Up to RM 19k for a used Perodua Kelisa, overpriced or untapped potential?

If you’ve browsed the used car market recently for a Perodua Kelisa, you would’ve noticed the average prices for one seems to hover around RM 13k, with one or two going as high as RM 19k! Considering the age and size of the Kelisa, it’s might be a little surprising how much value it can still retain.

A Proton Wira of similar age can be had for RM 5k or thereabouts, and that’s a full-sized sedan. Also, we recently featured a used car buying guide for the Proton Saga FLX, with mentions of the Saga being a better value proposition than the Kelisa.

After all, the Perodua Kelisa is a mini-hatch that’s relatively sparse in terms of equipment level (no airbags, no ABS). During its production years from 2001 to 2007, prices hovered around RM 36k to 41k depending on variant.

With listed prices of up to RM 19k, how is it that used 20-year-old used Kelisa is able to fetch such prices? Well, the law of economics will point out demand.

The higher the demand for a product that is limited in supply – the Kelisa is not exactly rare, but it is out of production – the higher the price. Why the demand? If you think about it, there isn’t much competition for a supermini, save for Perodua’s own models like the Kancil or Kenari.

Being sparsely equipment as mentioned and mechanically simple, there isn’t much to go wrong with the Kelisa, which makes it a reliable city runabout with the proviso that it’s well maintained.

Another part of the equation is the potential for modification. Want to plonk in a turbocharged 1.3-litre engine from the Daihatsu YRV? It’s doable. Want to make it look like a Mini? A conversion to the Daihatsu Mira Gino shall serve that desire.

As a bonus, the Kelisa is one of the most fun options you can have for the money. It’s just an honest driving experience; featherweight (about 800 kg depending on variant), cable-operated throttle, hydraulic power steering, peppy 1.0-litre 3-pot engine, and the option of a manual transmission. The nippiness of it will stimulate the smile glands of anyone who loves driving.

Though the flipside of those is poor refinement. If you’re looking something comfortable and smooth to drive, the Kelisa is perhaps the antithesis of it. The 3-cylinder engine vibrates, ride quality is choppy, and it’s rather noisy on the highway. Which is why we’ve recommended the Saga FLX as an alternative.

Also read: From RM 12k, a 9-year-old Proton Saga FLX is now cheaper than a Kelisa

But not all of us are looking a value-for-money Point A to Point B car. Nostalgia is a real thing. As cars progress in the modern age, they begin to feel more alike to each other. An undiluted experience is also one of the reasons we’re seeing the JDM craze, it’s become a culture.

Also read: This RM 2.3 million R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R is the world's priciest Godzilla

The Kelisa won’t be joining the craze but for anyone who wants something that can put a smile on their faces, it’ll do. Smiles and joy, who could put a price on that?