Tesco starts selling used cars

Tesco starts selling used cars

LONDON: Britain's largest supermarket chain Tesco has gone into the used car business over the weekend.

The Tescocars.com site was launched on Sunday, and will advertise up to 3,000 cars per week.

"Fresh stock would be added to the website daily," said Tesco, adding that it has a broad range of cars between six months and three years old, including family-sized MPVs, fuel-efficient city cars and executive sedans.

A customer pays a £99 (RM485) fee to reserve a car and the money is refundable in case he decides not to follow through with the purchase.

Today's web offering from Tescocars.com.


Tesco retailing services chief executive Andrew Higginson said: "By supplying directly to customers, there is no middle man, no expensive showroom and no salespeople on commission."

Cars come directly from the source and the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) subjects each car to a 167-point inspection, said Tesco.

Aftersales support is provided by some 1,000 independent garages nationwide that charge up to 30% cheaper than franchise dealers, it added.

Tesco is leveraging on the expertise of online dealership Carsite - in which it has a minority stake - to grab a share of the £24bil (RM117bil) automotive market.

ARTICLE: Fears over 'tsunami cars' landing in Malaysia

Fears over 'tsunami cars' landing in Malaysia

Some of the thousands of damaged cars lined up on a street in Sendai as part of a clean-up operation after the earthquake and tsunami. — NST picture by Sairien Nafis 

 

MALAYSIAN car fans, it seems, are eager to know about the fate of the many damaged cars found scattered in the main areas hit by the recent earthquake and tsunami here. There is now a fear that such vehicles, now commonly called "tsunami Cars", or their parts will make it to Malaysian shores through unofficial or grey market channels.

A check by the New Sunday Times yesterday revealed that the Japanese authorities had been lining up the damaged cars and also new cars affected by the disaster in the main areas of Fukushima, Iwate, Ibaraki and also Sendai.

Most of the cars, with models sold independently in Malaysia, are from established Japanese car makers such as Honda, Mitsubishi, Suzuki and Toyota.
However, the most common are the popular model variants by Mitsubishi, Toyota and Daihatsu which share a common platform with our local Proton and Perodua cars.

The models range from parts that are compatible with our Proton Wira and Juara to Perodua Kancil, Kenari, Kembara, Myvi and also the recent Viva. According to Japanese car enthusiast K. Kanagawa, most of the cars would be sent to be scrapped as their metal content was considered valuable to the domestic Japanese steel industry.

"However, during the process many will not know what happens to the parts, such as usable engine parts and panels," he said through a translator.

Kanagawa, who is also well-versed with the Japanese export market for parts to Southeast Asian countries, said that there were still thousands of vehicles in good condition with only minor damage not accounted for after the earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

Nevertheless, he said a majority of cars sold in the used car auctions in Japan were sold outside of the affected areas and were mainly concentrated at Osaka (Kobe), Nagoya and Tokyo..

Osaka and Nagoya were not affected at all by the earthquake or by the tsunami. Cars and vehicles stored in the ports were unaffected.

However, Kanagawa is not dismissing the possibility that some exporters will jump at this opportunity to buy any post-tsunami vehicles cheap and then sell them off as "good stock".

Malaysian automotive design engineer and classic Japanese car restorer D.M. Gomez is worried that many car spare parts sent here could have been contaminated by radiation.

"To safeguard the public, I hope and trust all parts, both new and used being shipped out of Japan and coming into the Malaysian market are checked for radiation," said the 32-year-old, who is currently sourcing for rare parts for his Nissan Skyline supercar project.

Gomez expressed confidence that authorities from both sides would be vigilant, but the concern among people who restored classic Japanese cars and even modern ones was a real one.

"I also own a 1988 Honda Civic and some body parts for example, are sourced from wrecker's yards.

"I'm confident that Japanese and Malaysian government agencies will look into this."

Read more: Fears over 'tsunami cars' landing in Malaysia http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/08jipp/Article/#ixzz1H9CHpkQ0

 END OF ARTICLE...

Liberalisation in the used car market?

The Star Business, Saturday March 19, 2011

SOURCE...


Liberalisation in the used car market?

THE issue of Approved Permit (AP) has long been a contentious subject and a target of constant criticisms.
Introduced in 1970, the objective of the AP system was to promote and provide opportunities for bumiputra entrepreneurs in the automotive sector.

Part of the review of the National Automotive Policy (NAP) announced in October 2009 by the Government and aimed at creating a fair, liberal and transparent policy included doing away with the AP system.

A used car dealer in the Klang Valley. ‘Not everyone can afford new vehicles and many also do not want the hassle of paying a car loan,’ says a dealer.

 

Under the NAP, open APs (which allows the bumiputra holders to import any brand of car from any country) will be scrapped by Dec 31, 2015, while franchise APs (which allows holders to import specific brands and makes from its principal) will be terminated by Dec 31, 2020.

The question is whether this would actually happen. Under the first NAP in 2006, the AP system was supposed to be abolished by 2010.

No political will

However, when the time came to implement it, many believe that the Government buckled under pressure and ended up postponing the termination of the open AP and franchise AP systems to 2015 and 2020 respectively.

“The APs are said to be given away free to the (bumiputra) entrepreneurs to kick-start their businesses, but over the years, many of them ended up selling them to third parties for profit rather than importing cars for themselves,” says a local used car dealer, who wishes to remain anonymous.
At Budget 2010 two years earlier, the Government slapped a RM10,000 fee for the issuance of each open AP.

The RM10,000 charged, meanwhile, would be used by the Government to set up a fund, with the money to be used to ensure smooth and orderly shift of bumiputra entrepreneurs to other business sectors.

“The RM10,000 fee is a burden for used car dealers as it can cost between RM40,000 and RM50,000 (for us) to purchase an AP. Of course if it's a more expensive car, the (AP) cost would be higher,” says the used car dealer.

With the abolition of APs, it would be a “free-trade” system, he says. “That means that anyone would be able to import vehicles.”

A Klang Valley-based used car dealer doesn't believe that a liberalisation of the automotive industry, especially the abolition of APs, will ever happen.
He says although the abolition of the open AP system by 2015 is a good move and sounds promising, he thinks it won't happen given the strength of the lobbyists.

“How can they abolish the APs? If that were to happen, so many bumiputra business people would be affected. You can talk about it, but I don't think it will happen at least not in my lifetime!”

Proponents of APs

The Association of Malay Importers and Traders of Motor Vehicles Malaysia (Pekema) meanwhile, is hopeful that APs will be maintained.

Vice-president Sharifah Noor says bumiputra entrepreneurs that were dependent on APs would be hurt as they had invested considerable sums in the business.

She says the automotive business is its members' main income stream and a springboard for them to venture into other businesses.

“Even though our members have diversified businesses, the cash cow is still the AP business. Removing it (the AP) will affect their other businesses.

“Our members contribute a lot to the Government in terms of import and excise duties as well as sales tax.
“If you don't look after their interests, there will be some impact on the country's economy,” Sharifah says.
Earlier last year, it was reported that Pekema Sabah branch had asked for the review of the (RM10,000) levy charged on open APs to import used vehicles. Pekema Sabah had also requested the Government to review the policy to end the AP system.

Pekema Sabah chairman Rozman Isli says the levy of RM10,000 for the issuance of each open AP is a burden to members, especially during the economic slowdown.
Sharifah says Pekema has proposed to the Government to split payment of the RM10,000 levy into two parts to make it easier for its members.

“The levy has been approved and Miti (International Trade and Industry Ministry) is finalising it with the Road Transport Department,” she says.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Pekema Sarawak had urged the Government to set up the Bumiputra Economic Performance (BEP), a unit akin to the Performance Management and Delivery Unit to specifically plan, implement and monitor the economic performance of bumiputras.

The BEP is expected to be a permanent secretariat and headed by a chief executive officer with ministerial rank who reports directly to the Prime Minister, according to Pekema president Datuk Zainuddin Abdul Rahman.

The structure would allow BEP to oversee matters related to bumiputra economic agenda including overwriting the authority of certain heads of government agencies if needed.

Poser for used car dealers

For dealers of imported used parts, “D-Day” is just around the corner. Under the NAP, the importation of used parts and components will be prohibited from June 2011. Safety and environmental concerns are the main reasons for this policy.

Tan, a Penang-based used parts dealer, believes this policy will cripple the used car business.
“Thousands of players are involved in the used parts business in the country. This policy will kill us.
“But don't just think about the business owners. What about the employees? In the end, there will be hundreds of thousands of people that will be unemployed,” he says.

Tan adds that the Government should conduct a study on the impact before the policy is implemented.
“Banning used parts would also mean that if you have a year 2000 Toyota, getting new parts for an old vehicle would be difficult.”

Chang, a used parts dealer in Kuala Lumpur, says it is a misconception that used parts are less reliable than new parts.  “Cars break down every day. This can range from a new car of three months to one that's been around for a decade.”
Chang says not everyone can afford new vehicles, adding that many also do not want the hassle of paying a car loan.

“Used parts are also more affordable and contrary to popular belief, last a long time,” he says.
According to an article on insurance web portal Malaysia Insurance Online (MIO), imported used parts and components are actually cheaper than those manufactured locally. It also says imported used commercial vehicles also provide cannibalised parts for the industry.

From the insurance industry perspective, MIO says it is not uncommon for claims personnel to tweak part prices when assessing the claims quantum.
“The tweaking is to put in some second-hand or cannibalised parts as replacement for the damaged ones.
“Those used parts are important in scaling down costs for the industry to contain the ever deteriorating loss ratios.”

MIO adds that ultimately, the insured will benefit from the used parts industry.
“While the facts are such, caution should not be thrown to the wind the escalation in theft of motor vehicles is also the result of increasing demand for cheap cannibalised vehicle parts.”

END OF ARTICLE:
l

Cars with "0" OR MINIMAL DEPRECIATION (Updated)

In this blog entry, I'm posting about top 23 cars with "0" or MINIMAL DEPRECIATION.  Here are the lists (in No particular order):


1) Porsche 993 911 OR 964 911 (Air Cooled Porsche). 


2) Toyota Levin AE86/AE85


3) Honda Civic EG (Dolphin) EG6 OR EG9.  Original B16A commands higher price.


4) Nissan 180SX/200SX/Silvia


5) Mercedes SL Series (Up to W129)


6) Rover Mini Cooper 1.3


7) Mitsubishi EVO series (Especially EVO 1 to VI)


8) VW Beetle (original)


9) Mazda RX7 FC/FD


10) VW Golf GTI (Any Generation)


11) Nissan Cefiro MK1 (1989 to 1994)


12) Mazda MX5 MK1 OR MKII


13) Toyota Sera Gullwing 1.5


14) Honda Beat 660 (Rare)


15) Suzuki Cappuccino (rare)


16) BMW E30 / E36 3 series Convertible


17) Nissan Skyline GTR R32/R33


18) Proton Putra 1.8/ Wira 1.8 EXI DOHC Limited (C99) 1996-00'


19) Nissan Fairlady 300ZX 1990 to 1996. T-turbo


20) Toyota Supra


21) Acura Honda NSX (MK1) 1990 to 1997


22) Mercedes W123 E-class (esp. "CE" and "TE" (Coupe and Estate)


23) Mercedes W124 E-class (also "CE" and "TE" (Coupe, Cabriolet and Estate)


24) Others...  Factors such as:


- RWD (For DRIFT),
- Tunable/Moddable
- GTI or Limited Edition
- >25 years
- Roadster/Cabrio/Convertible
- Depreciated to the MAX.


THE END...


That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.  Do GOOGLE for Images of the Above cars... 

RM40,000, What car can you get? (Updated 27/9/2010)

 NOTE: This article is 1st published back in 2006 (4 years ago), I merely updated it due to popular demand.

A lot of people most of which are YOUNG Grads asked me, "What NEW car choices do I have if I got RM40,000 budget. I told them, for NEW car, the choices are VERY VERY LIMITED. It's limited to:  PERODUA Viva, Myvi 1.0, Hyundai i10, SAVVY, Saga BLM, Naza Sutera, Chana CM8 MPV, Chana CV6 Hatchback, Chevrolet Spark. IN SHORT, There's LESS than 10 choices available.

Now the Picture is very different if you are considering USED cars. Suddenly, you are SPOILED for Choices. For RM40,000, there's MORE THAN 80 Varieties of vehicles to Choose from in any forms...

But if you are getting LOANs (I'm sure FEW will have the money to PAY CASH RM40k!), I'm afraid you can only buy UP TO 12 yrs old cars (typically) with Lowish interest rates (Below 5%). Ie. Oldest 1998. After 12 years, YOU typically HAVE TO PAY CASH or ended up paying HIGHER interest rates (as high as 6%)! In this scenario, LUXURY cars such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Jaguar IS OUT as these cars will be too old by that time it Reaches the RM40k mark.

Case Example 1, I saw an ad in Lelong someone wanted to sell 1981 PORSCHE 924 for RM25,000!!! He is the 1st OWNER!, BUT CASH ONLY!!! If you have the CASH and the money to Maintain and Insure the car, then it's a good buy...

Case Example 2: This friend of mine was VERY EXCITED knowing that He can owned a 1992 MERCEDES 230E W124 (with AMG 17" rims, "77" no plate, bodykit, Automatic, Sunroof etc) for RM23,000. Ie. within his budget (Initially he thought). BUT he was disappointed, CANNOT GET LOAN as the car was too OLD... This means that he HAD to PAY CASH! Having ONLY 2 yrs work experience and still working as a TRAINEE, obviously he cannot afford... What a waste...

All is not LOST, depends on your criteria, RM40k still have LOTS and LOTS of "CLASSY" and/or RESPECTABLE Japanese and "COLD European" cars which is below 11 yrs old and can still obtain Loan... Here are some of My recommendations: (BOLD = Highly recommended)

NEWISH (below 5 years old) CARS: 

 1) Proton Waja 1.6 CAMPRO Enhanced 2007

2) Perodua MYVI 1.3SXI/EZI 2008/2009, RM38,800/RM39,800

3) HYUNDAI ELANTRA 1.8iGLS(A) 2007(!), RM39,000(!). Wonder why RESALE value so LOW. Note that brand new: RM88,000. Within 3 yrs value dropped so MUCH! Bad news for 1st owner BUT GOOD NEWS for YOU!

4) Mazda Fighter 2.5 Turbodiesel 2006 RM39,000
5) Naza Citra 2006: RM40,000
6) Kia Optima 2.0 2006 (RM36,800)
7) Kia Spectra5 2007 (RM40,000)
8) Proton Persona 1.6 2008 (RM37,000 Manual, RM39,000 Auto)
9) Proton Satria Neo 1.6 M/A 2009 (RM39,000/41,000)
10) Hyundai Accent 1.5 RX-S 2007, RM37,000
11) Naza Bestari 206 (RM37,000) 2007
12) Chevrolet Optra 1.6/1.8 (2006/2005) RM36,000
13) Chevrolet Aveo5 2007, RM39,000
14) Hyundai Matrix: 2006: RM36,000
15) Mitsubishi Lancer 1.6 GLX (2006) RM42,000.
16) Kia Rio 1.5 (2007) RM38,800
17) Hyundai GETZ 1.4 (2007) RM39,000
18) Renault Kangoo 1.4 Sportiv/NEVO (2007) RM37,000

EXECUTIVE LOCAL/Japanese/Korean Car:

1) Honda Accord 2.0 VTI (2000) = RM40k
2) Nissan Cefiro V6 3.0i 2001 = RM32,000 (This is the BEST V6 engine, surprisingly Economical for a 3.0L car, But Road tax RM2000!). A 2.0iV6 model is RM5-7k more and Road tax RM391.00.
3) Toyota Camry 2.2GX 2000. RM40,000.
4) PROTON Perdana V6 2.0 2003 Enhanced Facelift RM39,000
5) Hyundai Sonata GOLD 2.4i (2004) / 2.0i (2005)  (RM37,000 / RM38,000)

Executive "COLD" Continental car (ie. Weaker demand) which still can obtain loan easily.

1) VOLVO S40 2.0T 2001. RM40,000. But beware of the High maintenance costs and reliability.
2) Peugeot 406 2.0 Deluxe 2003 (Last batch, facelift, RM36,000.
3) Ford FOCUS 1.8(M) Hatchback 2001, RM37,000
4) Volkswagon Jetta/Bora 1.6 2002 (RM40,000)
5) Volkswagen Passat 1.8T (2001) RM42,000)
6) Peugeot 307XSi Hatchback 2004 RM38,000
7) Citroen C5 2.0 2005 (RM37,000)
8) Alfa 147 1.6M 2002 (RM43,000)
9) Skoda Octavia 1.6i 2003 (RM41,000)
10) Skoda Fabia 1.4i 2003 (RM38,000)
11) Peugeot 206 1.6 CBU 2003 (RM40,000)
12) Audi A4 1.8 Non-Turbo B5 (2000) RM39,000

Other 4 door cars:

1) Mazda 323 BJ Sedan/Hatchback 2003 RM32,000.

2) HONDA Civic EK 1.6i VTEC (Last batch) 1999(M)/2000(A), RM42,000. Another HOT Demand car, Very HIGH resale value and ENDLESS Modification OPTIONS...

3) Toyota Corolla AE111 SEG 1.6 2000, RM35,000. This 8th Generation Corolla, economical yet good looking (applicable to 98-01 facelift only). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

4) BMW 525i E34 1996 (Last Batch) RM33,000

5) Mercedes E220 Masterpiece 1995: RM38,000 (E280 Masterpiece RM33,000)
6) Nissan Sentra 1.6XE 2001 (RM36000),b
8) Mercedes C220 1996: RM40,000
9) Honda City Type Z/VTEC LEV 2002/2002: RM31,000/34,000



Can RM40k buy you a LIMOUSINE?  Sure, Why Not?  

Here's the list (if you can afford the maintenance):

1) Mercedes S320 1997: RM39000
2) BMW 728i(A)/730iL E38 1996 (RM38,000)
3) Proton Perdana EXECUTIVE 2001 (RM35,000)
4) Lexus LS400 V8 1992: RM40,000
5) Honda Legend 3.5RL 1996: RM43,000.
6) Audi A6 2.4 1998 (1st batch), RM42,000
7) Jaguar/Daimler XJ6 1995: RM40,000
8) Ssangyong Chairman 2.8/3.2 2003 (RM40,000)

IF YOU WANT FAST car for RM40k, there's the following choices:

1) VOLVO V70 T5 2.3i WAGON. 2000 model priced RM40,000 only. This TURBOCHARGED car has a Top speed of 230km/h and 0-100km/h in 7.3 SECS!!! It's so fast that our POLIS used as Chase car. Though Maintenence is HIGH and Reliability is BAD. But if it's in GREAT Condition with low mileage and Service record or 1 owner, then GRAB IT!

2) PROTON SATRIA GTI 1.8i DOHC 2003 model RM35,000. This is, in my opinion ONE OF THE BEST PROTON, losing out only to Proton Putra (better looking and more practical - better rear legroom + bigger boot)!  0-100km/h below 9 seconds and top speed 210 km/h. VERY WORTH THE MONEY!

3) BMW 328i E36 1998 (Last batch). RM38,000. ANOTHER POWERFUL car, Just missed the cut for Lowish Interest rate loans (more difficult as oldest recommended year to obtain LOAN is 11 yrs old). But If you CAN GET LOAN, this is the ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE. FUN car. The IT CAR (Very CLASSY). Rock solid Resale value. Maintenence and Spare parts costs are not an issue as there's MANY Units on the road and TONS of "CHOP SHOPS" and spare part shops...

4) Fiat Coupe:20v Turbo 1999 (RM40,000)


5) Volvo V40 T4 turbo. 2000,  RM39,000.  Like the V70 but smaller and more economical and slightly more powerful.

6) Alfa Romeo 156 Selespeed RM40k (2001) / 2.5 V6 (1999)

7) Honda Prelude H22A 2.2 DOHC VTEC 1996 (RM36,000)

SUV/Truck Options:

1) Toyota RAV4 2.0i 5dr. 1999. RM40,000.
2) Ford Ranger Pickup 2.5i Turbodiesel 2005 (M). RM39,000. Auto add another RM2-4k)
3) Mazda Fighter 2.5 Turbodiesel 2006 RM39,000
4) Toyota Hilux Diesel Pick-up 1997 RM39,000
5) Ford Escape 2.0XLT 2002 RM40,000
6) Nissan Frontier 4x4 2005 RM40,000
7) Honda CRV 1st generation (PERFORMA150ps) 2000 CBU: RM36,000
(2001 Kah Motor spec same price)
8) Kia Sportage 2.0 2005 RM34,000
9) Ssangyong REXTON Petrol/Diesel 2003: RM39,000
10) Hyundai Santa Fe 2002 (RM40,000)
11) Isuzu Rodeo Pickup 2000 (RM40,000)
12) Isuzu Bighorn 3.1 Diesel/Citation 3.2 Petrol 1999/2000, RM40,000
13) Land Rover Range Rover 4.6 V8/2.5 DSE 1996/1995 (RM38,000)
14) Mitsubishi Pajero V31V 2.4, 2000 (RM36,000)
15) Mitsubishi STORM 2.5 Turbo-Diesel Pick-up 2003 RM40,000
16) Land Rover Discovery 1998 (RM34,000)
17) Mazda Tribute 2.0 2003 (RM40,000)

MPV/Vans

1) Naza Ria 2005: RM38,000 

2) Naza Citra 2006: RM40,000 

3) Hyundai Trajet 2003: RM40,000

4) Hyundai Matrix: 2006: RM36,000

5) Fiat Ulysse MPV 2002: RM32,000

6) Nissan Serena 2.0 MPV 2000. RM38,000

7) Toyota Unser 2002 (A) RM38,800

8) KIA PERGIO 2005, RM35,000 

9) Opel Zafira 1.8 2002, RM38,000

10) Chevrolet Nabira 1.8 2005 (RM40,000)

11) Toyota Estima Emina/Lucida (1999) RM40,000

12) Toyota Avanza 1.3 2005 (M/A) RM37,000/RM39,000

13) Citroen Xsara Picasso 2004 (RM43,000)

14) Citroen Evasion MPV 2.0i 2002 (RM35,000)

15) Toyota Ipsum / Picnic 2.0 MPV (1998) RM42,000

16) Renault Kangoo 1.4 Sportiv/NEVO (2007) RM37,000

17) Mitsubishi Space Gear MPV L400 2.4 (2000) RM38,000

18) Mitsubishi Chariot Grandis MPV (1999 recond)  RM40,000

19) Nissan C22 Vanette 2005 (Window van) / 2007 (Panel van) RM40,000

20) Toyota Hiace (1999 Window van/2001 Panel van) RM39,000

Other cars:

- See motortrader, for "abnormal National car" such as "Wira EVO, Satria 1.8 GSR, Waja Mivec, Perdana V6 Twin Turbo. Ie. "Modified MILOTINS". Not recommended as the BODY and CHASSIS can't cope with the power, unless you reinforced it (think "ULTRA RACING" bars). But few will bother to do that because it's EXPENSIVE. Also, some have no JPJ approval.

- In motortrader, There's FTOs, RX7 FC, Levin AE86, Silvia 180SX, Original EVOII, MR2 (Ferrari like version) within the 40k budget... BUT MOST ARE OVER 12 yrs old and DIFFICULT TO GET LOAN. But If you are lucky and able to get loan, then your choice will be even wider...

That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.  MY (Jeff Lim's) ORIGINAL WORK!

WORST RESALE VALUE CARS (Updated 7/9/2010)

uIn Malaysia, typical bad resale value car have the following characteristics which are divided in 3 categories (in my book):

1) Most cars with Petrol 2.5L engine capacity and above (EXCEPT Mercedes Benz C-class and E-class). Why? EXPENSIVE Road tax, High fuel consumption fear. Also, for BIG car such as BMW 7-series, there's NO DEMAND for used ones as MOST of 7-series owners are RICH, hence few will BUY USED units.

2) LOOKS of the Car. Eg. POORLY Designed car such as Proton Juara. Few would buy a 4+2 seats (the 3rd row of seats are for KIDS as it is small, has minimal paddings and poor legroom. The car's like BRICK on wheels. Rear lights are placed VERY LOW and at the Bumper. Not practical. Engine's too small at 1.1L and underpowered... Another WIERD looking car's FIAT MULTIPLA. Another poor resale value car as it has NO Automatic gearbox and to many "WORLD's UGLIEST CAR". This is NOT my word, it's VOTED by many European and Malaysian (TORQUE MAGAZINE) Publications...

3) HUGE Discounts... How do you feel if you bought a newly launched car at RM165,000 in 2000 and the car's priced RM20,000 cheaper in 15 months time. PISSED right? Adding salt to the wounds, in 2003, the car had FURTHER Discounts of RM20,000 which makes it RM125,000.  Wait, I haven't finish, in LATE 2003, the car's renamed as a NAZA and another RM27,000 cheaper.  The result?
Resale Value badly affected. Which car is this? KIA Carnival/Naza Ria!

4) Image/Perception of the car brand. Malaysian tends to stereotype certain car brands. Eg. Alfa Romeo known for Overheating problems, Fiat is known as "FIX IT AGAIN TOMORROW", Citroen = Sit-tou-long (means rugi sampai habis), and Volvo = drinks petrol. FORD = FIX OR REPAIR DAILY, To them, most continential cars (Except Mercedes Benz) = high maintenence and spare parts costs. Own cars like Saab or Skoda typical Malaysian would question your taste or give bad comments...


I've compiled 25 worst resale value cars. BUT I'll only list out the top 10 which were very CHRONIC/SEVERE/TERUK Cases. The rest of the cars were pretty close and depreciated FAST but spread out in the span of 3 to 5 years... BUT these 10 LOST A HUGE Chunk of their VALUES at the 1st year itself... Here are the lists:

1) PROTON WAJA CHANCELLOR 2.0 V6. 50% retained value in 1 year
1) PROTON JUARA. 50% Retained value within 1 year!
3) Chery Alado 1.6 57% retained value in 1 year!
4) Kia OPTIMA: 60% retained value in 1 year!
4) Kia Spectra. 65% retained value in 1 year!
4) Berjaya Changan  CV6 1.3 Hatchback 65% retained value in 1 year
4) Berjaya Changan CM8 MPV 65% retained value in 1 year
7) KIA Carnival/NAZA RIA. 70% retained in 1 year.
8) Chevrolet Optra/Optra 5/Optra Wagon 70% retained value in 1 year
9) NAZA SUTERA/FORZA 70% retained value in 1 year.
10) Mercedes S-class (S420 to S500L):  70% retained value in 1 year (SHOCKING BUT TRUE eg. S500L, new RM1,000,000.  1 year later: RM700,000).
10) BMW 7 series (730i and to 760LI).  ALSO 70% retained value in 1 year.  Eg. 730Li  New 680,000.  1 year later RM450,000.

FOR the 2 LUXURY cars at NO 10.  It's due to the PROHIBITIVE ROAD TAX Structure in our Boleh Land (Malaysia).  S500L roadtax is WHOOPING RM14,000 P.A.  (Doubled for Company registration = RM28,000 P.A.  Therefore, NO 2nd hand value.  SHOCKING but true.


As a comparison, see my previous topic: "Best resale value vehicles". The top 10 best resale value cars retained their value from 74% (Mitsubishi Lancer GT) to 83% (Mini Cooper) IN 3 YEARS!!! The 10 cars above RETAINED 50% to 75% of their resale value IN ONE YEAR!!! Again CHRONIC/SEVERE/"TERUK"/SAD Cases...

NOTE (17/1/07): These are "Volume sellers" (ie. "quite good selling" and easily available in the used market). There were brands like Fiats, Opels and Saabs and certain models such as Citroen C5, Alfa 166, Peugeot 607 which Resale value EQUALS or WORSE than the cars above, but they were RARELY AVAILABLE in the used market AND if you found one, the price will be DETERMINED by buyers itself (ie. No FIXED Value). (END OF NOTE)


Now will I fear of getting sued BY Berjaya Changan, Chery AND NAZA KIA? NO! I'm just reporting the facts based on my calculations. The Kias BELONGS to Category #3. It's caused by HUGE DISCOUNTS by NAZA-KIA itself. I pity those 1st batch Kia Optima buyers! They had to pay RM130,000, only to found that the SAME CAR costs RM27,000(!!!) LESS within 15 months!!!

ANOTHER Example is 1st batch Kia Carnival owners.  They bought their car for RM165000.  After 3 years same model with better specs (but renamed as NAZA RIA) selling for RM98,000. 

That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.  An original Jeff Lim's production.  My original work.

PRESENTING: The top 30 best Vehicles resale value… (UPDATED 7 September 2010)

PRESENTING: The top 30 best Vehicles resale value… (UPDATED: 7 September 2010)

I NOW PRESENT my research on used car retained value after few years. It took me 3 months to gather and compile the used car prices from various sources of classifieds namely Motortrader, The Star Classifieds, www.Autoworld.com.my, and random visits to car dealerships/Recond car showrooms…

Here are the vehicles shown with their Retained value in PERCENTAGE (%) within 3 years… (and 5 years in bracket). This is for Local (eg. Tan Chong) AND/OR Official Distributors (eg. Auto Bavaria) cars only. AP Imports to be covered later as their New car price were determined by AP Importer themselves, Ie. It varies, so I just estimated their new price to make this statistic possible, it’ll be unfair if I mix REAL results and estimated results together.

1) Mini One/Cooper: 84% (72%)
2) Honda Civic 1.8 IVTEC/2.0IVTEC 80%/75% (65% -> Civic 1.7VTi)
3) Toyota Avanza: 78% (66%)
4) Perodua MYVI 1.3 SX/EZ: 76%/75%/ (66%/65%)
5) Toyota Vios: 75% (65%)
6)Toyota Camry 2.0/2.4 VVTI 75%/74% (55% => Old model)
7) Honda Jazz 1.5 IDSI/VTEC 74%/72% (66%)
7) Toyota Innova 2.0G 74%/(NA)
7) Honda City 1.5 VTEC 74% (60%)
7) Mitsubishi Lancer GT 74%/(NA)
11) Suzuki Swift 1.5 73% / (63%)
12) Toyota Hilux 2.5D4D 73% / (58%)
12) Proton Saga BLM M-line 73%/(NA)
14) Nissan C22 Vannete 71% (52%)
15) Honda Stream 70% (55%)
16) Honda CRV 70% (54%)
16) Mazda 6 2.3 (2.0) 70% (54%)
18) Mazda 5 (Premacy): 70% (52%)
19) Mercedes C200K 69% (57%)
20) Nissan Frontier 68% (NA)
20) Proton Persona 1.6 Hi-line 68%/(NA)
22) Honda Accord 2.0/2.4/3.0 72%/69%/60% => Average 67%. (60%/54%/46% => Average 53%)
22) Toyota Altis 67% (60%)
24) Nissan Sentra 67% (51%)
25) Perodua Kenari 66% (57%)
26) Nissan Serena 65% (63% - old model)
27) Perodua Kelisa 65% (50%)
27) Perodua Kancil 65% (50%)
29) Mitsubishi Airtrek Turbo 63% (55%)
30) BMW M3/330i Coupe (69%) &
BMW 325i CKD (55%) = Avg: 61% (49%)

OTHERS (Selected) - (5 yrs retained value in bracket)

- Chevrolet Optra 50% (35%)
- Proton Satria GTI: -NA- (60%)
- Proton Wira: 1.3/1.5: 58% (53%), Wira 1.6 -NA- (50%)
- Waja 1.6X: 56% (50%). [74% retained value - 1st year).

Note: Wira and Waja = RM3,000 per year depreciation 3rd year onwards).


AP/Grey Imports (TOP 10 best resale value vehicles):

Again, I can’t determined the Actual new car prices of these cars as it’s Determined by the AP Holders/Grey importers. But I found that it’s safe to say for example Toyota Alphard 2.4’s New car price: RM280,000 with 5% +/- allowance depending on specs (ie. RM266k to RM294k), hence I used this as my estimation to come up with the percentage (%) of retained value results in 3 years (5 years in brackets).

1) VW GOLF GTI 80%/(WALD Edition 70%)
2) Mitsubishi EVO 9 (8/7.5) -NA- 73%/(63%)
3) Honda Odyssey 70% (65%)
4) VW Beetle 2.0 70% (64%)
4) Toyota Wish: 70% (NA)
6) Toyota Altezza -NA- (60%)
7) Toyota Harrier 2.4 67% (55%)
8) Subaru WRX STI Ver 8 66% (59%)
9) Mazda RX8 65% (57%)
10) Toyota Estima 63% (51%)
11) Toyota Alphard 61% (59% for recond 5 yrs old)

THAT’S ALL FOLKS! Hope this STATISTICS will be helpful for you in shopping for your ideal used cars… Again, it took me 3 months to come up with these statistics… You should thank me for it…

NOTE: 30 August 2010, Proton Saga BLM, Persona, VW Golf GTI and Mitsubishi Lancer GT Added
7 September: Mazda  6 2.3 and  Mazda 5 added.

WHATCAR?: Used car - selling scams

 WHATCAR? UK: Selling your car - Used car - selling scams

10 August 2010

Car sellers can find themselves scammed, even before they've sold their car.

If you use a website to advertise your car for sale, you may receive an e-mail from a foreign buyer agreeing to pay full advertised price.. This is almost always a scam so ignore any requests that ask you to contact a shipping agent on the buyer's behalf.

They may also try to send you a cheque, which later turns out to be fake, and ask you to send the car to a shipping agent, or then cancel the sale and ask for a refund. Either way you could loose your car and maybe your money, too.

By waiting for six full business days for funds to clear, you're protected from fake cheques. Banking rules introduced in 2007 guarantee that the bank has no comeback if the buyer's cheque later turns out to be fraudulent. CHAPS payments or direct money transfers are safest when selling. They're quick, and you'll know the money is real once it's in your account.

Money transfer and escrow companies are not especially common in the UK, and they're an easy way for criminals to exploit buyers. Escrow is a method of holding a payment in trust until the car has been delivered. It's not a bad system, but you need to be sure that you're really dealing with a legitimate Escrow company and that the person collecting the money is who they say they are. Money transfer companies are just as prone to fraud, and the use of forged passports and identification documents means that anyone could walk in and collect the money.

END OF ARTICLE:





SOURCE:
http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/selling-your-car/used-car---selling-scams/217159

That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this blog entry.

Scandal: Mileage Clocking

Scandal: Mileage Clocking

Always check the following: The level of wear is consistent with the age and mileage of the car. Always see more than one car and compare the wear to other cars of similar mileage.

Cars with a reputation for being durable and well-built are a target for clocking. However, the following is true of most cars: Cars with mileage of 0 – 30,000 will have hardly any wear. Cars with mileage of 30,000 - 60,000 can be expected to have some minor scuffs on plastic and very slight creasing or fraying on seat squabs. Cars with mileage of 60,000 – 90,0000 will have more scuffing and fabric creases or fraying. Seats may have begun to sag slightly. The ceiling of the car and light trim may also be slightly dirty or marked. Some plastics will be a little shiny in high wear places, such as control stalks, gearshift and steering wheel. Pedal rubbers will be showing signs of wear. Load areas may have some scratches. Cars with mileage of over 90,000 will have very shiny gearshifts, control stalks and steering wheels, and light fabrics will be marked. Some seat squabs and backrests will be creased, sagging and frayed. Pedal rubbers will be significantly worn. Load areas will be scratched. Check that the mileometer numbers are in line. If not, the mileometer may have been adjusted. The data check, combined with a thorough check of paperwork should help confirm or dispel any concerns about clocking.

SOURCE:
1) http://www.usedcarexpert.co.uk/page.aspx?numPage=32

The STAR: Sunday July 12, 2009

How to buy a car?

THE car industry is an exciting one indeed. With so many models available, and new ones being introduced almost every other month, buying a car can be a delightful process – or a harrowing ordeal.
Before you make a decision, it is important that you are well informed and prepared. After all, a car could be your second biggest investment after your home, so take your time with gathering information and conducting research. Your aim would be to end up as a happy, satisfied owner.

These are some of the areas you should consider before purchasing a car.

Match your lifestyle


First of all, ask yourself what you would need the car for? To conveniently zip around the city? Or do you travel long distances for business often? Maybe you need lots of room for your large family? Or do you have lots of sporting equipment to lug around?

Look for adjustable seats – such as these in the Honda Jazz – so you can configure the car to suit your lifestyle.

 

Your car should complement your lifestyle – and, luckily, there are so many types to choose from. There’s everything from a family sedan, sports sedan, compact, and hatchback, to an MPV, SUV or even pick-up trucks.


Can I afford it?

Affordability is a key issue among prospective car buyers, especially in the present economic climate. But many people are not aware that affordability encompasses more than just the car’s price.
There is a long-term cost that you should take into consideration such as the monthly repayment, maintenance costs, insurance and tax, fuel consumption, and resale value.

Most Malaysians spend 30% of their salary on their monthly car repayments. Take a reality check. Lay out your budget so that you can determine what sort of price range you are comfortable with. Currently, the cheapest passenger car in the Malaysian market is RM25,000 and the most expensive, RM1.5mil.

What brand?


Once you’ve narrowed the field of cars you are interested in, identify a few brands you are comfortable with.
Independent car reviewer Paul Tan says that a car manufacturer’s branding is usually built up over a long time, a result of a good track record in terms of product quality and service support. You will usually never go wrong with a mainstream brand.

The techy part

Now what about the technology? Although the general life cycle of a car model is five to seven years, most manufacturers will introduce new technology every year or so, be it in design, performance, or safety.
Here are a few technical terms that might be useful to you in considering the technology:

Displacement – Measured in litres and cubic centimetres (cc), displacement is the technical term for the “size” of an engine. The higher the displacement, the more refined and responsive your car will feel.

Torque (Nm) – Torque is basically the force or power from your engine needed to turn your wheels. The higher the torque, the more responsive your car will feel.

Remember, the higher your horsepower, the better your performance. – File photos

 

Revs (revolutions per minute, or RPM) – RPM refers to the engine speed; basically, how hard the engine has to work to give you the torque quoted. The lower the revs, the sooner you’ll feel the push of the torque. For a nippy, responsive car, look out for a higher torque and lower RPM.
Horse power (hp) – The maximum power produced by an engine. The higher your horsepower, the better your performance.

Be safe

In terms of safety, your car should at least have airbags and an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS). Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA, or traction control) and side and curtain airbags would be a bonus.

Tan explains: “VSA strategically applies brakes on each wheel individually to stabilise the car when it is out of control. This feature can come in very handy, especially road conditions being what they are locally, when you sometimes have oil on them, and when they get really wet during heavy monsoon rains.”

You might also like to consider your chosen model’s crash test results. G-Con technology, an internal passive safety standard, for example, uses collapsible body sections to evenly distribute the force of impact from a collision, hence minimising passenger and pedestrian injuries.

Some sources of credible results are Japan’s National Organisation for Automotive Safety & Victims’ Aid (www.nasva.go.jp), Euro NCAP (www.euroncap.com), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (iihs.org); these are all independent organisations that evaluate the safety performance of vehicles available in specific markets.

What to look for?

Visit a few showrooms to look at the various models available. It is important that you like and are comfortable with the car. Here are some of the things you should consider when checking out a car:
Ergonomics – Make sure there is enough leg and head room; steering should be adjustable (tilt up and down, and telescopic, front and back); seats must be adjustable, especially the driver’s (up and down, and front and back movements).

Drivability – Check the car’s manoeuvrability and turning radius.

Utility – Are there enough storage compartments, is the trunk size adequate, can seats be reclined or can rear seats be folded to provide more space?

Tan advises: “The features must satisfy your lifestyle’s practical needs. This could mean sufficient seating and storage space.

“Some cars have reclining seats at the rear, even in sedans, which increases passenger’s comfort.”

Fuel efficiency

No matter what the prevailing economic conditions, it is always advisable to choose a car that is fuel-efficient. A combination of gear ratios, engine technology, and aerodynamics determines the car’s fuel-efficiency.
Explains Tan: “Previous general perception was that automatic transmission and high performance equals higher fuel consumption. But this is not necessary the case now, thanks to improving technology.
“Some cars are able to produce lots of power (peak torque at low rpm) without having to rev the engine much.”

Here are two formulas to calculate a car’s fuel efficiency:
Mileage from a full tank (km)/ Size of tank (litre) = km/litre
or
Size of tank (litre) x price of fuel (RM)/Mileage from a full tank (km) = RM/km

I want to be green

As exhaust emission is one of the greatest contributors towards global warming, it is our responsibility to cut down on emissions; one way of doing that is considering hybrid technology, which is kinder to the environment.

Hybrid technology uses two or more distinct power sources to move a vehicle: a combination of engine (petrol or diesel) and electric. The car uses less fuel to move, which translates into fewer emissions and increased savings.

Tan is of the opinion that, “Your vehicle performs better too as the electric system gives added power to the engine. For example, you can experience the power of a 1.8L car with a 1.3L hybrid engine”.
Honda Malaysia is the only manufacturer currently offering hybrids in this country.

Re-sale value
Most people do not take into consideration the resale value of a car but unless you plan to keep the car for life, a good resale value will prevent you from losing a lot of money. Several factors, such as good branding, after sales support, market popularity, and demand and supply determine resale value.

Test drive


Last but not least, take the car out for a spin before making your final decision.
“Take note of how the car responds, its ease of drive and manoeuvrability, its build quality and ergonomics.
“Different people have different body shapes and sizes. I have long legs that fit well in one car but not another, although they are in the same size and price segment. This is because of how far the front seats are able to slide back,” Tan says.

If you have questions about buying a car, go to smartwheels.com.my for tips and more information; you can also post questions at the site that will be answered by an independent car reviewer. This initiative is brought to you by Honda Malaysia.

SOURCE: 
1) http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/7/12/lifeliving/4238306&sec=lifeliving

 

That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this Blog Entry... 

WARNING: CHOOSE YOUR VEHICLE NO. CAREFULLY! Why? Read on...

As per title, CHOOSE YOUR VEHICLE NUMBER PLATE CAREFULLY.  Don't let the number choose your car. rather it's YOU WHO NEED TO CHOOSE THE NUMBER.  Why is it so?

BECAUSE IT'LL AFFECT YOUR RESALE VALUE.  Next owner will find this an excuse to CUT DOWN YOUR PRICE, UP TO 20% depending how BAD the Number.  Here's some example of "BAD, BAD, BAD number":

1) 9413, (Cantonese means "9 DIE, 1 LIVE" OR "9 death forever".
2) 4584 (Hokkien "584" refers to PERVERT.  So add "4" = DIE.  DIE PERVERT.
3) 411 / 413 (Means DIE EVERYDAY OR DIE FOREVER)
4) 4967 => Means Die Playing Testlcles

5) 164 => ALL THE WAY DIE

And the lists goes on and on...  
Here's my guideline to choose "GOOD" Number without paying a LOT...

1)  Any Number which ends with "88".  Yes, EVEN 4 looks good when ends with "88". Eg. 9388, 4388, 7988, 1388, 3288, 5488.

2) Double digit No.  Eg. 9933, 3993, 7788, 8811, 2112, 9988.

3) "3" same digit no.  Eg. 1222,. 1555. 1777, 1333, 1888, 8999.  (EXCEPT "4" coz, FEW People like "1444", 2444 and so on)

4) Nice meaning no.  Eg.
168 = All the way Rich
8108 = RICH, SURE RICH.
8148 = RICH, FOREVER RICH.
1369 / 1397  => FOREVER SEX (Former, western/ latter cantonese),
1337 => ELITE.
1123 / 1128 = Everyday easy live / rich
8357 => BEST
l355 => LESS.  My cousin's waiting for BRA1355.  YUMMY Number!
8055 => BOSS


5) 2 DIGIT Number. NICE, But EXPENSIVE.  Eg. 28, 79. 89.

6) 3 digit numbers,  Any number except 4. and the following combination such as "67", "42" in the 3 digit no.

LASTLY, AVOID SINGLE DIGIT NO, As it's often OVERPRICED.  Up to 6 figures for W_ _ 1.  OR TA _ 1.

Why I created this topic?  
Well from me and my dad's personal experience HUNTING my next car.  We 1st encounter this issue back in 2003.  My dad saw a 100% TIP TIP, Accident free, Low mileage PERFECT EXAMPLE Met Blue Fiat Punto 1.6ELX (Buying for my Sister).  BUT AND A BIG BUT, the No. plate is "411" which means Die Everyday.  As a result, my dad WALKED AWAY.

Second encounter, I came across a NICE ALMOST PERFECT FORD LYNX, BUT the Reg. No. is 4924 (means Die Long/Dog/Play, Easy Die).  Obviously, I walked away wondering who will BUY THIS CAR. Another scenario, my Friend's Wira, "4667"  Means Die by mixing testicles in Cantonese.

THIRD Encounter:  POSITIVE ONE: My ex-colleague managed to sell off his car extra RM10,000 above market value.  Reason?  He sold off with Nice 2 digit number W _ _ 77.

FORTH Encounter: A 100% showroom condition car which I just came across recently.  This car apparently was Still in market.  The dealer advertised in Mudah.my since September 2009.  Till Now still unsold.  I think it's because of the Number: W _ _ 8340.  Means, Born Live Die Sure.  Adding salt to the wound, the Dealer  REFUSED to LOWER the PRICE.  RM41,800 NETT.  Hey, market value only RM36,000.  The car?
2004 Renault Scenic 2.0RXES with TWIN SUNROOF.  RARE CAR.

My Conclusion (correct me if I'm wrong), ONLY MALAY LIKE the No. "4".  Japanese/Korean/Chinese 4 = "DIE".   SAME goes for No. "13", Westerners HATED this NO.

New NAP conditions affects used car dealers

New NAP conditions affects used car dealers

2009/11/01 - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: New conditions under the National Automotive Policy (NAP) that makes mandatory inspection for vehicles above 15 years at Puspakom burdens used car dealers and affects their business.
Many used car dealers and owners of cars over 15 years are frustrated with the government's move as it affects the lower income group.

The regulation, that comes into force on Jan 1 and will involve about a million vehicles, is among 18 new measures in the revised NAP to enhance the local automotive industry's competitiveness and make for safer, more environmental-friendly and technologically sound vehicles

A used car dealer, Mohd Rizal Sabtu, characterised the government move as adversely affecting the industry besides burdening rural consumers given that the insurance rates had risen to RM350.

"Now irrespective of the age of the vehicle the insurance is RM350. This is not third party but first party. The third party rate as I remember was done away in July. There is no more third party," he told Bernama here today.

The Zalfa Trading Enterprise entrepreneur said before the new conditions his company sold between 60 and 70 vehicles aged above 15 years in a year or about 15 vehicles in a month.
"I am not confident of selling that many units next year firstly because the new condition requires annual Puspakom inspection for renewal of road tax.

"Secondly, there is no more third party insurance. They have to buy first party insurance at RM350. This is burdensome to rural folk who mostly buy paying cash and are self-employed. For a bank loan to buy a new car, salary slips and bank statements are needed," he said.

"A used car aged 15 and above usually is sold between RM4,000 and RM10,000. It seems that the government wants to encourage sales of new cars and I as a used car dealer in Kuala Lumpur am somewhat affected but the effect outside Kuala Lumpur is worse," he said.

Mohd Rizal also alluded to "false road tax discs" but said it would be below one per cent.

Another used car dealer, in Manjung, Perak, Zulfinaini Safie, said that as a small-time dealer he would be faced with problems as 75 per cent of the vehicles in his dealership were more than 15 years old.

He said various problems will emerge if all the vehicles had to undergo Puspakom inspection for road-tax renewal.

Many owners of old used cars contacted also voiced frustration over the new conditions that would burden the lower-income group.

However, 24-year-old Toyota Starlet owner, Mohd Najib Abd Rashid, said he agreed with the new regulations in the interest of old car owners' safety.

The secretary of the oldskool.org club which has a membership of 4,000 made up of both owners and enthusiasts said what was more worrying was the ban on the import of used car spare parts in 18 months.

"This will make it difficult for old car owners to get spare parts and this is compounded with the difficulty of getting insurance," he said.

Mohd Najib said most of the club members did not agree with the new conditions and hoped the government would find a way to help the low-income owners of old cars. - Bernama – by Jumaiti Rosly

REFERENCES:
1) http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20091101151139/Article/index_htmlbbb

2) http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/bnm/20091101/tts-nap-cars-bm-993ba14.htmlb

That's all folks, thanks for having the time and patience to read this...

10 Things to Never Say to a Car Dealer

FORBES.COM/MSNBC.COM presents...

Things to Never Say to a Car Dealer
by Bengt Halvorson
updated 5:21 p.m. ET Sept. 18, 2005

The dealership experience can be extremely stressful, but it doesn't have to be. You could know everything there is to know about the cars you're considering, but that's only a fraction of the buying process. If you want that seductive new sedan at a good price, you're probably going to need to know what to say — and more importantly, what not to say.

Some people loathe the whole car-buying experience simply because they anticipate getting conned. A few hundred dollars isn't a big deal on the price of a luxury car, but it's the idea of smart shopping and that sense of getting a good deal that's especially important. For luxury car buyers — notoriously labeled the shrewd shoppers — a good deal is icing on the cake.

"The educated consumer is the one who will drive away with the best deal and the best experience," says Rob Gentile, director of car-buying products at Consumer Reports.

To help you take the driver's seat in the buying experience, first learn to play the game, and you might even end up doing some smooth talking of your own.


Ready, Set, Go!

1. "I'm ready to buy now."

This is an admission of weakness and an invitation for the dealer to throw out a price that's slightly below the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) to see if you'll take the bait. It shows that you're too eager and willing to consider an offer, and it also gives salespeople the advantage by allowing them to talk you up as opposed to you talking them down. But by adding some very precise parameters, you'll sound confident and strong from the start.

"Don't let them know that you're ready to buy without being very particular. If you're ready, say that you'll buy, but only under these particular conditions," says Gentile.

There are two schools on negotiating. Going into the process, Gentile reminds consumers to be wary of the dealer cost. Consumer Reports has something called wholesale price, which is the normal dealer invoice price minus all relevant rebates and incentives. Similarly, most longstanding price-information services advise buyers to research the dealer invoice, along with any relevant incentives, then make a lowball offer that's maybe just a few hundred dollars above invoice. The dealer will follow your figure with a counteroffer that then allows you to go back and forth until there is a compromise.

Conversely, a second school believes that making the first offer puts the buyer in a weak position. "When you make an offer on a car, you're digging yourself into a hole," says James "Spike" Bragg, a consumer advocate and founder of Fighting Chance, an information service for new-car buyers. "That offer will be as good as it gets. There's so much today in 'under the radar' sales incentives to dealers, you don't want to limit yourself."

According to Bragg, many of the dealer incentives today are awarded on a dealer-by-dealer basis, often handed out for meeting sales targets. Because of this, you can't pin down these incentives on a particular vehicle, and you never know which dealership might be able to provide the better price at a given time.

Bragg's method involves faxing quote requests from several different dealerships and asking them for their best bottom-line price on a particular model. His clients sometimes manage to negotiate prices well below invoice, even considering all published incentives. In this day of increased under-the-radar incentives, this method doesn't limit you to a bottom line and certainly has its merits if you're willing to put in the effort.


Monthly Payment

2. "I can afford this much per month."

"Don't tell the dealer what you're willing to pay per month. This is the biggest mistake a shopper can make. Often the dealer will focus on a monthly payment scheme, insisting you are receiving a great deal, but at the end of the day you won't really know what you paid, advises Gentile.

If the dealer can get a number out of you, a common trick is to ask if you can squeeze out a slightly higher monthly payment, then raise the bottom-line price accordingly by hundreds or even thousands. Avoid this by insisting that you focus only on the purchase price. Walk away if the salesperson only wants to talk in monthly payments. Trade-in


Trade-in

3. "Yes, I have a trade-in."

Don't tell salespeople you have a trade-in until a final transaction price is set. If you do and the deal hasn't been made yet, they may try to distract you with the "great" deal they're giving you on your trade-in as they skimp on the real deal. And if you catch that, they may try writing your trade-up for less.

"You'll see games being played — they'll play one off on the other," Gentile says. Once you've decided on a sale price, then you can see what they'll give you for your old car.


Cash-Only Please

4. "I'm only buying the car with cash."

Car dealers make a significant chunk of added profit when they sell you financing. If you don't at least leave the dealer with the possibility that he or she might sell you financing, you simply won't be getting the best deal. Bragg recommends saying something like "I haven't really thought that through yet. Maybe we'll see what you have after we agree on a price."

But be truly noncommittal with financing, even though it's a good idea to line up tentative financing with your lender before you go car shopping.


Still Debating

5. "I'm not sure…which model do you think I need?"

If you're this undecided, you may end up driving away in a vehicle you neither wanted nor needed. Do the research in advance, and make your first shopping trip a short one. Use this opportunity to gather information and take your spec vehicle for a short test drive. If your uncertainty is apparent, you may end up buying the model with the most add-on equipment, the highest sticker price and, of course, the most profit for the dealer. Before you go shopping, narrow your choices down to three or four vehicles that fit your needs.


My Dream Car

6. "Oh, I've wanted one of these all my life."

As soon as you've lost yourself in the dreamy vision of that gleaming convertible, the salesperson has you hooked, and your chances of getting a great deal are over. "Don't get caught heavy breathing," says Bragg. "Certainly don't admit to your spouse — with the salesman listening in the backseat — that you're in love with the car." Here's where you need to have a communication plan. Try to sound objective and rational. Point out some pros and cons and be observant and calm. Just don't say that you have to have this car.


What Everyone Wants

7. "I'll take whatever the popular options are."

Don't ever ask for the "popular options" especially on a luxury model that already comes loaded. It's an open invitation for overpriced dealer add-ons such as interior protectant, window etching or undercoating. They're all things you can come back for later. Instead, go through the equipment list at home after your first visit to the dealership and then decide exactly what you need.


Lowest You Can Go

8. "What's the lowest price you can give me?"

Most likely, this question won't be taken seriously, and you will be met with a predictable performance. The salesperson will wince, maybe talk to the manager, fiddle with numbers and eventually come back with a price that probably isn't a very good deal for you. But there may be so much apparent effort in this performance that you'll be pressured into settling for that final number. Don't. To avoid this, make an informed and reasonable low offer, then wait for a counteroffer. Don't be afraid of silence. Conversely, don't be surprised if there's even a little drama.


Doing The Math

9. "Sure, I'll look at the numbers with you."

Perhaps quite early in your visit, the salesperson will most likely make an offer to "just go look at the numbers." Dealers do this when they sense you're undecided, but they want to be in the position of control. Getting you in the office makes it harder for you to back out. Wait until you can call the shots of what you want at what price.


The Haggle Factor

10. "I think you can do a lot better than that."

Never scold or accuse the salespeople. Be polite. Compliment them, and show respect. You'll never get the best price if you talk down to them. At least for the moment, you want them to be your friends. Let the scene play out, but leave when the deal's not good enough by quietly suggesting that the competition across town might be more willing to work with you.

ARTICLE SOURCE: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9358955