Segunda Mano: What can you buy for PHP 250K?
Need a car on a budget?
There is no question that the Philippines is a road-centric country when it comes to primary means of daily transportation. Whether it's a bus, bike, tricycle, car, jeepney, modern jeepney, kuliglig, motorcycle or e-bike, the road is really the only option because rail infrastructure here is insufficient. That’s the reason why Metro Manila turns to a ghost town during the holidays, while traffic becomes worse in the expressways and in the provinces.
If you desire mobility, buying a brand-new car has never been easier with flexible financing schemes from banks and even car brands themselves. But what if you don’t want to deal with those monthly amortizations that go on for years? Well, there’s always the next best thing – the second hand car market.
Of course, shopping for used cars is high stakes lottery. You’re lucky if you bought something that’s been well kept by its previous owner, but sometimes that used car purchase could also come with a hefty repair bill, or become a P.I.T.A. altogether. But let's help you navigate the used car classifieds and with some helpful tips and advice on what to expect in the market.
We’ve filtered it down to cars that are 20 years or newer (2005 to present), with pricing capped off at around PHP 250,000. Even we were surprised with the number of cars that are on sale in the used car market for this amount of money.
NISSAN X-TRAIL
GENERATION: GEN 1 / T30
YEAR MODEL: 2005-2009
PRICE RANGE: PHP 150,000 to 250,000
WHY THIS: Good ground clearance, AWD variant, cold A/C, fold flat seats
WATCH OUT: Fuel consumption, oil consumption, faded paint
The first-generation X-Trail was launched in the Philippines back in 2003, when Nissan vehicles were still sold between two distributors in the country; in the case of the X-Trail, it was NMPI. Back in its day, X-Trail was one of the sporty-looking crossovers in its class, as it had a boxy body with those signature pillar-mounted taillights. The ones that made our list are the facelifted versions launched in 2005 where it had angel-eye foglights and clear taillight lenses.
The 2005-2009 version of the X-Trail was generously equipped during its time, as it offered fold flat seats for better cargo carrying capacity, a central mounted instrument panel to open up more storage spaces, and you had an option of having a 2WD (200X), or one with part-time 4WD (250X).
There are still a few mint examples of the X-Trail available in the second hand car market. However, if you do want one of these, expect a pretty high fuel consumption with its 2.5-liter engine for the 250X variant. The QR series engines of the X-Trail are also known to suffer from high oil consumption. So if you ever get one, oil levels should be checked regularly. Some examples we see on the marketplace also have issues with faded paint and some worn down interior parts, which are considered normal for cars reaching the 20-year old phase.
Oh, and if you're the type that likes to knock on the body panels, don't be surprised if the fenders sound weird. They made those out of plastic.
Previous reviews: 2005 Nissan X-Trail 250X
TOYOTA VIOS / YARIS
GENERATION: GEN 2 / XP90
YEAR MODEL: 2008-2012
PRICE RANGE: PHP 180,000 to 250,000 (2008-2009 model years)
WHY THIS: 1.3L very efficient, 1.5L is peppy, abundance of parts
WATCH OUT: Noisy A/C compressors, engine heat soak, suspension rattles
The second-generation Toyota Vios sedan and Yaris hatchback were the last of the Yaris/Vios/Belta/Vitz to be offered by Toyota in the global market without any major regional differences. Known locally as the Vios Batman, plenty of these can still be seen on the road serving as taxi cabs. On the other hand, the Yaris is proving to be a car enthusiast’s favorite nowadays with its light weight, peppy engine, and plenty of styling paths to choose from.
This generation of the Vios / Yaris had the 1.3-liter 2NZ-FE and 1.5-liter 1NZ-FE engines, known to be capable of racking up mileage with solid reliability. Furthermore, the 2nd-gen versions are lighter than the “Superman” Vios that came after it, and is thus more fuel efficient in both its 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic variants.
Nowadays, you can find 1.3-liter variants of the 2nd gen Vios for under PHP 200K in the marketplace, while the 1.5-liter variants with 4-speed automatic and 4 wheel disk brakes can go past the PHP 250K mark. The Yaris, on the other hand, is seeing its resale value rise as more car enthusiasts choose it as a project car. In fact, the 4-speed automatic models are cheaper than the manual versions and are easier to find under the PHP 250K range. For later models, expect prices to breach past the PHP 350K mark, especially those fitted with the JDM-spec Vitz RS kits.
Common problems to watch out for are noisy AC compressors that can be remedied by replacing its pulleys. The car’s AC system can be pretty weak if the previous owner has yet to have its AC system serviced. Higher mileage models also tend to be prone to overheating as the small radiator and small engine bay can trap a lot of heat, hence you see Vios taxis with their hoods unlocked. Suspension rattles are also common especially with its rubber shock mounts that wear down easily. Fortunately, replacement parts are cheap and are readily available in most auto shops.
Previous reviews: 2008 Toyota Vios 1.5 G, 2007 Toyota Yaris 1.5 G A/T
TOYOTA COROLLA ALTIS
GENERATION: GEN 10 / E140
YEAR MODEL: 2008-2010 (pre-facelift models)
PRICE RANGE: PHP 200,000 to 250,000
WHY THIS: Roomy interior, generous cargo space, comfy ride, well-equipped
WATCH OUT: Melted dashboard, rack and pinion issues, oil sludge for poorly maintained units
The 10th generation Corolla Altis was Toyota’s answer to the 8th-generation Honda Civic, or more commonly known as the FD. While the latter retained its sporty characteristics, the 10th gen E140 Altis became more like a baby Camry with premium aspirations, and ride that’s more tuned for comfort.
This generation of the Corolla Altis was offered with a choice of 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0-liter engines, with premium amenities like wood paneling, climate control, beige leather seats, and even electrically adjustable seats. But for our particular price point, the one that fits the bill are the pre-facelift versions sold between 2008 to 2010. Under the PHP 250k mark, you can find examples of the Corolla Altis with the 1.6-liter 3ZZ-FE engine.
Surprisingly, there are plenty of low mileage examples of the Corolla Altis in the second hand car market, as the car came at a time when compact sedans were used more as a second car rather than a primary (that being a PPV). But still, the ZZ engines of the Altis are known to be prone to oil sludge when owners are not following recommended service intervals and procedures. Other common issues include problems in the rack and pinion steering, along with melting dashboard that’s shared with the bigger Camry.
Previous reviews: 2008 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.8 V, 2008 Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6G
SUZUKI SWIFT
GENERATION: GEN 1 / RS415
YEAR MODEL: 2006-2011
PRICE RANGE: PHP 230,000 to 250,000 up
WHY THIS: Nimble handling, fuel efficient, great reliability
WATCH OUT: Ignition coil and cooling system issues for high mileage examples, interior rattles
The first-generation Swift for the global market was, quite simply, Suzuki’s own version of the Mini Cooper. Designed as a sporty subcompact hatchback, it followed Mini’s formula for a great handling hatchback – wheels stretched out as wide and as far as possible, flat roof, and a low stance. There was a higher performance version called the Swift Sport, but unfortunately Suzuki Philippines did not bring the particular variant here, even in the later generations.
While that’s the case, the Swift is still a fun hatchback to drive even in today’s standards. It has a 1.5-liter engine with 110 PS and 143 Nm of torque. Because it weighs less than 1000 kg, expect the drive to be peppy at low speeds, especially if you opt for the 5-speed manual version. In fact, the first-gen Swift is the most powerful Swift offered in the Philippine market as subsequent versions came with smaller 1.4 and 1.2-liter engines.
However, expect interior space to be smaller, and less versatile compared to the likes of the Toyota Yaris or Honda Jazz. For units that have racked up more than 100,000 kilometers, expect things like the ignition coil to be replaced along with auxiliary fans for the radiator going bad. But apart from that, the Japan-made Swift rewards its owners with solid reliability as the years go on.
Previous reviews: 2006 Suzuki Swift 1.5 A/T
HONDA CR-V
GENERATION: GEN 2.5 / RD4, RD5, RD6, RD7, RD8, RD9
YEAR MODEL: 2005-2007
PRICE RANGE: PHP 230,000 to 280,000 up (2.0 2WD variant)
WHY THIS: Good ground clearance, roomy interior, comfy ride
WATCH OUT: A/C compressor issues, headlights are prone to fading, interior plastics, radiator thermostat, fuel consumption
The second-generation CR-V came to the Philippine market in 2003, and this is where Honda made clever use of local regulations to sell the crossover at under PHP 1 million pesos for the 10-seater variant. But in 2005, Honda introduced a refresh where the CR-V received a host of refinements to its suspension, looks, bigger brakes, a drive-by-wire throttle, and the addition of a 2.4-liter AWD variant.
The AWD units still fetch above PHP 300K in the second hand car market, but the 2WD version with the K20 engine can now be bought somewhere in the PHP 250K range. If you want better fuel economy, the 5-speed manual is the one to get but 4-speed automatic versions are proving to be just as reliable.
Common problems for the 2nd-gen CR-V include issues with the A/C compressor, specifically with its bearing that can get noisy over time. And since the Gen 2 CR-V is reaching 20 years old, expect 2nd hand units to have discoloration (yellowing) on the headlights, along with faded paint on the roof and hood.
Previous reviews: 2005 Honda CR-V 2.4 AWD M/T
MITSUBISHI MIRAGE / MIRAGE G4
GENERATION: GEN 6 / A00
YEAR MODEL: 2012-2015
PRICE RANGE: PHP 195,000 to 250,000 up
WHY THIS: Compact size, fuel efficient engine, newest in this list
WATCH OUT: Weak A/C, interior rattles
There are actually a lot of superminis, or A-segment hatchbacks that you can buy for under PHP 250K these days, since these models only sold for around PHP 450-650K back when they were brand new around 5-10 years ago. But for this list, we take a look at the Mitsubishi Mirage and its sedan counterpart, the G4.
The nice thing about the Mirage is that it has remained relatively unchanged from 2012, meaning you get the same engine, transmission, and other running gear with the ones you see on showrooms today. Mitsubishi only introduced updates to the infotainment, and some slight revisions to the front and rear bumpers.
The small size combined with low speed pep and nimble handling could win you over especially if you’re driving mostly in the metro, while the 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine delivers great fuel economy in both the 5-speed manual and CVT versions. However, older units tend to have issues now with its A/C system, so routine maintenance for that has to be taken consideration. But other than that, it’s still a good choice to have for a first car even by today’s standards.
Previous reviews: 2013 Mitsubishi Mirage GLS M/T, 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 GLS M/T, 2013 Mitsubishi Mirage GLX CVT, 2013 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 GLS CVT
