Badminton Legend Burns RM285K On Dream SUV

Former world No. 1 shuttler Tan Boon Heong has revealed he lost a jaw-dropping RM285,000 on what he thought was his dream ride, a 2018 Range Rover Sport.

In a candid post that quickly went viral, Tan shared how his RM530,000 splurge turned into a hard lesson, urging fellow car lovers to think twice before making the same mistake.

“After a year, I realised the car’s value was tanking, so I decided to sell. But by then, the Land Rover hype had faded,” Tan shared.

Hoping to cut his losses, he listed it at RM450,000, already down RM80,000. A few friends showed interest, claiming they’d buy it “even if it’s a little pricey.”

“One even promised to pay extra,” Tan added. “But in the end? He ghosted me. Just all talk.” Things took a turn when Tan, desperate to sell, kept lowering the price, from RM450,000 to RM345,000. Still, no buyers.

Then came a glimmer of hope; a fan showed serious interest and even paid a deposit. Tan thought he finally had a deal, but the buyer’s loan was rejected due to bad credit.

Now, Malaysia's former badminton star has another offer on the table for RM245,000. That marks a massive RM285,000 loss from the RM530,000 he originally paid, all within just over a year.

He’s still hoping the deal goes through; if it doesn’t, he jokes that the SUV might end up as a vintage decoration in his garage.

Tan Boon Heong’s pricey mistake is a wake-up call for anyone eyeing a Range Rover in Malaysia. His experience highlights the tough truth about luxury car depreciation, especially in a market like ours.

Thanks to steep import duties and taxes, prices are heavily inflated from the start. Combine that with rapid monthly depreciation, up to RM15,000 in some cases and the financial hit can be brutal.

To make matters worse, the resale market for high-end cars like Range Rovers is small. Selling one isn’t just hard; it’s a waiting game.