Good Evening Guys!

I am single young male professional planning to buy a used car for my everyday use from home to office and from time to time travel to the north around 100 km away from Metro Manila.
This is going to be my first car and I have very limited knowledge about car ownership, maintenance, technicalities and stuff.
My primary concerns are reliability, low maintenance cost, fuel economy and higher resale value just in case I want to make an upgrade (maybe in 3-5 years).
My choice is 05-06 Toyota Vios 1.3e MT. Altis and Civic are already outside my budget while City is not really my type *sorry guys if I may sound superficial for ruling out the city. ;p

So upon checking the net for some ads I came across with this two.

2005 Toyota Vios 1.3 E MT Red
55k mileage
casa maintained, Lady owned (?)
Leather seat cover
All stock except the seat cover and floor mat
I am dealing with the brother as the owner is out of the country
Have not checked it yet personally
Asking price is 340k


2006 Toyota Vios 1.3 E MT Silver (from a Car Exchange Shop)
57K mileage
Looks like in good condition as I have seen it personally. But I am not an expert so I plan to check it again bringing with me someone who is more knowledgeable on this matter.
My judgment is based on the sound of the engine and the aircon but no test drive is done. But the fact that it is in a car exchange shop in Ortigas makes me more confident that it is really indeed in good condition and with clean papers (?). Am i right? or stupid? hehhee
Asking price is 355K (I will try to negotiate more)


Both seller will shoulder the transfer of ownership.
I am planning to get the car within two weeks time as I really need it also
for my mother's regular medical check up and hospital visits.

So, my questions are:

1. Is the price reasonable enough for me to take it?

2. How to ensure that the car I am buying is in good condition? Not Flooded or with hidden defects? One agent told me that I can bring the car to a Toyota Service Center and have it checked by a competent mechanic. How much would it cost me to do that? and How and where? I live in Pasig. Both cars are located in the same area.

3. With the car's mileage as mentioned above, what are the usual things I should check? Should the tires, battery, belts and others be changed at this point? If they haven't changed yet, how much would it cost me? Should I anticipate it in the first six months? first year? My preference is not to cash out anything big within the first year except for the change oil and regular tune up.

4. How can I make the transaction with the first one if the real owner is out of the country. I haven't asked yet the brother if he has SPOA. Can he sign the DOS in behalf of his sister?

5. What are the additional stuff I should ask from the sellers other than CR/OR, Insurance Record, Service Record?
Owners manual should be included? Spare key? Spare Tires?
Tool kits, EWD? Other accessories I may not aware of?

6. How to do the transaction? Cash out, deed of sale, and then Ill take the car home. How can they transfer the ownership if the car is with me?
They need to bring the car to TMG or LTO right? I dont have time to bring it myself.


Guys, sorry for too many questions and if some may sound too stupid (?) hehehhe This is really all new to me.

Thanks for all the help!