Buying a new family car

[bslee]

Maybe people steal the car to do "big business" as the car is powerful and tougher than the potong patrol car !!

i would think they prefer either fast nippy 2 wheelers or if big car..big 4WD and turbo diesel...1 tankful can get to Thailand. Patrol car can smash into them no harm..the 4WD bigger mah..

[cml]

Actually in bolehland, the most value for money vehicles are the pick ups because they dont attract some duties which makes passenger cars more expensive. If you can live with their size and the fact they run on diesel, the prices are relatively cheaper.

[Henry T]

Actually in bolehland, the most value for money vehicles are the pick ups because they dont attract some duties which makes passenger cars more expensive. If you can live with their size and the fact they run on diesel, the prices are relatively cheaper.

You are right. And since it has a green diesel engine it enjoys a 50% discount on the road tax. This means it has the same road tax as a petrol vehicle with the same engine capacity.

I thought of buying one but the size put me off. I guess with some practice it should be OK. Having a diesel engine is not a deal breaker for me. I just have to remember not to pump in petrol by mistake.

[Greenwich]

.... Having a diesel engine is not a deal breaker for me. I just have to remember not to pump in petrol by mistake.

With the introduction of unleaded petrol, the inlet diameter of the fill pipe of vehicle tank has been designed with a smaller diameter to prevent accidentally filling a tank with an incompatible fuel. This means the nozzle diameter of the petrol pump is getting smaller also.

The nozzle of diesel pump is supposed to be larger so that it cannot fit into the fill pipe on a vehicle tank designed for petrol. However, the larger diameter diesel nozzle is not a complaince/requirement, and many diesel pumps have been fitted with standard petrol nozzles.

Just make sure you are not color-blind as different fuel has different color code…

[Henry T]

..........
Just make sure you are not color-blind as different fuel has different color code…

We are human. Our mind is always working, thinking and frequently preoccupied even when we are doing something else. Then shit happens.

[bslee]

We are human. Our mind is always working, thinking and frequently preoccupied even when we are doing something else. Then shit happens.

Yup!.it works in mysterious ways too.. Like it takes 1-2 secs to firmly decide and buy a huge lot of shares from some unassured or unverified tip off and take months to replace a failing or aged home fridge, air-con, or something the wife ask to replace at home.. amazing!

[Jennylim]

a Toyota Avanza,it virtually a trouble free car with a 1.5l engine that can bring your family outstation . I hv mine for 9 yrs and hv gone 200k km just only change fan belt and brake pad only.

Wow, really reliable! I have tried Wish and thought it was very uncomfortable, so I sort of assume any other MPV in the same or lower range would not be comfortable.

Camry is not bad actually, spacious and more comfortable(for back seat passengers) than BMW 5 series and 3 series(except 328), but I have driven car with better safety features. Naturally, want to look for something better.

[Jennylim]

Joke aside, since you highlighted comfort and safety and this two requirements are for 5 persons inside a vehicle, I believe you don't have many choices lah..

I think so, I have tried the following vehicles before
Wish – too bumpy, uncomfortable
Serena - too bumpy, uncomfortable
Passat CC – steady, nice, if I am not mistaken, very little headroom
C Class – not enough headroom
E Class – the car bottom too low, easily hits the speed bumps
BMW – the middle seat at the back is uncomfortable
Q5 – very light and easy to drive, back seat not so comfortable
Evoque – not enough headroom
A4 – too small

When budget allows, purely from the perspective of safety and comfort, get a continental car for long distance travel.

It helps to reduce driving stress and there is a lot of difference in road handling and stability during heavy rain on the highway, not to mention the higher safety standard of the conti car..

Agreed.

[Jennylim]

why don't you consider the VW tiguan price is below rm180k. I drove my dad tiguan before and it's very practical, comfortable and great to drive. It's suit perfectly for families.

Never tried before, will go for a test drive one of these days.

[Jennylim]

To give you a meaningful x% and y%... I think you would have to tell us your earning and saving.. !!

As I was trying to figure out a budget, some questions cross my mind, what is prudent spending? Our friends spend something less than 3% of their worth(what we can see only lah) in car, we are not rich, so if we spend more to get a good car, isn't it too ostentatious? The financial planner will advice you how much you need to save from your monthly income for old age/investment, wonder if there is such thing as try not to spend more than x % of saving on car.

[cml]

Maybe you should go and have a look at the new mondeo. or the infinity q50

[Greenwich]

As I was trying to figure out a budget, some questions cross my mind, what is prudent spending? Our friends spend something less than 3% of their worth(what we can see only lah) in car, we are not rich, so if we spend more to get a good car, isn't it too ostentatious? The financial planner will advice you how much you need to save from your monthly income for old age/investment, wonder if there is such thing as try not to spend more than x % of saving on car.

When I was in the mid 30s and I could actually afford a flamboyant car, I was contemplated just like you whether it was an ostentatious move. Questions like future retirement fund, healthcare protection, kid's education fee, parents' medical expenses, etc. are good excuses of not doing what I wanted to do...

Actually, one does not need to worry too much. There is always not enough in the planning of retirement money, you tend to add a new target after old target has reached. Just make sure healthcare is taken care by adequate insurance and set aside a reasonable sum for kid's education, the rest of the money should be spent NOW for things that you like to do and things you want to have.

Don't just plan for the last few years of life..

[Greenwich]

If you happen to decide on Infiniti, you can pm me.

I know someone there who sold me a car before. He is a good salesman, excellent in customer service.

[lly]

For cars I tend to think that installments should be 3-4 years only. If you need to stretch the payment tenure to be comfortable with the monthly installments, the car may be too expensive.