Buying a car in Malaysia
Discussion
My first post....be nice!
I have just accepted a job in Malaysia, starting in August of this year. We will be based in Johor Bahru, just across one of the causeways from Singapore. Has anyone had any experience of buying a car in Malaysia? I've had a quick look online but most of the car selling websites look like a GCSE project gone wrong.
I'm looking for a largish family car, probably a 4x4, and have a budget between £5000 & £10,000.
Any advice welcome, thanks.
I have just accepted a job in Malaysia, starting in August of this year. We will be based in Johor Bahru, just across one of the causeways from Singapore. Has anyone had any experience of buying a car in Malaysia? I've had a quick look online but most of the car selling websites look like a GCSE project gone wrong.
I'm looking for a largish family car, probably a 4x4, and have a budget between £5000 & £10,000.
Any advice welcome, thanks.
You're in for a nasty shock!
My parents have lived in Malaysia a full year now and I can share their following experiences:
Most overseas cars have enormous import duties attached to them, and while Malay-built cars don't, the prices are bumped up anyway to make them competitive. I'll give an example using VERY rough numbers.
Lets' say you could get a new Perodua Myvi here in the UK for about £5,000, and a Mitsubishi Colt for £8,000. With conversion to Malay Ringgits, at about 1GBP to 5 MYR, you'd expect about 25,000 RM for the Myvi and 40,000 for the Colt. Problem is that the Colt would have the import duty slapped on so it'd be about 50,000 RM.
So the Myvi is the better choice? Wrong, because Perodua know they make a cheaper car anyway, and so they sell the Myvi at about 45,000 RM. They're still undercutting the cheapest imports, but they're making an absolute killing.
I'm afraid you're not in for something particularly good in MY if buying new - you may need to look about for old bangers.
My parents have lived in Malaysia a full year now and I can share their following experiences:
Most overseas cars have enormous import duties attached to them, and while Malay-built cars don't, the prices are bumped up anyway to make them competitive. I'll give an example using VERY rough numbers.
Lets' say you could get a new Perodua Myvi here in the UK for about £5,000, and a Mitsubishi Colt for £8,000. With conversion to Malay Ringgits, at about 1GBP to 5 MYR, you'd expect about 25,000 RM for the Myvi and 40,000 for the Colt. Problem is that the Colt would have the import duty slapped on so it'd be about 50,000 RM.
So the Myvi is the better choice? Wrong, because Perodua know they make a cheaper car anyway, and so they sell the Myvi at about 45,000 RM. They're still undercutting the cheapest imports, but they're making an absolute killing.
I'm afraid you're not in for something particularly good in MY if buying new - you may need to look about for old bangers.
There's a wealth of older 4x4 (shogun's and land cruisers mostly). As mentioned, anything imported has a heap of import duty, but you can see some very rich folk with a Porsche GT3, GTR or a new jag XJ.
When i was there last, a massive crowd flocked round the jag like we would to a zonda.
Lots of merc's however, including Brabus', so might be worth a look.
Alternatively, as JB in close to Singapore, you might want to look at sourcing a car there and bringing it over the border.
Will still be pants-down expensive however.
http://otoreview.blogspot.co.uk/2008/01/guide-impo...
When i was there last, a massive crowd flocked round the jag like we would to a zonda.
Lots of merc's however, including Brabus', so might be worth a look.
Alternatively, as JB in close to Singapore, you might want to look at sourcing a car there and bringing it over the border.
Will still be pants-down expensive however.
http://otoreview.blogspot.co.uk/2008/01/guide-impo...
There is about a 300% tax on cars in general in Malaysia
With £10000 / RM 50000 your best bet is a second hand Toyota Vios
They are great cars, reliable, comfortable and reasonably safe. It's a small saloon so don't expect 3 series type space though. Very popular cars in South east asia particularly Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Stay away from Proton or any of their s
t cars! They are crap in the UK and even worse back in Malaysia! Don't be tempted by the cheap prices as they WILL fall apart.
Online car sales really hasn't taken off , best bet is to go shopping and look on forecourts
I am from JB (Johor Baru) so let me know if you want contacts to buy a car and I will be able to tell you where to go and who to avoid
Biggest car forum in Malaysia is a place called Zerotohundred.com .. Check it out if you have the time
With £10000 / RM 50000 your best bet is a second hand Toyota Vios
They are great cars, reliable, comfortable and reasonably safe. It's a small saloon so don't expect 3 series type space though. Very popular cars in South east asia particularly Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Stay away from Proton or any of their s
t cars! They are crap in the UK and even worse back in Malaysia! Don't be tempted by the cheap prices as they WILL fall apart.Online car sales really hasn't taken off , best bet is to go shopping and look on forecourts
I am from JB (Johor Baru) so let me know if you want contacts to buy a car and I will be able to tell you where to go and who to avoid
Biggest car forum in Malaysia is a place called Zerotohundred.com .. Check it out if you have the time
congrats on the job, sounds like an adventure.
i'd recommend you head to the asia forum here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/forum.asp?h=0&a...
there's a few phers living in malaysia and across the water in singapore
i'd recommend you head to the asia forum here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/forum.asp?h=0&a...
there's a few phers living in malaysia and across the water in singapore
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