Getting my first car. Need help!

[kablitz]

Hi,

I'm going to buy my first car on July or August this year. I have not driven a car before, but I will be enrolling in a driving school next month. I have a few questions for the more experienced people here.

Given that I will be a neophyte driver, should I buy brand new or used? If I get a brand new car, I will be worry-free for the next few years but I'll be shouldering the depreciation. If I get a used car, I'm planning on buying one of the newer models (say, 2010?) and save myself a lot cash so I can start saving up for a house. I can drop around 500k in cash for this purchase. If I get a brand new one, I'll be having the rest financed.

Also, what models would you recommend? I'm eyeing the Lancer EX for the looks but I'm also considering a Honda City Modulo Ed. for the FC.

Please help out a newbie. Thanks!

[jhnkvn]

Hi,

I'm going to buy my first car on July or August this year. I have not driven a car before, but I will be enrolling in a driving school next month. I have a few questions for the more experienced people here.

Given that I will be a neophyte driver, should I buy brand new or used? If I get a brand new car, I will be worry-free for the next few years but I'll be shouldering the depreciation. If I get a used car, I'm planning on buying one of the newer models (say, 2010?) and save myself a lot cash so I can start saving up for a house. I can drop around 500k in cash for this purchase. If I get a brand new one, I'll be having the rest financed.

Also, what models would you recommend? I'm eyeing the Lancer EX for the looks but I'm also considering a Honda City Modulo Ed. for the FC.

Please help out a newbie. Thanks!

How's your background? 20s? 30s? Single? Or with nine illegitimate children? :naughty2:

CASA "souped-up" models are more expensive than simply looking for the parts outside and having them installed.

[Mikemike07]

the lancer ex is significantly more spacious except sa trunk space. the base model is quite loaded compared to other compacts. you get a touch screen display thats gps ready and may good news pa about this. you can buy a cheap micro sd card, download the files in the net and the gps will be fully functional with voice assistance. micro sd card nalang gagastusan mo. 200-300 pesos lang compared sa casa na 6k. the city is more fuel efficient though being a smaller car. also, in terms of reliability toyota and honda are on top. but mitsu is a good name too so no need to worry. its not a china car.

if i were to get the city, i wouldnt get the modulo variant. ive seen one in person and i think it looks bad. better to keep it bare stock nalang. but if you really want some modifications on the exterior, have it done by aftermarket shops. yung modulo ed ng honda +60k sa 1.5L variant eh. luging lugi ka talaga.

between the two, id pick the lancer ex. but both cars are good. its just that you get more bang for the buck sa lancer ex. when i bought mine may -26k discount for the A/T and -50k++ for the M/T. so ang lumalabas 778k for the manual 829k for the automatic. balita ko the discounts are even bigger now. in terms of fuel consumption its one of the better ones in its segment. power isnt disappointing either. consider the accent crdi and the elantra rin. happy shopping.

[leodawesome]

How much would be your budget if you go brand new? Sedan lang ba ang choice mo or would you consider getting a bigger car?

[Horsepower]

Since this is your first time to drive, believe you me, you will meet accidents - hopefully nothing fatal, just dings and occasional crashes.

Thus, get a 2nd hand Toyota Altis (the new engine version) or Honda Civic FD (or ES). These are relatively more reliable than the average everyman compact.

You will have experience in driving, maintenance and other essentials of driving and owning a car that by the time you buy a brand new one, it'll be a breeze for you.

Of course, you can buy a brand new one should you prefer but it will be very expensive for you everytime you have it repaired because of the occasional fender benders or post/tree kissing incidents which can happen as soon as you drive out of the dealer.

Good luck

[viper888]

I recommend a first timer to get a small car, a large car would prove to be difficult to maneuver in traffic and even more difficult to parallel park
While you do not need to get something as small as a mirage, a fiesta or a jazz is small enough

Oh, since your planning to learn how to drive in a short amount of time, skip the manual trannys and go straight into an automatic, you will learn much faster without wrecking any clutches
Invest in driving aids such as parking sensors, they will make life much easier

Tip: No one learns how to drive properly right after driving school, even those who take 15+ hour lessons (My sampling is based on people about my age which is 18-21) You could probably go around a village but you will struggle to drive through edsa on rush hour (good luck changing lanes).

[leodawesome]

And add to that those reckless public utility vehicles, You will learn first hand defensive driving with them around.

[GTi]

^Haha! Hindi lang defensive driving, offensive driving narin!

Seriously, you only learn the basics of driving from driving school, no matter how many hours/thousands of pesos you spend with them. It is the continued practice of your driving that improves your skills. Aside from driving school, I suggest you find someone who can accompany and teach you in driving sessions while doing rounds in the metro, first in more secluded areas and then gradually to the major thoroughfares.

I suggest you get a 2nd hand car first. It hurts a lot more to dent/scratch a brand new car. Not to mention the big depreciation plaguing brand new cars. You get a 1-2 year old car- which is still basically new- for at least 100-200k less. I suggest either a Honda Jazz or FD Civic 1.8S.

[leodawesome]

^Haha! Hindi lang defensive driving, offensive driving narin!

Hahah, right on sir. Kaso mahirap magoffensive driving with them, lugi tayo :D

[GTi]

It may be so, but I admit I may have picked up quite a few bad habits from them, and used it back against them on some occasions. Bad.

[dr. d]

buy a new car and save up for a house.. sounds like you plan on burning your candle at both ends. scale down a little, unless you are filthy and rich..
be content with a used (o sige.. pre-loved) car. and unless you are ready to swear off MTs for the rest of your life, i recommend you not start off using an automatic..
i agree with the above.. get a good, used toyota. altis or vios.. their reliability is the envy of the automotive world (or so some believe, including me).
large car or big car? with your (non) experience, it wouldn't matter.. you have no basis for saying one is harder to handle than the other..

[greatauror28]

^ Bakit ako natuto ko mag drive sa Nissan Urvan?

Seriously, I agree to the other forumers to get a second-hand car. Prolly an Altis, but an FD would also be great.
Chaka mo bihisan para astig! Also, it will hurt less dinging a second-hand car than a bnew sparkling one.
Believe me, hindi ka makakatulog sa unang gabi kapag nangyari sayo un. Been there, done that.
And yes, driving school can only get you so far. You'll learn to be street-smart by the actual driving.
Start with subdivisions first, then some non-busy roads, then pwede ka na makipag dikitan sa mga bus sa EDSA

[viper888]

^ Bakit ako natuto ko mag drive sa Nissan Urvan?

Seriously, I agree to the other forumers to get a second-hand car. Prolly an Altis, but an FD would also be great.
Chaka mo bihisan para astig! Also, it will hurt less dinging a second-hand car than a bnew sparkling one.
Believe me, hindi ka makakatulog sa unang gabi kapag nangyari sayo un. Been there, done that.
And yes, driving school can only get you so far. You'll learn to be street-smart by the actual driving.
Start with subdivisions first, then some non-busy roads, then pwede ka na makipag dikitan sa mga bus sa EDSA

I learned how to drive in an expedition (start daw sa pinakamahirap)..... but I live in a low traffic area with not much traffic.... If I lived in binondo or makati, parang ayaw ko

500k actually gets you in a 2 year old 1.6 fiesta, it should still have warranty and I believe ford has a service which you can extend it

[Horsepower]

I learned to drive with an MT and it served me well when I switched to AT. I'm not sure about AT to MT though but I reckon they'd have a pretty hard time managing the clutch. Sarap kasi mag-drive ng manual lalo na pag long drives you can sweep bends at speed without worrying na mao-overshoot ka.

Anyway, 500K would net a Civic FD or a Ford Focus TDCI.

[5Speed]

I learned to drive with a 20 seater passenger jeepney with Isuzu C221 engine with no hand brakes and needs to pump the clutch twice before the gear can be engaged. As for the brakes, minimum 2 pumps for the jeep to stop and if my speed reaches around.... well I dont know since there is no speedometer as well, I need to pump the brakes some more..... only oil pressure and temperature gauges was in the dashboard, including boxes for baryas, a lot of basahan, lighters, and recording tapes... and mind you it has no handbrakes as well... those "hanging" moments on an uphill road, I learned it from this jeep... just imagine I need to double clutch every time...

My first ride? an owner type jeep with a gas engine... it feels like driving a landcruiser coming from driving a passenger jeep.... hehehehe

I also suggest for the TS to start on a pre-owned car and please learn to drive stick first... A lot of people whom I know who learned to drive an AT first cannot drive stick properly... some cannot even drive a stick at all...

[kablitz]

Thanks for all the answers and sorry for the late reply..:P

I'll probably be getting a 2nd hand (but relatively new) one with a 500k budget. That way, I can start saving up for a house (I don't like condos :P). I'm starting to look at Altis, Civic and City ads now.

Advice on MT or AT is noted. Is there any reason why I should start learning an MT if my car's probably gonna be AT? From what I've heard, MT's not really recommended in our god forsaken traffic conditions (nakakangawit daw mag MT sa traffic).

[erobles]

Guys if 2nd hand na plano nya pano naman malalaman if binaha ang bibilhin nyan? Since almost every year nalulubog ang metro and other provinces.

Sent using Tapatalk 2

[Retz]

Thanks for all the answers and sorry for the late reply..:P

I'll probably be getting a 2nd hand (but relatively new) one with a 500k budget. That way, I can start saving up for a house (I don't like condos :P). I'm starting to look at Altis, Civic and City ads now.

Advice on MT or AT is noted. Is there any reason why I should start learning an MT if my car's probably gonna be AT? From what I've heard, MT's not really recommended in our god forsaken traffic conditions (nakakangawit daw mag MT sa traffic).

AT na lang sir. mahirap MT lalo na heavy traffic.

[cast_no_shadow]

Is there any reason why I should start learning an MT if my car's probably gonna be AT? From what I've heard, MT's not really recommended in our god forsaken traffic conditions (nakakangawit daw mag MT sa traffic).

Hassle, nakakapagod talaga pag traffic using a MT.

Pero you will never know, when the times comes na you need to drive an MT.

Iba pa din ang marunong.

[TopEngine]

Don't worry too much about acquiring your driving skills. Kung malakas loob mo at sa tingin mo equipped ka naman theoretically (magbasa ka), mabilis mo lang matutunan mag-drive.
I bought a brand new City last December. Day1 (1st time to drive a 4-wheels) tinuruan ako ng isang oras sa subdivision namin, while kung yung nagtuturo sa akin ang driver nakikinig lang ako sa turo niya. Day2, umaga inilabas ko na car from garage namin then I drivove along the streets in our subdivision, then ako na rin nag-park (I measured the outside distance of the 2 front wheels is about 6ft + kung anuman length of the 2 side mirrors, while my narrow garage was just 8 ft.). Since nakita naman ako ni wifey na nalilibot ko na sa subdivision namin nagkaroon siya ng kompiyansa sa driving skills ko. In the afternoon, niyaya ko na mag-grocery sa SM, so I drove na in the H-way and inabot pa kami ng gabi pag-uwi. Depende sa skills at lakas ng loob siguro, yung kasamahan ko sa trabaho nagpaturo siya ng 2 weeks daw para lang ma-drive ang AT.

Ayaw mo ba nang Mirage?