Where do you even begin your search for your next used car? Automacha is here with a handy guide.
Now, having decided in Part 1 what you want (or what you think you want, anyway), the fun — and possibly scary — part begins: the actual search.
And this is where things can quickly get overwhelming. Not just because of the hundreds of listings per car model, but there are also now nearly as many used car sites as there are listings out there.
So let’s start with the basics. Here are a few tabs worth keeping open on your browser:
General Used Car Classifieds
These sites are essentially the modern-day version of Motor Trader (for those who remember that far back) — a collection of listings from anyone and everyone selling a used car.
- Carlist: Still the biggest and most comprehensive used car classifieds site in Malaysia. You’ll generally find listings from dealers (including those who run their own dedicated portals), with a few private sellers sprinkled in.
- Mudah: Features largely the same listings as Carlist, but you’ll occasionally come across cars here that don’t appear elsewhere. There’s also a slightly higher number of private seller posts.
- Carousell: Has a relatively small used car section, but it’s still worth a quick scroll. You might just stumble upon something interesting.
- Facebook: Marketplace offers a decent selection of listings, though not as many as Carlist or Mudah. The real gems here, however, are often found in the owners’ groups. If you joined earlier for research purposes, now’s the time to keep an eye out for well-maintained cars being let go by genuine owners. Just take note that these are usually cash-only sales, so you’ll have to arrange your own financing.
Certified Pre-Owned (CPO)
Meanwhile for those who would prefer some peace of mind with a warranty (and don’t mind paying a bit more for it), there’s always the certified pre-owned route.
Now if you’ve not heard of it before, CPO essentially offers a new-car buying experience — shiny showrooms, sharply dressed salespeople, (some level of) aftersales support etc. — but for pre-owned metal. As should bear reiterating though, this peace of mind does come at a premium over what you’d pay at a neighbourhood used car dealer.
Most CPO outfits focus on a specific brand and are often backed by the manufacturer themselves (or act as the carmaker’s official used car arm). In recent years though, a few big-name multi-brand players (usually starting with the letter C…) have entered the scene, offering similar levels of polish and support.
Some of the notable names include:
You can also browse certified used cars directly through automakers’ own CPO platforms:
- BMW Premium Selection
- Honda Certified Used Car
- Mazda Anshin Selections
- Mercedes-Benz Certified
- Perodua POV
- Porsche Approved
- Proton Certified Pre-Owned
- Volkswagen Das WeltAuto
- Volvo Selekt
It is worth noting that since the CPO concept has taken off locally, many independent dealers have become more open to offering limited warranties (and there are even third-party warranty providers available these days).
Also, while CPO cars are often marketed as the crème de la crème of the used car world, it still pays to keep your guard up. A showroom shine doesn’t always mean a spotless history. In fact, there have been cases of vehicles sailing through multi-point inspections with flying colours, only for its new owners to later discover hidden issues that conveniently went undetected at the time.
