In today automotive industries, most of the consumers somehow will consider to buy used car instead of new car after they have make the decision to buy a car. Today second hand car has become popular choices among Malaysian especially those who is belong to lower or middle annual income group. The used car market has become more active compared with last time and this is because not much consumers are afford to buy new car. Even we know that the new sedan with high quality of any brand roughly cost up to RM 80,000.00 to RM 100,000.00.

In Malaysia automotive industries we can see that the numbers of second hand car dealers are growing and the used cars owner are increasing as well. There are so many reasons why Malaysian wants to buy used car as part of the reason Malaysian have a perception that new car is expensive and not worth to buy due to expensive prices. Even today we can see a lot of popular second hand car such as Toyota, Honda, Perodua and Kia. The reason is most Malaysian trust more on the imported used car if compared with local used car. The best place to find second hand car definitely you can get the information from the used car website which provides the cars information, price, car dealer\'s contacts and the picture of the car.

When the consumers had decided to buy a car, the decision making process somehow are affected by few factors that included the total of car loan, the depreciation of the car value, maintenance of the car, average income and the quality of the car that come into the buyers consideration. Even nowadays many consumers choose to buy used car compared with the new car. Now what we can see is the trend of today used car market considered as popular as new car and everyone understands that why more and more Malaysian will consider buying used car.

After we had looked into detail and identified some factors that will affected car buyers decision and the used car market, now with some useful information we will see why Malaysian will consider to buy used car instead of new car. First of all the first factor is the average income of Malaysian. Regardless of those who had high annual income which average RM 60,000.00 a year who are affordable to buy new car, but for those whose the income average from RM 36,000.00 to RM 48,000.00 considered as low to middle income group that the used car is more affordable. If much more Malaysian fall into low to middle income group due to the economy factors and fluctuation of inflation has affected to the used car market as well. From here we can see that the trend of the used car will be more popular compared with new car. I don\'t know that this is good news for the used car dealer but definitely is a bad news for those who prefer to buy new car.

As for the information, when want to buy a car you need to understand how much total of loan that you are going apply from the bank. It is normal that the loan interest for second hand car is higher than new car. The car loan not only depends on the average annual income but also the affordability to pay back the loan plus interest. The new car interest may roughly around 3.8to 4depends on banks that the best to be offered and surprisingly the interest for second hand car can be even more higher than 4which is subject to the bank or the car dealer offer. This loan interest definitely will affected the used car market as if the interest rate keep going higher and higher, therefore less people will buy used car anymore.

Furthermore buying a second hand car helps those used car consumers skipped from the high car value depreciation because usually the high depreciation occurs in the first to second year. But if with the new car you actually pay more from the actual car price from the installment included the monthly interest. Many people will think that second hand car need high maintenance and actually it\'s depends on how the ex car owner take care of the car. This definitely you need to do some survey first and get the car for inspection before pay the down payment.

If you want to compare the quality between the new car and used car, I can tell you that definitely the quality of new car is better than the used car. One thing that you need to understand that new car mean everything is new, the engine is new and even the parts are new too. Somehow it is not really mean the used car quality is bad but it is not as good as new car. The issue here is, used car sometime need to be maintained well in order to keep the car performance smooth and deliver good driving experience. The maintenance of the used car sometime maybe need to spend a lot of money which this is depends on the years of the car. Even in today used car market, the numbers of car owner send their car for service and inspection most of it is used car owner. When we see all the car workshops the number of used car is higher than new car.

Well, to buy new car or second hand car is very subjective decision for each individuals and it\'s really depends on you and what is your opinion of the used car. As mentioned earlier, annual income and the car value depreciation are the factors of why Malaysian will considered buying used car even they afford to buy new car. From all the information gathered, my opinion is the second hand car is worth to be invest as can avoid from the first 2 years of car depreciation and no need to waste a lot on the interest rate.

Would you believe me if I told you that Ferrari has unveiled a hybrid model?

A year ago, I would have laughed with you at the idea of a lean, cherry-red, Italian supercar with a hybrid power unit.

The Ferrari 559 is a radical departure for the company, but not for the hybrid unit alone the car came not with the signature red paint job, but appreciatively green!

Obviously, this is not last year - it is 2010 and Ferrari is only one of a number of major car manufacturers announcing and unveiling hybrid models.

English car research and bespoke engineering company, Lotus has supplied a number of hybrid power unit plug-ins for Malaysian car manufacturer, Proton.

Hybrids have been the domain of the Japanese for the last five years, but the American car giants have been catching up (especially with the Congressional strings attached to bail-out funding and Presidential demands for cleaner and fuel-efficient cars). Now the Europeans are getting in on the act, and several manufacturers will undoubtedly be taking a share in the US market.

The Volkswagen Passat, diesel powered, has been voted the greenest car in the US for 2009, but it is not a hybrid. VW are addressing this glaring omission in their line-up with the introduction of the 2011 Toureg, an SUV which has shed over 460 pounds and has an added gas/electric unit. Though the Toureg comes in lighter than previous models, it has managed to retain its dimensions, so it is not in fact a smaller vehicle (just lighter).

Porsche have also launched the hybrid version of the Cayenne which shares the same platform as the Toureg (VW owns Porsche which is run as an independent unit), and the same hybrid unti will power the 2011 hybrid model too. It should come as no surprise that Audi are also getting in on the act Audi is, of course, also owned by VW - and the same power unit is seen in the Audi S4.

Staying with VW a moment longer, Audi has launched the A8 Hybrid as its first major entry into the hybrid market. One difference from Audi\'s approach compared to the rest of the market is that Audi have focused on enhancing fuel efficiency from the petrol unit and not the electric one. Thanks to this, it is not the greenest car you can buy, but then again it is not a small car which seems to have been eschewed by the major European car makers. They are all competing for the high-end car buyer who wants green credentials but no sacrifice in performance and luxury.

BMW is also introducing a new 5-series range this year, but what really caught everyone\'s attention was not the new range but the 5-series Concept under BMW\'s ActiveHybrid brand. BMW has dabbled with hybrid concepts before, but the 5-series is the company\'s flagship range (closely allied with the 3-series). The 5-series range is probably BMW\'s best bet for entering the US hybrid market, and this is what has grabbed observers attention more than anything else, though the 7-series has already been put into production.

When looking for Wichita Kansas Chevrolet, Wichita Kansas Honda and many other Kansas cars, trucks, and SUVs. Visit Conklin Cars online at: ConklinCars.com.

SUBANG JAYA, 15 December 2010 – After three years into what has been an extremely successful run, the Saga just got even better. PROTON Holdings Berhad today introduced the new Saga FL which offers customers not only a wide array of enhancements but injects more dynamic styling and design into the popular introductory family sedan.

Befitting its popularity especially amongst the younger generation of car buyers, the Saga FL has undergone exterior restyling to take on a more spirited, young, sporty and trendy appearance.

The new Saga FL is offered in two variants; the 1.3 Standard and the 1.3 Executive, both available in manual and automatic transmissions, and priced between RM1,000 and RM1,300 higher than the current Saga depending on the level of trim. The 1.3 Standard manual is priced at RM37,998, as opposed to the current model which is sold at RM36,998, while the 1.3 Executive auto is RM43,298 compared to the existing model priced at RM41,998.

Improving the overall exterior styling to reflect a more dynamic personality, the Saga FL features an all-new fender design, hood, headlamps, front grille, as well as front and rear bumpers. Also new is the introduction of side mirrors incorporating LED turn signals, a rear combi with LED, rear reflector and muffler cutter. The Executive model features additional front fog lights, newly-designed alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and side protector mouldings for an even more sporty appearance.

Inside, the Saga FL features an all-new seat and door trim fabric, a radio CD/ MP3 player, as well as comes equipped with rear power windows. For improved driver and passenger safety as well as styled to appeal to the younger generation of car buyers, the Executive model features additional passenger side airbag, an audio head unit with MP3, USB, and AUX ports, and steering wheel with audio switches.

“The Saga FL represents the new way of doing things at PROTON. Instead of resting on the popularity and success of the existing Saga, the overwhelming public acceptance motivated us even more to make an already good model even better,” said PROTON Holdings Berhad Group Managing Director Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir.

Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin added that PROTON is targeting to sell 6,500 units of the Saga FL per month. Since its introduction in January 2008, the Saga has quickly risen to the rank of the second top selling model in Malaysia with a monthly average sale of 6,200 units and as of October 2010, PROTON has already registered some 204,150 units and received 245,030 bookings.

With the introduction of Saga FL, Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin said the increased monthly sales volume of 6,500 units will enable PROTON to achieve a targeted volume of 75,100 units in its 2010/11 financial year.

“The Saga FL is again a manifestation of PROTON’s commitment to provide Malaysians with exceptional value for money mobility in terms of affordability in ownership, practicality, style, level of features, and safety.”

The Saga FL is available in six colours; Tranquility Black, Solid White, Genetic Silver, Granite Grey and two new colours Blue Rock and Café Latte.
The booking fee for the Saga FL is RM500, and customers can view the car today onwards at all PROTON showrooms nationwide. For customers in Labuan, the Saga FL can only be viewed at showrooms from 17 December 2010. Customers who have already booked the Saga can also opt to top up the difference in price to acquire the new model.

About PROTON
PROTON, established in 1983, is Malaysia’s largest manufacturer of automobiles, and the only full-fledged OEM car manufacturer in South-East Asia. With operations in key markets from UK to the Middle East, and across South-East Asia and Australasia, especially in countries like China and Iran, PROTON produces cars to suit a range of consumer demands and preferences.

Its offerings include versatile and reliable four-door family vehicles, two-door hatchbacks for the young-at-heart, luxurious and stylish executive sedans, spacious and affordable multi-purpose vehicles, as well as the world-renowned sports cars from Lotus. Most importantly, PROTON models are now developed with Lotus Engineering, offering customers superior ride and handling experience in every drive.

PROTON’s inception as a key driver of national development has seen the brand accelerate its learning curve through technology transfer with strategic partnerships and technical collaborations. By listening to the needs of customers, PROTON cars are now steadily on track to achieve the mission for the future, with PROTON set to become a marque which builds cars with passion and soul; cars that are a delight to drive – and a pleasure to own

I have owned a Waja 1.6 for nearly 10 years that is currently driven by my wife. The car has served us well. We have been looking to upgrade it to the new Waja (now launched as the Inspira).

I was expecting the Inspira to be in the region of RM70-80,000 and was a bit disappointed with its estimated price of between RM79-94,000.

Nevertheless, with the promise of it being similar to the Mitsubishi Lancer, we decided to stretch our budget and get the 2.0 at RM94,000. I have placed my booking and was anxiously waiting for our car.

Then I got to know that the 2.0 Lancer GT is selling in Langkawi at RM71,800 (OTR).

I called up a Proton dealer in Langkawi and was informed that the tentative OTR price for Inspira 2.0A metallic in Langkawi is RM84,850. This price listing can also be found in the internet.

This to me is very upsetting.

I cannot understand why the Lancer CBU (fully imported from Japan) can sell in Langkawi for RM72,000 whereas the locally assembled Inspira (with 26 percent local parts) is retailing at RM85,000 in Langkawi.

(Note: the Langkawi pricing gives us an idea as to what the base price of cars really are without taxes)

Because of the similarity between the Lancer and the Inspira, this is the first time we can actually make such a comparison.

Shouldn't Proton be selling the rebadged Lancer at a lower price or at least similar base price with the CBU Lancer (in Langkawi)?

If the base pricing of the Inspira 2.0 was RM72,000 in Langkawi (like the Lancer), then its pricing in the Peninsula should be in the region of RM81,000.(based on the existing RM9,000 differential between the Inspira in Langkawi and Peninsular Malaysia.)

I am sure that at RM72,000, the Lancer in tax-free Langkawi is still making a profit.

Therefore I see no reason why Proton can't sell the Inspira in Peninsular Malaysia at RM70,000 (1.8 model) - RM80,000 (2.0).

I find this RM13,000 base price differential wholly unacceptable.

If that is the cost of rebadging and localisation, Proton will never be able to compete without protectionism.

25 years later, Proton turns a full circle back to where it started that is rebadging Mitsubishis.

I don't really mind that, as at least we get better quality cars wherein the Inspira promises to be the best Proton yet.

What I cannot accept is that after 25 years, we are still required to prop up Proton by paying inflated prices for Proton itself.

Some may say that RM13,000 extra for the Inspira is to help pay Proton the development cost of the Inspira.

What development cost? It's a Lancer with different bumpers/seats, rims, tyres and suspension.

If that costs an extra RM13,000, Proton should have just CKDed (completely knocked down) the Lancer as Naza is doing with the Kia Forte.

What about the millions of Malaysians who have to continue to subsidise a company that after 25 years cannot stand on its own and in all probability may not be able to do so in another 25 years.

One man's dream which was forced onto the nation has now turned into a nation's nightmare.

Malaysia should cut its losses.

The only viable solution for Proton would be to do contract manufacturing for foreign manufacturers like DRB and Inokom.

Maybe then we will get an Inspira that costs less than a Lancer in Langkawi.

The year’s biggest search item on Google among Malaysians was the Proton Inspira.

According to a report released by Google on Thursday, “not even Apple’s iPad or the Fifa World Cup 2010” came close to the hype generated by the Proton Inspira which was launched on Oct 14.

The 2010 Year-End Zeitgeist (meaning “the spirit of the time”) report showed there was a meteoric spike in queries on the Inspira in October which was enough to knock the iPad off the number one spot.

The fastest rising searches of 2010 also showed a significant interest by Malaysians for the Indonesian drama “Benci Bilang Cinta” and shopping at www.mudah.com.my.

Meanwhile, the “fastest rising person” being queried on Google by Malaysians this year was Maher Zain, a Swedish singer and music producer.

Another significant search query for the year was Facebook – not a surprising fact as Malaysian Face­book users have been reported last month to have the most friends over the social networking website.

It was not the wired-up states of Selangor and Penang which had the most hits on Facebook. Instead, Kedah Internet users used the search engine the most to access their accounts.

Statistics on Google show that The Star remains the preferred choice for news, coming up top in Google search lists for queries such as “news” and “newspaper”.