Oh Toh 07 Feb 10

Dear Readers, if you want some advice about buying a car, please ask our colleague Master Oh Toh. If you're emailing it, please send to cars@nstp.com.my, by post: Mr. Oh Toh, Cars, Bikes & Trucks, Balai Berita, 31 Jalan Riong, 59100 Kuala Lumpur. Fax 03-22820840. For more on Master Oh Toh's advice, visit cbt.com.myGoing the sporty way

Hilux versus Triton

QUESTION:

I have decided to buy a truck as my first car.

I cannot decide between the manual versions of the Toyota Hilux and the Mitsubishi Triton.

The Hilux seems to be a good buy for its proven track record, reliability and good resale value.

However, I'm attracted to the Triton's looks, inside and outside.

It's a few thousand ringgit cheaper and easier to handle when I test drove it.

Both are spacious enough.

It will be used for normal town/highway driving as well as rubber estate dirt roads, and not much of actual off-roading.

- KVE

ANSWER:

Your mind seems to have been made up already and you are most probably heading for a Mitsubishi showroom in the near future.

QUESTION:

I am looking for a secondhand Toyota Celica.

A secondhand unit from year 2001 to 2004 is sold at around RM100,000.

Is it easy to resell the car when the car goes beyond 10 years?

- Eddy

ANSWER:

Any limited car like the Celica (limited in available numbers in the country) will have selling issues after 10 year as financing will not be the easiest since most finance companies will not offer financing for cars beyond 10 years.

Reselling the car would probably mean higher depreciation from year 12 onwards.

You can now buy a used Celica VVT-I from RM85,000, which is quite good value considering its new selling price 10 years ago.

QUESTION:

My 19-year-old nephew has just got his driving licence and is planning to buy a car.

His father had considered either the Myvi or the Viva for him.

In terms of handling and maintenance as well as his driving inexperience, which car would be a better choice?

- Concerned Aunt

ANSWER:

A good aunt you are and I advise your nephew's father to buy him a used Kelisa.

This is to enable your nephew to learn to own and maintain a car and after a few years, he can sell that car and use the money as a downpayment to get his next car.

I do believe that the Kelisa is one of the best products to come from Perodua with a rock solid reliability record, low maintenance and frugal fuel economy.

In fact, I rate it higher than a new Viva.

Also, it is better to give a new licence holder a used car.