Best Compact or Sub-compact car for 275k to 300k

**Free & Accepted** · October 16th, 2012 07:43 PM

Hi Gurus,

I will be buying a second hand car this October, my budget is 275K to 300K.
Please advise for the best car at this price range, requirement is seen below:

1. Low Fuel Consumption
2. Automatic Trans
3. Low Maintenance Cost
4. Comfortablility of the ride
5. Power
6. after 5 years I will sell the car (resale value)

This is for city driving but occational out of town trips for two.

One offer is a Chevy Optra 2008 1.6L but maraming negative traits ang Optra such as malakas ang FC "daw" at sirain "daw" at mahal ang parts, isa pa sirs nakita ko sa Chevy Phil Website wala na ang Optra model dun, does this mean phase out na po ba to?
One other option is Ford Focus 2007 1.6L kaso wala po akong alam sa car na ito baka mas mataas pa ang FC nya sa optra at mas sirain po sir, also, is Aveo a good option sirs?

Really need HELP papatapos na po ang October wala pa rin akong nakukuha sirs.
Baka may mas maganda pang option na alam kayo sirs.
Any advice would be very much appreciated Car gurus.

Cheers,
Free & Accepted

**niky** · October 17th, 2012 10:53 AM

You can' get this:

1. Low Fuel Consumption
3. Low Maintenance Cost
5. Power

with this:

2. Automatic Trans

Most 1.3 to 1.6 liter automatics are, at best, decent on the highway and bad in traffic. At worst, they'll be terrible in traffic. Secondhand ATs in that price range carry with them the potential need to overhaul the transmission.

Also:

6. after 5 years I will sell the car (resale value)

If you buy a car for 300k, expect to only be able to sell it for 150k after five years. That's non- negotiable. Spend an extra 100k to restore it, and you might be able to sell it for 200k.

-

The Optra really has poor consumption. The Aveo, too, in automatic.

The Focus 1.6, I'd only get in manual. A 1.6 with the 4AT is not enough to carry around that heavy, heavy car.

Good picks if you really need an AT are the Toyota Corolla 1.6 (be extra careful with the condition of the engine oil and transmission) or a 1.5 liter Vios/Yaris. Civics are always a decent buy, also.

The Honda City/Jazz is the most economical car in your price range, but I wouldn't buy one with the CVT, not unless you know the owner and the condition of the car. If you're willing to go manual, you won't find a better deal than a 1.3 MT Jazz.

**Egan101** · October 17th, 2012 11:44 AM

Best bets would be a Civic ES (VTi-S) or an Altis. Maybe you can also look at a Lancer MX (Cedia) or a Nissan Grandeur Exalta or a Mazda3.

**Free & Accepted** · October 19th, 2012 09:42 AM

Hi Sirs Niky & Egan101,

Thank you for your recommendations, I will check on sulit or ayosdito for Altis or Civic 2006 or if you know somebody who has a car to sell for this price range please inform me.

Thank you sirs and more power

Cheers,
Free & accepted.

**basti08** · October 19th, 2012 08:03 PM

I'd get the N16 Sentra, the newest you could get. prolly a 2006 or 07 model. If you're lucky, maybe an 08 model. Entry ownershipo model should be the GSX. GS is a better variant though.

**magilas_316** · October 23rd, 2012 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by niky

The Honda City/Jazz is the most economical car in your price range, but I wouldn't buy one with the CVT, not unless you know the owner and the condition of the car. If you're willing to go manual, you won't find a better deal than a 1.3 MT Jazz.

agree ako kay sir niky dito. the car is reliable, matipid sa gas, has a flexible cargo space and most of all, is fun to drive.

**Free & Accepted** · October 24th, 2012 09:36 AM

Thank you for recommendations sirs, if I were to choose a vios 1.5G 2005 model against sentra 1.6 gs A/T, 2007 model which would be a beeter buy sirs?

**1D4LV** · October 24th, 2012 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by Free & Accepted

Thank you for recommendations sirs, if I were to choose a vios 1.5G 2005 model against sentra 1.6 gs A/T, 2007 model which would be a beeter buy sirs?

the Vios...

**basti08** · October 24th, 2012 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by Free & Accepted

Thank you for recommendations sirs, if I were to choose a vios 1.5G 2005 model against sentra 1.6 gs A/T, 2007 model which would be a beeter buy sirs?

Get the better maintained unit. I'd lean towards the Sentra. Since, it has better accomodations. 4 wheel disc, a temperature gauge and an analog cluster (vs digital for Vios), center console box (06-07 Vios only), dual airbags (gen1 Vios no airbag/gen1.5 driver airbag only), autoclimate control (vs manual AC for Vios), bigger trunk. wider and bigger tires (195/60R15 vs 185/55R15 for Vios), plusher upholstery and newer year model.