Small car for a lady

[Tiger1]

The Ignition Coil failure is know issue for ZC21s, ZC31s and ZC11s model. So far most swift owners I know got it around their 6th to 7th year. Mine happened 2 years back in the middle of the road. I suggest you get yours checked soon.

 

The rest is Heng sway. MAF sensor quite easy to fry too.

Ain't these items all wear n tear of every cars? Bottom line ...yes, Swift might be a little rough after a number of yrs and might not age as well as JAZZ but...it is a damn tough cheap car.

 

My wife likes to be driven in my 5 series but when I ask if she would change car with me, she said she is happi with her $60 full tank as compare to mine which is easily more than $100 per fill up.

 

Swift good and cheap la.

[Genes]

I would recommend the Vios too.

[Baal]

 

My Swift is 150k mileage. replace tonnes of wear and tear. Also MAF sensor, ignition coil, AC cooling coil.

Able to share a brief history of what went wrong over the span of 150k mileage, the parts involved & cost. Thanks.

[Quantum]

 

my BIL said quite underpowered but easy to drive. He drove his wife's family car. Seems like the car is always in ECO mode or something lol.

 

Hmm since u want resale. If you ask me, i would just buy a toyota vios. Easy to buy, easy to sell if your job doesn't work out.

Unlikely to have any major mechanical issues other than wear and tear. GB and engine are as unbreakable as it gets.

If u want to trade in for a new car after ur job becomes more stable or what. Really nothing beats a toyota in the B&B category when it comes to easy resale/trade in.

 

mazdas have shitty resale/trade in value.

Koreans (kia picanto) is going to overpriced by the 2nd hand dealers cos they aiming for the people who can barely afford to drive.

Toyota has a premium in resale market but it's a well justified premium when u are reselling the car again.

picanto has very good resale value, many students like it

[SimonLam]

TS,

 

For first time lady driver going into a sales job, I suggest:

 

1. Take (book) cab until your job is stabilize, after confirmation. Some sales jobs are very volatile and go for monthly targets.

2. Check your budget, especially how much you can afford the initial down payment. By regulation, you can only borrow up to 5 years with 60% loan max (for small cars). Work out your monthly installment numbers.

3. Go for common Japanese car model in SG

- Jazz is great choice for lady drivers (you see many selling Jazz were lady drivers). Good about Jazz: MIJ. Spare parts and servicing easy to find in SG (lower maintenance costs), nifty and easy to drive and park. Fuel efficient (low running cost - can eat any 92/95/98 petrol). Great storage space too. Bad about Jazz: No backside, but you are driving alone, so should be ok. High insurance - Honda brand and Jazz also consider as 'mod/speedster magnet'

- Fit is parallel import model with lesser features

- Vios should good choice.

4. Avoid Continental Cars, your budget does not permit that. Maintenance cost also a nightmare.

 

If you can afford down payment, go for agent cars that almost 3 years old (end of agent warranty) with proper servicing records. You can choose to continue servicing at agent if you are not familiar with this area (of cos higher cost but peace of mind).

 

If you cannot afford down payment in cash, then go for 7-8 year old car, but budget for more wear and tear maintenance.

 

Note: never takeover a modded vehicle, if you are not familiar. Go for stock model.

 

Last but not least, if you drive, please practice defensive driving and safe driving. Safety always No.1.

 

 

Hope this help.

 

Edited October 22, 2014 by SimonLam

[Super7]

Yes, our swift is parked in the open air cp most of the time. Didnt note the fading since I barely drive it. But when it was in my hands for 4-5 days, the handling is good & the engine note is sweet/racy at high revs.

The good thing is the FC, even I often use my heavy right foot whenever I can to whack the gas pedal, is still good eg 13km/l !!

 

So far no major repairs, touch wood.

[Shibadog]

just had dinner with a friend (doing sales job) who shared that he was thinking of changing car as the monthly instalment quite siong.

 

it's a 2+year old c180, bought brand new with max loan.

 

after some back of the envelope calculations, he concluded that he can't afford to sell it bcos he will need to top up approx. 40k to bank *sweat* And still gotta think abt paying dp for the replacement car.....

 

so yeah, proper budgeting, including simulation of "what if need to sell" situations is useful to prevent future surprises.

[Chowyunfatt]

just had dinner with a friend (doing sales job) who shared that he was thinking of changing car as the monthly instalment quite siong.

 

it's a 2+year old c180, bought brand new with max loan.

 

after some back of the envelope calculations, he concluded that he can't afford to sell it bcos he will need to top up approx. 40k to bank *sweat* And still gotta think abt paying dp for the replacement car.....

 

so yeah, proper budgeting, including simulation of "what if need to sell" situations is useful to prevent future surprises.

Sales job buy C180 ... It's that a little extravagant? ... FC isn't great also ...

 

Just saying ...

[Chowyunfatt]

I believe not often the salepeople do calculation after such a long 2 years+.

When your finances are in a mess ... You will calculate ... Often too late ...

[Kangadrool]

depends on company, industry and what kind of sales.

 

Some have very generous petrol and car allowances.

 

Sales job buy C180 ... It's that a little extravagant? ... FC isn't great also ...

Just saying ...

 

[Super7]

I confess to lack confidence in their road adhersion/braking performance. First car crashed partly due to road adhersion. Test-drive 2nd car almost flipped over.

How did you almost flip during test drive, doing World Rally Championship stunts??!

[Super7]

I believe not often the salepeople do calculation after such a long 2 years+.

He's a salesperson in illegal drugs industry? That's why can 'afford' a C180?

[Baal]

The good thing is the FC, even I often use my heavy right foot whenever I can to whack the gas pedal, is still good eg 13km/l !!

 

So far no major repairs, touch wood.

Glad to hear. Now I am even more keen to swop car.

 

But when i drive the SS 1.5A over the 4 day period, the dash consistently show ave 9.3L/100km.

 

regardless a 11-12km/L over my current 9-10/L, damn happy liao.

[Super7]

Sales job buy C180 ... It's that a little extravagant? ... FC isn't great also ...

 

Just saying ...

There are 'sales' jobs which need, support cars lie C180..... mamasan, drug pusher???

[Super7]

Glad to hear. Now I am even more keen to swop car.

 

But when i drive the SS 1.5A over the 4 day period, the dash consistently show ave 9.3L/100km.

 

regardless a 11-12km/L over my current 9-10/L, damn happy liao.

Talking about the instant FC readout on the dashboard, mine always show over-optimistic numbers!! So I have to do manual calculation after pumping full tank.

 

Although it's mainly for my wife's use, I use it whenever she is not driving because it seng-you for me ie uses 40% less than my own ride.

 

I even tracked it once, 90% full throttle and hard braking at Sepang, for the fun of it n to see how an ordinary family economy hatchback can take the punishments on track. It came back without any 'injuries', no rattling after the one day return trip ad 3 hours of trashing on track. Tough n low maintenance little hatchback!!

Edited October 22, 2014 by Super7

[Super7]

Usually ladies prefer SUV?

Because they like to mount kerbs, a suv will be more suitable!?

[Super7]

But one thing about the swift, it's handling is definitely above average when compare to hatchbacks of same class.

I used a Swift 1.5 on track for 3 hours using decent trackday tyres n brake pads. It handled well on the limits in corners and could have gone faster if there's more power to push it!!

[Enye]

Every thread asking for recommendations on cars will finally end up with people preaching about prudence