850k-1M Budget - Your Opinions?

[EQAddict]

By the way will the company pay for (or a portion) of the car?

[jut703]

IMO, the Altis looks great from the outside. However in the interior, I do not like the A/C grills design. It felt like reverting to the past.
In terms of acceleration, I must agree that the Altis is no match to the FD.

I like the Altis' AC vents. What I don't like about the interior is the beige color theme - very oldie and easily blemished.

An FD would definitely be faster than an Altis in 0-100 times. But the 5AT of the FD isn't really the quickest out there, and the FB's is much worse. In my real world use, a transmission that downshifts the moment I need it to is more important than half second differences in acceleration, which is why a cheap, peppy manual is good enough for me.

The MT FB is too expensive. 15" rims, no fog lamps, no steering wheel audio controls, manual climate control, all for 100k more than the Altis G MT.

Haven't driven the MT FB. If they haven't dulled it down the way they castrated the AT FB and if it's offered with a discount, I might give it a second look.

[jut703]

I'd get the jazz its all you could ever want. Good looks. Performance. Utility. Resale value. Lots of aftermarket parts. Fuel efficiency. Space. Paddle shifters. Fun to throw around. Etc.

And it will hit the century mark in about ten seconds.

It doesn't pass my first criteria of looking respectable and as expensive as it costs. Looks are subjective, but most laymen (non car enthusiasts) I ask agree with me that the Altis looks like a more upscale car.

[jut703]

The other week I saw an avanza racing against a bmw 335i along the slex. Holy cow. The bmw couldn't shake the avanza in light traffic. Once you're in triple digit speeds you hit the slower cars in front of you fast and have to find an open lane or slot. Every single time the avanza would either find a better lane/slot or catch up to the hard charging beemer. I followed for a bit in my jazz haha

This happens to me several times a day even on the highway. You'd think any car with over 120 hp would easily make my Vios eat dust, but I've only been overtaken thrice - all because they did so on an empty piece of SCTEX, a Range Rover, Montero GLS-V, and Santa Fe R-eVGT.

As long as the road has other cars, the one with quicker responses and better mastery of the road can easily outmaneuver the one with a bigger engine.

Because of this, I don't single out performance alone anymore. As long as it's not handily outclassed by everything in its price range, I can make do with that. I look at the car's overall appeal more. At the end of the day, we buy what makes us the happiest.

Even if the Altis MT doesn't hit 100 in 10s, the few cars that do are severely lacking in the other aspects I look for. As dr.d opined a few pages back, the Altis isn't outstanding in any criteria, but comes out a winner if you average everything and look at it as a whole (looks, performance, pricing, handling, resale value, space, image).

[gwapster]

It doesn't pass my first criteria of looking respectable and as expensive as it costs. Looks are subjective, but most laymen (non car enthusiasts) I ask agree with me that the Altis looks like a more upscale car.

To the majority who are not car enthusiasts, the sedan body type will always appeal more. To most people that I know, the bigger the car the more upscale it looks, when speaking of the same brand/class.

And yes the Altis looks much better than the Jazz IMHO.

[EQAddict]

Can't argue with your priorities . To each his own. As for me I like the hatchback body style

[gwapster]

Wonder why the Mazda 3 isnt getting much recommendations here. It is actually the one that gets my vote, and certainly fits all the criteria of the TS. In the case of the mz3, i actually prefer the hatchback to the sedan.

[kimbon]

To the majority who are not car enthusiasts, the sedan body type will always appeal more. To most people that I know, the bigger the car the more upscale it looks, when speaking of the same brand/class.

likewise majority of SUV car owners are not big guys. correct me if I'm wrong here, majority of the people whom you know particularly bachelor guys are 5'5" or below??

[keithdb]

Wonder why the Mazda 3 isnt getting much recommendations here. It is actually the one that gets my vote, and certainly fits all the criteria of the TS. In the case of the mz3, i actually prefer the hatchback to the sedan.

Nasabi na ni jut na masyadong mabagal para sa kanya unless na yun 2.0 daw.

[playplugg]

1.6 G altis MT.

Simple ang porma pero class. (specially kung black color) at practically wise.

6 speed, for fuel efficiency pag sa highway driving.

1.6 Engine, enough displacement for city/highway combined driving. at hindi guzzler.

Instead of disc brake ang equipped sa G variant ng altis, medyo weird lang dahil yung 1.5 G ng vios MT ay naka-disc brake ang rear,

Hindi naman major issue, still either naka 4 disc brakes equipped or 2 front disc 2 drum brake combined.

[jut703]

Wonder why the Mazda 3 isnt getting much recommendations here. It is actually the one that gets my vote, and certainly fits all the criteria of the TS. In the case of the mz3, i actually prefer the hatchback to the sedan.

3 main things:

1. The 1.5 Skyactiv is disappointing. It even feels less peppier than my Vios 1.3, because most of its power comes from the upper rev range. Even if it weighs just as much as the other compacts, it felt heavier when I drove it compared to the others.

2. The Mz3 seemed to have been designed solely with the 2.0R in mind, while the 1.5V was only an afterthought. The 1.5 just doesn't have the same appeal as the 2.0. Most annoying for me is the digital tachometer. This is very subjective, but all car purchases are.

3. No manual transmission. As I said, the 1.5 isn't a very powerful engine, and the least they could've done was give it a manual.

[gwapster]

I see your point there. I have only tried the 2.0 Mz3.

[niky]

Well, considering outright speed isn't too much of a criteria... then try giving the Mazda3 another look.

On-paper, the power isn't all there... but the 1.5 is just as quick (or as slow) as the Altis 1.6 CVT... and most of the difference to the manual versions is in off-the-line acceleration... because small-engined autos can't be torque-braked successfully.

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If you're talking about in-gear responsiveness and the actual gear-changes themselves, the Mazda3 1.5 is actually pretty snappy... and in traffic, I like the response better than the Mazda3 2.0... where the 1.5 feels more eager and snappier.

If you didn't like it, I can only assume your test drive was around the block? First gear is nothing to write home about, but once traffic is moving, it's good enough.

[jcal68]

How about a 1.6 Lancer GLX MT

[jut703]

Well, considering outright speed isn't too much of a criteria... then try giving the Mazda3 another look.

On-paper, the power isn't all there... but the 1.5 is just as quick (or as slow) as the Altis 1.6 CVT... and most of the difference to the manual versions is in off-the-line acceleration... because small-engined autos can't be torque-braked successfully.

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If you're talking about in-gear responsiveness and the actual gear-changes themselves, the Mazda3 1.5 is actually pretty snappy... and in traffic, I like the response better than the Mazda3 2.0... where the 1.5 feels more eager and snappier.

If you didn't like it, I can only assume your test drive was around the block? First gear is nothing to write home about, but once traffic is moving, it's good enough.

The Mz3 1.5 still has a very ugly digital tach, and still looks very shortchanged compared to the 2.0. It's a subjective choice, but no way I'd consider an Mz3 that isn't the 2.0.

But even objectively - the Altis is 100k cheaper than the Mz3. The Mz3 1.5 just doesn't spark anything inside me to shell out the extra cash.

The Civic FB 1.8S MT interests me more (as long as it drives as nicely as the FD), although probably not enough to pay an additional 100k, actually more since I have to change rims and add fogs.

100k can already get me a new full-frame SLR and 3 lenses, or enough performance mods for the Altis to match the FB, or a nice vacation abroad, and so on.

All suggestions so far seem to ignore that the Altis G is much cheaper than the rest of the compacts. Only the Sylphy and Lancer GLX are priced similarly, but I don't like either, and resale value of these 2 is nowhere as good.

[ano727]

The Mz3 1.5 still has a very ugly digital tach, and still looks very shortchanged compared to the 2.0. It's a subjective choice, but no way I'd consider an Mz3 that isn't the 2.0.

But even objectively - the Altis is 100k cheaper than the Mz3. The Mz3 1.5 just doesn't spark anything inside me to shell out the extra cash.

The Civic FB 1.8S MT interests me more (as long as it drives as nicely as the FD), although probably not enough to pay an additional 100k, actually more since I have to change rims and add fogs.

100k can already get me a new full-frame SLR and 3 lenses, or enough performance mods for the Altis to match the FB, or a nice vacation abroad, and so on.

All suggestions so far seem to ignore that the Altis G is much cheaper than the rest of the compacts. Only the Sylphy and Lancer GLX are priced similarly, but I don't like either, and resale value of these 2 is nowhere as good.

Lancer GLX AT is now only P750k.

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The Mz3 1.5 still has a very ugly digital tach, and still looks very shortchanged compared to the 2.0. It's a subjective choice, but no way I'd consider an Mz3 that isn't the 2.0.

But even objectively - the Altis is 100k cheaper than the Mz3. The Mz3 1.5 just doesn't spark anything inside me to shell out the extra cash.

The Civic FB 1.8S MT interests me more (as long as it drives as nicely as the FD), although probably not enough to pay an additional 100k, actually more since I have to change rims and add fogs.

100k can already get me a new full-frame SLR and 3 lenses, or enough performance mods for the Altis to match the FB, or a nice vacation abroad, and so on.

All suggestions so far seem to ignore that the Altis G is much cheaper than the rest of the compacts. Only the Sylphy and Lancer GLX are priced similarly, but I don't like either, and resale value of these 2 is nowhere as good.

Lancer GLX AT is now only P750k.

[bjreyesmd]

I guess it's the 1.6G Altis then. But then, I suggest take a 2nd look at the Hyundai Accent CRDi. Take it to a long drive and see how it feels. The interior can be modified to look a bit upscale, just get leather seats and presto. Also, I don't think it's a med rep car anymore, haven't seen med reps in the Accent HB.

[gwapster]

Looks like the TS has his mind set on the Altis from the start, and none of the suggestions here can sway that towards the alternatives. Its human nature, if you really like something your mind looks at the other options but your heart has already decided. Its a clear sign that the Altis is "the one" for you, so go grab it.

The Altis is a good choice anyway. Congrats!

[jut703]

Lancer GLX AT is now only P750k.

Not really keen on cars cheaper than 850k, since the company will be paying for the car. Best deal I have for the Altis right now is 837k so I'll have to find a way to use up the 13k in the form of casa accessories. Sweet spot for pricing is 850-900k as I get to maximize my budget and will only add a little from my own pocket. With the Altis, I won't be shelling out anything at all so I can spend on HID, tint, rims, and maybe black leather seats, while still being cheaper than an Elantra 1.6S or Civic 1.8S or Mz3 1.5V.

Plus, not a fan of the Lancer 1.6. It feels like an afterthought compared to the Lancer GTA, just like the Mz3 1.5. Tiny wheels and different front grille make it look like a second-class citizen compared to the TOTL.

Unlike in cars like the Civic, Altis, and Elantra, where the mid-range variants look respectable enough out of the box, and the TOTL variants just look like upgraded versions with heftier price tags and bigger rims. For the Altis, the 2.0V just looks like a riced-up 1.6G, so I don't feel shortchanged for not going TOTL.

[jut703]

I guess it's the 1.6G Altis then. But then, I suggest take a 2nd look at the Hyundai Accent CRDi. Take it to a long drive and see how it feels. The interior can be modified to look a bit upscale, just get leather seats and presto. Also, I don't think it's a med rep car anymore, haven't seen med reps in the Accent HB.

Drove the Accent CRDi from La Union to Baguio before. It really pulls like a much bigger car, and has no problem getting up to speed, even when fully laden. My problem with the interior is the material they used on the dash and door mouldings, which feel very cheap and aren't easily replaceable.

I still see quite a number of Accent HBs parked outside hospitals with the usual slew of Vioses and Mirage G4s. And besides, the smaller exterior size makes all subcompacts look cheaper to me than the current crop of compacts. I still don't believe in getting a subcompact if a good compact is in the same price range.