Shopping for a new car can be a stressful process, especially if you’re not sure of what to consider before buying a car. Coupled with the hundreds, or even thousands of car models available on the market, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the options you have to go through. To help you find the right car for your needs, we compiled three simple but essential questions you should ask yourself.
1. What is Your Budget?
The most important factor to consider before buying a car is your budget. Key factors to consider when buying a car include:
- the price of the car;
- the monthly loan repayment amount; and
- the ownership cost which includes the fuel, maintenance, insurance, road tax, and even toll costs.
As a general rule of thumb, it’s recommended that you spend no more than 15 percent of your monthly income on your monthly loan repayment.
To help you estimate how much you’ll need to spend on your loan repayment, you can use CARSOME’s Financing Tool. You can find this tool on all of our car product pages. Simply select a car on our website that you like and scroll down the page to use the tool.
Example of CARSOME’s financing prediction tool on a car listing
2. Do You Want a National or Imported Car Brand?
When it comes to deciding between car brands, most Malaysian buyers will consider these three options: local car brands, Asian or Japanese brands, and continental brands.
But before deciding on a brand, it’s important to identify your lifestyle, your purpose for owning a car, and how much the car’s brand matters to you. Below is a breakdown of some of the top car brands to help you decide which is right for you.
Malaysian Car Brands
Malaysia’s two national car brands, Proton and Perodua, have taken the top spot as best-selling cars in the country for good reason – they are affordable, reliable, and easy to maintain. While local cars have previously been regarded as low quality with limited features, cars such as the Perodua Myvi and Proton X50 prove that local carmakers are stepping up their game.
Current models now have exciting designs, high build quality, and even advanced safety features such as Perodua’s Advanced Safety Assist (A.S.A) suite of safety features.
Asian Car Brands
Asian car brands such as Japanese and Korean brands are very common on Malaysian roads as they offer a good balance of affordability and quality. These brands are also known for being market leaders in introducing new vehicle features and technologies to the average consumer.
Vehicles from brands such as Toyota and Honda are also well known for their reliability and fuel efficiency. Popular Asian car brands include Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai.
Continental Car Brands
These refer to European automotive brands such as BMW and Volvo. Some of the best continental car brands come from countries such as Germany, France, and The United Kingdom. While continental car brands are more expensive than others, they also tend to have quality, high-powered engines, luxurious designs, and advanced features.
Due to the larger engines found in many luxury continental cars, they also tend to have higher fuel consumption. Some popular continental car brands include BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Mini, and Audi.
Read More: Pre-owned Cars Misconceptions Busted
3. What Car Body Style Would Fit Your Needs?
One important factor to consider before buying a car is the body type of the car that best fits your needs. The ideal car needs to have enough passenger room and cargo space, and also be able to handle
Sedan
A sedan or saloon is the most traditional type of car. It typically has four doors, seating for five people, and a decently sized boot. These characteristics make the sedan a great all-rounder as it’s able to fit almost anyone’s needs. Sedans also have a lower center of gravity which allows them to be stable on the road, especially when taking corners. Further contributing to the versatility of sedans is their wide range of sizes. From the compact Perodua Bezza to the spacious Honda Accord, you can’t go wrong with a sedan.
Hatchback
A typical hatchback has similar passenger space as a sedan but with a squared-off rear roof resulting in smaller boot space. A hatchback is great for city and short-distance driving as it has a compact size making it easy to maneuver in traffic and tight spaces.
Being compact and lightweight, hatchbacks also tend to have good fuel economy, which is why cars like the Perodua Axia and Myvi are so popular in Malaysia. Other hatchbacks worth checking out include the Proton Iriz, Suzuki Swift, and Toyota Yaris.
Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV)
SUVs have been all the rage in recent years thanks to their spaciousness and higher ground clearance. Many drivers also like the commanding view of the road that comes with the tall ride height of an SUV. However, since many SUVs are heavy and have a higher center of gravity, they tend to have higher fuel consumption and are less stable when taking corners at speed.
While most modern SUVs are designed for city driving, some, such as the Subaru Forester can handle light off-roading. Popular SUVs include the Honda HR-V, Honda CR-V, and Mazda CX-5.
Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
MPVs are people carriers and are designed to carry six or more passengers without sacrificing comfort. With their large passenger and cargo space, MPVs are perfect for large families or for families who go on frequent road trips and value their luggage space.
You could even fit an extra monitor or two in an MPV so your rear passengers can enjoy their favorite shows while on the road. MPVs range from more budget-friendly options like the Proton Exora to luxury vehicles such as the Toyota Alphard.
Pickup Truck
Pickup trucks are the ultimate utility vehicle. They are not only designed to carry large cargo on their open cargo bed but can also handle various terrains including muddy roads and tougher off-road terrains.
Many pickup trucks have all-wheel or four-wheel drive to make off-road driving easier which is why they are popular with people who frequently travel out of the city. Besides the Toyota Hilux, popular pickup trucks in Malaysia include the Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara.
Read More: Different Car Body Styles Explained
Find Your Ideal Car Easily with CARSOME’s Car Finder Tool
By knowing what to consider before buying a car, we hope you can better narrow down your car choices.
But to make it easier for you, we have launched CARSOME’s Car Finder Tool on our website, which helps recommend the right cars for you based on your answers to three simple questions.
CARSOME’s Car Finder Tool on our website – highlighted in red.
You can find this tool on our website’s homepage. Here’s how it works:
- Click on the “Answer 3 Questions Now” button.
- You’ll be given three simple questions to answer.
- Once you’ve selected your answers to the questions, our system will suggest the best cars that suit your requirements. From here, you can easily browse our inventory which has been tailored according to your preference.
Here is an example of recommended cars provided by our Car Finder tool.
The best part is that all the recommended vehicles are CARSOME Certified. CARSOME Certified cars have gone through our strict 175-point inspection and professional refurbishment process to ensure they have safety beyond standard, complete comfort, and refurbished aesthetics.
Additionally, for complete peace of mind, all our cars also come with a fixed price and no hidden fees for full transparency, a five-day money-back guarantee, and a one-year warranty.
So what are you waiting for? Check out our Car Finder tool and find your dream car today!
