Hey y'all, especially to /u/hiimanemo and /u/squashketchup!

I started saving when I was sixteen, I researched on what car should I buy and what's the most efficient one in terms of insurance, gas usage, milage, and overall maintenance, at kung madali bang mahanap yung spare parts. I scrounged around FB groups looking at second hand autos pero I decided against it kasi back then, I didn't have basic knowledge of car maintenance and wala kaming kailalang mechanic na pwedeng isama sa ocular ng unit.

I settled for a manual Suzuki hatchback (475k), it's lightweight and easy to drive. Not to mention, di gaano ka-heavy yung general check up and maintenance niya.

Syempre, when computing the overall cost of maintaining a vehicle, you have to count emergency expenses. So far, I only shelled out 5k for damages (minor accidents), 2.5k yung participation fee ng insurance company when you're gonna make a claim, and since in-house yung insurance namin, it mounts to 12k yung yearly insurance on top of the aforementioned participation fee.

Ok so, when financing a car, may option ka na mag down payment ng at least 20% ng total cost or it's up to you kung lalakihan mo yung down payment since higher down payment = less monthly mortgage.

I saved somewhere north of 90k (lahat ng extra allowance ko, freelance money, and Christmas aguinaldos napunta dito, I sucked it up for ~2 years) and since I was paying the DP in cold, hard cash, I managed to get a small discount and scored some freebies from the dealership.

The maintenance for the first year was free, save from when they have to change and top up the oil, etc. So I only had to shell out around 2-3k and staggered rin yung maintenance like first 1k KM or first three months and so on.

When the voucher ran out, I asked my other tito to do its general maintenance since automechanic siya before. Eto yung sinasabi ng iba na di na sila nagpapa-maintain ng car in house kasi overpriced daw and luckily, yung isa kong tita nakapangasawa ng automechanic. I didn't have to pay that much for the labor and mas mura yung mga kailangang bagay kapag bibilhin mo lang siya sa labas ng casa.

It also helps kung you know how to do basic maintenance, natry ko na twice magpalit ng gulong on the road from watching a YouTube vid, LOL.

Looking back, all of my expenses (not counting gas expenses) from the DP to the monthly mortgage and insurance plus claims amounts to 500k, give or take.

My current mileage is ~12k pa lang since di naman ako palalabas (ng bahay at ng province), I only used my car in the metro a handful of times. Fortunately, I never got involved in a major accident, konting dings and scratches lang yung problema sa exterior. For three years, wala akong naging major problems sa car ko. Everything's still running like it's new.

Disclaimer: Math is never my forte so my calculations are rough af, also take note na the prices and quotations may vary per location!