gotta contemplate selling.

 

and if they come down to that price level, i dun mind getting one such ride, as a 2nd car for the fmy. my wifey can drive my current ride, i make do with a old trusty honda civic to wk, jus a few clicks down e road.

 

I am also waiting for that day to come...heh heh, then everyone can afford a no-frill car coe car liao.