Some points which I would like to comment:
Originally posted by flash9933:
My opinion:
2003 Corolla 1.6A ($54K - $58K)
PRO
1) brand reliability
2) better resale value (based on 65% OMV)
Not exactly to our advantage. A higher OMV meant a slightly
higher scrap value which makes resellability a problem when the
buyer compares this to the deck-low prices of the new car prices.
My friend's 2002 VTi which has a 130% OMV was deemed too high in
terms of scrap value so dealer can't afford to take in and resell.
In the end, it was traded-in to be de-reg for export; worthing only
4k above its scrap value...
3) good FC
CON
1) car shall be hitting a mileage which require you to change
timing belt?
Toyota Engines do not have timing belts. VVTi uses Timing
Chain that do not require replacement at regular
intervals.
2) wear and tear starts to surface: tyres, brake pads/disc etc as
warranty going to end
3) higher interest rate (3.125%)
New Cerato/Matrix ($51999/$5188
PRO
1) smell of new car
2) warranty
For the Cerato, the 100,000km warranty comes with the most
expensive servicing charges by C&C so u may like to take note
of it...
3) lower interest rate
CON
1) heavy car thus FC higher
Yes. The Matrix weighs 1260kg while the Cerato weighs
1274kg. In contrast, the Civic weighs 1160kg, the Altis 1175kg, the
Lancer 1085kg, the City 1090kg and the Vios 980kg. Naturally becos
of its weight, it will bring you to the kiosk more often than jap
car owners...
2) lower scrap value as COE is low and 55% OMV
As mentioned above, got good got bad. The Parf will
continue to decline with the decrement of the ARF imposed on new
cars; Question is which FY will the government implement that. In
the long run, car owners of 55% OMV scrap system will still lugi
somehow...
3) poor resale value of Korean cars in the market
Agreed. Look at Hyundai advertises its car every sat in the
classified. They kept slashing prices like nobody's business. At
this rate u may get to c a 45k price tag for a 1.6L Matrix by end
of the year (provided COE continues its current trend). There is
absolutely zero points for customer loyalty as those who had bought
Hyundai cars see their cars depreciating faster than continental
cars... The dealer is solely interested to keep its current 2nd
best seller position while striving for the 1st so volume
counts.
