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)

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[NiCe2KnowU]

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

[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.

Sent from my BLL-L22 using Tapatalk

[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.

[benchph1]

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.

City ka na. More cabin & trunk space. Honda reliability pa. Although may known faults ang generation ng city yan. Hindi na totoo yung sinasabi nilang mahal ang spare parts. Nowadays pantay if not mas mura pa ang parts sa Toyota. Kung sa casa ka bibili ha.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[trann123]

^
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.

Sent from my BLL-L22 using Tapatalk

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.

I really appreciate your inputs, guys! It put things into perspective before I do my purchase. As for me, I'd probably stick to a 3-4 yr old city or civic... now it's time to decide if it's city or civic haha, cause it's both ma-"porma" (I think?). Can you guys put in some perspective on this?

[chronicle]

I really appreciate your inputs, guys! It put things into perspective before I do my purchase. As for me, I'd probably stick to a 3-4 yr old city or civic... now it's time to decide if it's city or civic haha, cause it's both ma-"porma" (I think?). Can you guys put in some perspective on this?

In the second hand market, newer is better most of the time. "Most".
If the civic is older by 3 or 4 years old than the city that fits your budget, i'll most likely get the city instead.

You said you are in baguio, i think at a minimum, you should get a 1.5 displacement car so it wont be that much rev happy when on an incline. And also a higher ground clearance would help.

Sent from my BLL-L22 using Tapatalk

[wakoko79]

I really appreciate your inputs, guys! It put things into perspective before I do my purchase. As for me, I'd probably stick to a 3-4 yr old city or civic... now it's time to decide if it's city or civic haha, cause it's both ma-"porma" (I think?). Can you guys put in some perspective on this?

Hands down panis ang city sa civic sa porma, well almost in everything. Twing may napapadaan na civic fc, napapabalikwas talaga ako ng tingin.

Though higher displacement ung civic which means less fuel efficiency in city driving, I think. At least ung ung turo sakin. And civics are more expensive.

Though personally, i would still pick the current gen city over the civic fc. The civic fc just looks too glamorous for me. Siguro pag mayaman na ko pwede na ko mag civic.. Ung type r hahah.

About sa older gen looks, civic fd > city gm6 > city gm3 > civic fb. It still boils down to personal preference. Ganda pa din civic fd, pero luma na kc so my friend advised me to go for newer models.

[wakoko79]

City ka na. More cabin & trunk space. Honda reliability pa. Although may known faults ang generation ng city yan. Hindi na totoo yung sinasabi nilang mahal ang spare parts. Nowadays pantay if not mas mura pa ang parts sa Toyota. Kung sa casa ka bibili ha.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Care to share the known faults of city?

[babkalakal]

Care to share the known faults of city?

my former GF (now my wife hehe) used to own a GM city 2009 1.3S MT. Aside from normal wear and tear I could not think of anything that was considered as a known fault. But it was included in the takata airbag recall though.

I would choose the Civic FD/FB i like the space and the interior better than the city. The city is not cramped but just by look and feel I find the civic more spacious to my liking. Also I don't mind at all that the civic has a bigger engine.

[Egan101]

Care to share the known faults of city?

If you want something for spirited driving, I will not advise on the City. It’s a good appliance car as it can get you from point a to b in a reliable and fuel efficient manner. The City is designed for fuel efficiency and urban handling. However, the car is not too eager to accelerate, the steering is a bit numb, and the suspension is a bit soft.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dr. d]

If you want something for spirited driving, I will not advise on the City. It’s a good appliance car as it can get you from point a to b in a reliable and fuel efficient manner. The City is designed for fuel efficiency and urban handling. However, the car is not too eager to accelerate, the steering is a bit numb, and the suspension is a bit soft.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

sounds like a comfortable car for gramps, or ladies, to drive.
hey! it's a compliment.

[Egan101]

sounds like a comfortable car for gramps, or ladies, to drive.
hey! it's a compliment.

The City is Honda's equivalent to the Toyota Vios. If you want a better-driving version of the City, get the Jazz though it still lacks a bit of oomph.

If you want something that drives well for a Honda, get either the Civic or the Accord.

[jut703]

The City is Honda's equivalent to the Toyota Vios. If you want a better-driving version of the City, get the Jazz though it still lacks a bit of oomph.

If you want something that drives well for a Honda, get either the Civic or the Accord.

The City is a quick car especially with the CVT, very big improvement over the old 5AT. Less than a second slower to 100 kph than the Civic. The manual is actually faster than a Civic 1.8 CVT too.

Also handles better than most subcompacts except the Fiesta and Mazda 2. Predictable body roll and drives nicely at the limit.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk