MT car for 200k and below

[DNA25]

Hello, any manual sedan/crossover/small suv that’s good for beginners? I’ve always driven AT cars and would really love to get a manual. My current daily is an NX and a Forester as coding car so this would mostly be used during weekends or when I have some free time. I’ve seen 10+ year old MT cars that fit my budget but I’m not sure if they are safe enough for a noob like me.

Priority as follows:

- reliability (wouldn’t break down on me)
- learning curve (i’ve been told not all MTs are made the same?)
- fun factor (something that would not make me swear off manual transmissions)
- resalability (I don’t really plan to keep it for too long)

I’m not sure if the budget and the list above makes sense but I’d be really grateful for your inputs.

Salamat po

[jut703]

Hello, any manual sedan/crossover/small suv that’s good for beginners? I’ve always driven AT cars and would really love to get a manual. My current daily is an NX and a Forester as coding car so this would mostly be used during weekends or when I have some free time. I’ve seen 10+ year old MT cars that fit my budget but I’m not sure if they are safe enough for a noob like me.

Priority as follows:

- reliability (wouldn’t break down on me)
- learning curve (i’ve been told not all MTs are made the same?)
- fun factor (something that would not make me swear off manual transmissions)
- resalability (I don’t really plan to keep it for too long)

I’m not sure if the budget and the list above makes sense but I’d be really grateful for your inputs.

Salamat po

Fun MT car would be the GK Jazz 1.5V. Sells for about 400k these days. Ticks all your boxes.

Best not to get anything older than 10 years old (so a 200k budget really won't cut it).

If you want a project car, gen 1 Miata is also really good but quite hard to find an unmolested unit these days, and even a well maintained Miata is still a 20+ year old car.

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[Egan101]

Or maybe a Fiesta MT? Resale value is quite low for Ford cars.


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[dr. d]

Hello, any manual sedan/crossover/small suv that’s good for beginners? I’ve always driven AT cars and would really love to get a manual. My current daily is an NX and a Forester as coding car so this would mostly be used during weekends or when I have some free time. I’ve seen 10+ year old MT cars that fit my budget but I’m not sure if they are safe enough for a noob like me.

Priority as follows:

- reliability (wouldn’t break down on me)
- learning curve (i’ve been told not all MTs are made the same?)
- fun factor (something that would not make me swear off manual transmissions)
- resalability (I don’t really plan to keep it for too long)

I’m not sure if the budget and the list above makes sense but I’d be really grateful for your inputs.

Salamat po

an early altis or a newer sentra.
i had a 90s sentra, and i have a 2003 altis. nice, reliable, "no surprises" cars.

hey! we're getting the sentra cheap, so we should not complain too much about its low resale value.

[Dr.Kamiya]

With a 200k budget the car you buy will be fully depreciated already, or close to it. Losing money on resale shouldn't be a problem, it's the maintenance you should be worried about.

[Dr.Kamiya]

My recommendation for this category is the 6th gen Galant GTi. Good ones are just a bit over 100k, so you'll have plenty left over for maintenance. 4G63 engine is a peach, and there's the option to swap in a 63T.

[travajante]

My recommendation for this category is the 6th gen Galant GTi. Good ones are just a bit over 100k, so you'll have plenty left over for maintenance. 4G63 engine is a peach, and there's the option to swap in a 63T.

I remember the servo on those.

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[JohnM]

I remember the servo on those.

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The pain!!! Never got around to replacing the servo on our 4g92. Made do with an idle up hobo fix until we sold it. Later versions of the engine (flipped orientation and distributorless) had more robust parts IIRC.

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[travajante]

The pain!!! Never got around to replacing the servo on our 4g92. Made do with an idle up hobo fix until we sold it. Later versions of the engine (flipped orientation and distributorless) had more robust parts IIRC.

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Hehe...true. More painful when parts can no longer be had.

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[dr. d]

Hehe...true. More painful when parts can no longer be had.

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ah!
the travails of an orphan car user!
fond memories..

i wouldn't wish this, even to my enemies.

[rodracing]

96-98 Honda Civic Vti would be in that price range. Look for the best maintained one that you can find. Close to stock as possible. Parts (new and surplus) are abundant. I have a 99Vti MT as my 2nd car and we use it as a daily driver, malambot ang clutch (stock).

[hardwang]

96-98 Honda Civic Vti would be in that price range. Look for the best maintained one that you can find. Close to stock as possible. Parts (new and surplus) are abundant. I have a 99Vti MT as my 2nd car and we use it as a daily driver, malambot ang clutch (stock).

Mahirap maghanap ng stock halos na civic na 90s. Madalas sa mga binabenta na civic na ganyang year model pa rezing rezing ang porma. IÂ’m thinking bugbog na din, I know some owners who think their civics are race cars. Mga fast and furious/need for speed na generation. 😂

Ang maganda dyan, tignan din yung owner.. dapat may edad na din tapos mukhang maalaga. I sold my uncleÂ’s civic and it was in very good condition. 100% stock. Swerte nakabili nun, sold for only 160k. After around 2 months nakita ko binebenta ulit sa net, napalitan na ng gold na rims tapos may spoiler na. Kapal pa ng mukha, ginawang 200k yung presyo. 🤦*♂️ Napasabi ako ng P.I. Pinapangit na nga, minahalan pa.

[sean-archer]

200k is more than enough for a good "big body" corolla including repairs.

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[Egan101]

Get something newer as possible. Like cars with low resale value - Sentra, Focus, Fiesta, Lancer. I admire people who has kept their 90s era Corollas or Civics in good shape but you’re not sure to get one that is properly taken cared of.


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[Deestone]

I was on the look also for a 2nd hand car and 200k is my bottom price at first but opted for a 2-3 yr old car basic sedan but I have to add to my budget in the long run it will be less headache maintenance wise.

[dr. d]

I was on the look also for a 2nd hand car and 200k is my bottom price at first but opted for a 2-3 yr old car basic sedan but I have to add to my budget in the long run it will be less headache maintenance wise.

you might stumble onto a well-maintained corolla gli, early altis, or sentra.
having experienced these cars myself, i find them well-designed and offer few unsurmountable surprises, even if old.
efi cars are potentially less problematic than carburator-ed ones.
MT are potentially less problematic than AT.

[12vdc]

A 1999 Zuk Esteem



Or a disposable big-body corolla ex taxi that was being sold 3 for P100k(some 5yrs ago?)

[Deestone]

you might stumble onto a well-maintained corolla gli, early altis, or sentra.
having experienced these cars myself, i find them well-designed and offer few unsurmountable surprises, even if old.
efi cars are potentially less problematic than carburator-ed ones.
MT are potentially less problematic than AT.

I used to drive MT before but after driving an AT I find it much easier especially when you are on the phone or navigating your waze. It is just that it is more costly to repair AT compared to MT. Does manual transmission generally last longer?

[dr. d]

A 1999 Zuk Esteem



Or a disposable big-body corolla ex taxi that was being sold 3 for P100k(some 5yrs ago?)

frankencar!

i can see it now...
buy-3-cannibalize-and-assemble-one-functioning-car!

my advice to ex-taxi buyers:
buy it if you want to be comprehensively educated in auto-mechanics.
i will guarantee, after it, hindi ka na matatakot bumili ng iba pang kotse.

heh heh.

[dr. d]

Does manual transmission generally last longer?

i believe so.
one look at the MT's component parts, and comparing it to the AT's component parts,
the MT parts are beefier, but not entirely maintenance-free. the release bearing.. the clutch/pressure plate..