What's With The Pricing?

[ShintaroX]

I know, I know talking about what car you want to get next is like talking to someone about the dream you had last night. Very interesting to you, but less to others.

Anyway I am back on the hunt for a new car and for those of you that are mildly interested (or just bored) let me thank you now for reading.

I've been using a neat little hatchback for a while (my first ever) and well, it's been alright. So, I thought, well, 'same again'! So went to a dealer. Went something like this:

"Hi! Looking for a small car for driving around Colombo."

"Ah yes. Aqua."

"No thanks"

"Why? Good car, 3000 km/l, it says so right here on this paper napkin."

"Nah. Something small, but not a hybrid."

*Clunk*

After he came to he said

"You are not want hybrid?"

"No I am not want"

"Only hybrid cars in Sri Lanka now."

This wasn't an isolated incident. One company asked me what I'd like and I said that 2014 manga-faced toyota vitz/yaris hatchback that had got me, embarrassingly, a little excited when I was last off-shore. 'Hybrid?' he asked hopefully. 'No,' I said, 'petrol.' Dejected he walked away and gave me a quote to import it with more zeros than there was space on the page.

So, plan B. Scour the papers.

The leg of the journey started with the supplement of a popular sunday newspaper. Not to make it too easy for you all, but it starts with an 'H' and ends with an 'itAd'.

It seemed to me that every new car is a hybrid and I was, I suppose, pleased in a way that the environment is so important to the Sri Lankan public. The belching, billowing buses (alliteration not intended), burning garbage and so on made me think that the public had some deep vendetta against mother nature. Or maybe the masses think that hybrids are just about saving 6 rupees per month on petrol. Ashamedly I must admit that I found myself rather uninspired by the vast range of hybrids.

I continued to scour for a 'real' car. By that I don't mean a 6.0 V8, I just mean a car that is made for driving, not for saving the planet.

I then saw a 2004 Cherokee for 2.5m in quite good nick. Now thats not something I'd like to have, but it was one of the more interesting cars that I saw. The same price as a 2000 X-Trail. What's up with that pricing? Again, I don't like either particularly, but surely the Cherokee is worth more than a crappy, broken down, old X-Trail.

Then my research took me to the pick ups or the double-cabs. Now, most of the ads in general avoid the engine size, which is frustrating enough as it is, but maybe that's to save money on the ad size? But if thats the case, then why waste space saying that a pick-up was made in Thailand or imported from the UK? Does that information help a Sri Lankan car buyer more than the engine capacity?

In fact the lack of information in most ads made me look with great suspicion on those that did. "Hmmm...how does that Subaru owner know how much HP its spitting out? He's probably some kind of car-thrashing-street-racer type!" or "hmmm... how does that lady doctor/engineer/professional know her 'original, accident free, 100% paint' engine size? Engine swap for sure." Actually '100% paint' was my favourite description. I mean, who doesn't like a bit of paint? So the more a car is comprised of paint, the bette,r in my opinion. But I digress.

So back to the cabs. I saw a 2007 Nissan Navarra/Nawara/Narawa for 3.5m. The 2007 Hilux was 4.5mn. Why such a big difference? I've been around SL long enough to know that Toyota's are golden, but isn't that a bit much?

So, I would still like to get a new car, but venturing out in the world of buying a car makes me feel like I'm on some motor version of Stonehearst Asylum.

[ShintaroX]

Jeez this OP is a windbag.

[The Don]

The UK imported Hiluxes were made in South Africa and are considered more durable than the Thai made brand new imports.

The Hilux is also more durable than the Navara which has sadly developed a bit of a reputation, partly due to its Renault sourced power plant not being the same leagues as the Nissan Diesels of age!

[isam]

Entertainment in advertisements... is what you get in the automobile advert pages these days...

[Schiffer]

So back to the cabs. I saw a 2007 Nissan Navarra/Nawara/Narawa for 3.5m. The 2007 Hilux was 4.5mn. Why such a big difference? I've been around SL long enough to know that Toyota's are golden, but isn't that a bit much?

To answer that part of your question. The Reason the the Hilux is more expensive is because it is better Cab/ute/pickup truck.

While the navara might be a bit more comfortable people tend to get scared off from the renault engine in it. Some say (magnum)..... they are unreliable.

Which is probably why it doesnt have much resale value. also something i noticed looking at second hand Navaras and Hiluxes (which i have a lot) )is that The interior bits of the Navaras have been disintegrated/Worn out compared to a similar year Hilux's

[VVTi]

Keep writing machang, awesome!!!

[MasterDon]

[Magnum]

To answer that part of your question. The Reason the the Hilux is more expensive is because it is better Cab/ute/pickup truck.

While the navara might be a bit more comfortable people tend to get scared off from the renault engine in it. Some say (magnum)..... they are unreliable.

Which is probably why it doesnt have much resale value. also something i noticed looking at second hand Navaras and Hiluxes (which i have a lot) )is that The interior bits of the Navaras have been disintegrated/Worn out compared to a similar year Hilux's

Yep Navara seems to have a reliability issue and the reason why Hilux ads mention where they were imported from is due to the fact certain Hilux from UK had rust underneath

I dont know if theres a difference in features between Thailand and UK model but the Navara imported from UK had better features

[Crosswind]

Isnt this hilux/navara/L200 topic, something thats been discussed to death?

[LaZyBoY]

Can't answer any of your questions I'm afraid but that was a fun read..

[Saturn]

Why not get a Vezel?

[sasika]

The UK imported Hiluxes were made in South Africa and are considered more durable than the Thai made brand new imports.

The Hilux is also more durable than the Navara which has sadly developed a bit of a reputation, partly due to its Renault sourced power plant not being the same leagues as the Nissan Diesels of age!

Renault is having a lot off issues these days with power plants. Even In F1

Edited June 14, 2015 by sasika