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I have 3kids, age 1 to 7, and I don't have a car. Life continues...

(17-04-2013, 01:15 AM)Big Toe Wrote: [ -> ]I don't have a solution yet as all cars/vans(new or used) are too expensive to own.

I think there was a news report that talked about a merchant that used taxis to deliver pastry to customers during peak seasons.
Actually, if your items are not that big(since you are packing it into a car, it probably isn't that big), I am not sure whether you can liaise with some taxi uncles to deliver your items in the boot at a reasonable cost to your customers. Especially, most of the times, the taxi's boot is actually empty.

As for you, it's either you take public transport or bike to your customer location to install your item.

But, it is certainly more inconvenient than owning a car.

(17-04-2013, 01:15 AM)Big Toe Wrote: [ -> ]Seriously, are people and businesses making so much that they can afford 100K van / 150K car?
Am I just making too little? I would like to think that the later is true. If businesses and people are making so
much on top of the escalating rent/overheads, how can the products and services they provide be affordable?

I'm puzzled by your logic. I did a search on sgcarmart and a 5/6-year old Toyota (e.g. Wish) might cost around 50k plus. So if you are able to survive on a 9-yr old car, why do you have to pay for a 150k new car?

Owning a car is a luxury in Singapore in view that public transport is readily available within a 5 mins walk (except some landed properties).

(16-04-2013, 05:57 PM)thefarside Wrote: [ -> ]

(16-04-2013, 05:37 PM)psolhawk Wrote: [ -> ]Hmm.. Not feasible, I will be paying my car more than I pay my mother in law for caretaking fees. and as a % of my income, it is >10% and not quite minute. I will pass. Rather save the money for my investments. My brother in law spends 33% of income on his car cos his job requires him to. He is not one to save and he will be broke from now till god knows when. I will not have any of that.

When I do get my first few millions and a car costs a few % of it, I will get one if the situation still necessitates it.

You do not need to contrast your brother in law's spending choices with a decision that you have made on your own. The price here is the time you have chosen to sacrifice for a few dollars of NPV every year. I fully respect these hard choices as we have to make them all the time in our course of life.

Quote: Yes! Unless you known something about basic car maintenance and where to buy wear & tear replacement parts and choose a reliable workshop to do the job for you, you are going to pay through your nose to the Car Mechanics in Singapore. Usually a lot extra unnecessary charges. Sorry if i say something some people don't like in Singapore.

I don't find this post offensive, if you that is what you mean. This is an internet forum. People can say whatever they want. Unless you incite hatred etc I see no reason why you cannot be sanctimonious about the folly of car owners in Singapore and the wisdom of not having one.

Thank you! But Singapore car mechanics or car workshop owners may not be happy. i mean it is so much cheaper to repair/service your car in Malaysia.

(17-04-2013, 11:32 AM)a74henry Wrote: [ -> ]Owning a car is a luxury in Singapore in view that public transport is readily available within a 5 mins walk (except some landed properties).

owning a car in sg is a gamble.

Buy at right time, u drive for free.
Buy at wrong time, u 'carry' your car on your back to work every day..

Hahaha...

(17-04-2013, 11:32 AM)a74henry Wrote: [ -> ]Owning a car is a luxury in Singapore in view that public transport is readily available within a 5 mins walk (except some landed properties).

Doubt that's true. Used to walk more than 10 mins to bus stop when I was still staying in parent's hdb flat. Now, it's still the same, except that I would probably take more time to walk there than when I was younger.

Owning a car here is much more than COE etc.

Think about accidents ( not the minor scratches or dents from other vehicle doors etc).
When you file a claim, it affects your insurance profile and premiums will rise.

You may not be the one causing the accident but you may have a collision from side or behind. Hopefully, no injuries to self or others.

Your type of car... hatchback, sports, 2 doors all attract higher premiums
Your engine capacity
Your age
Your gender
Your driving license date of issue
Your occupation
Annual inspections

Road tax cannot be renewed without insurance. Its a money making machine for Government, insurance companies, inspection companies,workshops, petrol companies, car park companies and the car export trade. We are the worlds largest exporter of Japanese cars after Japan... and the cars are all 10 years old or younger!

Think how it will affect your ability to save for retirement, kids education and parents' medical treatments. I refused to own a car since 1994. Before that I had a car since 21 years old. It took me 1 year to adjust and now I take the bus, I make time for it.The urge to drive is met by renting here or overseas. I know how much to expense.

We are the most expensive, the ultimate place to own a car, yet we clamour for one. Is it stupidity,? need or want?

Talk of parents/kids/wife etc can be mere excuse to own one. But believe me, its not worth it. Plan, plan, plan. and life can be sweet and sweeter in your retiring years.

No offence to anyone.. just my view.

cars in s'pore can be a convenience and a necessity to some, in terms of work and every day life. each and everyone's circumstances is different.

but in any case, got to work out one's own budget before getting one.

i myself spend <5% of my annual income on my vehicles' expenditures all in, though i think <10% is a fair and reasonable figure also. anything more than 20-25% of income got to think through whether one really require one.

The Straits Times
www.straitstimes.com
Published on May 09, 2013
Small-car COE rate stays higher than other categories

THE certificate of entitlement (COE) price for smaller cars continued to rise ahead of the premium for bigger cars, for the third time since car-cooling measures were announced in late February.

At the latest tender yesterday, the COE premium for cars up to 1,600cc inched upwards by 0.8 per cent to close at $62,999. At the same time, the COE price for cars above 1,600cc dipped by 0.5 per cent to end at $61,700.

The price for the Open COE, which can be used for any vehicle type but ends up mainly for cars, was 0.5 per cent higher at $62,301.

Industry observers said buyers and sellers of smaller cars are taking up more Open certificates because they are less expensive.

The commercial vehicle COE premium finished 2.5 per cent lower at $57,051. The motorcycle premium, which remained undersubscribed right up to the last 10 minutes of bidding, closed 5.1 per cent lower at $1,700.

Motor traders attribute the latest results to the February car- cooling measures. These measures include a tiered taxation system that makes buyers of bigger, premium or luxurious cars pay more - often, significantly more.

The move has diverted some demand to smaller cars, traders said, as these vehicles are little or not affected at all by the new tiered system.

The secretary of the Singapore Vehicle Traders Association, Mr Raymond Tang, said the presence of luxury models in Category A (cars up to 1,600cc) is another reason its COE price is well supported.

"If nothing is changed, Category A COE prices will continue to be stronger than in Category B (cars above 1,600cc)," he added.

Some industry watchers said the premium for bigger cars may dive further when the market uses up all the COEs secured before the car-cooling measures were introduced.

These earlier COEs are exempted from the tiered taxation system.

Others, however, feel car premiums will rise once the suspension of loan curbs for used vehicles ends next month.

They argued that the 60-day reprieve for second-hand cars had diverted some demand away from new cars.

CHRISTOPHER TAN