i now have a shortlist:

ford lynx ghia (737k m/t; 770k a/t - less 60-80k discount)
altis 1.6E (762k m/t; 792k a/t - less P55k discount)
chevy optra (675k m/t; 715k a/t)

can't decide between manual and automatic, but leaning towards the automatic.

ford lynx and the chevy optra cost almost the same, with all the safety and other extra features (ABS-EBD, in dash cd player, 6 speakers etc). same concerns about price and availability of parts as well as service costs. the optra has the 2 years free PMS plus 3 years/100 kms warranty (as opposed to the lynx's 2 years/50k). should this assuage my fear about parts and service? at least for the first 2 years?

i like the optra's exterior but prefer the lynx's interior. the altis will be my safe choice, if i decide to be less adventurous with my money.