Buying a brand new car with 900k+ budget

[powerfox]

Hi tsikoters! I would just like to have your opinions. Our family is planning to buy a car for everyday use. We already have an SUV so we're eyeing for a compact or a subcompact car right now since we are only 4 in the family. Btw, all of us are already on our late teens (just to give you a background haha).

Our priorities are comfort and fuel economy. We can maybe also add looks. We live in Batangas, so traffic isn't really an issue. The car will be mostly used on the highway. Also, my parents prefer A/T transmission.

Toyota Vios is already excluded on the list since we already had that before. As of now, we're looking at the Honda City 1.5E. So, do you have any suggestions? We have a budget of up to 950k. But if you have suggestions that will be worth around 800k, its okay.

We may also consider the Elantra 1.6. However, we don't like its front end. But if performance is promising, they we might really have to consider that one. Altis 1.6V is fine but they say its 4-speed A/T transmission is a big turn off; and my parents don't really like its exterior.

If you have suggestions, feel free to add them down. If you also have a list of pros and cons there, it will be a big help to us. So what's the best bang for the buck? Looking forward to your opinions. Thank you fellow tsikoters!

[renzo_d10]

Di naman ata kelangan malaki space kasi may SUV na kayo

Pwede na Honda Jazz or Mazda 2 or Fiesta

Ok naman yung City 1.5E, drove one before... 10.1km/L hataw driving (based on instant fuel consumption meter)

[powerfox]

Basta malaki yung leg room, okay na. Thanks sir Renzo, will consider the Mazda 2 and Honda Jazz.

[powerfox]

Btw, according to my cousin who owns a Fiesta, hindi raw siya ganun ka-fuel efficient. Not sure how true though.

[GTi]

Elantra 1.6? Since 950k naman budget mo, pwede na Elantra 1.8. If you find the 1.6's performance promising, OK na OK na to sayo. Multi-awarded pa here and overseas. With your usage, a car with a bigger engine would be more fuel efficient for you since you will mostly be driving it in higher speeds.

[SiRbossR]

If you're considering the Fiesta, also consider the Suzuki Swift. It's quick!!!

[powerfox]

Actually we're considering Suzuki Swift din. But the thing is yung fuel efficiency niya, maintenance and reliability? Okay din kaya? Kung sa porma, gusto namin siya. But reliability and prolly resale value might be an issue

[renzo_d10]

Namamahalan ako sa Swift, pero maganda eh. Resale value is fair enough, tignan mo nalang mga lumang Swift ang mamahal pa.

Reliability, should be worry free the next 5-6 years or before 80k kms at least.

Highway driving naman eh, mas less stress sa engine compared pag city.

After-sales support sabi nila pangit daw, yung iba sabi nila ok naman. Guess it depends kung anong CASA

[powerfox]

Napaisip talaga ako sa Swift. Kung looks ang pag-uusapan, 'yan na panigurado pipiliin namin. Yung reliability lang talaga. Pero I guess I'll do more research about that issue. So sa ngayon, medyo we're eyeing on City 1.5E, Swift and Elantra 1.6/1.8.

City - P836,000
Swift - P779,000
Elantra - P888,000 or P958,000

Question lang po, anu-ano ang differences ng 1.6A/T sa 1.8A/T na Elantra aside sa power. Is it worth the almost 70k difference?

[SiRbossR]

I don't think it's overpriced. parang tama lang pricing niya at 760,000php (+,-).

*Renzo: Tulin noh? hirap nga habulin sa highway eh. imagine, 94HP lang. Matipid din daw eh.

[jut703]

Comfort and fuel economy?

Altis 1.6G A/T. Wala pang 900k. Easily matches and even beats the City 1.5E in terms of fuel economy. Very comfy too - maganda seats and maganda ride.

Or Elantra 1.6 GL - yun lang I find the exterior bare so kung kukuha ako nito, magpapalit akong rims at maglalagay ng fogs.

[powerfox]

Tiningnan namin yung Chevrolet Cruze sa casa sa Makati. Nagandahan kami sa porma, and sa interior. For me, maluwag yung loob niya. This car really had me thinking. Ang chineck namin ay yung 1.8 LS A/T which costs around P963,888. What can you say about Cruze? Okay din kaya in terms of reliabiliy and performance?

[RazorWolf]

Bookmarked! I'm on the same boat as Sir powerfox. I'm also looking to buy a brand new car for less than 1 million.

[mda]

Tiningnan namin yung Chevrolet Cruze sa casa sa Makati. Nagandahan kami sa porma, and sa interior. For me, maluwag yung loob niya. This car really had me thinking. Ang chineck namin ay yung 1.8 LS A/T which costs around P963,888. What can you say about Cruze? Okay din kaya in terms of reliabiliy and performance?

Review by Niky

Performance of the A/T not so good according to the review.

Reliability should be okay but is still difficult to gauge in the long term as the platform hasn't been around for very long.

[jut703]

You want a comfortable car? Skip the Cruze and get the Altis 1.6V. Never mind that it only has a 4-speed AT - it's still a better transmission than the Cruze's 6-AT. More gears doesn't necessarily equate to a better tranny.

FC disparity is quite significant (1.5-2 km/L) in favor of the Altis.

Personally though, if you can't get your hands on a sub-1M Focus TDCi (discounted na since new model is coming), I'd suggest the Elantra GLS. Lots of space, good looks, great engine and transmission, commendable handling, decent features. Only gripe is that dealer support is a bit substandard.

[Starex_Gold]

Nasa 1.015M parin yung Focus TDCi after discount.

[renzo_d10]

Matulin yan, lalo na kung Manual pa. Sobra sobra yung 94hp sa liit nya.

Matipid naman yan kasi sa highway daw gagamitin parati eh, enjoy pa kasi pagopen ng road alam na

[powerfox]

Pero what if A/T po na Swift? Matulin din po kaya? Gusto rin sana namin manual but my parents are insisting on an A/T transmission kasi sumasakit na raw tuhod nila minsan. Haha. Medyo hesitant lang din kami sa Swift e kasi parang hirap din humanap ng parts if ever masira.

[renzo_d10]

Mahirap Din naman maghanap ng parts ng Elantra sa labas. Siguro pinakamadali nalang would be Hondas tapos yun suzuki then hyundai

[TholitzReloaded]

I'd go for the Ford Fiesta, based on topgears review as good as the honda jazz, fun to drive and fuel efficient too.