Buying new Family Car: Need Advice

[xerex]

Hi,

I am new here and this is my first post. I just like to seek some advice from you guys and gals.

We are planning to buy our first family car. The problem is I don't know anything about cars, so I hope you can help me get the best one out there. Since it's a family car I was leaning toward the starex, however after reading some positive feedback about the montero, now I am considering it too. Also, I would like to know the others that you can suggest.

Can you please help me choose the right one. The car should be spacious, the riding experience should be great, also I need to know about the maintenance, which has a higher resale value just in case I want to sell and of course which one is the safest to drive..

Thanks in advance.

[renzo_d10]

Maybe aside from the details you have stated, you could also state the number of passengers seating, the usual route and of course the maximum budget.

For the meantime, here are the answer to your queries.

The car should be spacious .

-> The Grand Starex seats more, whichever variant it may be.

The riding experience should be great .

-> You couldn't expect something greater than the Starex except from it's other competitors. The Montero in this case, is not one of the Starex's competitor.

I need to know about the maintenance .

-> Maintenance I believe is cheaper with the Starex. Both however has the same PMS intervals -, 5,000km.

Higher Resale Value .

-> The Montero, I think is higher than the Starex, though the difference isn't that far.

Which one is the safest to drive .

-> The only answer I could tell is, always drive safe. Because, whichever car you drive ... if you're really fast and hit a barrier, even those airbags wouldn't help.

[xerex]

Thanks renzo_d10 for thie quick response... We are now leaning towards the starex. We'll be visiting honda and toyota today... so I hope we can get the right car for us.

thanks a lot.

[renzo_d10]

^ Honda and Toyota ? For what ? The CR-V and the Fortuner ?

If so, the CRV is a great pick. The Fortuner is not, as in .

Or, maybe you're just mistaken about the brands ?

[xerex]

We looked at the Toyota Innova and Honda CRV. My wife like the Innova more. It has
more seats in case me gusto sumama sa amin when we go out of town.. We will check other brands in the coming days and hopefully by the end of this month we can buy one already.

I am still looking for inputs so I would like to ask again.. I know this two cars are different, the Starex and Innova but what I want to know is the engine.. which do you prefer? Talaga po bang me problema sa D4D engine? How about sa engine po ng starex, wala po ba problema?

Thanks again.

[xerex]

Sorry for the double post.. I'm having problems with my network connections.

[xerex]

Sorry for the triple post.

[chie_ph]

I'm considering the Nissan Grand Livina. Seats five with capacity for another 2.. total of three rows. Pretty.

Look at the GL thread for information.. or better yet, visit the dealer and do a test drive.

Good thing to do it over the weekend.. there's CNY and Vday freebies I heard.

[jozef_10]

if you'll go for the innova, get the gas variant for peace of mind. if you want diesel, the starex or montero will do.

[number001]

We looked at the Toyota Innova and Honda CRV. My wife like the Innova more. It has
more seats in case me gusto sumama sa amin when we go out of town..

While the Innova has more seats, the CRV is more comfortable and spacious if you only need 4 to 5 passengers plus the ample cargo space.

. I know this two cars are different, the Starex and Innova but what I want to know is the engine.. which do you prefer? Talaga po bang me problema sa D4D engine? How about sa engine po ng starex, wala po ba problema?

Thanks again.

Hyundai has the better performing engine and it is reliable, unlike the D-4D which has had unresolved problems (ie. choking, stalling, unusual black smoke, etc..) all the way back in 2005 when it first came out. AFAIK, Hyundai uses Bosch, which has proven to be reliable.

[xerex]

Thank you guys for all your response..

number001.. thanks, you really provided some good feedback for me. Now we're 90% sure on the starex.. One more question though.

How do I know I am getting the latest 2010 model. How can I easily recognize it?

Thanks again.

[renzo_d10]

^ There's nothing much of a change on the 2009 model vs. the 2010 model. Well, that's what I know, to the least.

You can know them when you have received the OR/CR of the vehicle. It should say 2010 Hyundai Grand Starex etc. etc.

-

Avoid the D4D Innova's first. It is know to be suckish vs. other diesel-fed vehicles. The Innova only seats 7 and with ample space for some baggage. With you considering the starex, you might be needing a vehicle that seats 9 or more. An SUV or a CUV cannot give you that. ;)

However, if you don't really need a large seating capacity. The Santa Fe will be perfect. Car-like ride with superb engine performance. Remember, it uses the modern CRDi technology, which has been proven to be reliable and strong.

[number001]

To check when a vehicle was produced, look for the production stamp usually located inside the engine bay or etc... Never believe what the agent or dealer says, unless they can actually show you the actual production stamp.

Whether its the Innova or Starex, there is always a compromise bet. ferrying passengers or carrying cargoes. Can't have both. After all, none of them are in the capacity as the Expedition EL or Suburban.

The last passenger row of the Starex is disturbingly close to the rear hatch door (imagine a big truck ramming all passenger's head....). As for the Innova, even if all rows are occupied, there is a small space left at the back (enough for small grocery bags, or three school age backpacks) .

[xerex]

Thanks for the reply renzo_d10 and number001, I really appreciate it.

renzo_d10, you said santa fe uses modern CRDi technology, doesn't the starex use the CRDi as well?

As for the seating capacity, we are really looking for more space.. but we don't really need it. We're only 4 in the family.. however when we go out we usually bring along our relatives so the extra seats are for them.. but if we can't find any good van, we can go for SUVs..

number001, about the production stamp, will i see the date of production there? I mean an actual date or is it just a code where only the agent can understand..

[Starex_Gold]

xerex, anong variant ba ng Starex ang kukunin mo? GLS VGT or GLS TCi?

yung GLS VGT, yan ang state-of-the-art CRDi technology ng Hyundai. binili nila sa BMW ang technology na iyan.

if GLS VGT ang kukunin mo, suggestion ko lang sa PITSTOP Motors ka na bumili, less for more. meaning less price but more features. mahirap i explain eh. meron tayo dalawang version ng Grand Starex dito, yung HARI at yung Parallel/ grey market.

yung production date makikita mo yun sa hood at sa window ng Starex naka lagay ata dun sa sliding door.

please join us at http://hyundaiautoclubph.proboards.com/index.cgi

may thread dyan about HARI version & Grey market version ng Grand Starex

[meledson]

kung starex, better get the one with crdi and vgt.

powerfull engine pero matipid.