Having a car makes life a lot easier. Taxis are usually quite run down and sometimes hard to find. The public transportation system is barely satisfactory. The light rail system in Kuala Lumpur is quite efficient but if you do not live near the station you may find walking in the heat or during the frequent heavy rainstorms quite unpleasant.
The problem with buying a car is the cost. Imported motor vehicles are subject to high import duties. This is done, in part, to protect the local auto industry. Proton and Perodua are the two local car manufacturers. Proton exports its car to many other countries including the United Kingdom. It has an almost two third share of the Malaysian car market. The local manufacturers offer the cheapest prices and best value. The 2 litre Proton Perdana is an excellent car which sells for around RM100,000 and smaller cars start at around RM30,000. If you prefer to drive a car which is not as common on the roads, then the Japanese cars offer quite good value. Several foreign auto makers like Ford, Citroen, Mercedes, BMW, Volvo and several Japanese manufacturers assemble cars in Malaysia and because they also use local components the duty is not as high as imported completely built up (CBU) models.
There are quite a few second hand car dealers but as in all countries you need to exercise caution and be advised by local contacts before picking up a "bargain"
