Seriously need help for 1st car purchase

[Shadeslayer]

Hi, all!

I am very new in this forum. I have been searching high and low for a solid community to help me make my choice for my first car (looking for a sedan). I have tried going to Topgear.ph for help and emailed them. 2 months, and no reply.

So, I am really looking forward to any help you guys can offer me.

To be honest, I am an amateur in choosing vehicles. Like most amateurs, I always go for what looks best (interior and exterior). I have visited the most popular dealers and have listed the sedans I am looking to buy... I just need the professional/experienced opinions of you forumers out there to help me finalize my choice, particularly in the quality of the ride, reliability, after sales service, and fuel economy.

I have been working myself really hard for 2 years and managed to save 1M for my car fund. So far, I found that most brand new compact and sub-compact sedans are priced between 600-900k.

Here is the list of the cars I am considering (in order of choice)

1st - Toyota Corolla Altis 2014 (looks really good in and out, spaceous, affordable - but a Philippine Taxi Brand)
2nd - Honda City 2014 (haven't seen the actual unit yet, but good reviews, expensive brand)
3rd - Kia Rio (sentimental reasons, lol)
4th - Mitsubishi Lancer (affordable, reliable brand, Japanese car)
5th - Hyundai Elantra (looks really good, but korean)

Please please... Help me make my choice. Any other car suggestion would be gladly accepted and I will take all your replies and opinions in serious note.

Thanks in advance!!!

[crosswind]

Hi, all!

I am very new in this forum. I have been searching high and low for a solid community to help me make my choice for my first car (looking for a sedan). I have tried going to Topgear.ph for help and emailed them. 2 months, and no reply.

So, I am really looking forward to any help you guys can offer me.

To be honest, I am an amateur in choosing vehicles. Like most amateurs, I always go for what looks best (interior and exterior). I have visited the most popular dealers and have listed the sedans I am looking to buy... I just need the professional/experienced opinions of you forumers out there to help me finalize my choice, particularly in the quality of the ride, reliability, after sales service, and fuel economy.

I have been working myself really hard for 2 years and managed to save 1M for my car fund. So far, I found that most brand new compact and sub-compact sedans are priced between 600-900k.

Here is the list of the cars I am considering (in order of choice)

Hi sir welcome to tsikot


1st - Toyota Corolla Altis 2014 (looks really good in and out, spaceous, affordable - but a Philippine Taxi Brand)
2nd - Honda City 2014 (haven't seen the actual unit yet, but good reviews, expensive brand)
3rd - Kia Rio (sentimental reasons, lol)
4th - Mitsubishi Lancer (affordable, reliable brand, Japanese car)
5th - Hyundai Elantra (looks really good, but korean)

Please please... Help me make my choice. Any other car suggestion would be gladly accepted and I will take all your replies and opinions in serious note.

Thanks in advance!!!

Welcome to tsikot
I could recommend the Honda city rear passenger legroom is bigger that its rival and some compact vehicle
You accord like feautures in the vx - vx+ trims like reverse camera and and a touchscreen priced at 970k have better features than the altis and fuel efficient

[leodawesome]

Apologies, but I might give you another headache by adding the new Mazda 3 in the mix. Personally I would choose between this and the Altis.

Since you are an amateur car buyer, the only thing that I can tell to 'sell' the Mazda 3 to you is that it has Yojin3, which makes your car maintenance free on the duration of the car's warranty. (3 years, and this includes even the basic change oils, air filters, etc)

[Shadeslayer]

Apologies, but I might give you another headache by adding the new Mazda 3 in the mix. Personally I would choose between this and the Altis.

Since you are an amateur car buyer, the only thing that I can tell to 'sell' the Mazda 3 to you is that it has Yojin3, which makes your car maintenance free on the duration of the car's warranty. (3 years, and this includes even the basic change oils, air filters, etc)

Oh, wow. No, not a headache at all! Haha. Thanks for adding that in the mix. I think I considered Mazda 3 but scrapped it off because it was over my budget. It's over 1M, right?

Add on: I am only looking for Manual Transmission. Haha. I checked the mazda 3 variants, all of them seem to be AT.

[leodawesome]

I think the Mazda 3 variant that is over 1M is the 2.0L variant. The 1.5L variant costs 945k. Too bad it doesn't have M/T trims.

quality of the ride, reliability, after sales service, and fuel economy.

Well, the Altis is my bet when it comes to your criterias above. You won't go wrong if you choose the altis. And also, please scrap the taxi thing. Remember, in other countries, the cabs are even premium midsize to luxury sedans.

[admiralpye]

From the cars I test-drove recently, I agree that the new Honda City is the best bang for your buck, and the sales service in the Global City branch was great. I'm not sure if the after-sales service is as good, though. But since it is Honda, it won't cost an arm and a leg for maintenance. I'm not sure if the new City comes in MT though. The new Hyundai Accent (diesel MT) would also fit all your criteria, and they have a 5-year warranty. Except that I don't have feedback about their after-sales service.

[Shadeslayer]

I think the Mazda 3 variant that is over 1M is the 2.0L variant. The 1.5L variant costs 945k. Too bad it doesn't have M/T trims.

quality of the ride, reliability, after sales service, and fuel economy.

Well, the Altis is my bet when it comes to your criterias above. You won't go wrong if you choose the altis. And also, please scrap the taxi thing. Remember, in other countries, the cabs are even premium midsize to luxury sedans.

Ah, yeah. In singapore, all cabs are Hyundai and a bit of toyota. Thanks, this comment helps a lot. I really like the Altis. haha. I have yet to see and try the new City. The Mazda will not be an option. I really prefer MT

[Shadeslayer]

From the cars I test-drove recently, I agree that the new Honda City is the best bang for your buck, and the sales service in the Global City branch was great. I'm not sure if the after-sales service is as good, though. But since it is Honda, it won't cost an arm and a leg for maintenance. I'm not sure if the new City comes in MT though. The new Hyundai Accent (diesel MT) would also fit all your criteria, and they have a 5-year warranty. Except that I don't have feedback about their after-sales service.

Yeah, I read its really great. I cant wait to see it in person come August. It's really between this and the Altis for me, I think. haha

[leodawesome]

Side by side, Altis definitely has that more upscale look than the new city. Technically they are on different categories (City is a sub-compact, while the Altis is a compact sedan, which makes it bigger than the city). But the new city has a revamped interior space that matches, or even bigger than some compact sedans in the market.

I think you just need to see and feel them both in person and do a test drive to come to a conclusion.

Also, sedan lang ba talaga gusto mo? With a 1M budget and preference of M/T, haven't you considered getting a pickup? Sorry pampagulo lang.

[beginnerz]

^ wildtrak noh? Hari ka na ng daan

[GTi]

I'd go with the Altis. The new design looks great. In fact I find it the best looking among the compact sedans currently available. Since the engine is carried over, it has been proven to be fuel efficient and reliable. The "taxi" reputation is actually a solid assurance to new buyers that this is indeed a reliable and efficient car.

Or, as mentioned you can consider getting a pickup. The rainy season is coming soon, along with the flashfloods that are expected to come with it. It is a good idea to get a taller vehicle. The Ranger and Strada are good picks.

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[ACarEnthusiast]

Altis also for me..consider me biased but it has been our company car for the last ten years and it still running like it was delivered in the office parking lot. Of course it will need some tender loving care, you will never go wrong with it.

Also if a car is being used for taxi or fleet purposes it would only mean its more affordable to maintain and good enough for public use.

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[crosswind]

Hindi na masyadong ginagamit for taxi ang altis dba vios ang
choice ing mga taxi operator.PNP ang gumagamit bagong altis ngayon.

[red_one]

+1 on Altis. if annoyed with taxi branding, then get a different color. what color ba plano mo?

[Shadeslayer]

Side by side, Altis definitely has that more upscale look than the new city. Technically they are on different categories (City is a sub-compact, while the Altis is a compact sedan, which makes it bigger than the city). But the new city has a revamped interior space that matches, or even bigger than some compact sedans in the market.

I think you just need to see and feel them both in person and do a test drive to come to a conclusion.

Also, sedan lang ba talaga gusto mo? With a 1M budget and preference of M/T, haven't you considered getting a pickup? Sorry pampagulo lang.

Believe me, I have considered Hilux and Strada before I finally decided for a sedan. Reason because lowest variant makukuha ko sa pickups (roll-up windows, etc etc -- haha!) with a 1M budget. Correct me if I am wrong, but this was what I came up with when I visited Toyota and Mitsubishi 5 months ago.

Definitely, if I can find another 400k, I wouldn't mind going straight for a Fortuner or a Monterosport. Haha!

[Shadeslayer]

+1 on Altis. if annoyed with taxi branding, then get a different color. what color ba plano mo?

What would you suggest? In love ako sa black... Haha! Classy and luxurious looking kasi. But then, dilemma ko is that medyo mainit sa Pilipinas. Baka maging microwave yung kotse ko.

Your thoughts?

[red_one]

What would you suggest? In love ako sa black... Haha! Classy and luxurious looking kasi. But then, dilemma ko is that medyo mainit sa Pilipinas. Baka maging microwave yung kotse ko.

color is personal preference eh so there is no right or wrong here. i prefer Gray Metallic or Red Mica Metallic naman.

[leodawesome]

Believe me, I have considered Hilux and Strada before I finally decided for a sedan. Reason because lowest variant makukuha ko sa pickups (roll-up windows, etc etc -- haha!) with a 1M budget. Correct me if I am wrong, but this was what I came up with when I visited Toyota and Mitsubishi 5 months ago.

Definitely, if I can find another 400k, I wouldn't mind going straight for a Fortuner or a Monterosport. Haha!

You could get a Hilux E and a Strada GLX (they're not those super bare units, as in rolling windows, no airbags, etc.) for 990k++. Yung ibang Manual tranny na pickups magdadagdag ka na ng konti, 1M to 1.1M.

Yun nga lang, at 1M and a sedan, you can actually get a unit with alot of toys, close to top of the line already. Altis in black is DAMN.

[Lew_Alcindor]

Do you have any specific needs from a vehicle? That maybe the deciding factor.
For example, my wife and I like to travel with friends or relatives in tow. We got an Innova over Avanza or a sedan.
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[GTi]

The base model double cab variants of Strada and Ranger already have power amenities. The really bare ones are the single cab variants. Besides, you can already get the mid level manual variants.

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