Buying My First Car - Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota or Honda?

[ejnerizon]

Hi Tsikot Masters, I just want to get your insights on what should I get for my very first car (second hand lang)! I'm torn between these brands so I hope you could help me decide (bago lang po sa mundo ng cars).

Here are the things I consider on buying my first car:
1. I'm on a tight budget of 250K - kaya second hand lang talaga kaya ko
2. Its main purpose is for family use
3. Automatic - para magamit din ni Wife
4. Fuel Efficient - di ko po kailangan ng pangkarera
5. Availability of parts - yung madali po makahanap ng pyesa, easy to maintain
6. Looks - basta presentable, kahit ano pa po year basta reliable

I'm currently eyeing on Mitsu Galant 96-98 but I've read in some forums that it's a bit gas hungry.. The other is Honda Civic (not sure what variant esi? etc..) 96-99.. Or maybe you can recommend other brands/models?

Please help!

Thanks in advance mga Masters! :D

[GTi]

Hi Tsikot Masters, I just want to get your insights on what should I get for my very first car (second hand lang)! I'm torn between these brands so I hope you could help me decide (bago lang po sa mundo ng cars).

Here are the things I consider on buying my first car:
1. I'm on a tight budget of 250K - kaya second hand lang talaga kaya ko
2. Its main purpose is for family use
3. Automatic - para magamit din ni Wife
4. Fuel Efficient - di ko po kailangan ng pangkarera
5. Availability of parts - yung madali po makahanap ng pyesa, easy to maintain
6. Looks - basta presentable, kahit ano pa po year basta reliable

I'm currently eyeing on Mitsu Galant 96-98 but I've read in some forums that it's a bit gas hungry.. The other is Honda Civic (not sure what variant esi? etc..) 96-99.. Or maybe you can recommend other brands/models?

Please help!

Thanks in advance mga Masters! :D

What are you looking for? Subcompact, compact, midsize sedan, hatch, MPV, AUV, SUV?

For lower budgets, I would much rather prefer getting manuals. Older A/T's are not as sophisticated and generally tend to be power-robbing and much thirstier than their manual counterparts. It'll be much better if the wife learns how to drive a manual instead. Its not so hard, I've seen women drive AUVs and vans perfectly well!

Since you are looking for old models, parts shouldn't be a problem as long as the car was relatively successful in the country, and still has a healthy population on the road.

Mitsubishi Galant? So more on midsize sedans ka? If you're looking for old A/T midsize sedans, you might as well throw the fuel efficiency and parts cost out of the window. For old midsize sedans, the only one I'd recommend would be the 6th gen (1998-2003) Honda Accord M/T . FC is at around 7-8km/L city.

EK Civic's (1996-2000) are very much overpriced in the used car market. They are excellent handling cars with punchy engines, but with no additional equipment whatsoever.

If you want a somewhat fuel efficient matic car, might as well get the ZZ Altis 1.6.

[1D4LV]

Hi Tsikot Masters, I just want to get your insights on what should I get for my very first car (second hand lang)! I'm torn between these brands so I hope you could help me decide (bago lang po sa mundo ng cars).

Here are the things I consider on buying my first car:
1. I'm on a tight budget of 250K - kaya second hand lang talaga kaya ko
2. Its main purpose is for family use
3. Automatic - para magamit din ni Wife
4. Fuel Efficient - di ko po kailangan ng pangkarera
5. Availability of parts - yung madali po makahanap ng pyesa, easy to maintain
6. Looks - basta presentable, kahit ano pa po year basta reliable

I'm currently eyeing on Mitsu Galant 96-98 but I've read in some forums that it's a bit gas hungry.. The other is Honda Civic (not sure what variant esi? etc..) 96-99.. Or maybe you can recommend other brands/models?

Please help!

Thanks in advance mga Masters! :D

get an Altis. 2k1 - 2k4 variant. since you need space for your family, fuel efficient for its size, availability of parts and reasonable maintenance costs.

[Egan101]

To get the most out of your budget of 250k, you can consider the Sentra Exalta N16s (2001-2003, GS model) or the Sentra N16 (2004-present, GS model). Nissan cars tend to be priced lower sa used market so get a younger car for a lower budget. The GS model (AT) is built for comfort. FC is not as good as the Altis of the same age (8-9 Km/L vs 10-11 Km/L). Di rin problema sa parts as long as you know where to get them. To get better FC, you can look for the GSX model (1.6L MT). The older Sentra Exalta GS N16s look more presentable than the newer Sentra GS N16s, as it's more like a small Cefiro inside and out.

[yourman_2nd]

go for toyota altis. Durable, low maintenance, fuel efficient and presentable. since more than 10 years model na makukuha mo, madali pa ipaayos sa suking talyer kahit ano mang sira lumabas. mura pa ang piyesa. mahal ang piyesa ng honda at nissan compared sa toyota. repair costs will burn a bigger hole in your wallet than the weekly gasoline expense.

[ejnerizon]

Thanks for the input guys.. but I have settled for nissan sentra due to unexpected expenses I had this past few holidays.. :D

[nujsimon]

And expect more expenses hopefully not in the near future

[ejnerizon]

HI uli mga Bossing Tsikoters..

sabi ko nung una settled na ako sa nissan kaya lang biglang may nakita ako na Toyota Corona Ex Saloon '96 at Opel Vectra '98 na mura.. arround 120-150K.. I haven't seen the cars pero mukhang ok naman condition nila.. setting aside the condition of the cars, ano po kaya pros and cons ng mga ito? sabi nila FC daw ay 6-8km/L on the average.. how about the parts and maintenance? will it hurt me a lot in the future? Hoping to hear from you soon mga masters. thanks!

[1D4LV]

HI uli mga Bossing Tsikoters..

sabi ko nung una settled na ako sa nissan kaya lang biglang may nakita ako na Toyota Corona Ex Saloon '96 at Opel Vectra '98 na mura.. arround 120-150K.. I haven't seen the cars pero mukhang ok naman condition nila.. setting aside the condition of the cars, ano po kaya pros and cons ng mga ito? sabi nila FC daw ay 6-8km/L on the average.. how about the parts and maintenance? will it hurt me a lot in the future? Hoping to hear from you soon mga masters. thanks!

stick with the sentra or the altis.
corona has few parts, not to mention that its a guzzler.
vectra has few parts too and expensive to maintain.

yes, it will really hurt you a lot.

[ejnerizon]

Thanks for the advice sir 1D4LV.
I'll scrap out Opel Vectra and Coronas.

As per the altis or nissan.. I don't think I can still afford to buy a 2nd hand altis because I had gone thru unforeseen expenses for the past months.. that's why I'm now down to 100-130K.. haay buhay.. (the price trend for altis today is like 220K up..)

So I have to settle for a cheaper car, eyeing on Nissan Sentra Super Saloon 96-99 and Toyota Corolla GLI 93-96 (I hope to get '98 up but their price ranges from 180K-220K)..

Any advice? Are these the ONLY options I can have based on my very tight budget?

Thanks in Advance!

[yourman_2nd]

sir, IMHO, better wait for your budget to increase and reach your desired car like the Altis. if you buy the car that your budget can afford right now, then by the time you have the extra cash and could have bought the Altis, you will just tell yourself why you didnt wait and bought the Altis. And with the units your budget will afford right now, definitely meron major repairs na lalabas in the near future that will cause you headaches and wallet aches. Lalo ka pa maiinis bakit di pa Altis nabili mo.. just my two cents..

[ejnerizon]

^ thanks for the advice and concern sir.. very much appreciated!

kaya lang po ngayun kasi talagang need na namin ng auto kasi may baby na kami.. hirap naman ng taxi lagi.. aside sa mahirap na kumuha lalo na kung rush hour, main concern ko pa is yung "safety", madami mga di katiwatiwala ngayun na taxi (disclaimer: hindi lahat ha, madami lang).. :D

ang initial plan din naman is to buy muna a 2nd hand car, maybe 2-3 years after, brand new naman.. right now kasi hindi pa kaya isabay ang bnew sa iba pang bayarin.. :D ang gusto lang din naman namin is may magamit talaga na hindi sakit sa ulo..

[yourman_2nd]

if this is the case sir, then your best bet for now is the toyota corolla. proven na durable and mura mga spare parts in case major repairs crop up. kabisado pa ng maraming mechanic and talyer. my cousin's big body corolla is still serving their family well. just be wary of ex-taxi units. good luck sa first car nyo.

[ejnerizon]

Thanks a lot sa info sir!

Are there "known" problems regarding the corolla gli's '93-96? How about the consumption?

[ejnerizon]

Mga Sir, another question po pala.. OK ba ang Nissan Cefiro AT 97-99?

I mean, parts availability, fuel consumption, tranny problems?

Kaya ko po ito naitanong kasi sa tuwing magdrive ako ng MT, bumabalik yung problem ko sa likod (back spasms due to medical issues hehe).. sa tingin ko kasi napapagod ang katawan ko sa clutch, kaya naisip ko baka mas maging ok ako kapag AT na lang kunin ko.. kaya nilagay ko sa options ko ang AT at so far Cefiro ang nakita ko na pinakabata na pwede ko makuha na kotse kung AT (no choice di aabot sa 2000s up ang budget ko )

Any advice po sa Cefiro? BTW, if I could hit 7-8km/L that's fine with me as long as hindi magkakaproblem sa tranny (ito po ang kinakatakot ko hehe, o meron pa ba dapat ako iakatakot?)
Thanks.

[yourman_2nd]

sa tingin ko hindi mo makukuha ang 7-8 km/L sa cefiro. yung xtrail ko na 2.0 7 years old na sya pero nakaka 6-7 km/L lang ako. so malamang sa hindi, 6-7 km/L ka din sa cefiro, at best. mahal ang piyesa ng nissan vs toyota kaya dagdag butas sa bulsa yan pag kelangan mo magpalit ng pyesa. sirain sa nissan ay ang mga sumusunod: alternator, aircon compressor, MAF, power steering, at radiator fans.

[ejnerizon]

sa tingin ko hindi mo makukuha ang 7-8 km/L sa cefiro. yung xtrail ko na 2.0 7 years old na sya pero nakaka 6-7 km/L lang ako. so malamang sa hindi, 6-7 km/L ka din sa cefiro, at best. mahal ang piyesa ng nissan vs toyota kaya dagdag butas sa bulsa yan pag kelangan mo magpalit ng pyesa. sirain sa nissan ay ang mga sumusunod: alternator, aircon compressor, MAF, power steering, at radiator fans.

Thank you sir! yung kamahaln po ng piyesa is by how much vs toyota (%)? for example po compressor of toyota vs nissan?

Salamat uli sir!

[GTi]

Mga Sir, another question po pala.. OK ba ang Nissan Cefiro AT 97-99?

I mean, parts availability, fuel consumption, tranny problems?

Kaya ko po ito naitanong kasi sa tuwing magdrive ako ng MT, bumabalik yung problem ko sa likod (back spasms due to medical issues hehe).. sa tingin ko kasi napapagod ang katawan ko sa clutch, kaya naisip ko baka mas maging ok ako kapag AT na lang kunin ko.. kaya nilagay ko sa options ko ang AT at so far Cefiro ang nakita ko na pinakabata na pwede ko makuha na kotse kung AT (no choice di aabot sa 2000s up ang budget ko )

Any advice po sa Cefiro? BTW, if I could hit 7-8km/L that's fine with me as long as hindi magkakaproblem sa tranny (ito po ang kinakatakot ko hehe, o meron pa ba dapat ako iakatakot?)
Thanks.

A family friend has one. He still has it for use as a spare car and for his driver to shuttle his kids to school. Last time I checked it had around 150tkms on the clock. I knew he had problems with oil leaks, but aside from that, nothing else worth of note. So far he is still using his first tranny. Gas consumption can range from around 5+ - 7+ km/L city depending on traffic conditions. If you want a steady 7-8km/L, you'd probably have to get the manual version.

Doesn't it help to have a lumbar pillow for your back? It should ease quite a lot of the pain, especially on long drives.

If you want a cheap midsize with better gas mileage, you'd probably appreciate the Toyota Corona. Resale is similar to the Cefiro. Inline 4 2.0L means better gas mileage in city driving. Its definitely not very powerful, though maintaining speeds of 180km/h and above should be no problem still.

[7138]

Thanks a lot sa info sir!

Are there "known" problems regarding the corolla gli's '93-96? How about the consumption?

Power steering, yan ang weak point ng ae101,
And anything else, wala na masyado.

Fc, city driving depende sa route,
Highway driving, between 11 to 12.5 in my experience, 90kmh to 100kmh lang takbo, walang pedal to the metal acceleration.

I own a 95mdl GLi variant btw.

[ejnerizon]

A family friend has one. He still has it for use as a spare car and for his driver to shuttle his kids to school. Last time I checked it had around 150tkms on the clock. I knew he had problems with oil leaks, but aside from that, nothing else worth of note. So far he is still using his first tranny. Gas consumption can range from around 5+ - 7+ km/L city depending on traffic conditions. If you want a steady 7-8km/L, you'd probably have to get the manual version.

Doesn't it help to have a lumbar pillow for your back? It should ease quite a lot of the pain, especially on long drives.

If you want a cheap midsize with better gas mileage, you'd probably appreciate the Toyota Corona. Resale is similar to the Cefiro. Inline 4 2.0L means better gas mileage in city driving. Its definitely not very powerful, though maintaining speeds of 180km/h and above should be no problem still.

Actually, i was adviced by my ortho buy a lumbar pillow/chair.. But I haven't done that yet.. Pasaway kasi ako kapag ok na pakiramdam abuso na naman sa katawan.. Ang worry ko kasi is kung mag manual tranny ako baka di ko kayanin kung daily driving. Opis bahay lang naman.. Kaya naisip ko matic siguro para medyo relaxed lang..

Thanks sa advise sir. Will keep that in mind.