Search the Community

Current car COE expiring in Early 2013. If scrap, should take back about $13k. Aiming for 2014 - 2016 if COE goes down due to De-registration to buy new car. Hence, buying a new car now doesn't seem to be a good decision. For COE cars, the previous OMV rebates is lost right? Is my calculation correct? Seems like buying a pre-owned car with depreciation less than $9k will be a better option? Thanks in advance. If Renew COE (5yrs) No scrap value 5 yrs COE at ~$25k at 50% off (No loan, full cash) Increasing road tax every year Potentially high maintenance cost Estimate depreciation of about $5k (COE) + $3k (OMV) + $1k (potential maintenance) = $9k If buy Used <3 yrs old car : Pay depreciation for previous owner <5 yrs old car : Also pay depreciation for previous owner but maybe lesser <7 yrs old car : Could be high maintenance due to major wear & tear, but lesser depreciation >7 yrs old car : Could be even high maintenance due to major wear & tear, but least depreciation

Good news? 14114 COE quota will be available from Feb to Apr 2015. Increase from 11932. Lets hope COE come down

Here's one Volkswagen which we may not be able to see over here in this region due to high taxes and the COE. The 5 door Volkwagen Up is actually a pretty neat 'People's Car' (which is what Volkswagen stands for) in that it provides a decent set of wheels for the general urban populace. It is set to be sold in Europe by the fourth quarter of 2012. This little UPstart follows hot on the heels of the recently launched 3 door hatchback variant. It has clever packaging and frugal fuel sipping engines that actually make it a very good city car. It has a 1.0liter petrol engine equipped with BlueMotion Technology. This means all the usual VW economy gaining tricks and stop-start function too. But as I stated, this is one Up and coming city car that we most probably will not be able to buy. It is down to economics presumably, and basically the dreaded Certificate Of Entitlement. The COE lumps eco-friendly 1.0liter cars together with cars (and sadly, taxis) 1.6liters and below. So if VW were to bring in the Up, it would have to actually be Up (pun intended) against the Polo and the Golf. And as Singapore is a small market, in-house competition isn't good especially when external competition is already pretty ridiculous as even Mercedes Benz is technically a competitor with the C-class sedans. Note that the same 1600cc and below COE is required to buy the Mercedes C class and if the COE costs SG$50,000. That would be the COE you need to pay for a truly tiny car like the Up and it isn't logical to the eyes of potential car owners. They'd rather buy a bigger car for better value of money. But I suppose most of you are already aware of this, aren't you? And therefore, there is presumably no chance of a Volkswagen Up in whatever form for people over here.