Help me choose a 2nd Hand SUV Budget 500k

[throwawayact]

A little background first.

• It will serve primarily as a family car (3 kids) but I might use it to drive to the office (though not daily depending on fuel efficiency).
• This is our first car.
• My wife has a very strong preference towards an A/T.
• I know almost nothing about cars but have a few people that I trust and can ask/get help from.
• I cannot go over 500k and intend to sell the car and buy a new/better one in a year or two (my budget constraints will be much better by then)
• My kids like the starex but I think that it's a too big.
• I might also consider buying a sedan if it turns out to be a better choice.

I've been looking at the 2nd Gen CRV, Mazda Tribute, Mitsu Outlander, Ford Escape, Nissan X-Trail and other similar vehicles. I have heard good things about the Crosswind and Revo but (no offense to anyone) I do not like the stylings of either car. I've been reading the theads here and it seems like the 1st gen CRV is a good choice but I hesitate because they obviously will have more wear and tear than newer cars.

What do you guys think? Any tips/comments/advice will be greatly appreciated. TIA

[_Qwerty_]

Why not stretch the budget and get brand new?? since first car kamo and you dont know much about cars.. getting 2nd hand is risky, madaming na ondoy.. baka sumakit lang ulo mo at ma trauma sa 1st car nyo.. 3 kids.. 500T.. you can get a brand new avanza J 1.3.. kaya lang manual yun.. yung matic na avanza nasa 800T+.. konti na lang din..

[throwawayact]

_Qwerty_: Thanks for the reply. Hindi ko ma stretch ung budget ko this year past 500k, madami din ibang expenses. Also, whatever vehicle I buy is likely going to get sold in the next year or two so that I can buy a better one (I will have less budgetary constraints then) hence, depreciation is a major consideration for me. As for the Avanza, tinignan kasi namin un sa Toyota, didn't like it (again no offense to anyone) because it felt cheap, tsaka un nga manual ang (close to) pasok sa budget.

[fullmetal]

kung mahalaga ang resale value sir sa honda crv kana. kaso mga hangang 2003 or 4 lang siguro ang mabibili niyo.

mas ayos kung xtrail nalang. sa budget niyo pwede ng makahanap ng 2005 xtrail 250x tingin tingin lang sa sulit, carfinder, autolink, kotsemo, ayosdito makakahanap ka din ng sariwa

[throwawayact]

fullmetal: Salamat. Hindi naman top consideration ko ung resale value. As long as konti lang ung depreciation. Kung mas ok ng malayo ung x-trail pero slightly lower resale value, I'd choose that over the CRV.

[throwawayact]

Pajero din siguro pwede.

[jhnkvn]

CRV and Xtrail gets my vote. But it would be a shame to go for a second hand. IMO, a less depreciated 2006-2009 subcompact car would be better.

Actually, a secondhand Starex isn't a bad idea. You shouldn't worry about the space, it's actually the biggest selling point of the Starex . The fuel efficiency is offset by the lower prices of diesel compared to unleaded gas...

In fact, I think I would go and recommend a secondhand Starex now. Timeless looks too

[GTi]

A little background first.

• It will serve primarily as a family car (3 kids) but I might use it to drive to the office (though not daily depending on fuel efficiency).
• This is our first car.
• My wife has a very strong preference towards an A/T.
• I know almost nothing about cars but have a few people that I trust and can ask/get help from.
• I cannot go over 500k and intend to sell the car and buy a new/better one in a year or two (my budget constraints will be much better by then)
• My kids like the starex but I think that it's a too big.
• I might also consider buying a sedan if it turns out to be a better choice.

I've been looking at the 2nd Gen CRV, Mazda Tribute, Mitsu Outlander, Ford Escape, Nissan X-Trail and other similar vehicles. I have heard good things about the Crosswind and Revo but (no offense to anyone) I do not like the stylings of either car. I've been reading the theads here and it seems like the 1st gen CRV is a good choice but I hesitate because they obviously will have more wear and tear than newer cars.

What do you guys think? Any tips/comments/advice will be greatly appreciated. TIA

The CRV doesn't look very nice to me, and its known to be a guzzler and have mediocre performance, but being a Honda resale value is not bad. The Tribute/Escape are very nice family vehicles, parts are very durable as compared to the CRV and can withstand long term abuse and if in 4WD trim, even some real offroading. The Outlander that can be bought at 500k is the 1st gen model. It's got that Evo VII chassis but the engine is a major letdown. The X-Trail is the best choice among these, as its got the most room, is youthful and athletic, and offers good performance as well as good resale value. Ever considered the 1st generation Tucson? If you can find one that suits your budget, its a really good car too, with the thriftiness, torque and durability of a diesel. As for the Starex, your kids have made the right choice. I highly suggest you get this car. Its not as long as you think, its just that the hood is short which gives more space for the cabin. It is, in fact, shorter than most midsize SUVs. I suggest you get the 2004 Starex GRX CRDi, some are selling at just SLIGHTLY above 500k. You can forego selling this after a few years as this will serve you very well indeed. That engine will be able to smoke Fortuners and Monteros and still give a more comfortable ride than both!

Here's one at 540k: http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/vi...Hyundai+Starex

[throwawayact]

Looks like its Starex vs. X-Trail. With Starex leading by a hair or two. Hmm... Gonna have to give the Starex a second look. How is it as far as durability is concerned?

[imperialv]

May yaya ka bang sinasama sa trip.. Suggest ko lang get the biggest car that you can get... You may never know that the extra space will be used.

[henyomzky]

sir why not use the 500k for downpayment for brand new SUV or 500k less then estimate na lang by 2 years ang amortization mo will go 500k..

pero for SH starex vs xtrail.
since for kids/family mo naman. Ill suggest the starex. Big space and diesel. Bagay talaga pang pamilya.

[GTi]

Looks like its Starex vs. X-Trail. With Starex leading by a hair or two. Hmm... Gonna have to give the Starex a second look. How is it as far as durability is concerned?

Of course the Starex is more durable than the X-Trail. The Starex, aside from being a people carrier, is used as a WORKHORSE vehicle in Korea. The chassis is the same sort of tough ladder frame used in SUVs, and despite this stll rides more comfortably than any SUV. I'd wager that the Starex would be just as quick or even quicker than the X-Trail and have better fuel mileage. We all know what sort of mileage gas engines with displacements of 2.0L and above get. Besides, if you install a Unichip in the Starex, it'll give an even more dramatic increase in performance and fuel economy.

[throwawayact]

I've started looking at Starex's but I'm confused due to the huge variance in prices. For example http://www.ayosdito.ph/Hyundai+Stare...ic-1693298.htm Hyundai Starex GRX Automatic -05 for only 275k while this one http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/vi...Hyundai+Starex 2004 Hyundai Starex GRX CRDi a/t is going for 540k. What gives?

[GTi]

725k siguro yan? Even 1st generation Starex's don't go for 275k. That one is Turbo Intercooler by the way, and not CRDi. The difference in performance is very big. If its really 275k then its probably an Ondoy'd unit or was involved an accident before. But then if it was repaired to top shape they probably wouldn't sell for that sort of price. If so, I'd be led to believe that it's a stolen unit. Stay away at all costs. The market price of this is at around 500+ to 800+k.

[throwawayact]

GTI: Thanks for the clarification.

[Gerbo]

Most likely, those SVX Starex selling at 200-300T are the so-called "surplus" -units coming from Korea. Usually mga laspag na.

Those selling at 400-600T are the so-called "commercial" units - local secondhand HARI-distributed vehicles.

[Starex_Gold]

Nasa 300-400K ang selling price ng used Starex SVX ngayon (Millenium model, TCi, 2000-2002)

Yung mga 2003 SVX at older model na Club nasa 400K pataas..