Buying My First Car (300-400k budget)

[trann123]

Hi, Tsikot fam! I'm planning on buying a new car this month or early next year. This will be my first car if ever and I still don't know how to drive.

My budget is somewhere around 300-400k and I'm planning to finance an older generation car from dealers instead of blowing my budget one time. Once I get my driving skills a bit better, I'll probably sell off this car after financing it and get a newer one.

I live in Baguio City and the car will be used as a daily driver and weekly out of towns (Manila and nearby provinces). I'm a single 25 yr old dude so porma is also a plus but not a priority.

My question is, what car should I be looking at for this task? (Currently I'm considering a Civic FB)

PS. Just so you won't get confused, the 300-400k budget is my budget allotted for the downpayment + the first year or two of financing the car. I'm thinking of financing the car no longer than two years.

[wakoko79]

Hi, I'm also planning to buy my 1st car.
I was researching for around 2 months now. Here are some prices from personal sellers.
Honda city 2012(prev. gen) 1.3s matic: ~360k-400k
City 2012 manual: ~330k

Toyota vios 2014(cur. gen) 1.3e matic: ~410k-450k
Vios 2014 1.3e manual ~380k

Honda civic fd 2010 1.8s matic: ~330k-370k

You can also go for hyundai accent, mirage g4, they are cheaper.

Personally I'm gunning for honda city 2014-2016 matic(500k~550k). I like the current gen jazz but it is too expensive.
Anybody here who can tell me the differences in variants and release years? I have an idea, but not sure.
I'm not sure wheter to get a city 2014/2015 vx or 2016 e.
Their price is from 500k to 550k.
Any inputs?

[benchph1]

For the City, here is what i can share:

2009-2013 "GM" City

3 Variants:

1.3 A
- Bare Model
- No Keyless Entry
- Hubcaps
- 1 Din Head Unit

1.3 S
- Alloy Wheels
- Keyless Entry
- Premium Head Unit

1.5 E
- 1.5 Engine
- Alloy Wheels (Different Design)
- Center Console with Armrest
- Rear Disc Brakes
- Side Mirror mounted Turn Signal lights
- Tail Pipe Finisher
- Front Foglights

Minor Facelift for 2011 Model Year

- New Front & Rear Bumpers
- New Wheel Design for all models
- New Tail Light Design
- New Instrument Panel Design
- Audio Controls on Steering Wheel (1.5 E Only)
- New Body Colors

2014-Present "GM6" City

1.5 A
1.5 E
1.5 VX
1.5 VX+

I own a "GM" 1.3S city kaya saulo ko features across all the trim levels. Yun sumunod na generation, di na ako masyadong familiar.

[jut703]

Specs for older models available here:
motioncars.com | Honda City (29 - Current)

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[NiCe2KnowU]

100k nalang kulang mo para maging 500k makakabili kana ng brand new mirage hatchback, mas relax kaya magdrive ng bago kaysa second hand..

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[trann123]

100k nalang kulang mo para maging 500k makakabili kana ng brand new mirage hatchback, mas relax kaya magdrive ng bago kaysa second hand..

Sent from my POCOPHONE F1 using Tapatalk

Really? I always thought na for newbie drivers, second hand is the way to go.

[dr. d]

Really? I always thought na for newbie drivers, second hand is the way to go.

hard enough to learn how to drive.
do we have to worry and get distracted when the second hand car mal-functions?
heh heh.

[wakoko79]

hard enough to learn how to drive.
do we have to worry and get distracted when the second hand car mal-functions?
heh heh.

Sabi naman sakin, ok 2nd hand less than 5 years old, less than 50k km traveled.

For me naman, I would like my 1st car to last. So yung gusto ko na talaga na car sana.

Mas worth it ba ang bnew mirage hb kesa sa 2014 city vx kung reliability usapan?

Kasi kung porma at space practicality, laki ng lamang ng city sa mirage.

[chronicle]

^
Go for the 2nd hand city.
Drive, space, and ergonomics is better.

But if the 2nd hand car you are looking for is more than 10yrs old, then that is the time to think about getting a bnew instead.

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[dr. d]

Sabi naman sakin, ok 2nd hand less than 5 years old, less than 50k km traveled.

For me naman, I would like my 1st car to last. So yung gusto ko na talaga na car sana.

Mas worth it ba ang bnew mirage hb kesa sa 2014 city vx kung reliability usapan?

Kasi kung porma at space practicality, laki ng lamang ng city sa mirage.

if you can afford brand new, then go for brand new.
but if you can not afford new,then you have no choice but to get a used car.

my feeling is,
money-wise, getting a brand new car and banging it around and fixing it, ... is still cheaper than getting a used car, banging it around, then selling it once "you have learned how to drive" and getting that new car.

but i agree,
there are many used cars out there that are good buys in every sense of the word.
one just has to choose wisely.

but this is just me.