Buying a used car
How the process works here, what to check, and where people get caught out.
Avante, Corolla Altis or Mazda 3, which one actually suits you
Three Category A sedans that cost within a hundred dollars a year of each other to run. New, the Altis and the Mazda 3 are priced within a few thousand dollars of each other, and the car itself is barely a tenth of that price. Here is what actually separates them.
BMW 1 Series or Mercedes A-Class, which one actually suits you
The same badge can sit in either COE category depending on the year and the tune, and both brands now detune their small engines for Singapore. Here is which one to take, and why the log card matters more than the badge.
The Category A saving has almost disappeared. The running cost gap has not.
Through 2025 a Category B certificate cost about $17,800 more than Category A. This year the gap has averaged around $2,400, and today it is $1,110. That makes a bigger engine look cheaper than it is, because most of the cost of stepping up was never the certificate.
Selling and buying in the same market, and why the COE level matters less than it seems
When COE is high, the car you sell and the car you buy are priced in the same conditions. Done together, much of the effect cancels. What decides the deal is the gap between the two cars, and how much of your trade-in's value moves with the market.
Accord, Camry or Mazda6, which one actually suits you
Three midsize sedans at similar money, and the cheapest to run depends entirely on how far you drive. The crossover sits at about 18,700 km a year, which is the number that should decide it.
Accord, Camry or Mazda6, which one actually suits you
Three midsize sedans at similar money, and the cheapest to run depends entirely on how far you drive. The crossover sits at about 18,700 km a year, which is the number that should decide it.
Avante, Corolla Altis or Mazda 3, which one actually suits you
Three Category A sedans that cost within a hundred dollars a year of each other to run, separated by around fifty thousand dollars in price. Here is what that money buys, and when it is worth paying.
BMW 1 Series or Mercedes A-Class, which one actually suits you
Both miss Category A by a handful of kilowatts, which is why they lose money so fast when new and why they are worth looking at used. Here is which one to take, and which year matters more than the badge.
Noah Hybrid or Serena e-Power, which one actually suits you
Two eight-seat hybrids at almost the same money, running within a hundred dollars a year of each other. The cost will not decide it for you, so here is what should.
Noah Hybrid or Serena e-Power, which one actually suits you
Two eight-seat hybrids at almost the same money, running within a hundred dollars a year of each other. The cost will not decide it for you, so here is what should.
COE is back near its record. The real problem is what that does to used car supply.
Category A closed at $128,501 in the second August exercise, and the next result is not until 9 September. Most of the commentary is about price. The part that matters more to a used car buyer is what is quietly happening to the pool of cars worth buying.
COE is back near its record. The real problem is what that does to used car supply.
Category A closed at $128,501 in the second August exercise, and the next result is not until 9 September. Most of the commentary is about price. The part that matters more to a used car buyer is what is quietly happening to the pool of cars worth buying.
Mileage, owners and service records, how to read a car's history
Three numbers appear on every used listing and most buyers weigh them in the wrong order. Low mileage is not automatically good, and a high owner count matters more than almost anything else on the page.
Mileage, owners and service records, how to read a car's history
Three numbers appear on every used listing and most buyers weigh them in the wrong order. Low mileage is not automatically good, and a high owner count matters more than almost anything else on the page.
Hatchback, sedan, SUV or MPV, which one actually fits your life
Most people pick a body style on how it looks, then live with the consequences for five years. In Singapore the choice also decides your COE category, your road tax, and whether you can get into your own car park.
Hatchback, sedan, SUV or MPV, which one actually fits your life
Most people pick a body style on how it looks, then live with the consequences for five years. In Singapore the choice also decides your COE category, your road tax, and whether you can get into your own car park.