I like the solio, lots of headroom for my big head (nice) and big mirrors… but the engine is small…
Mazda looks okay, has a decent engine, I think, but not many frills…
Toyota vios, a popular choice, recommended by Taxi drivers…
Nissan: bigger engine, but I don’t like the interiors… too much fake wood.
What extras are worth asking for?
Any things to consider since I’m a neophyte in this area?
Kenneth
In my purely subjective opinion…
The Nissan is a good workhorse, interior is kind of tacky, but it’s a reliable car and cheap to service/fix. The Toyota is a bit more refined, but I hate the way the power everything is set up for a 45kg weakling. No feel in the brakes or steering, and the suspension is very soggy too. Parts and labor are a bit higher than the Nissan.
The Suzuki is a hairdresser’s accessory, not a car. Flimsy, nasty POS. Avoid like HIV.
Mazda 2 is a rebadged Ford Fiesta with a higher trim level. Not bad for a little runabout. Service via Ford at low cost. IIRC they’re built in Spain.
A 1.5 or 1.6 is okay for putting around town, but if you do any time on the freeway or want to climb hills with the ac on, you’d be happier with a 1.8.
I have a Nissan Sentra 1.6 STA that I bought new about 6 years ago. Apart from regular 5K services, and some new tyres, it has yet to require any work done to it whatsoever – touch wood.
Of course, it drives like a boat and lacks any kind of poke or fun, but its been all over the island many times without problems, up hill and down dale, is possibly THE most non-descript car on the roads these days, so you don’t tend to get hassled by the cops, and tacky interior or not, it’s pretty comfortable, with leather seats, good AC, 12-CD changer, lots of beer – I mean cup – holders, and a nice flat dash behind the steering wheel makes skinning up on the move a breeze.
I’ve never really felt constrained by the (very) small engine on the freeway and it’ll happily cruise at 130kph, if that’s your bag and you can afford the speeding tickets. I’ve had it up to about 165kph (going downhill with a stiff tailwind ), but it wasn’t a lot of fun.
It can sometimes get a bit wheezy on very steep mountain roads but it always makes it.
On the whole, I’ve been reasonably happy with mine, given that it’s not an Audi TT.
The Suzuki has got to be the ugliest POS on the road today…Especially when decked out in punk form and lowered.
I’d go with the Toyota or Nissan. But as earlier posters have mentioned, they are all pretty generic (boring) vehicles. Since you mentioned good A/C as a purchasing priority, then nods probably go to the Toyota.
Is it just me, or are they all starting to look the same? :s
[quote=“sandman”]I have a Nissan Sentra 1.6 STA that I bought new about 6 years ago. …
I’ve never really felt constrained by the (very) small engine on the freeway and it’ll happily cruise at 130kph[/quote]The gen 2 ones like yours are quick enough, not being as heavy or laden with smog widgets
But in terms of looks, it is just a Toyota. Don’t know about the Mazda 2, but their designs for the new 6 and the new 3 are pretty nice. Exteriors are sleek with nice lines, interiors are spacious and functional.
As for extras, you can go for 3M glazing on the windows, mags, multiple CD (got a Blaupunkt 10 CD when I bought my Volkswagen for paying cash), or leather seats. Be careful though, the leather seats they offer as an extra are usually not very good quality (Pleather?)
A little off topic but if I want to buy a new car here ( being a foreigner and all) how do you pay for it
Can you get a loan, higher purchase etc? or do you need a GURANTOR?
[quote=“TNT”]A little off topic but if I want to buy a new car here ( being a foreigner and all) how do you pay for it
Can you get a loan, higher purchase etc? or do you need a GURANTOR?[/quote]It’s been a few years now, but at the time only Citibank would finance me, and I did have to have a guarantor. The side-benefit was that a week after the car loan went through, they called and offered a credit card.
This reminds me, it’s about time to go shopping for new wheels
[quote=“hsiadogah”][quote=“TNT”]A little off topic but if I want to buy a new car here ( being a foreigner and all) how do you pay for it
Can you get a loan, higher purchase etc? or do you need a GURANTOR?[/quote]It’s been a few years now, but at the time only Citibank would finance me, and I did have to have a guarantor. The side-benefit was that a week after the car loan went through, they called and offered a credit card.
This reminds me, it’s about time to go shopping for new wheels [/quote]
), but it wasn’t a lot of fun.
Don’t know about the Mazda 2, but their designs for the new 6 and the new 3 are pretty nice. Exteriors are sleek with nice lines, interiors are spacious and functional.
