First Car for a new lady driver :)

[olm093]

Hi guys! I might be getting a car around Feb or March next year. I only wish that it's easy to drive (and park!) and it has to be A/T. Mostly for city driving though from time to time NLEX/SCTEX when I go home to the province.

Since I'm getting it under my company's car plan, technically eh cash transaction 'to with the dealer so I'm expecting some discount. My budget is around 750k once net of the cash discount na.

I'm looking at Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2, Honda City, or maybe even Lancer GLS/GSX (basta not the EX). Which one is the easiest to drive (for novice driver) and maintain?

Some concerns:
1. Fiesta & 2, hindi ba sila mukhang toys? hehe. And pahirapan ba 'to sa parts?
2. Ung City naman ok sana but I feel over-priced cia? And honestly mukha ciang Transformer / Autobot. hehe.
3. Lancer, old body pero mukhang ok pa naman ito pag na-dress up?

TIA!

[desert fox]

Sub compact car, go for the Fiesta...Good for a lady driver like you...

[number001]

I'd recommend

Jazz 1.5 - Php 842,000
Jazz 1.3 - Php 782,000
City 1.3S - Php 771,000

If you really cannot do anything about the budget:

Vios 1.3E A/T - Php 720,000 - (I believe you can still get Php 20K-30K off this price).

==============

RE: Ford Fiesta

Despite what the fanboys (those who keep on pushing it on the other threads) say, this is not worth getting bec. it is too cramped (in terms of cargo, passenger space,etc) when compared to the competition. Want to be like Ken Block, requiring a car that handles like its on rails (again, in comparison to the competition) ? Then get the Fiesta. Everything else go for the competition, esp. the Jazz.

[tidus1203]

Vios ako kung new driver... Para di nakakahinayang kung nabanga hehehe

[desert fox]

sobra naman.... mag-2nd hand owner na lang kaya si sis.... jk.

[tidus1203]

Well its going to be a lot easier to repair just in case... Frankly every new driver will get into an accident sure yun... Bumps here, bumps there... Its just natural, I started with an old car myself...

[renzo_d10]

2nd hand automatic vios e or 2nd hand jazz.

Kung ayaw mo ng 2nd hand, vios e nalang din na brand new.

[jetrone]

Honda's are great cars, but they are overpriced and have fallen from innovation and design.

I would look at the Fiesta, Mazda 2, and new Accent, probably my top three choices.

If you really wanted Japanese reliability then a Vios is good enough.

I'm reposting again sir niky's excellent summary of the current subcompacts.

Originally Posted by niky

1. The Toyota Vios 1.3 E AT is a decent car if all you're looking for is point A to point B driving, and the 1.3 and 4-speed AT get the job done, if nothing else. Otherwise... at 720k, the same price as the Mazda2 sedan, you're getting a crummier interior, much less trunk space (much, much less... and no rear seat pass-through, to boot), worse dynamics, a flintier ride and cheap seats. It has about 10 millimeters more knee room in the back seats, a big deal if you wear knee pads, I suppose.

2. The Mazda2R hatchback is a wonderful car. Kind of bare for the price compared to the Fiesta, but about the only car in the class even remotely close to the Hondas in terms of interior quality. Decently roomy and much fun to drive (hell, much more fun than some sports cars). If there is a Mazda2 1.5 Sedan with an AT, that would be great. Most responsive to drive of the group with the best transmission.

3. The Honda City... best room, best materials, seats only so-so in terms of comfort. But expensive. Quite. The 1.3 is absolutely gutless when matched with the 5-speed AT, so I suppose you're asking about the 1.5. The 1.5 with the 5-speed is perfect for most uses and not much worse in terms of economy... the 1.3 is overworked by the long gears and heavy body and returns fuel economy similar to 1.5s.

4. The Lancer GLS is old. You won't quite get the same knee room or headroom as the newer subcompacts, but it'll have them beat on elbow room when sitting people three across.

-

The Fiesta Trend PS Sedan comes in at under 800k. The transmission is quirky, but it's got lots of power, fuel economy is similar to the 1.5 ATs (apparently, from reading the Fiesta threads... and, come on guys... the only 1.5 ATs in this class that were any good were the Honda CVTs, and those are gone. Finis. Kaput.), handling is better than the Jazz or even the Mazda2 (though the Mazda2 has better steering) and it's the most loaded. Trunk space is a very close second to the Honda City and interior space is actually slightly better than the Vios. Also mimics Honda's 10,000 km service interval, with cheaper servicing costs, supposedly.

Only big deal for the Fiesta, for me, is the interior plastics. A big letdown... but still better than the 1.3 Vios.

-

Oh... last word. These new small cars with automatics really aren't that fuel efficient in traffic. So you may think you're saving gas by going for a 1.3 AT, but you're just setting yourself up for frustration. Might as well stump up for a 1.5 AT if you really need a slushbox. Otherwise, stick to a manual transmission.

[olm093]

Actually, iniisip ko din na 2nd hand car - so as not to bear the cost of first year depreciation! Haha! I just don't know where to get a good one that's 3yrs old max.

I revisited the Vios sites kanina but nope, it really isn't working for me. Must be due to the million cab rides I've had, feeling ko lagi sa Vios taxi. No offense po sa mga may Vios, may stigma lang po talaga.

[desert fox]

oo nga sis, kuha ka muna ng maganda pang segunda manong sasakyan....kapag talagang bihasa ka na, then saka ka kumuha ng talagang bonggang bonggang sasakyan, maski Sta fe,Sorento o Fortuner pa yan...yakang yaka!!!

[renzo_d10]

Actually, iniisip ko din na 2nd hand car - so as not to bear the cost of first year depreciation! Haha! I just don't know where to get a good one that's 3yrs old max.

I revisited the Vios sites kanina but nope, it really isn't working for me. Must be due to the million cab rides I've had, feeling ko lagi sa Vios taxi. No offense po sa mga may Vios, may stigma lang po talaga.

Honda Jazz A/T.

[olm093]

oo nga sis, kuha ka muna ng maganda pang segunda manong sasakyan....kapag talagang bihasa ka na, then saka ka kumuha ng talagang bonggang bonggang sasakyan, maski Sta fe,Sorento o Fortuner pa yan...yakang yaka!!!

oo nga eh. sigurado namang mababangga ako. haha! i checked the buy and sell forums dito to get a feel of the prices, ung honda cars ang pinuntahan ko pero parang di na ata updated. As of June pa ung last thread. Deactivated na ba ung portal?

[nervenllarena]

Actually, iniisip ko din na 2nd hand car - so as not to bear the cost of first year depreciation! Haha! I just don't know where to get a good one that's 3yrs old max.

I revisited the Vios sites kanina but nope, it really isn't working for me. Must be due to the million cab rides I've had, feeling ko lagi sa Vios taxi. No offense po sa mga may Vios, may stigma lang po talaga.

medyo ot: ano naman ang stigma pag taxi? eh sa ibang bansa nga ang mga taxi eh mga mercedez benz at mga bmw mga pinoy nga naman oo

[kevin3000]

Vios sis the best kahit di ka newbie sa pagddrive game na game

[desert fox]

oo nga eh. sigurado namang mababangga ako. haha! i checked the buy and sell forums dito to get a feel of the prices, ung honda cars ang pinuntahan ko pero parang di na ata updated. As of June pa ung last thread. Deactivated na ba ung portal?

hehehe, tama nga lang ang second hand sa iyo sis...piliin mo yung me reverse sensor, jan kayo sure nahihirapan sa pag-atras, lalo na sa parking....tama?

Just make sure na di ondoy victim yung car....para wala kang masyadong sakit ng ulo....

[GulongGong]

medyo ot: ano naman ang stigma pag taxi? eh sa ibang bansa nga ang mga taxi eh mga mercedez benz at mga bmw mga pinoy nga naman oo

eto OT din..

bakit ba pag taxi ang napaguusapan lagi nalang may hihirit na kesyo "sa ibang bansa eh taxi lang ang ganito, ganyan...." eh SA IBANG BANSA nga yun eh, hindi dito sa Pilipinas! why keep comparing other countries eh sila duon may age limit ang sasakyan unlike dito satin eh sabi nga nila, isang kalawang nalang ang pipirma eh bumyabyahe parin sa kalsada.. and take note Passenger use pa yun ha.. wala namang bumibili ng sasakyan dito para dalin sa ibang bansa diba?

[j.caine]

medyo ot: ano naman ang stigma pag taxi? eh sa ibang bansa nga ang mga taxi eh mga mercedez benz at mga bmw mga pinoy nga naman oo

we're in the Philippines...

[afrasay]

medyo ot: ano naman ang stigma pag taxi? eh sa ibang bansa nga ang mga taxi eh mga mercedez benz at mga bmw mga pinoy nga naman oo

Makes me want to sell my E class hehehehehe...seriously, I think the reason why they use such vehicles as taxis is because of their fuel efficiency, reliablity and ease of maintenance.

[dr. d]

when your car model is a taxi favorite, you are guaranteed of cheap quality parts, good knowledgeable mechanics, a surety that your ride is of good quality, and the argueably true belief that you probably got the best car your money can buy..
if not, they would not have been made into taxis.
(those in the pharmaceutical business think the same..)

[olm093]

medyo ot: ano naman ang stigma pag taxi? eh sa ibang bansa nga ang mga taxi eh mga mercedez benz at mga bmw mga pinoy nga naman oo

wala naman po in terms of performance, economy, etc. ung feeling lang. kasi ciempre it's my own car na, pag nasa loob ako gusto ko ramdam ko ung difference vs. kapag naka-taxi ako. hehe.

pero come to think of it, ung mga taxi cars (Vios, Accent, etc) ok din. Pag kailangan ko na palitan, hindi mawawalang ng market na pwede bentahan. kung wala man private owner, anjan naman lagi ang mga operators.