New car sales in Malaysia dropped 44 percent month-on-month, according to the latest data from the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA). As expected, March 2020’s numbers were down by almost half, as MCO was implemented on 18-March. A total of 22,478 new cars (including commercial vehicles) were sold in March 2020, a drop of 44 percent (17,925 units less) from February 2020’s numbers. Year-to-date sales for 2020 stands at 105,533 units, 26 percent less than the same three-month period in 2019.
Apr 29, 2020
The ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO) will hit business hard, as almost all retail businesses grind to a halt. The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) had originally forecasted 2020’s total industry volume (TIV) – an industry term total new vehicle sales – to be at 607,000. RHB Investment Bank’s own forecast had originally put 2020’s TIV to be at 595,000. Last year, Malaysia's TIV was at 604,287 units. With car dealers selling almost zero cars for at least a month (MCO runs from 18-March t
Mar 31, 2020
When it comes to shopping for a car, terms like reconditioned cars and certified pre-owned (CPO) cars get tossed around a fair bit. On paper, both CPO and reconditioned (recond) cars are very similar – both are cheaper than a new car, allowing the buyer to save some money. But that’s where the similarities end, as they are world’s apart once you look closer. Recond cars – good on paper, but buyers beware While it may seem tempting to save RM 40k to RM 50k on a recond car versus a brand-new car,
Apr 23, 2020
Only 10 percent of hire purchase borrowers of have opted out of the 6-month moratorium given by Bank Negara, according to data by RHB Investment Bank. In its latest bi-weekly newsletter dated 29-April, the investment bank downgraded its buy/sell call for CIMB, from Neutral to Sell. Part of the reason, according to the investment bank’s analysts is “…possibility of provisions for a macro overlay on expected credit loss and modification losses on the present value of deferred cash flows due to the
May 1, 2020
A very rare English Proton Satria Neo rally car is for sale on Motorsports Auction for 85,000 GBP. Unlike the Satria Neo S2000 rally car, this Satria Neo runs a British-made engine – the 2,500 Millington Diamond Engine. Specifically, the 2,500 cc Millington Diamond series 2+. The history of the Millington Engines dates all the way back to 1971 with Roy Millington working on diesel engines of the family farm. The first diamond engines are based on the 4-cylinder Cosworth YB engine. Roy Millington
Jun 23, 2020
Remember Proton's electric vehicle (EV) project? Today, we found out that Proton was putting up models such as the Proton Saga EV, Proton Iriz EV, and even the Proton EMAS concept car up for auction. This following last week's auction of historic concepts and prototypes. UPDATE: The Proton EMAS concept car has been withdrawn from the auction. Thumbs up to Proton! It's impossible for a manufacturer to keep every protoype/concept car, but the EMAS deserves a spot in the museum. Today's auction was
Jul 22, 2020
Toyota Harrier Alongside the Toyota Alphard/Vellfire, the Toyota Harrier is an immensely popular luxury SUV. Part of the reason why the Harrier is so popular is the lack of competition – it has no direct rival either from Honda or Nissan. But the question remains – should you buy a cheap reconditioned (recond) unit or pay up for an officially-imported unit by UMW Toyota Motor? Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons. Prices – Recond is cheaper, but for a good reason Prices start from RM 24
May 9, 2020
Yes, you read the title correctly – we’ve compiled a list of 6 cars you should buy recond over official units. For those who have been following us would know that we don’t usually recommend recond cars, but for this post, we’ll make an exception. But before we get started, we should clarify the misconception that recond car are better equipped than local spec cars isn’t true. Companies like Toyota and Mercedes-Benz have been fitting their cars with generous safety equipment, matching or even su
Aug 22, 2020
Even though Mitsubishi Motors announced that it will not pull out of the European market after all, that does not mean it is completely smooth sailing for the Three Diamonds brand. Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) United Kingdom is liquidating its heritage fleet and as a result, 14 vehicles from their collection are up for grabs at an auction. Also read: Mitsubishi will save their European presence by rebadging Renaults According to the listing, the Mitsubishi Heritage Fleet auction will begin on 1-April
Mar 18, 2021
A global pandemic and signs of an impending economic depression are already slamming the automotive industry five ways to Thursday. Car sales are down, people are losing their jobs, and businesses are going bankrupt. We may be a meal away from financial Armageddon, which for some means it is a good time as any to buy an old Honda Civic Type R for RM300,000. Wait, what? That isn’t a lone case. More recently somebody bought a Mugen Civic Type R for half a million Ringgit. If that wasn’t brave enou
Aug 9, 2020
There's no doubt that the Toyota Alphard (and its Vellfire twin) is the best luxury MPV on the market. Few other cars can match the Alphard/Vellfire's spaciousness and ease of entrace/exit. Compared to a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Alphard's sliding doors allow you to step in/out of the car as if it's a room, rather than a car. The only question left is whether to buy a cheap reconditioned (recond) unit or pay up for an officially-imported unit by UMW Toyota Motor? Let’s take a closer look at the
May 2, 2020
Geely Jia Ji Terdapat spekulasi yang bertiup kencang di mana Geely Jiaji akan hadir ke Malaysia. Khabar angin ini berikutan daripada makluman pelaburan yang dilakukan oleh RHB Research yang diedarkan kepada para pelabur. Di dalam makluman pelaburan tersebut, RHB Research mendakwa bahawa Proton bakal membawa masuk sebuah model berasaskan Geely pada tahun depan. Makluman yang bertarikh 3 Disember 2020 tersebut bertujuan untuk menguatkan lagi keyakinan pelaburan terhadap DRB-HICOM. Carian melalui l
Dec 8, 2020
Recently, we ran a couple of stories on Proton auctioning off some of their older cars - including the Proton Wira PERT. A few articles down the line and with netizens’ support, a number of sought-after models were withdrawn from auction. That said, the Wira PERT was still sold - thankfully with a happy end. Mfa Bob, the new owner of the rallying Wira, recently shared on Facebook that he would be restoring the car to its former glory. PERT stands for Petronas Eon Racing Team and was founded in t
Jul 27, 2020
Amidst all the buzz surrounding last week’s Proton EV auction, there was one very interesting model. It was a turbocharged 1.3-litre Proton Iriz with a 6-speed manual transmission. The Proton Iriz is a formidable rival to the Perodua Myvi with great handling but hampered by the uninspired Punch CVT gearbox. While the Iriz is available with a manual transmission, the 95 PS 1.3-litre isn’t really hot hatch material and the 109 PS 1.6-litre manual variant has been discontinued for quite some time.
Jul 27, 2020
Who here remembers Proton Eon Racing Team (PERT) that was formed in the late 1980s? It may not be familiar to some of you but they were the ones that laid the foundation for Proton R3 - which stands for Race, Rally and Research. The name’s a clue to its history. Starting out with circuit racing, the PERT team made headways into rally before reaching their pinnacle sometime in 2002 - winning the FIA Production Car World Rally Championship title, thanks to “Flying Sikh” Karamjit Singh and co-drive
Jul 13, 2020
Today is Friday, Sep. 19 Keep yourself up-to-date with 2020 Toyota GR Supra A90 Edition! Local News JPJ to auction Mercedes and 104 more cars, starting from RM50 JPJ (Jabatan Pengangkutan Jalan) is putting on a second auction this year. The auction will start at 9 a.m. on the 25th of September(next week), in Perak. A total of 105 confiscated vehicles (81 cars, 20 motorcycles, 3 vans and a lorry) will be put on auction for as low as RM50 starting bid, including: Toyota Wish Mercedes Benz BMW Suba
Sep 20, 2019
The Honda Civic EK9 Type R will be turning 25. That means this JDM legend from the nineties is turning into a classic soon – yeah, we are feeling old. We’ve seen news of Toyota A80 Supras and Honda Integra DC2 Type Rs going for six figures at auctions in America. However, since the EK9 is still below the 25-year import rule, that means we won’t be seeing wild prices for them. Until now. According to OZM Auto Auction, a fresh-looking Honda Civic EK9 Type R in black with a mileage of only 2,549 km
Jul 19, 2020
Proton had auctioned off some of its concept prototypes and rally cars in an unprecedented move on its automotive history. Thankfully, some of them have been pulled out from the auction by Proton. Some of these prototypes and university creations probably deserved the scrap but there were some which should be preserved. Apart from the PERTs and the Petronas E01-powered cars, the one that stood out in the list was a pair of Satria Cabriolets. While the United Kingdom was the prime export market f
Jul 21, 2020
Perodua’s manufacturing facility in Rawang is temporarily closed for retooling purposes. According to RHB Investment's newsletter, the retooling exercise is said to set up the production line for their upcoming Perodua D55L SUV. We all know that Perodua’s next model will be their D55L SUV and it is based on the Toyota Raize & Daihatsu Rocky duo. These cars will sit on the latest-generation Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform. Perodua will be tasked to manufacture the D55L SUV as Toy
Mar 26, 2020
Want that dream car of yours but can’t afford to buy new? The used car market is one solution. If you are shopping for a used car, here are the list of things that you should look out for. 1. Check paintwork, body panels, engine bay, and underneath of the car First impression matters. The outlook of the car is what makes you attracted to it in the first place, so naturally, this will be the first thing you should look at. Always inspect the car in daylight, because the sun's reflection can tell
May 15, 2020
Yesterday, we published an article where we found the Proton EMAS concept car among the EV prototypes that were sold off in another Proton-themed auction. While it was heart-breaking to see this once glorious concept car in such a sad state, it's a good thing that Proton decided to withdraw it from the auction. So, what makes the Proton EMAS so deserving to be restored? Let’s rewind back to 2010; South Africa hosted the World Cup for the first time in the African continent, Kanye West released h
Jul 23, 2020
Despite Covid-19, the Malaysian car industry is expected to end 2020 on a reasonably OK note thanks to the temporary suspension/discount on sales tax. After 31-December 2020 however, the 10 percent sales tax will return and this time, it will return with a new Open Market Value (OMV) calculation, which could see car prices increasing by up to 20 percent, more on that later. Malaysia’s Total Industry Volume (TIV) – the industry’s lingo for new car sales – is projected to reach 500,000 units (esti
Dec 21, 2020
Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) and art powerhouse Wei-Ling Gallery today announced a collaboration in conjunction of the launch of the all-new 2020 Volkswagen Arteon R-Line, featuring the talents of 13 Malaysian artists. This collaboration offers collectors and art enthusiasts the unique opportunity to own scale models of the Arteon that have been transformed by the artists into unique sculptures. The art pieces will be sold via auction, and proceeds from the auction will be channelle
Sep 26, 2020
With just 5 km on the odometer on this Toyota Raize, it is possible that one very unlucky owner got rear-ended just after taking delivery. These crashed photos of the Toyota Raize were shared by Twitter use @taku531531, which shows the B-segment SUV with a crushed front and rear end. Judging from the photos, the frontal impact was severe enough to deploy both front airbags. Furthermore, the rear end also sustained some damage, though the severity of the damage is unknown. While the damage may ap
Apr 27, 2020
Prior to the return of Suzuki in Malaysia, those who wanted to buy the fourth-generation (ZC33S) Suzuki Swift Sport had to resort to reconditioned units, as recond dealers have been selling that model since 2019. But that will soon change, as Suzuki has returned to Malaysia under Naza. In the process, the company has introduced the fourth-generation (ZC33S) Swift Sport in Malaysia. So, the question is: now that potential buyers have the option of a reconditioned unit or a brand-new unit, which i
Apr 9, 2021
When the 200 PS Toyota 86 was first launched in Malaysia in 2012, its asking price was RM 243,000 for the manual, and RM 249,000 for the automatic variant. For a supposedly affordable sports car, its pricing in Malaysia is hardly affordable at all. The more powerful (220 PS), more practical Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk7 can be had for about RM17k less, at RM 227,888. Toyota 86 UMW Toyota then introduced the facelifted 86 in 2017. There were some minor upgrades but prices went up further, to RM 257,502
May 16, 2020
The Toyota GR Yaris is an exclusive hot hatch with only 25,000 units being produced worldwide. Sadly, it appears there’s one less in the world with this sorry sight of a GR Yaris that’s been trashed with only 1,048 km of mileage! According to data from a Japanese salvage auction site, this was a First Edition variant. Looking at the bodywork, it appears to be a total loss with both the front and back of the hot hatch completely ruined. Car enthusiasts would be so disappointed to see the fate of
Jan 21, 2021
Proton’s management have told its investment bank partners that the company will be launching a new Geely-based model in 2021, according the latest investor’s newsletter by RHB Research. The research house didn’t mention any specifics on which Geely model that Proton’s management was referring to. However back in 2018, Geely Automobile Holdings, the parent company of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, which owns half of Proton, signed an agreement to license three Geely models to Proton for CNY 1,344
Dec 7, 2020
Siapa masih ingat Proton Eon Racing Team (PERT) yang ditubuhkan lewat tahun 80 an dahulu? Pasukan PERT adalah perintis kepada Proton R3 dan bak kata orang, selebihnya adalah sejarah. Pasukan PERT bermula dengan perlumbaan litar hinggalah berjinak-jinak ke perlumbaan rali. Kemuncak kegemilangan pasukan PERT hadir sekitar tahun 2002 di mana Karamjit Singh dan pembantu pemandu Allen Oh memenangi Kejohanan FIA World Rally Championship. Namun kenangan hanya tinggal kenangan. Pasukan perintis ini sema
Jul 13, 2020
During the long weekend, as Malaysians were celebrating the 63rd Merdeka Day, we were greeted by a couple of YouTube videos that showed a Proton Perdana gathering dust in an underground car park in the UK. It was later revealed that this Perdana actually belonged to former PM, Tun Mahathir Mohamad. This raised quite a bit of furore around the Malaysian interwebs but what exactly is going on and how did Tun M’s car get there? To answer that, let’s head back to 1996 to a forgotten brainchild of Tu
Sep 2, 2020
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Toyota Yaris