Most bang for buck car in Singapore

[enemi]

Hi Guys,

As the title suggests, which car do you think is the best 'bang for buck' considering the high costs of motoring in Singapore?

Thanks for your suggestions.

[XJSJohn]

older cars are the most depreciation proof, as long as you have a good long COE on them, you just need to find a good example and a good garage to work on them.

the old W124 merc E200's are a good option for this as you will only loose running costs and annual COE depreciation on the resale as are the BM 5'ers (talk to Francis in SIng Min Auto Care for the Merc's)

Alternatively buy new and on finance. Pick the correct car (one that has a good export market, so exotica, european saloon's european SUV's) finance for not more than 7 years and then scrap to export before 5 years is up. you will then get 50% of COE back plus 75% of the duty paid on the car returned (ballpark) as well as the shell value of the car. This way you effectively are paying into an "endowment policy" where you recoup the cash at the end.

Sunny's Corola Altos's Hyundai's etc are money losers.

eta - owning a car is not expensive, it just ties up a big wedge of cash for the duration of your ownership, but in doing it right you should see a good proportion of that returned to you at the end of your stay.

[enemi]

Cheers for the info John!
I will have a gander on the mercs!

[XJSJohn]

Www.sgcarmart.com.sg is best place to browse.

May even stick up a few suggestions of my own in a bit

[enemi]

Cheers for the help ;D
I have been looking around, although my budget isn't massive (Postgrad student).
If you could be so kind, can you suggest some that you think are decent under 80k SGD.
Thanks John

[XJSJohn]

enemi said:

Cheers for the help ;D
I have been looking around, although my budget isn't massive (Postgrad student).
If you could be so kind, can you suggest some that you think are decent under 80k SGD.
Thanks John

will have a look, there is loads of stuff under $80k - for that you could even have had my old 911 (but its sold last week)

will have a look later.

edit - its later and have had a look ... assuming full mechanical inspection is a pass and you can get insurance on these(cars over 10 years generally only 3rd party and can be difficult for some reason - Anika is the best broker for old cars.)

Check the road tax costs as well, you pay a 50% uplift on older cars and the pain points are 1600cc - 2000cc - 3000cc

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=181...
http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=545...
http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=166...
http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=180...
http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=180... - aircon may be an issue with this one though
http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=180...
http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=180...
http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=181...
http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=170...
http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=179...
http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=758... - actually i rather like this one for myself, but SWMBO will probably kill me.

The key thinks to look for are a good long COE (at least 6 or 7 years left) and something that might have some status / desirability / collect-ability, without being an absolute wallet emptier for parts (labour is never expensive)

For the likes of the mercs and BMW's they probably have more miles on them than the millennium falcon, having said this though, if everything seems tidy and tight, then factor in a few grand for replacement of gaskets, hoses etc before you start using the car and you should be OK.



ohh and one more, just because i had to

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=116...

Edited by XJSJohn on Monday 13th June 05:10

[enemi]

Cheers John, really appreciate the massive help.
I'm loving the older BMW examples.
I was actually looking at the Rx7's and MR2's.
Is petrol in SG as expensive as it is in the UK, in relative terms?

[XJSJohn]

enemi said:

Is petrol in SG as expensive as it is in the UK, in relative terms?

it is expensive by asia standards at $1.90/l or about 80p

cars get worse milage here due to city driving and AC always on full blast.

[-DeaDLocK-]

John!! You sold the Porker?

[XJSJohn]

-DeaDLocK- said:

John!! You sold the Porker?

yea, just wasn't getting enough use and as i don't have a proper garage at my house it was starting to show signs of suffering so better to pass her on to another enthusiast!

sad to see her go, but Singapore is a small place!!

[enemi]

Man, MX5 are so overpriced in SG!
Do you reckon the WRX is a good buy, in terms of performance for the amount of money you pay for it?
Seems to me that the WRX is pretty well valued in SG, compared to the UK.
Unlike the MX5's which are so overpriced!

[XJSJohn]

enemi said:

Man, MX5 are so overpriced in SG!
Do you reckon the WRX is a good buy, in terms of performance for the amount of money you pay for it?
Seems to me that the WRX is pretty well valued in SG, compared to the UK.
Unlike the MX5's which are so overpriced!

you will loose money on the resale as new versions come out every year or 2. Also a very Ah Beng car (think Chav / Ned). Police watch for them, malaysian police love collecting money from them!

[Bing o]

What about these, or are they too near to the end of their COE?

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=157...

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=178...

This made me do a little sex wee all over myself - what do you think the asking price would be?

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=180...

[XJSJohn]

Bing o said:

What about these, or are they too near to the end of their COE?

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=157...

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=178...

well you would get 3 or 4 years driving out of them, the question is are you going to be here long term or just for a few more years ... If selling in 2 or 3 years you will struggle to sell if COE stays high, if you are staying and like them, then just renew COE.

Bing o said:

This made me do a little sex wee all over myself - what do you think the asking price would be?

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=180...

sadly that one is a bit of an old dog!!

now if you are after a true Yellow Peril 911 out here, this one is a gem .. (and also owned by a mate of mine)

http://www.autoincsports.com/moby/cms/showroom/for...

BTW - i am not responsible for anyone's actions once they start looking at some of the cars in that dealership

the delorian is very

[Bing o]

XJSJohn said:

now if you are after a true Yellow Peril 911 out here, this one is a gem .. (and also owned by a mate of mine)

http://www.autoincsports.com/moby/cms/showroom/for...

Maximum spaffage just happened in ORQ!!

Do you reckon the Atom needs AC?

[XJSJohn]

Bing o said:

XJSJohn said:

now if you are after a true Yellow Peril 911 out here, this one is a gem .. (and also owned by a mate of mine)

http://www.autoincsports.com/moby/cms/showroom/for...

Maximum spaffage just happened in ORQ!!

Do you reckon the Atom needs AC?

it is one serious bad boy!!! goes like a stabbed rat and sounds something else!!! it is basically a balls to the wall track car that happens to still be registered .... very hardcore though!

only catch with the atom is it is not type approved so cannot drive on the road, for track use only!

[Rich_AR]

Yum

http://www.autoincsports.com/moby/cms/showroom/for...

[XJSJohn]

not bad value for Singa either .... would try and get it for $140k

[Rich_AR]

XJSJohn said:

not bad value for Singa either .... would try and get it for $140k

My thoughts exactly

[Bing o]

John - talk me out of this little beauty?

http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.php?ID=111...