Dear all,
I am planning to buy a car. I live in Ethiopia and cars are extremely expensive (both new and used ones). Currently, on the market here, the cars that I can afford are limited and I need a professional help in choosing among the few options I have.
The options are:
1. Toyota Corolla used (2003-2007)
2. Toyota Yaris compact used (2013) 1.3cc, 4 cylinder
3. Hyundai new (2022), 1.1cc, 4 cylinder
4. KIA Picanto new (2021), 1.0cc, 3 cylinder
5. Suzuki Dzire new (2021), 1.2cc, 4 cylinder
They are within the same price range.
Thank you very much for your advice!
What are they all being sold for and what is the mileage for all?
Being sold for about 30,000 USD. Mileage for used ones between 120,000 and 150,000 km.
5. Suzuki Dzire new (2021), 1.2cc, 4 cylinder
Get the brand new Swift sedan with a manual transmission.
I don’t know if getting a 15-20 yr used car (any OEM) is a good idea, in Africa..
Edit: You’re paying USD ~ 27,000 for a tiny Suzuki?!
That's the norm in many parts of the world, I paid ~$33k for my Kia Stonic.
(About $20k in taxes, and that's considered super cheap. considering the best selling cars here are around ~$46k (Hyundai Ioniq and Hybrid Corolla), and yet the average car age here is 5.7 years newer than in the US...)
@dan that’s ludicrous!
Suzuki Dzire and Swift come with semi-automatic transmission in this country. I haven't seen them in manual transmission.
The Suzuki Ethiopian website shows 2 choice of transmission, AGS (AMT) and a 5 speed manual. http://suzuki.et/dzire/#
Do not get the AMT, I repeat, DO NOT get the AMT. The Magnetti Marelli AMTs are notorious for failing prematurely (sometimes before 50,000 kms).
5. Suzuki Dzire new (2021), 1.2cc, 4 cylinder
The Dizre has very poor equipment levels, it's a car that was never sold in the west.
Manual models don't even have ESC, and you can't get it with a torque converted automatic, or even a DCT/CVT.
It's a basic cheap, and probably unsafe, tiny car.
4. KIA Picanto new (2021), 1.0cc, 3 cylinder
The 1.0L MPi on the KIA Picanto is extra ordinarily underpowered, it seems to have only 68 horsepower...
Ideally you'd want the MPi 1.25L it has a reasonably all of 85 horsepower which is enough to get around with a manual.
But note that this is a CITY car that is ideal on good roads.
3. Hyundai new (2022), 1.1cc, 4 cylinder
What Hyundai? they make quite a few car models...
Assuming you mean the Hyundai i10 - it's practically the same as the Picanto.
I've never heard of a Hyundai 1.1L engine, but the 1.2L and 1.25L engines are the ones to buy.
2. Toyota Yaris compact used (2013) 1.3cc, 4 cylinder
The Yaris is a line of cars, I assume you mean a third generation Vitz.
The 1.3L NR engine never was great, neither was the 1.3L NZ.
The 1.3L NZ lives around 150k miles (250k km), but they burn copious amounts of oil very easy on and age like milk in general.
IT DEPENDS ON THE CAR'S CONDITION.
1. Toyota Corolla used (2003-2007)
The 9th generation Corolla is getting old and Toyota never put a great engine in it.
As far as Corollas, 2010-2012 is the sweet spot.
I wouldn't buy such an old car for new car money.
IT DEPENDS ON THE CAR'S CONDITION.
IMO: If you live in a city with good roads, and the Picanto is euro-spec and has a manual - I'd go that route.
Thinking about it, can't you buy something like a new 2021 Toyota AyGO?
They're tiny and require good roads - but they were really cheap
(considering the model went out of production, probably even cheaper than it already was)
but if the oil is replaced frequently and if you get it with a manual they can last a reasonably long time.
Posted by: @dan
I've never heard of a Hyundai 1.1L engine
Very common in the old Santro -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_Epsilon_engine#G4HG
@itwt interesting, As it seems it's an engine marketed mostly for developing countries.
The popular small Hyundai in developed areas at the time was the Getz with 1.3/1.4/1.6 'Alpha' engines.
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Looking online, here's what I found:
This engine has a very small oil volume, has a timing belt, SOHC, no hydraulic tappets, no variable valve timing, no forced induction, and no direct injection - feels like an 80s econobox engine, It's super simple but somehow modern variants are compliant with current emissions standards.
(Really makes me question if all of the emissions tech they install on similar euro engines is actually necessary)
"There ins't anything specifically wrong with this engine, it just doesn't last particularly long. These engines usually require an overhaul or replacement around 150k miles (250k km)."
Pretty accurate analysis.
It has the power of a medium motorcycle. It's too small to create any significant emissions! 😆
Yep, but these are cheap crappy cars.
Even the advanced euro version emits about as much CO2 as a BMW developed 1.6T on the Peugeot 3008 (a RAV4 sized car) with an ADDITIONAL 100 hp. 😆
Sorry. #3 was to mean new Hyundai Atos 2021/20222 in semi-automatic transmission.
Would not recommend an Atos, it's a car that isn't sold in developed countries, and it's already out of production.
IMO it's best to AVOID automated manual transmissions / semi-automatic transmission, most of them are just way worse than just driving a manual.
(Even Toyota's big latest semi-automatic 'Motorized Manual Transmission's shift like a drunk driving student, burn clutches, hesitate and roll backwards when starting uphill. Maybe new Hyundai/Kias are different but I doubt it)
1. Toyota Corolla used (2003-2007)
I would choose from this category, if your mechanic gives the green light for your specific car.
Thank you all for your response!
How about between Hyundai Atos 2021 & Suzuki Dzire 2021?
Hyundai Atos 2021 vs Suzuki Dzire 2021
Similarities:
- Both are brand new
- Both assembled in India
- Both Semi automatic
- Both with 4 cylinder
Differences:
⭕️ Atos:
- 1.1cc
- Physically smaller
- We heard that the company has stopped making them
⭕️ Dzire:
- 1.2cc
- Are easily available to buy anywhere here in my country
- Physically larger than Atos
Thank you for your help!
Do not buy AMT versions of either. @dan has already explained above. I would recommend only the Suzuki Dzire with a conventional manual transmission. All the best!
I’d go with the Dezire over an Athos, make sure you like the way the AMT shifts! Most AMTs shift like trash…
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The Dzire AMT has a better chance of feeling good - its control system was made by Magneti Marelli (same one as the only reasonable AMT I know, the PSA EGS6 that was installed even on luxury cars).
But it’s best to test drive them both - to feel if the transmission is good enough.
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Do they sell the Hyundai Casper where you live? That is hands down the absolute best city car in the world.
No, they do not sell Hyundai Casper here. Thank you, Sir!