Owner Review: Reliable and Easy to Drive - My 2009 Toyota Vios G 1.5L

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Basic information

2009 Toyota Vios G 1.5L

Reason why I bought this car

I was entering college and my parents were kind enough to actually sponsor me on my first car. So that's how I got this car.

Car selection process

• I had a budget of: RM 40k

• Models that I have considered include: Viva, 2nd hand Vios, Myvi

The reason why I choose this car

The options were actually pretty weird. 2 A segment cars vs one B segment car. The reason why I chose this dugong is because at that time, I was not into cars so my instincts just told me "overseas branded brand is better." So, I took this car up.

User experience

• I have already done 197,906km.
• My average fuel consumption is 9L/100km.

I got this car as a second hand but in pretty good condition. As the seller was within my family tree and works for Toyota, I knew it would be a little better that even though it's a second hand car, it was in good hands before the sale was done and I must say, the car is still very reliable until today.

Of course, more than 10 years old cars are bound to have some minor and major replacements. One major replacement (at least for me) it's the alternator. I remembered it was raining heavily after my college hours and I just wanted to get home. Entered my car and I couldn't start my car. I was so shocked but luckily I parked right beside a car workshop. Paid RM25 just for a jump start and then went straight back to my trusted mechanic. Left it there for 3 days.

Occasionally, I would take this little dugong of mine up the hill of Genting and the fastest it could reach Gohtong Jaya was within 6 minutes. Not bad for a 10 year old car. Of course, I did it alone. Made sure no one was near me and if I had to overtake, I overtook them slowly before speeding up again.

Fast forward to last year, I suddenly started to have an interest in cars. Slowly I learned my car's numbers and took care of it a little more. It was not easy as the car's production time was not so internet time, so I had to ask my family relative to dig up some info from Toyota and voila, I got them.

One upgrade that I did was to install an Apple CarPlay / Android Auto compatible head unit. To be honest, it's not easy to find a cheap and reliable one but I found it! Behold JVC KM-560BT @ RM750+-(got it during the 9.9 sale!) Felt so much better than using a mobile phone holder and waze-ng through it. I must say that the position of the head unit is not desirable but at least, it's a bigger screen than my phone now.

Around Q4 of 2020, I soon realised that this car will change owner sometime in 2022, which is my younger sibling as he/she (I do not want to disclose), is going to college. As a responsible elder sibling, I decided to take the car for a paint job. Yes, paint job. I give in a thought and say why not, the engine is still strong and doesn't look like I would meet my maker first before it meets it's. It took almost a month for the guy to repaint my car but my car looks so pretty after the repaint. Mind you that I decided to use the same paint colour.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Engine is still kicking after 12 years, coming 13 years later.
• Easy to drive, easy to maneuver.
• Considered cheap to maintain for a 12 year old car.
• Good for city driving.

Cons

• Too light. After 100km/h, you will start to feel the car is flying but I learned to get used to it so it doesn't feel like it anymore.
• Limited to only 2 airbags
• Fabric seats so there are some stains.
• Looks outdated (Duhhhh)

Ratings

Total Score: 4 Performance: 3 Quality & Features: 3 Space: 4 Ride Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Price & Cost: 5

Summary

It's good for people that just need a car going from A to B and occasionally, have a road trip. If you ask it to go a little more, it can give you but be prepared for it to roar more compared to today's 1.5L cars. Cheap to maintain and easy to drive. I don't think you can go wrong with a Toyota car, their engines are built to last until your great great great grand children. :D

Some interesting events

Pushed to its limits before WITHOUT realising as there was no one on the road and the road was so wide. It's limit was 200km/h. When I realised, immediately I let go of the gas pedal and "woke" myself up.

I think the most interesting thing that happened to this car with me is that a lot of it was a private matter and I would conclude all these matters as very memorable. Just a heads up, no "activity" done in the car in case you guys think that is one of the private matters. Hahaha

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