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Are you about to buy your first car?
As students, getting a new car that can cost from RM30,000 and above isn’t a good idea. So, the best bet is to stick to used cars because they can range from a few thousand ringgit and above.
While getting a cheap used car sounds great, there are things we need to keep in mind before deciding. If you’re going to buy a car for RM15,000, you might feel like buying the best or most desirable car that you can get in that budget! But wait…..
DO NOT do that! Keep in mind that as students, the priority should be reliability, affordability as well as durability.
Manual Transmission or Automatic Transmission?
It is best to go for something simple and reliable. In the RM15,000 price range, you should avoid automatic cars.
Yes, it sounds like a bummer to some if you don’t enjoy shifting gears during a traffic jam in the city. Alternatively, a 4-speed automatic or 3-speed automatic transmission like some Japanese brands or even Protons can be great.
Generally, manual cars are simpler and they last longer than automatic gearboxes. Particularly, CVT transmission that is more than 5 years old usually feels jerky and a little broken. Which usually lead to more repairs over time.
On the other hand, 4-speed automatic or 3-speed automatic transmissions, especially Japanese ones are more reliable and the safest move if the manual transmission is not an option for you.
Which Engine Displacement is the best?
As far as engine displacement is concerned, it is better not to get a used car that has high displacements. Since budget is always the main constraint as a student, engine displacements of a maximum of 1.6 and not higher is the best choice.
Choosing a car with big engine displacement such as a 2.0 car sounds very tempting right? Since we’re dealing with used cars, it might seem like a good idea. imagine getting a used BMW with a 2.0 engine, which will boost up your ‘street reputation’ when you drive to campus.
Why not get a cooler used car that cost lower than a Proton Persona? Here’s the catch! These large displacement cars usually come with higher road tax as well as maintenance costs. So the extra money you spent on these can be used to repair your car OR make a minor modification for comfort.
Used import cars that are durable from the 1990s!
Cars like 90s Mazda, Peugeot, or other German cars can be found still on the road in Malaysia. Additionally, it can be bought for a very cheap price as a student. They are also durable, simple mechanical design and they can bring us to campus daily.
So what is wrong with getting these cars? Keep in mind that, if the car is cheap, it is cheap for a reason!
Some cars are dirt cheap because most buyers/market thinks the car is hard to maintain. Accessible spare parts are the common problem with cars in this category. You should get cars that are relatively common whereby the spare parts are readily available. Else, you will be stuck with having a car that isn’t functioning just to wait for spare parts to arrive.
The general guide is to get a car model which is relatively common. So that spare parts are readily available in the market to avoid wasting too much time
Here are some of the cars below RM15,000 you may look at as a student:
- Proton Wira
- Perodua Kelisa
- Saga
- Perodua Myvi (first generation)
Always remember your priority! Don’t waste money!
Try not to worry too much about the paintings on the second hand car you are going to buy as a student. You should not bother too much with getting nice rims or tyres of your car. As long as they are functional, it’s good enough to ferry you to campus.
Don’t spend unnecessarily on aesthetic modification, but only affordability, durability and reliability!
Check out more Automotive tips here!
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