Moving to KL

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3sixty

Original Poster:

2,963 posts

206 months

Friday 8th May 2015
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After 3 years of trying (and many posts on the PH Asia forum!) I received an offer to relocate to KL. I am just awaiting the confirmed offer but touch wood all is going ahead for a move in August

Firstly a big thanks to everyone on here who helped out, particularly Berw for his endless advice by email and job searching for me

We are at the moment just looking for quotes on removal companies. We aren't taking any big furniture over just odd bits and pieces. Does anyone have any recommendations of companies to use? I have been told Seven Seas is reliable

Secondly, I know from my trip back every year to visit family that cars are expensive. I've been offered a decent amount of money by my company for shipping which far outweighs the quotes we been getting so far so tempted to bring the car over. it's only a 2005 Mk5 Golf diesel but more for the idea of selling it (due to inflated prices over there) rather than using it. Is it going to be more hassle than its worth?

anonymous-user

61 months

Saturday 9th May 2015
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Congratulations look forward to meet you. Look for a good packer in the UK, it's all you can control shaping and forward agent will be their choice. Forget bringing the car you need an approval permit and then pay duty not worth it, you can get cars here for reasonable cost, just need to think outside the box, a bit, new BMW type things are expensive but that is not the real issue the big problem is they can not service them as they don't invest due to low volume.

anonymous-user

61 months

Saturday 9th May 2015
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Car wise you need to think outside the box, e.g. don't even look at a 2005 golf, Istoo bought an E28 535m for not a lot and Nick bought an E30 323 when they where here. You need to remember a few things, 1 there is no major rust issue, 2 mechanics cost around 7 pound an hour, 3 petrol is cheap. So the buying considerations are different to the UK, big old cars are affordable, E34 for example, and old s class mercs are give way, many will have been owned by royalty and in great condition.
Also try not to drive to work, so only lease driving. If you want new the peradua is good and pick ups are a great buy.

crazy about cars

4,454 posts

176 months

Saturday 9th May 2015
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Congrats!

I wouldn't buy a Perodua unless you absolutely cannot afford any other means of transport. Depending where you are driving in central Kuala Lumpur is a nightmare anyway... it would be good if you could negotiate a chauffeur otherwise consider the LRT.


anonymous-user

61 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
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I have a Porsche, a BMW, 5 lotus, a Toyota, a few bikes and a peradua myvi extreme, the myvi is brilliant, great value for money full leather and easy and cheap. A driver is a good idea, I have one I use but takes time to fond a good one.

3sixty

Original Poster:

2,963 posts

206 months

Sunday 10th May 2015
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Thanks guys for comments.

The OH is looking at a new Toyota Innova or similar which seems fine to me which gives me free reign on my choice. I am thinking something V6 or V8 saloon so happy for suggestions

Looks like i'll be selling the Golf here then which is fine. Was just an idea to see if it could be sold in KL

Regarding driving in I understand the concerns on traffic, we will be staying on Kuchai Lama for first few months to get settled before finding somewhere to buy and my office is in Sentral so although traffic at Mid Valley it's not a hugely long run to be stuck in it for.

3sixty

Original Poster:

2,963 posts

206 months

Thursday 14th May 2015
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Is Mundah the best place for car classifieds or is there any other websites I should be browsing?

XJSJohn

16,034 posts

226 months

Friday 15th May 2015
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3sixty said:
Is Mundah the best place for car classifieds or is there any other websites I should be browsing?
the best online that i am aware of, but this being asia, you will always find hidden jems on the back of forecourts, workshops etc that are not advertised elsewhere.

anonymous-user

61 months

Monday 18th May 2015
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John is exactly right, Mudah is best place to look but knowing people is the best thing, but that takes time. What Toyota is it you are looking for, are you talking about one of the transit vans with seats?

tom5678

79 posts

144 months

Monday 18th May 2015
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The trouble with cars over here is they seem to have been blinged up to the max. After market wheels are the norm rather than the exception so finding an unmolested example is tricky. I'd always try and buy a car from a recommended source, mudah seems to be filled with a whole world of junk and outdated adverts, I may have just had bad luck though?

I have just bought a 1990 Merc C Class for RM 5000 (about a grand) from a mate, and it's lovely. Find a decent mercedes specialist and you're sorted, if they can't get the part they make it.

I also have a Perodua Kembara as a cheap run around, not glamorous, fast or good looking but it costs 10 quid to fill up with petrol and despite my best efforts seems impossible to break.

Loads of friends have new Mitsubishi pick-ups and the dealers seem to offer quite good deals on these.

tom5678

79 posts

144 months

Monday 18th May 2015
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I used Pickfords when moving here. They were fine.

XJSJohn

16,034 posts

226 months

Monday 18th May 2015
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Regarding the after market stuff .... .If it is something imported, its a good chance it came in on steel wheels, with cloth interior and the most basic body trim / spec inside, to keep the value down, so as to keep the import duty down. Then all the extra bits are added afterwards locally sourced, so that the dealer can maximize value.

There is also the (lack of??) taste factor that runs strong in SE Asia hehe

RE the Mitsu Triton's - i run one up here in thailand, despite my best efforts, it seems pretty much bullet proof (touches wood, grabs lucky rabbits foot, looks out for a black cat etc etc)

3sixty

Original Poster:

2,963 posts

206 months

Monday 18th May 2015
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Thanks for replies guys

Berw: She is looking at a new Toyota Innova. We need 7 seats for the kids (One is four and the twins are due in October) and also to cart around the mother in law who will be helping out with the new borns. We had one when out there last year for 6 months and for the mileage on it seemed solid and troubled free. We had an Alza for a while which was again 7 seater but the ride was awful and just generally didn't feel well built and would last half as long as the Toyota

Tom: Thanks. Agreed it's a bit of a minefield with the cars of Mudah. I've never seen so many tastefully modified Subarus. I know from our many trips over there the modified Wiras were in abundance but was shocked how many Scoobys were for sale.

I was trying to think outside the box and maybe a Toyota X (bigger engine subtle styling) or S2000/GT86/350z. Thought s2000 as nobody would want a convertible (would buy the aftermarket hardtop if I went this route) but can't find any for sale. The GT86 still commands 150kRM so can't justify this and the 350z seems hard to escape the modified ones with the Veilside bodykits

I had a quote off a few firms for removals. Including packing this end and un loading KL end all inclusive for a 500cu ft container it was ~£3k. Seem reasonable?

John: Pickup sounds a good idea if I can't get my small revvy car or big V8 saloon on budget. Lots of new (2006 onward) 7 series for sale for sub 80kRM. I know they have issues and big bills here on UK. Is this negated by low start price and the labour being cheaper?

tom5678

79 posts

144 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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3sixty said:
Pickup sounds a good idea if I can't get my small revvy car or big V8 saloon on budget. Lots of new (2006 onward) 7 series for sale for sub 80kRM. I know they have issues and big bills here on UK. Is this negated by low start price and the labour being cheaper?
I think you'd be better off with a bigger engined saloon rather than a small revvy car. It may be different further up north but all of my driving is on big old wide dual carriageways where you just want to get to 'cruising' speed as quickly as possible!?

Definitely don't discount a convertible and I wouldn't bother with a hard-top. You'll be in the minority but there's nothing better than a blast of fresh air on the way home from work, especially after spending all day suffocated by air-conditioning.




anonymous-user

61 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
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I agree with every word Tom has written, local cars are 'blinged' to hell and back, and buying a car from a known mate is great if you can, old Mercs and BMWs are good as they can be maintained. I had a Kambara for 8 years as a run around and replaced it with a Myvi lost 400 pound in the 8 years on the Kambara abd sold it to a work mate with no advertising.
There is a 7 seater Proton made, do not write it off, they can be maintained cheap and the air con is great, there are no problems with the running gear, the issue is around things like electric motors that are made locally, typically window, but also wipers. Remember your wife will have no problem with finance on
Also unusual cars can be bought cheap, I paid 70,000 for my Lotus Carlton, and 20 for my Elan plus 2, both of which could be taken back to the UK and sold at a profit. Istoo had a great E28 M535 when he was here, for a lot less than the UK price.
Don't expect service records, you need to buy on condition and viewing, you will also find that things like owners handbooks, first aid kits, jacks etc will be long gone and not in the sale. Rust is not usually a big issue on older cars.

3sixty

Original Poster:

2,963 posts

206 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
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Thanks again for advice guys

Tom: if I can find a convertible would be happy to. When I said 'small' engines I meant like my S2000 or 350z examples as opposed to the big v8 4 litre saloons

Berw: We had a Perodua Alza which is 7 seater which had done 50km and wasn't great. Ride was awful and with the bumps in suburban KL was horrible. May have been just a bad cared for example but the Toyota Innova we had after it had done more miles and was a lot better

anonymous-user

61 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
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I agree on the Peradua, it is basically along wheel base Myvi and I can imagine they changed nothing to account for this, so same spring rates etc, but I believe the Proton 7 seater was purpose built so may be better.
Get the car purchase right for you first time, as it is not easy to sell cars here and upgrade, the HP offers on local cars over 8 years makes them very cheap on a monthly basis so people go that way, 50K proton over 8 years.
There's a great looking Midget on Mudah of you want a convertible? I bet it is rust free and will go for a lot less than the asking. There is also a Z4 at the moment for 27K which is a third of the normal price on these.

tom5678

79 posts

144 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
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The 7 seater is the Proton Exora, they're good cars by all accounts, nice inside for a Proton as well.

We opted for a Naza Ria for our family wagon, mainly because it's flipping massive, rides like it's on air and has leather, DVD and a V6 (although it's still pretty slow because it's so bloody heavy!) It's basically a rebranded Kia. They've got a bit of a bad rep for head gaskets going but I've kept a close eye on it and so far it's done 50,000 trouble free kilometres.

tom5678

79 posts

144 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
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That Z4 is cheap, got to be something wrong there!?

tom5678

79 posts

144 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
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So called the guy about the Z4, seems he has a whole host of other cars for sale....

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1562673247296599?_...

Obviously something is dodgy but I can't work out what? Is it simply that the COE has expired? If something seems to good to be true and all that.....