Brand New vs. Used Cars

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March 18, 2007 · by Sonnie · Cars

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Before I had my new car, my father advised me to just buy a good second hand car. Considering that am just a new driver, he was concerned that I might wreck a brand new car.

T’was a sound advise, though given the circumstances at that moment and the cost involve, it seems buying a new non Toyota nor Honda car would be better. Besides, it seems Manila don’t have dealers yet as comprehensive as that of the used cars of San Diego

My wife and I have visited showrooms of Hyundai and Kia. I talked to agents of Toyota and Nissan hoping we could get a reasonable price for a sedan. No, we would not settle for Getz, Jazz, Aveo or Picanto because it may be small for a family of four.

The gasoline powered Hyundai Accent was not yet available at that time, so I almost ended up with Toyota Vios. Until we were advised that the 2006 Kia Rio will be rolled out to the market. I searched the internet and saw the pictures and read the features. Soon, am test driving the car. After that, we have arranged for a sapphire blue, sedan variant of 2006 Kia Rio. Technology is Euro compliant, an all powered 1.4 engine at a price lower than Toyota Vios 1.3 J (taxi edition).

My car is almost a year old now. Am satisfied with it’s performance except for fuel efficiency. My father was almost correct with his assumptions, except that I have not wrecked the new car. Likewise, I was spared of the usual headaches of some 2nd hand car buyers. But you will hear more from me if buying the vastly improved Kia cars is indeed sound or not.

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3 Responses to “Brand New vs. Used Cars”

1. vinvin June 21, 2007 at 7:55 AM

   

   hi! i’m also thinkin’ of buying my very first car. a second hand one. i’m eyein’ chevy aveo, hyundai getz, or kia picanto. since i’m just a fresh grad and i don’t have a family like you, such cars i think are enough for me. i don’t have a license yet. i just finished a driving course. and i found out that i’m not into driving sedans. i like small cars. do you think i should buy a second hand or a new one?

   thanks!

2. Sonnie June 21, 2007 at 9:21 AM

   

   Hi Vinvin,

   If you have the means, go for the brand new car and if budget is not the problem go for either Toyota (Aris? Am not sure how they call their picanto Jazz type car) or Honda Jazz. But if budget is a little consideration, for city driving you can get a Picanto 1.1 engine. That’s the best buy. If you’ll take your car anywhere, then get the Hyundai Getz 1.3 – 1.4 engine.

   Buying a brand new car will spare you from headaches and unnecessary expense for the next 3 – 5 years.

3. dann June 22, 2011 at 10:06 PM

   

   i’ve always opted for a good 2nd hand v.s. a brand new one.

   5 years ago, 2006, we bought a 2005 model nissan GX, with less than 10k mileage. kept it in good condition, casa maintained, and never gave us any problem, in fact for 5 years we never had any major mechanical/electrical problem. we just regularly brought it to nissan mantrade every 5,000 km for PMS.

   we sold the car two weeks ago, and bought a late 2010 model mazda3 1.6L Vspec 5 door hatchback, only 6k kms mileage for 300k less than a brand new same model.

   before we decided on the hatchback, we did the usual showroom hopping of the new cars model. but the lower spec model (S spec) of mazda3 sedan is 865K. a brand new mazda3 1.6L hatchback V spec is 960K

   on comparison to what we got, a brand new mazda2, toyota vios, honda city, toyota yaris, ford fiesta (all automatic variants) are from in the 800k (give or take 30k ) price range.