Help in choosing my first own car

**Egan101** · August 3rd, 2017 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by kevindd992002

Ok. Choosing a car is harder than I expected.

When it comes to parts, I'm hearing that Subaru parts are more expensive than other brands. Is this true?

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Market presence is a key factor in parts supply. The more common the vehicle is, the easier it will be to source parts. A Camry, despite a Toyota, will not have the same parts availability as the more popular Vios.

In the case of Subie, parts is a premium compared to Toyota or Honda. However, there are aftermarket shops that cater to Subaru or Mazda in case you opt not to go to a dealership for parts.

**kevindd992002** · August 3rd, 2017 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by Egan101

Market presence is a key factor in parts supply. The more common the vehicle is, the easier it will be to source parts. A Camry, despite a Toyota, will not have the same parts availability as the more popular Vios.

In the case of Subie, parts is a premium compared to Toyota or Honda. However, there are aftermarket shops that cater to Subaru or Mazda in case you opt not to go to a dealership for parts.

Ok. What are your thoughts on the RAV4?

*All

Do you guys have a recommendation for good Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Honda dealers? For Subaru, we will be going to the one in BGC because we have a friend that works there.

**GTi** · August 3rd, 2017 08:06 PM

Between the two choices, Civic ako. Parts cost and availability and dealer network comes to mind. IMHO it looks really nice, performance is good, and has lots of tuning potential. Of course if you have a Subaru dealership near you, or have a suking mechanic with easy access to Subaru parts and is familiar with servicing Subaru's, I retract my previous statement. [emoji38]

Pampagulo lang. Our roads are bad, and its the rainy season. Are you not considering diesel SUVs? The Trailblazer 2.8 4x2 sells for just around 100k more than the top of the line Civic if I'm not mistaken. Diesels also tend to have better resale value. And 200hp is still 200hp. [emoji38]

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**kevindd992002** · August 3rd, 2017 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by GTi

Between the two choices, Civic ako. Parts cost and availability and dealer network comes to mind. IMHO it looks really nice, performance is good, and has lots of tuning potential. Of course if you have a Subaru dealership near you, or have a suking mechanic with easy access to Subaru parts and is familiar with servicing Subaru's, I retract my previous statement. [emoji38]

Pampagulo lang. Our roads are bad, and its the rainy season. Are you not considering diesel SUVs? The Trailblazer 2.8 4x2 sells for just around 100k more than the top of the line Civic if I'm not mistaken. Diesels also tend to have better resale value. And 200hp is still 200hp. [emoji38]

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Thanks for the tip.

My Dad, which is a carnut also, is actually suggesting the same (diesel SUV's) but he's suggesting the new Monterosport. We have a 2008 Monterosport that will probably be for sale soon. We also have a Trailblazer which is why that didn't come to mind. What is your take on the Monterosport?

**GTi** · August 3rd, 2017 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by kevindd992002

Thanks for the tip.

My Dad, which is a carnut also, is actually suggesting the same (diesel SUV's) but he's suggesting the new Monterosport. We have a 2008 Monterosport that will probably be for sale soon. We also have a Trailblazer which is why that didn't come to mind. What is your take on the Monterosport?

AFAIK the Trailblazer is more spacious and has more power on paper, though I personally like the Montero's looks more. I have to say that I don't like the teartrack LED taillights. I've seen some Montero's that don't have them though. Perhaps they removed them in later batches? If you don't mind that they're so common in the streets, its actually a very practical purchase.

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**redshirt** · August 3rd, 2017 08:59 PM

to OP.

Between a Subie and a Honda, i'll always go for a Honda lalo na if medyo long term balak mo. like over 5 years mo plan to keep the car. Unless STi pero di naman yun yung options mo lol.

Why Honda? They don't breakdown as easy and di pahirapan sa parts outside casa. If looking for an SUV why not get CRV or HRV?

**kevindd992002** · August 3rd, 2017 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by GTi

AFAIK the Trailblazer is more spacious and has more power on paper, though I personally like the Montero's looks more. I have to say that I don't like the teartrack LED taillights. I've seen some Montero's that don't have them though. Perhaps they removed them in later batches? If you don't mind that they're so common in the streets, its actually a very practical purchase.

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Same here, I never liked those taillights.

Is the Forester still considered a compact SUV? What's the difference between a compact SUV and a CUV?

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**GTi** · August 3rd, 2017 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by kevindd992002

Same here, I never liked those taillights.

Is the Forester still considered a compact SUV? What's the difference between a compact SUV and a CUV?

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IIRC a compact SUV is a small SUV with a ladder frame chassis, something that is pretty much extinct besides the immortal Suzuki Jimny and Grand Vitara. A CUV has a monocoque body typically found in sedans, which I believe is where the Forester falls under, along with the CRV, Rav4, Tucson and the like.

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**servantguy** · August 4th, 2017 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by kevindd992002

Thanks for the tip.

My Dad, which is a carnut also, is actually suggesting the same (diesel SUV's) but he's suggesting the new Monterosport. We have a 2008 Monterosport that will probably be for sale soon. We also have a Trailblazer which is why that didn't come to mind. What is your take on the Monterosport?

Hi,

I feel your car choice pain!

Looks and preference aside, you'll at some point come face to face with (1) Utility (e.g. can you put 7 people in a Civic and/or will your lifestyle require you to do something of the sort?), (2) total cost of ownership (TCO) of your first car, which includes cost of gas and maintenance/repairs. Then there is reliability, which tangentially depends on how inexpensive and easy to come by parts and repairs are for your vehicle.

Hoping my experience can provide some insight: In line with the above, for me, I originally wanted a top of the line Altis. But at almost P1.2M for a gas engine, it didn't make sense to do it in terms of utility and TCO. I ended up shelling out a bit extra and grabbed a 7 seater Diesel SUV. Now my sis has an MuX, I have a Fort, and my other sister has a Mazda2 we borrow for small trips around the city, and the small group run to Baguio.

I grabbed the Fort although the Monty was top rated, because, after the selection process above, the Monty didn't pass the looks test for me. I absolutely dislike the crying robot tail lights. Sadly.

So what's important to you?

- servantguy -

**kevindd992002** · August 4th, 2017 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by servantguy

Hi,

I feel your car choice pain!

Looks and preference aside, you'll at some point come face to face with (1) Utility (e.g. can you put 7 people in a Civic and/or will your lifestyle require you to do something of the sort?), (2) total cost of ownership (TCO) of your first car, which includes cost of gas and maintenance/repairs. Then there is reliability, which tangentially depends on how inexpensive and easy to come by parts and repairs are for your vehicle.

Hoping my experience can provide some insight: In line with the above, for me, I originally wanted a top of the line Altis. But at almost P1.2M for a gas engine, it didn't make sense to do it in terms of utility and TCO. I ended up shelling out a bit extra and grabbed a 7 seater Diesel SUV. Now my sis has an MuX, I have a Fort, and my other sister has a Mazda2 we borrow for small trips around the city, and the small group run to Baguio.

I grabbed the Fort although the Monty was top rated, because, after the selection process above, the Monty didn't pass the looks test for me. I absolutely dislike the crying robot tail lights. Sadly.

So what's important to you?

- servantguy -

Thanks for your comment and I totally understand you. It's just really hard to compare between models. As highly-recommend as the Civic is, I can't stop thinking that it's just a Sedan. I also want one with a diesel engine, of course, but there's so much factors to take into consideration that it's starting to blow off my mind

1) CX-5, I like its exterior but dislike its interior. The 3-year free maintenance is definitely a plus!
2) Civic, I like its exterior and interior but is a Sedan
3) XV, I like its exterior and interior but based on the comments here the usable space of the Civic is more than the XV
4) Forester, I like its interior but dislike the exterior
5) Montero, highly-rated, I don't like the taillights, and there's too much of them in our country
6) CR-V, I like the exterior and interior
7) Rav4, I haven't checked on this much but I'm hearing good things about it

What brand is the "Fort"? I can't seem to find it in Google.