Buying your first car is a big milestone, especially when you’ve just started earning your own income.
But one Malaysian woman recently sparked debate online after asking if her plan made financial sense.
Thought of buying a RM60K car with RM3K salary
In a post shared on Threads, the 23-year-old said she earns around RM3,000 a month and is considering buying a car priced below RM60,000.
She added that she plans to put down a RM20,000 deposit. Unsure if this was a smart move, she turned to netizens for advice.
One netizen, who claimed to be a banker, suggested a more conservative approach.
Buy a car that matches your yearly income. If you earn RM3,000 a month, that is RM36,000 a year. That is the car price you can comfortably afford.”
The netizen added that a RM60,000 car would be more suitable for someone earning at least RM5,000 monthly.
“It is not just about whether you can afford the instalment. There are many other costs involved.”
Another netizen was more blunt, advising her to rethink the decision entirely.
“Very poor choice. Keep your RM20,000. Go for a Japanese used car or a Perodua that costs half the amount,” they wrote.
They also pointed out that earning RM3,000 in Kuala Lumpur leaves little room for savings.
RM3,000 if you are based in KL is nothing. You are basically broke. Give yourself space to save and invest first.”
Some say it depends on commitments
Not everyone disagreed with her plan though.
One user shared their own experience of buying a car with an even lower salary.
“My first car was a Myvi. No deposit. I was earning RM2,300 at the time, and my monthly instalment was RM445.”
They added that affordability ultimately depends on personal financial commitments.
So…is it a good idea?
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, the discussion highlights one key thing.
Buying a car is not just about whether you can afford the monthly instalment. It also includes fuel, maintenance, insurance, and unexpected costs.
At the end of the day, it comes down to your lifestyle, financial discipline, and how much buffer you want to have for emergencies.
What do you think about this? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
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