SM Magazine October 2013 by komstudio8

OCTOBER 2013

magazine

SaveMoney on Your Car Petrol Costs by up to 20%

Best Time to Shop for a Car

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Petrol

The SaveMoney Car Service and Maintenance Manual

CBU vs. CKD

10/2/2013 6:20:22 PM

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OCTOBER 2013

10/2/2013 6:20:23 PM

OCTOBER 2013

OCTOBER

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Petrol

CBU vs. CKD

Best Time to Shop for a Car

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10/2/2013 6:20:25 PM

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OCTOBER 2013

10/2/2013 6:20:25 PM

OCTOBER 2013

Annual Spend (on OCBC Titanium)

RM6,000

RM12,000

Yearly Cashback (assume Annual Fee waived and GST / usage bonus)

RM180

RM360

RM24,000 RM36,000 RM600

RM600

RM60,000 RM600

RM120,000 RM600

Assuming half of spending at 5% cashback rate and other half of spending at 1% cashback rate

Annual Spend (on Maybankard 2 American Express only)

RM6,000

RM12,000

RM24,000 RM36,000

RM60,000

RM120,000

Yearly Cashback (assume Annual Fee waived, GST at RM50/year)

RM100

RM250

RM550

Assume half weekday (0% cashback) and half weekend spending (5% cashback)

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OCTOBER 2013

Annual Spend (Citibank Cashback RM6,000 RM12,000 Platinum card)

RM24,000 RM36,000

RM60,000

RM120,000

Yearly Cashback (assume Annual Fee waived, GST at RM50/year)

RM257

RM718

RM950

RM27

RM104

RM411

Assuming 20% Groceries, 10% Petrol, 10% Phone, 20% Utilities, 20% dining, and 20% other spending

Package

Category

% Cashback / Location

Social

Movies

10% cash back at GSC, TGV, Cathay, Cineleisure, MBO cinemas

Nightlife

2% cash back at most bars and clubs like Bakita, Finnegans, Hard Rock CafĂŠ, Overtime, Sids Pubs, The Library, Twentyone, Rex Box, Zouk etc

Music & Event

3% cash back on AirAsia RedTix, TicketCharge, Ticketpro, Rock Corner outlets

Style

2% cash back at Uniqlo, Cotton On, Forever 21, Zara, Topshop, Topman, Charles & Keith, G2000, Gap, Converse and Esprit

Travel

1% cash back on Air Asia flights and hotels only

Dining

5% cash back at Dining outlets

Health & Fitness

2% cash back at Fitness Concept, Fitness First, True Fitness, Celebrity Fitness, GNC, Watson and Guardian

Mobile

3% cash back on Maxis, DiGi and Celcom bills

Groceries

2% cash back at Grocery stores like Giant, Tesco, Cold Storage etc

Departmental

2% cash back at Parkson, Tangs, Debenhams, Robinsons, Isetan, Mark & Spenser and Metrojaya

Online

1% cash back on all online spending

Tech

2% cash back at IT Stores such as Machines, Epicentre, IT Hypermart etc

Trendsetter

Savvy

Other

Annual Spend (on Hong Leong Essential Credit Card)

RM6,000 RM12,000 RM24,000 RM36,000 RM60,000 RM120,000

Yearly Cashback (assume Annual Fee waived, GST at RM50/year)

RM10

RM70

RM190

Tier

Monthly Total Spending (on all retail purchases)

Petrol Cashback Rate

Max Petrol Spend for Cashback

Max Cashback

RM999 - RM1,999

15%

RM187

RM28

RM1,999 - RM2,998

15%

RM253

RM38

Above RM2,999

15%

RM320

RM48

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RM310

RM550

RM1,150

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OCTOBER 2013

Network Provider

Postpaid Plan

Minimum Monthly Fee

Monthly Fee with Usage

Call Charges (RM/per min)

SMS Charges (RM/per SMS)

Own Network

Other Network

Own Network

Other Network

Maxis

Talk/TextMore28TM

RM28.00

0.12

0.15

0.12

0.15

Maxis

Value FirstTM

RM30.00

0.18

0.20

0.10

Maxis

Standard PlanTM

RM30.00

0.30

0.05

0.15

U Mobile

U28

RM28.00

RM37.50

0.18

0.20

0.05

0.12

Celcom

Celcom First Prime Postpaid Plan

RM40.00

0.15

Network Provider

Postpaid Plan

Required Minimum Monthly Fee

Expected Monthly Fee + Usage

Call Charges (RM/per min)

SMS Charges (RM/per SMS)

Same Providers

Other Providers

Same Providers

Other Providers

Monthly Bundled Quota

Maxis

TalkMore48TM

RM48.00

0.10

0.15

0.10

0.15

400 minutes / 200 SMSes

DiGi

DG Postpaid Simple

RM50.00

0.15

0.10

RM100 worth of voice calls and SMSes

Maxis

TextMore28TM

RM28.00

RM58.00

0.12

0.15

0.12

0.15

100 minutes / 200 SMSes

Maxis

TalkMore28

RM28.00

RM58.00

0.12

0.15

0.12

0.15

200 minutes / 100SMSes

Maxis

TalkMore48TM + Monthly 100MB Pass

RM66.00

0.10

0.15

0.10

0.15

400 minutes / 200SMSes / 100MB data

Maxis

TextMore28 + Monthly 100MB Pass

RM46.00

RM76.00

0.12

0.15

0.12

0.15

100 minutes / 200 SMSes / 100MB data

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OCTOBER 2013

Network Provider

Postpaid Plan

Monthly Commitment Fee

Total Monthly Cost (including usage)

Minutes

SMSes

MMSes

Data (MB)

Maxis

TalkMore78TM

RM78.00

RM138.00

600

500

DiGi

DG Postpaid Simple

RM50.00

RM150.00

DiGi

DG SmartPlanTM 148

RM148.00

RM188.00

600

6000

Maxis

TalkMore78 + Monthly 100MB Pass

RM96.00

RM156.00

600

500

100

Maxis

TalkMore78TM + Monthly 200MB Pass

RM106.00

RM166.00

600

500

200

Maxis

TalkMore78 + Monthly 500MB Pass

RM116.00

RM176.00

600

500

Network Provider

Postpaid Plan

Required Monthly Minimum Fee

Call Charges (RM/per Min)

SMS Charges (RM/per SMS)

Same Providers

Other Providers

Same Providers

Other Providers

Monthly Bundled Quota

U Mobile

U28(W/O Contract)

RM28.00

0.18

0.20

0.05

0.12

1GB + 300 SMSes

Maxis

SurfMore50TM

RM50.00

0.15

0.10

1GB

DiGi

DG SmartPlan 58

RM58.00

0.15

0.10

2GB

Celcom

First Data mAdvance Plus

RM68.00

0.20

3GB + 60 minutes + 60 SMSes

Network Provider

Postpaid Plan

Required Monthly Minimum Fee

Expected Monthly Fee + Usage

Call Charges (RM/per Min)

SMS Charges (RM/per SMS)

Same Providers

Other Providers

Same Providers

Other Providers

Monthly Bundled Quota

DiGi

DG Postpaid Simple + 250MB

RM78.00

0.15

0.10

250MB Data

Maxis

Value Plus Internet 80

RM80.00

RM 80.00

0.12

0.18

0.05

0.15

500MB + 300 minutes + 300 SMSes

DiGi

DG Postpaid Simple + 1GB

RM98.00

0.15

0.10

0.15

1GB Data

U Mobile

U28

RM28.00

RM100.00

0.18

0.20

0.05

0.12

1GB + 300 SMSes

Maxis

TalkMore48TM + 500MB Pass

RM86.00

RM101.00

0.10

0.15

0.10

0.15

500MB + 400 minutes + 200 SMSes

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OCTOBER 2013

Driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide

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OCTOBER OCTOBER 2013 2013

SM Car Edition

Driver’s Guide Car Edition

SaveMoney on Your

Car Petrol Costs

uel prices in Malaysia are always a hot topic. Our developing public transport system means that for most of us the motorcycle or car is our primary means of transport, making petrol bills a significant portion of our income.

by up to

20%

The current (as of 4th October 2013) prices for petroleum products in Malaysia are as follows:

RON95 – RM2.10 / L

by Hann Liew

Diesel – RM2.00 / L

An average commuter would typically drive their car about 15,000km per year. At a fuel efficiency (how far you can go with a certain amount of fuel) of 8-12 km / L, they would be spending about RM2,500 - RM3,500 per year on fuel alone! Save RM100s a year just by reading this SaveMoney guide and following a few easy steps. No, we are not talking about the simple solution of using your car less by taking public transport, cycling, and walking more; we are talking about using your car and driving the same number of kilometres each day yet painlessly saving money!

RON97 – RM2.85 / L

Step 1

Make Your Car / Vehicle More Efficient

Don’t fill your petrol tank to full Every litre of petrol is approximately 0.7kg. In a 50-litre petrol tank, this equates to an extra 35kg. If you live near a petrol station or have a petrol station along your daily/ weekly commute, then topping up to half or one-third tank of petrol will reduce your weight and increase your fuel economy. Obviously, if you don’t have easy access to a petrol station, going on a detour more frequently than necessary to refuel your tank will outweigh the benefits of the lighter fuel load.

Remove unwanted items from the boot / car By removing items which are not needed or have been left in your vehicle, you can reduce the overall weight of the car. This includes things like boxes, old books, golf bags, and even an unused roof rack. Reducing the unnecessary weight of the car will reduce the amount of power required to move the car along at the same speed.

Choose the appropriate fuel (only use better fuel if your car is a performance vehicle) Most cars require only the minimum RON91 or 92 to operate efficiently. In Malaysia, we are fortunate to have RON95 (a higher-octane petrol) as our minimum octane fuel and RON97 (for high-performance vehicles). What is a high-performance vehicle? As a rule of thumb, any vehicle which has less than 250PS or goes from 0-100km/h in slower than 6.0 seconds (yes, 6.0!) should be filled up with RON95, as only vehicles with more power are able to benefit from the higher octane rating of RON97. Engine size used to be a good indicator of performance, but with the newer turbocharged engines, PS should be your way to go.

Keep your engine tuned and serviced A well-serviced engine will operate more efficiently and burn less fuel to get the same power output than a poorly tuned engine. Be sure to keep your service intervals to within the recommended amounts (usually every 6 - 9 months) or even more frequently.

Keep your tyres inflated Do a check on your tyres regularly; even slightly less air pressure than the optimum level will increase their drag on the road and reduce your fuel economy. For most cars, the optimum level of inflation is around 28 - 32psi, but be sure to check your own tyres! The optimum level is normally stated along the tyre thread.

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Use the correct engine oil Review the manufacturer guidelines for types or brands of engine oils that are suitable for your vehicle. Synthetic or organic oils? Having the appropriate oil and keeping your engine topped up ensures that it is at its most efficient.

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SM Car Edition

OCTOBER OCTOBER 2013 2013

11 11

Car Edition Driver’s Guide

Step 2

Drive in a high gear

Drive More Efficiently Keep your rev counter (the one other than the speedometer) below 2500rpm.

Slow down gradually Braking unnecessarily wastes energy and fuel. If you see a speedbump or red signal from the traffic light ahead, there is no longer any need to press on the accelerator pedal before braking hard to stop! Let the car slow itself down gradually; it’s not as if getting to the red signal light any faster will make it turn green quicker!

This is the single most efficient way to SaveMoney on your fuel bills. By consciously keeping the rev counter below 2500rpm, you can save up to 20% off your existing petrol bills.

Switch to a higher gear as quickly as possible without straining the engine or gearbox. Higher gears naturally consume less fuel than lower gears as they are designed to use the existing momentum of the car to help drive it forward. However, switching to a high gear too quickly can strain the engine and the gearbox. In general, if you see the rev counter above 1500rpm and hear no shuddering, this should be fine.

Turn off your engine while waiting at a red light If you come to a stop at a familiar intersection with a traffic light and you expect to wait for more than 20 seconds, you can SaveMoney by turning off your engine (some cars will have this automatically, calling it ‘Stop/Start’ technology). You can then turn it on when you are ready to go; if you are the first car in the queue, you may have to be extra alert! In general, depending on your car, you can expect to save about RM0.10 for every minute that your engine is turned off (vs. on).

Air-conditioning on vs. window down

Being aware of your surroundings while driving

The familiar argument is that having the airconditioning on is less fuel efficient than turning it off and winding down your windows. Other than the obvious (Malaysian safety issues with wound-down windows), it is actually more inefficient (especially at speeds higher than 60-70km/h) to have the windows down than the air-conditioning on. This is because there is aerodynamic drag created by the hole when the window is wound down.

By being extra aware of the speed of other cars as well as any changes in behavior from fellow motorists, you can avoid having to brake unnecessarily and having to expend fuel to speed up again. This will also help improve road safety as you become a more careful and aware driver!

Step 3

Park More Efficiently

Driving around finding a parking lot can be fuel inefficient. This is because at low speeds and constant braking your fuel efficiency will be about half of your average consumption. Best to plan ahead and have an idea of where to park before you get to a location. As a rule of thumb, for most cars it costs between 15 - 20 cents of petrol for every minute you spend looking for a parking spot (not to mention your time lost), so take that into account when choosing between (1) lower/no cost but hard to find parking spots vs (2) higher parking cost and many spots available.

Step 5

Step 4

Grab Some Cashback for Your Petrol Purchases

Use a cashback credit card for all petrol and diesel purchases. The top cards can pay up to 15% cashback on your petrol purchases. For more information, you can read the Cashback Credit Cards article ( page 5).

Old-fashioned Ways to SaveMoney

Carpool Know a colleague or friend who lives along the way to work? Why not carpool and split the fuel costs! While things like commute timing, maintenance costs, and social reasons might get in the way, this may be the single most effective step to drive down your petrol bills!

Drive during non-peak hours, outside of 7a.m. 9a.m. and 5.30p.m. - 7.30p.m. on weekdays

How Much Can You Save Each Year? The savings that you can make from following the 5 steps above can be a lot! If you drive about 15,000km per year at 10km/L, your petrol bill will be RM3,150. If you can save 20% on your petrol bill, that amounts to more than RM900 every year, without even reducing how much or how far you drive!

Not everyone has the luxury to get to work later or leave earlier from work, but traffic in major cities and highways in Malaysia can be a nightmare at those times. Why not leave earlier from home and have breakfast / read your paper / shower / go to the gym in the mornings?

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OCTOBER 2013

SM Car Edition

Driver’s Guide Car Edition

The SaveMoney

Car Service & Maintenance

Manual

by May Chiam

or car owners, service and maintenance are part and parcel of owning a car. While the recent petrol hike has caused an uproar amongst the car-owning public, our focus here is on how you can service and maintain your car the SaveMoney (i.e. most frugal) way. After all, cutting down on maintenance and service costs can leave you with more money for petrol!

Read Your Car Owner’s Manual Instead of stashing your car owner’s manual in your glove compartment unread, treat this little book as a repository of knowledge about your car. Everything you need to know about how to properly maintain and service your car has already been provided by the manufacturer. From a careful perusal of this manual, you’ll find out not just the tyre pressure your car requires but also when major components need to be replaced. You will also discover valuable information about when your car needs to be serviced, the type of petrol that is ideal for your car, and tutorials on simple repairs you can do yourself. If you follow the instructions in this trusty handbook, you should be able to keep your car in tip-top shape and spare the expense of costly repairs due to owner’s negligence.

Diligently Maintain Your Car

If you want to keep expensive repairs to a minimum, you need to diligently tend to your car from the moment you buy it. Preventing major repairs by promptly repairing minor problems is the most cost-effective solution to car maintenance. As soon as you notice an issue, however seemingly insignificant, head over to the garage and get it fixed. Make a habit of routinely checking your oil, coolant, and fluid levels. Keeping all three at the correct levels could save you hundreds of Ringgit in repairs. It’s also important to take care of the interior of your car, since a well-kept interior could increase the resale value of your vehicle. Another important aspect of maintenance is the quality of your driving: avoid driving aggressively and stay within speed limits. The more cautiously you drive, the more likely it is that your car will require less repair work.

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Find and Stick to a Good Service Centre Provided your car is not under warranty and you don’t need to go to your dealer’s service centre, find a reputable garage recommended by friends or family. Independent garages are often cheaper, even if sometimes only marginally. Being loyal to the same garage and building rapport with the mechanics there will ensure that they are familiar with your history of services and repairs (i.e. your service log), making it easier for them to work with your car over time. If you stick to the same garage, you’ll probably receive discounts for your loyalty, thus saving you money in the long run.

Compare Prices and Negotiate As a car owner, it is incumbent upon you to educate yourself on the cost of repairs. Take the initiative to be knowledgeable about the market rates for normal services and repairs. You can always find out from friends and family or be proactive and go to different garages to ask upfront. When you have armed yourself with this information, you are in a better position to negotiate prices with your mechanic. The more informed you are, the less likely your mechanic will charge you higher-than-normal rates for your repairs. More importantly, your mechanic will be less likely to sell you unnecessary (and exorbitant) services.

Don’t Skip Scheduled Maintenance

When your car is due for maintenance, don’t dawdle - service it as soon as possible. Although you may want to scrimp and save what you can on car expenses, going in for a scheduled maintenance will prevent more major (i.e. expensive) repairs in the future. Since you have now familiarised yourself with every aspect of your car owner’s manual, you’ll know that the manufacturer has recommendations (usually based on mileage or time driven) for when your car should be brought in for servicing. As a knowledgeable car owner, don’t allow your dealer’s service centre or your garage to offer you unneeded services. Particularly if they work on commission, it’s in their best interest to sell you “special extras” you don’t require.

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OCTOBER 2013 2013 OCTOBER

SM Car Edition

Driver’s Guide Car Edition It Pays to DIY

For minor repairs that do not necessitate the skills of a trained mechanic, we recommend you learn how to do them yourself. One of the simplest tasks you can do is to change your oil on your own. Consult your owner’s manual to find out what quantity and type of oil you need; we advise you to use premium oil, instead of a cheaper alternative, since it will ultimately protect your engine more. As oil changes are needed quite frequently, you can save on the cost of oil by buying in bulk and keeping the unused oil in storage. Your windshield wipers are another maintenance task you can easily do on your own; at least once a year, simply replace the rubber blades while leaving the metal arms in place. You can also install a new air filter by yourself; it is located under your bonnet and is conveniently held in place by clamps that can be unsnapped without much difficulty. There are other maintenance jobs you can certainly attempt without a mechanic’s help, all of which will save you having to pay for their labour by using your own.

Take Care of Your Tyres

Taking special care of your tyres will prolong their usage and save you fuel, cutting down on any costly repairs through preventive action. What’s most important is to make sure that your tyre pressure is always at the correct level. In order to find out what this is, ask your car dealer or look it up in your owner’s manual. Ideally, you should check your tyre pressure monthly. Driving with underinflated tyres will waste precious fuel, since your engine will have to do more work to keep your car moving due to the lack of air. Overinflated tyres are also an expensive problem, because they will quickly cause wear to the centre threads of the tyres, significantly reducing their lifespan. Overinflated tyres are also more prone to punctures or blowouts. As such, not only should you frequently check your tyre pressure and thread depth, you should also carry around a properly inflated spare tyre and learn how to change it by yourself.

Find Your Own Car Parts

Sourcing your own replacement car parts can be cheaper than relying on your garage to do it for you. In order to make a profit, they will sell you these parts at a higher price, obviously inclusive of their labour. If possible, try to get any replacement parts online or at auction sites. Second-hand parts are worth looking at, especially if they are still in good condition. Before you bring these car parts to your garage, ask them if they are willing to service your car without using parts they provide. Should they quote you a higher price for their service, consider going to another garage that will get the job done for less.

Service Your Car Before Travelling

Before you balik kampung or go on long road trips, send your car in for servicing. If you’re used to driving only within the city and are planning to drive for endless stretches of highway, it’s a lot safer to get a thorough inspection before you go. By doing so, you can avoid emergencies which will leave you at the mercy of an out-oftown mechanic who may charge far more for second-rate service. Fortunately, many dealer service centres and garages have service promotions during major holidays, so there are many opportunities to save on maintenance, even if you end up not leaving town.

Avoid Getting Towed

Sending your car in for maintenance according to the manufacturer’s schedule and before you travel will prevent the extremely expensive and entirely avoidable situation of having to call a tow truck. Being stranded on an isolated highway in the middle of the night is the worst-case scenario, since the fees for a tow truck will then increase exponentially. You can expect to be charged, depending on the tow service and the size of your car, at least around RM500. Worse yet, this is just for towing your car to a nearby garage, not even for the very pricey repairs you will almost certainly need. Apart from monetary considerations, there are also numerous safety concerns involved if your car breaks down on the road. The solution is simple: take preventive action by servicing your car on time!

When it comes to maintaining and servicing cars, prevention is far better than cure. The best way to save is to take good care of your car from the moment you drive it out of the dealer’s. Baby your car, pamper and clean it, because you’ll come to appreciate your precious vehicle more. Don’t just drive your car and see it as a means to get from Point A to B. To be a truly empowered car owner and SaveMoney, follow our tips and keep learning as much as you can about cost-effective car maintenance!

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OCTOBER OCTOBER 2013 2013

SM Car Edition

Driver’s Guide Car Edition

CBU

VS.

CKD by May Chiam

re you looking to buy a foreign car? Do you see yourself at the wheel of a Mazda CX-5, cruising down the highway, enjoying the wonders of Japanese engineering? If you want to realise this dream in Malaysia, welcome to the world of CBU vs. CKD! What do these puzzling (and slightly sinister) acronyms mean? Strap on those seat belts and read on!

Completely Built-Up and Completely Knocked-Down Quite simply, CBU stands for completely built-up and CKD for completely knocked-down. When you purchase a foreign car, you have the option of choosing either a CBU or a CKD version. In order to protect the local auto industry – Proton and Perodua – the government has levied high import duty and local taxes on all foreign cars. This creates a SaveMoney conundrum: due to the high taxation, a foreign car bought in Malaysia can cost up to twice its recommended retail price elsewhere. Can you still SaveMoney? Yes and no, but first let’s demystify these acronyms.

Import Duties and Taxes on Cars A) Motor Cars (Including Station Wagons, Sports Cars, and Racing Cars)

CBU A CBU car is imported as a fully finished unit, ready to drive once it arrives on Malaysian shores. You can think of it as 100% foreign, being that it was assembled by a foreign workforce generally using parts made in its country of origin. In short, no Malaysian labour or assembly were involved. As such, the import duty levied on a CBU car is high at 30% (for non-ASEAN countries). Additionally, local taxes are also imposed according to engine capacity. Local taxes comprise excise duties and sales tax; the larger the engine capacity, the higher the taxes charged. You can end up being taxed as high as 145% for a CBU vehicle with an engine capacity above 2500cc (i.e. 30% import duty + 105% excise duties + 10% sales tax). While import duty on a CBU car and a CKD car differ, local taxes for both are the same. Although there is a common belief that a CBU vehicle is completely manufactured and assembled in its country of origin, this is not always the case. With Thailand deemed the new “Detroit of Southeast Asia”, quite a few CBU models - particularly from Honda and Toyota - imported into Malaysia are assembled in Thailand. There are also CBU cars which are made in Indonesia or other ASEAN nations. Owing to the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), there is no import duty on a CBU vehicle from an ASEAN country. From a SaveMoney perspective, this certainly translates to more money saved. So before you buy your CBU car, ask the dealer where it was made.

IMPORTIMPORT DUTY DUTY CBU

CKD CBU

Engine MFN ASEAN MFN MFN Engine Capacity (cc) CEPT Capacity (cc) < <1,800 1,800

LOCALTAXES TAXES LOCAL

MSP CKD

ASEAN MFN MFN CEPT CEPT

CBU&&CKD CKD CBU

ASEAN Excise Excise CEPT Duties CEPT Duties

Sales Tax Tax

30%

10% 30%

0%0%

10% 10%

n.a0%

75% 75%

10% 10%

1,800 1,800- 1,999 - 1,999 30%

10% 30%

0%0%

10% 10%

n.a0%

80% 80%

10% 10%

2,000 2,000- 2,499 - 2,499 30%

10% 30%

0%0%

10% 10%

n.a0%

90% 90%

10% 10%

Above Above2,500 2,500 30%

10% 30%

0%0%

10% 10%

n.a0%

105%

10% 10%

B) Four Wheel Drive Vehicles IMPORTIMPORT DUTY DUTY CBU

CKD CBU

LOCALTAXES TAXES LOCAL

MSP CKD

CBU&&CKD CKD CBU

Engine MFN ASEAN MFN MFN Engine Capacity (cc) CEPT Capacity (cc)

ASEAN MFN MFN CEPT CEPT

ASEAN Excise Excise CEPT Duties CEPT Duties

Sales Tax Tax

< <1,800 1,800

30%

10% 30%

0%0%

10% 10%

n.a0%

65% 65%

10% 10%

1,800 1,800- 1,999 - 1,999 30%

10% 30%

0%0%

10% 10%

n.a0%

75% 75%

10% 10%

2,000 2,000- 2,499 - 2,499 30%

10% 30%

0%0%

10% 10%

n.a0%

90% 90%

10% 10%

Above Above2,500 2,500 30%

10% 30%

0%0%

10% 10%

n.a0%

105%

10% 10%

C) Others (MPV & VAN) IMPORTIMPORT DUTY DUTY

CKD A CKD vehicle is imported as a knock-down kit which relies on local assembly. While most of the individual parts are usually manufactured in the car brand’s country of origin, the assembling of the car is done in a local plant by a Malaysian workforce. To receive more tax preferences, manufacturers may also use local content (Malaysian-made parts like tyres, windows, and headlights) to put together the car. In view of the jobs created by CKD vehicles, the import duty on them is lower at 10% to encourage foreign manufacturers to build more plants in Malaysia. However, as aforementioned, local taxes are the same as CBU units. So for a CKD vehicle with an engine capacity above 2500cc, you can be taxed as much as 125% (i.e. 10% import duty + 105% excise duties + 10% sales tax).

magazine october 2013.indd 14

CBU

CKD CBU

LOCAL TAXES TAXES LOCAL

MSP CKD

CBU & & CKD CKD CBU

Engine MFN ASEAN MFN MFN Engine Capacity (cc) Capacity (cc) CEPT

ASEAN MFN MFN CEPT CEPT

ASEAN Excise CEPT CEPT Duties

Sales Sales Tax Tax

< <1,500 1,500

30%

NIL 30%

0% 0%

NIL NIL

n.a 0%

60% 60%

10% 10%

1,500 1,500- 1,799 - 1,799 30%

10% 30%

0% 0%

10% 10%

n.a 0%

65% 65%

10% 10%

1,800 1,800- 1,999 - 1,999 30%

10% 30%

0% 0%

10% 10%

n.a 0%

75% 75%

10% 10%

2,000 2,000- 2,499 - 2,499 30%

10% 30%

0% 0%

10% 10%

n.a 0%

90% 90%

10% 10%

Above Above2,500 2,500 30%

10% 30%

0% 0%

10% 10%

n.a0%

105% 105%

10% 10%

MFN: Most Favoured Nation ASEAN CEPT: ASEAN Common Effective Preferential Tarriff MSP: Multi-sourcing Parts

Source: Malaysian Automotive Association

10/2/2013 6:20:30 PM

SM Car Edition

OCTOBER 2013 OCTOBER 2013

15 15

Car Edition Driver’s Guide Price Differential Due to the differences in import duty between a CBU (30% for non-ASEAN countries) and a CKD (10%) car, a CKD vehicle will obviously cost less to buy. If you choose a CKD model over a non-ASEAN CBU model of a car, you can therefore save thousands of Ringgit. Unfortunately, however, manufacturers rarely simultaneously offer both CBU and CKD versions for the same models of their cars; they typically sell all CKD models or all CBU models. For instance, BMW Malaysia sells around half of its models as CKD and the rest as CBU from Germany. A popular Japanese manufacturer like Honda sells its most in-demand cars as CKD; only one of its CBU models is actually made in Japan. However, even though the import duty for a non-ASEAN CBU car is higher than a CKD car, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a CBU vehicle will always be more expensive than a CKD model. Depending on their specifications, higher-end cars assembled locally could cost far more than a lower-end model assembled abroad. You should also bear in mind that there is 0% import duty for CBU vehicles from ASEAN countries, which

could make an ASEAN CBU car cheaper than a CKD unit, though we must stress that this is not always the case. Another factor to consider is time, specifically how long you’re willing to wait for that dream car. Usually, new models of foreign cars are released as CBU first. After around a year, the CKD version is sold on the market, most often replacing the initial CBU unit. On average, you can expect to save around RM20,000 on the CKD model, contingent on your willingness to wait! In this case, patience is a SaveMoney virtue. There are also sometimes slight changes to the name of the car model and differences in the specifications of the CBU and the CKD versions, although they are generally quite minor. To illustrate this point, we will compare 2 cars (both CBU and CKD units): the Mazda CX-5 and the Honda Jazz.

Honda Jazz Differences in Specifications

Manufacturer’s Warranty Release Date Price

Mazda CX-5

CBU (Jazz Grade S)

CKD (Jazz Petrol)

Multi-reflector headlights, paddle shift, cruise control, keyless entry, steering wheel audio controls, and auto-speed lock.

LED taillights, fog lamps, Vehicle Information Display (VID), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), and 4-corner reverse sensors.

3 years

August 2012 (no longer sold)

July 2013

RM99,800

RM74,800

CBU (2WD) Differences in Specifications Manufacturer’s Warranty Release Date Price

Sunroof and 11-speaker BOSE surround system.

CKD (2WD High Spec) No sunroof and 6-speaker ICE (in-car entertainment) system.

3 years

May 2012 (no longer sold)

June 2013

RM159,500

RM144,125

As you can see, in both examples there are substantial price differences between the 2 versions. The differences in specifications are minimal, while the warranties for all are the same. In light of what we’ve revealed, why do some buyers still insist on buying CBU units? Perhaps they are car fanatics who must drive the latest models as soon as they are released, or perhaps it’s because of doubts regarding what is called build quality. Another story for another section? Let’s head towards our final pit stop!

Build Quality The so-called build quality of a car is a contentious issue. Build quality can be broadly described as the quality of workmanship, finishing, and sometimes even the materials sourced and used in the production of a car. This is clearly a subjective matter, because those who insist on paying more for a CBU model of the same car maintain that there is a discernible difference in quality from the CKD version. Even though the differences in specifications between the two are, as shown above, very minor, CBU buyers believe that the “superior” assembly of the car justifies the much higher price tag. Inherent in this belief is a mistrust of Malaysian-assembled cars and the quality control in our local plants. Owning a car made and assembled in Japan or Germany becomes, however unpatriotic, a status symbol. While we can’t objectively comment on whether there really is a quality difference, we urge you to consider the state of your finances before you make a decision.

Now that you have been thoroughly enlightened upon the subject of CBU vs. CKD vehicles, you’ll probably conclude that buying a foreign car isn’t as simple as local assembly versus foreign assembly. If you want to SaveMoney, there are other factors to consider, chief among them the actual cost of the car. Performance, design, aesthetics, equipment, safety, and quality should obviously all be taken into account as well. After all, that Mazda CX-5 wouldn’t be worth its weight in high-tensile steel if you didn’t fully review all your options and have the bank balance to match!

magazine october 2013.indd 15

10/2/2013 6:20:30 PM

OCTOBER 2013

Haruskah Anda Mendapatkan

nda teringin untuk membuat permohonan kad kredit, tapi risau akan mengalami masalah hutang yang banyak? Ramai menganggap bahawa berhutang merupakan sesuatu yang tidak baik, tetapi sebenarnya

atau penyebab kejatuhan seseorang. HUTANG YANG TIDAK TERURUS ialah punca sebenar masalah kita semua. Hutang pada asasnya adalah sesuatu yang baik jika diuruskan dengan bijak. Tapi jika kita tidak mengambil peduli tentang hal kewangan sendiri, maka kesemua hutang ini akan bertukar menjadi hutang “buruk” (dan mimpi ngeri anda!). Jadi, baca tips-tips berikut untuk untuk mengelakkan diri anda daripada terjebak ke dalam femonena “hutang keliling pinggang”!

Peringatan Sebelum Memilih Kad Kredit

Kad kredit bukan pendapatan tambahan anda! Jadi jangan menambahkan perbelanjaan harian hanya kerana anda mempunyai kad kredit.

Cuba untuk menggunakan kad kredit anda secara minima dan segera langsaikan bil kad kredit bulanan anda untuk mengelakkan kadar faedah berganda.

Berhati-hati dengan hutang bulanan kad kredit anda. Jika anda gagal untuk membayar secara penuh setiap bulan, anda kena membayar faedah 13% p.a. – 18% p.a. sebulan!

Elakkan pembayaran lewat kerana ia mungkin mengakibatkan kehilang tawaran kadar faedah rendah, pembayaran denda penalti dan/atau menjejaskan penilaian kredit dan permohonan kad kredit anda dimasa hadapan.

Tidak pasti kad kredit yang sesuai untuk anda? Ragu-ragu tentang jenis kad kredit yang mana harus anda pilih? Cuba kuiz kad kredit kami di bawah! Kami akan melakukan sebaik mungkin untuk mencadangkan kad kredit terbaik untuk anda:

Soalan 1:

Adakah anda mampu melangsaikan hutang kad kredit sepenuhnya setiap bulan?

Pergi ke Soalan 2 untuk mengetahui cara untuk mengurangkan kadar bayaran faedah – dan seterusnya menjimatkan wang anda!

TIDAK

Tahniah! Oleh kerana anda mampu melangsaikan hutang kad kredit setiap bulan, anda tidak perlu risau dengan kadar faedah yang dikenakan bank. Sebaliknya, anda patut mencari kad kredit yang boleh menawarkan ganjaran untuk perbelanjaan anda. Misalnya, jika anda seorang penggemar wayang, maka carilah kad kredit yang memberikan anda ganjaran di panggung wayang.

Soalan 2: Adakah anda mampu melangsaikan hutang kad kredit sepenuhnya setiap bulan?

TIDAK YA

Cuba soalan 3. Cari kad kredit yang mempunyai promosi faedah 0% dengan tempoh yang lama!

Kad Kredit?

Diterjemah oleh: Balkish Rosly

Patutkah Saya Mendapatkan Kad Kredit (Walaupun risiko pemilikannya tinggi?) Seperti yang kami katakan di atas, kad kredit bukan punca masalah anda. Dengan sedikit disiplin, pemilikan kad kredit boleh memberi banyak manfaat kepada anda. Ia boleh membantu anda mengawasi perbelanjaan bulanan, menolong anda membuat bayaran sebelum gaji masuk, memberi pelbagai ganjaran dan juga boleh menolong anda menyimpan wang jika digunakan dengan bijak.

Tips

Memiliki Kad Kredit: 1. Ikut bajet bulanan dan pastikan anda langsaikan hutang kad kredit setiap bulan!

anda menggunakan kad kredit untuk mendapat 2. Jika pemindahan baki 0%, pastikan anda tidak terlepas bayaran minima yang perlu dibayar sepanjang tempoh 0% itu.

• Cuba membuka akaun direct debit untuk bayaran minima setiap bulan. Dengan cara ini anda boleh mengelakkan penalti lewat bayaran / kehilang faedah pembelian 0% • Pada saat anda membuat bayaran lewat, kurang daripada bayaran minima atau terlupa untuk membuat bayaran, anda akan terus hilang bonus kadar 0% dan akan dikenakan kadar faedah tertinggi untuk kad kredit jenis ini. Untuk pelan pembayaran mudah 0% selama 12 atau 24 bulan 3. yang selalu digunakan untuk pembelian seperti telefon bimbit,

perkakas rumah, dan lain-lain, sentiasa membuat bayaran tepat pada masa pada setiap bulan. • JIka tidak, anda akan kehilangan kadar 0% yang ditawarkan itu.

4. Pilih kad kredit yang boleh memberikan ganjaran kepada setiap perbelanjaan anda.

• Jika anda banyak berbelanja di tempat tertentu (contoh : anda selalu melancong / anda suka tengok wayang ), carilah kad kredit yang memberikan ganjaran dan keuntungan mengikut perbelanjaan anda.

Soalan 3: Adakah anda mempunyai disiplin untuk menukar kad untuk mendapat kadar faedah 0%, selalunya setiap 3 hingga 6 bulan?

TIDAK YA

Cuba soalan 4. Cuba untuk mendapatkan kad kredit yang memberi kadar faedah 0% paling lama. Selepas itu, tukar kad kredit anda dan dapatkan pindahan baki 0% (tempoh 0% selalunya 3 hingga 6 bulan) untuk memindahkan hutang anda ke kad yang baru tanpa dikenakan caj faedah langsung.

Soalan 4: Anda perlu menggunakan kad kredit namun tidak mampu membuat bayaran penuh dan tidak mampu memohon kad baru setiap kali tempoh promosi faedah 0% tamat? Pilihan terbaik untuk diri anda adalah untuk memohon kad kredit dengan kadar faedah paling rendah, dan elakkan kad kredit 0% .Ini kerana setelah tempoh 0% , kadar faedah akan meningkat lebih berbanding kadar faedah paling rendah kad kredit yang tersedia.

JimatCermat.my ialah laman penjimatan kewangan di Malaysia, kami sentiasa berusaha menyelidik cara-cara untuk anda menjimatkan wang tanpa mengubah cara hidup anda dan berjimat sekurang-kurangnya RM1,000 setahun!

magazine october 2013.indd 16

10/2/2013 6:20:31 PM

OCTOBER 2013

Reload Locations throughout Malaysia

Reload Service Fee

Highways

RM0

Public Transport (LRT/KTM Komuter)

RM0

Touch 'n Go SPOT at Petrol Stations

RM0

CIMB Bank ATMs (users must have an ATM account)

RM0

Bank ATMs (users must have an ATM account)

RM0.50

Bank CDMs (open to all customers)

RM0.50

Third Party Agents

RM0.50

Petrol Stations

RM0.50

magazine october 2013.indd 17

Card

Reload Fee

Automatic TnG Reload Amount

Other Charges

Other Benefits

Hong Leong Touch 'n Go Zing Card

RM2.00

RM100.00

N/A

Waived RM50.00 GST, Waived annual Fee

Maybankard Touch 'n Go Zing Card

RM2.00

RM100.00

AFFINBANK Touch 'n Go Mastercard

RM2.00

RM100.00

N/A

Waived annual fee

BSN Zing PLUSMiles Card

RM2.00

RM100.00

N/A

Waived annual fee

MBF Touch 'n Go Zing Card

RM2.00

RM100.00

N/A

Waived annual fee

Aeon Touch 'n Go Zing Card

RM2.00

RM100.00

N/A

Waived annual fee

RM10.00 Waived annual fee Subscription fee

10/2/2013 6:20:31 PM

OCTOBER 2013

Travel

Malaysia Hybrid Car Buying Guide

Do Hybrid Cars

Save You Money? What is a Hybrid car? A hybrid car is a fuel efficient car with two motors, the standard petrol-powered and an electric motor that provides additional boost using a rechargeable battery. Using clever technology called regenerative braking, when the hybrid car decelerates, the system captures this braking energy and regenerates this to charge the battery. Besides this, hybrid cars can switch between petrol and battery power when needed. However, there are different types of hybrid technology; for the purpose of this article, we will not go into the specifics. As a general point, when the car does not require much drive, the system will activate the battery to drive power to the wheels and thus save petrol. Whenever you put the pedal to the metal, the car will usually require the petrol motor to assist your “Fast and Furious” driving style.

l Co a i it

sts

The price of a car is usually one of the simplest ways to compare it with other cars. As a rule of thumb, hybrid cars are priced higher than conventional cars due to the capital investment poured into hybrid technology. However, some manufacturers produce lower-end models to encourage more drivers to buy hybrid cars. For instance, the Toyota Prius C starts below the RM100,00 threshold, coming in at RM97,000, while the Honda Jazz Hybrid is priced at RM94,800 with insurance. If we compare this to the the standard Honda Jazz , it is more than RM15,000 cheaper, although there may be differences in the The Malaysian government specifications. But just as a quick comparison, currently provides incentives to it just shows hybrid cars have become consumers in order to encourage the more competitive than before as the buying of hybrid cars. Consequently, the government has supported the move price of hybrid cars has actually become towards ‘greener’ cars. more competitive. At the time of writing, there are no import and excise duties on hybr id vehicles with engine sizes under 2.0L (until Dec 31, 2013). As aforementioned, it is hope d that this will encourage the purchase of more hybrid cars, helping to reduce Malaysia’s carbon footprint through fuel bill reductions and lower CO2 emissions.

overnment

Re b

by Eugene Chua

Fuel Economy It makes logical sense that a hybrid car which runs partly on battery consumes less petrol than a standard petrol engine. The electric motor of a hybrid car supplies substantial power to run the car under very light acceleration and speed. Moreover, hybrid car manufacturers have a tendency to utilise smaller engine capacities with the idea that the electric motor would assist by way of power when needed, resulting in less fuel consumpion. However, if you are harsh on your gas pedal, no matter what car you drive, your car will use up petrol more rapidly. However, the crucial issue here is how long saving on petrol with hybrid cars will take to cover the initial price difference between a hybrid car and a cheaper conventional car. Find out later in the article when we make some calculation comparisons. The current (as of 4th October 2013) prices for petroleum products in Malaysia are as follows:

at e RON95 – RM2.10/ L

RON97 – RM2.85 / L

Diesel – RM2.00 / L

Eco-friendly Driving We all know carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas that is a major contributing factor to environmental damage. In general, hybrid cars should produce lower CO2 emissions due to smaller engine capacities and the regenerative system where energy is ‘recycled’ from deceleration to help power the car. Lower petrol consumption lowers CO2 emissions over an equal distance. Also, as with petrol cars, by driving efficiently you can save even more money. Below are 3 tips to reduce emissions and fuel consumption in a hybrid car:

1. Let the car roll forward slightly in gear “D’ before accelerating.

Service and Maintenance The majority of hybrid cars utilise internal combustion engines just like conventional petrol cars, so the usual maintenance costs apply. The electrical system (the electric motor, etc.) will require minimal scheduled maintenance. However, the maintenance fees are expected to be higher when things go wrong due to the complex nature of hybrid cards. Not all service centres have the technical ability and machinery to service hybrid systems. You may have to visit a specific authorised service centre. This may change over time if the demand for hybrid cars picks up and more service centres are able to fix them, creating a more competitive market. Battery costs, however, are expensive, as will be discussed in the next page.

2. Try to accelerate slowly from a standstill (e.g. in a traffic jam or traffic light).

magazine october 2013.indd 18

3. Keeping constant speed on the highway (set your car on cruise control where possible).

10/2/2013 6:20:32 PM

OCTOBER 2013

Car Model

Battery Type

Orginal Cost

Current Cost

Discount

Honda Jazz Hybrid

Nickel-metal hydride

RM6,934

RM3,980

43%

Honda Insight

Nickel-metal hydride

RM7,580

RM3,980

47%

Honda CR-Z (pre-facelift)

Nickel-metal hydride

RM7,580

RM3,980

47%

Honda CR-Z (facelift)

Lithium-ion

RM5,480

Honda Civic Hybrid

Lithium-ion

RM11,480

RM5,480

52%

Car Model

Initial Price OTR

Road Tax

Fuel Economy

Toyota Prius Luxury

RM139,915

RM279.20

21.05km/L

Toyota Altis 2.0V

RM132,020

RM373.50

13.00km/L

Initial Price OTR

Road Tax

Fuel Economy

Honda Jazz Hybrid

RM89,900

RM70.00

21.30km/L

Honda Jazz

RM74,800

RM90.00

15.80km/L

Final Pointers

magazine october 2013.indd 19

10/2/2013 6:20:32 PM

OCTOBER 2013

SaveMoney Budget

magazine october 2013.indd 20

Mid-Range

Splurge

Air Fare (return/pax)

RM50 - RM280

RM280 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; RM850

RM850 - RM2,000

Accommodation 3D 2N

RM150 - RM300

RM300 - RM500

RM450 - RM4,500

Transportation

RM70 - RM150

RM150 - RM250

RM250 - RM1,750

Meals

RM120 - RM150

RM150 - RM250

RM250 - RM950

Entrance Fee for Attractions

RM10 - RM30

RM35 - RM80

RM80 - RM350

Total for 3D 2N

RM400 - RM910

RM910 - RM1,930

RM1,930 - RM9,550

10/2/2013 6:20:33 PM

OCTOBER 2013

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10/2/2013 6:20:33 PM

OCTOBER 2013