Used pasar malam vehicles are the most popular second-hand cars! Which should you get?

The Covid-19 pandemic has left many struggling financially in its wake, it doesn't help that our country has once again reinstated the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) thanks to the third wave of the pandemic. With no light at the tunnel just yet. many are turning towards a different method of earning. The most common business that many has turned to is the car boot sale concept. So, here’s a guide of the best 4-wheeled companion to set up that stall of your dreams.

We understand that in the current world situation of uncertainty, even though you can perfectly afford that brand-new van, you would rather save the money and go for a used vehicle for your new business.

Based on a news report by Sinar Harian, used car dealers are reporting that the most popular vehicles that fly off the sale floor are used vans, MPVs, and pick-up trucks as hopeful business owners start setting their plans into motion.

But what are the most suitable vehicles for you to peddle your wares, regardless if you’re starting out at a pasar malam or at a food truck courtyard like Tapak and how much should you set aside for one? Here are our suggestions.

Vans

A Toyota Hiace Panel Van 2.5 Turbo Diesel is spacious enough to not only fit multiple passengers (depending on your configuration) but also as much as you can sell. Bought new, the Hiace costs around RM 103,000 while a used Hiace can be had for as low as RM 10,000.

Of course, when we’re talking about “best pasar malam” cars, how can we miss out the Nissan Vanette? The van is so hardy that even to this day, there are still plenty of Nissan Vanettes running around the roads.

As the Vanette has been phased out to make way for the Nissan NV200 (which you cannot purchase privately), you can’t buy one brand new, but you can get one used for as low as RM 9,000 to RM 10,000.

Other vans that would be the perfect car boot sale companion includes the legendary Perodua Rusa and Toyota LiteAce. Both vans are priced as low as RM 3,000 to RM 5,000 but that depends on the condition of the vans.

Pick-up Trucks

For businesses that would require a pick-up truck instead, an Isuzu D-Max would best fit the role. Not only is the D-Max a hardy truck, but it is also the most affordable between its rivals though not as refined.

A brand-new D-Max will cost you at least RM 85,799 and since the truck is powered by a fuel-efficient 1.9-litre Ddi BluePower turbocharged engine, road tax would be cheaper too.

If you prefer a truck with more refinement, look towards trucks like the Mitsubishi Triton or the fan favourite Toyota Hilux. Though the Triton gives you the best refinement, you will have to sacrifice on load space. Meanwhile, the Hilux will give you the best of both worlds.

Brand new, the Triton has a starting price of RM 100,200 while a used Triton’s price hovers around RM 40,000 depending on the year and condition of the pick-up. A new Toyota Hilux, meanwhile, has a starting price of RM 92,880 but you can get a used Hilux for as low as RM 26,000.

Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPV)

If you would still like to use the vehicle of choice to still function as a people carrier as well, then perhaps an MPV would better fit the bill.

Not only will an MPV give you enough sitting space for 7 but if the MPV’s third-row seats can fold flat, it also provides plenty of space to store your wares when all its seats are folded down.

The most affordable MPV on the market is still the Perodua Alza, prices start from RM 49,944, but you can get one used at RM 18,500. We also suggest the Proton Exora, brand new, the Proton will set you back at least RM 59,800, a used Exora meanwhile will cost you around RM 25,000.

Commercial trucks

Of course, if you’re thinking about starting a food truck business, then these suggestions wouldn’t be much help. These purpose-built trucks can be much more affordable than the aforementioned vehicles if you want to buy one brand new.

These purpose-built commercial trucks are highly customisable so prices vary according to the built, but a basic truck can start at around RM 70,000. If you’re looking for more savings, there are used trucks that can be had for around RM 30,000 on used car sites.

But again, we remind everybody that prices stated on used car sites are generally not final. The final price might be much more than stated. So, we highly recommend finding private sellers to avoid hidden costs or mileage tampering.

Don’t forget that when purchasing a used vehicle, you will also need to perform various checks to make sure the vehicle is in good condition and devoid of damages like flood damage. You also want to make sure that the vehicle doesn’t have any unpaid summons before you head to JPJ for the transfer.

Conclusion

While the situation might seem bleak, there is always a silver lining. The current economic crisis might have left some devastating effect, but it has also served as an extra push for those who have talked about starting their own business.

But in Malaysia where a car is a necessity, a good vehicle will help set the pace of your business. We can only wish you good luck with your new business and hope that our suggestion helps!