Buying Car

Three years ago... when my previous car, the Proton Waja WJA 8262 is in bad condition, I decided to buy a new car.

I don't have much experience when it comes to personal car as I was lucky because ever since I was 18, my dad bought a car and I am the main driver of the car, the Ford Telstar MR6882. Its the family car and hence I am the family driver.

So, I have been driving the Ford until it is totally in very, very bad condition that I decided to get a new car. So, that is how I bought the Proton Waja.

I have used the Proton Waja for about 5 years. The Waja started to give me trouble. So, I decided its time for me to get a new car.

Why do I decide to buy a new car? This was because through my experience with the Ford. Dad bought the Ford. We have been using it as a family car. Dad really took good care of the Ford and the Ford is always in tip top condition.

Because of its good condition, we never think of selling off the Ford. Only after using the Ford for about 12 years, the car started to give us trouble. By the time, it was already too late for us to sell off the Ford because it has no more value. So, that is how I decided to buy the Proton Waja.

The Ford is still being used till today by Leong. I decided to give it to Leong since I have the new Waja.

So... because of the bad experience with the Ford, I was thinking a car is after all a car. The value will depreciate some way some how. It is always good to have a new car not more than 5 years because usually after 5 years the car will start to give all kind of problem. That is how I decided to sell off the Waja and get a new car.

But then which car to buy?

I have made a few visits to a few car show rooms. Finally, myself and Joanne decided to buy the Naza Ria.

The reason I buy the Naza Ria is because it is a MPV which can accomodates 7 people. And best of all it has a television set which I thought will be very good for Jia Chen. So, without thinking much I bought the Naza Ria for RM109 000.

At the initial stage of using the Naza Ria, I was very happy with the condition of the Naza Ria. It is very stable and very comfortable for driving. The only slack of the car is that the car consumed quite a lot of petrol. But then I was thinking, after all I don't drive much and the price of petrol is affordable, so it is still all right.

But after 2 years of using the Naza Ria, suddenly there is this world petrol crisis. The price of the petroluem increased tremendously. So, this is when I started to regret buying this car. So, I decided to sell off this car.

When I wanted to sell off the car, I got the shocked of my life. The salesman quote me only RM60 000 for the car. This means that the car value has depreciated near to 50%. I felt very angry. I wanted to dispose of this car but I cant now because if I sell off the car at RM60 000, I will need to fork out more money to pay to the bank. This is because the car loan is more than the selling price.

So, I have no choice but to keep the Naza Ria as it is right up till today. I really regret very much for not survey much when buying the car. So here is my advice when buying a car.

First of all it is very important to buy a reliable brand and economical petrol consuming car. Just like Joanne's current car, the Toyota Vios. I felt that she made a very wise decision to buy this car because this car is very save on petrol consumtion and best of all it is from a very reliable brand Toyota.

As from what I know and heard, almost every Korean car consumes a lot of petrol. Worst still is that the Korean car has no second hand value.

Please remember that if ever consider to buy a national car, never ever buy a brand new model. I had my problem with the Waja because it is a brand new model. The Gen 2 also gave a lot of people a lot of trouble. Kim Hoe also had a lot trouble with his Perodua Viva which is a brand new model in the market. Generally, Malaysia national car new model in the market always giving the consumer a lot of troubles.

If I have the choice again to buy a car, I will buy a car which is accomodative enough and also economical in petrol consumption. So, currently best choice is to buy the Perodua Myvi.

But then, I have no choice and got stuck with the Naza Ria. I cant sell off the car as it has no market value at all. The petrol consumtion of the car is really killing. I have only regrets for I cant buy another car due to the loan as well.

So, my another advise is that when comes to buy a car, buy the one which is affordable and save in petrol consumption. Never think of big car as to show off. Never buy big cars as the depreciation value is too great. It is better to invest in buying a house rather than buying a big car.

Remember.. house is always an asset. House will never depreciate in value. So, when it comes to buy property, buy big house but buy small car.