Hello Niky:

Tks very much for your very good analysis of our local second hand car market. You must be right. If only there was money for more than one car....the one size fits all car has not yet been invented. I started off looking for either a van or a small light economical automatic car. The sure thing now is whatever I get it has to be an automatic car/van.

2nd the choice is between space and size like a starex or compactness like a Jazz or an M3 hatchback. The Jazz is perfect if I had a budget to later on buy a real van, but I dont want to buy a 7 - 10 yr old starex with all its repair problems/engine smoke beching lack of power problems...

This is what got me interested in the Zafira, a an occasional 7 seater, good driveable size, automatic, handling is ok, only question was maintenance...and price. I cant find one now in good condition at php 400 - 450k....

Now what if I considered a 03-04 XTRail or a 05 Innova? Naku naligaw na ba ko? I am hoping cost is wtihin the same Php 600 - 700 k budget.
The Xtrail is autotrans, FC city use for the 2.0 4x2 is about 6.5 - 7.5 km/liter they say? Totto ba? The Innova diesel automatic would be say 7.5 - 8 km/liter city drive? I am thinking of these 2 as alternate to a starex CRDi(too expensive at Php 800 to 900k).