A Car Enthusiast's Ideal One Car Garage At 4 Different Price Points

Car enthusiasts in Singapore we’d reckon have been trained to be as resilient as possible, which comes as little surprise given the unique structure of our COE system and accompanying taxes like ARF. The mathematical complexity of car purchases can sometimes be a tad overwhelming, when in essence all we want to do is to focus on enjoying our time behind the wheel.

Instead of diving head first into a financial black hole, there might be a way to simplify administration, and prioritise efforts on one car that can satisfy keen drivers like us, without much compromises to other aspects of our lifestyle. What are the deal breakers? Apart from being fun to drive, it needs to be fairly practical too. Attention has to be paid to reliability too, given that workshop runs are not ideal and alternatives lean towards public transport, which defeats the purpose of car ownership.

And for the sake of 24/7 availability, the chosen cars will not fall under the Off Peak Scheme (OPC) or classic car scheme. Thus the intrinsic requirement for this shortlist to possess a clear-cut Jekyll and Hyde personality makes it that much more challenging.

Unlike in markets like the UK where mileage, servicing records and condition have a more direct relation on the value of the vehicle, a car’s worth in Singapore is “clouded” by COE lifespans, akin to a “ticking time bomb”, which leads us to appraise them based on annual depreciation instead of the stated price of the car. And more importantly we’ll narrow down the selection to used cars, so you need not bear the brunt of first-owner depreciation. Here we have four cars for an ideal one car garage at different price points:

2nd Generation Suzuki Swift Sport

Depreciation: S$8,000 - S$9,500 per year

We’ve covered the Suzuki Swift Sport, more notably in another story to find out if we can own two cars for the price of 1 COE. We had suggested one equipped with a manual gearbox, but this time we will gravitate towards one with an automatic. It’s still no slouch - the zingy 1.6-litre motor loves to be revved and when minced with ingredients like a short wheelbase, sub-1 tonne kerb weight and an ergonomically-perfect driving position, you’ll be in for a treat when straights make way for corner carving activities. Sure, a Honda Jazz/Fit will be more spacious, but lacks the final hint of finesse that the Swift achieves effortlessly around tight bends.

3rd Generation Subaru Forester 2.5 XT

Depreciation: S$11,000 - S$13,000 per year

Before the proliferation of the crossover craze, we had our eyes set on fast SUVs - and nothing quite tugged our heartstrings like turbocharged Subaru Foresters, in particular the 2nd generation manual variant in STI flavour. Sure, our recommendation might be a “dialled-down” automatic based on the 3rd generation, but there are still strong hints of performance irregardless of modification preferences from previous owners. An air scoop on the bonnet feeding air towards the top-mounted intercooler, which sits right above a rumbly boxer 4 - it's an old school configuration like nothing else on the road these days. If there is one car chosen to headline the perfect one car garage, force-induced Subaru Foresters could very well be the one. Ensure lucky stars are aligned for any 2nd-gen manual-equipped Foresters to be listed for sale, but that will be another story for another day…

E90 BMW M3

Depreciation: S$17,000 - S$27,000 per year (estimated)

Securing a naturally aspirated BMW M3 with 4 doors might be as challenging as finding a needle in a haystack in Singapore, but we are confident that a couple will pop out in the classifieds. They are not for bargain hunters though, given that the E92 M3 Coupe could go from S$17,000 to as much as S$27,000 depreciation per year. Such is the appeal of the last, proper M car without assistance from turbochargers. Sure, with a highly strung V8 that loves to explore the higher regions of the rev range, it does make you work hard for your speed. Source for one with a 7-speed M dual-clutch transmission (DCT) as it will broaden the appeal in terms of usability. Could we consider the coupe instead of the E90 for the one car garage? For sure, as the rear seats are still decently-sized for short haul commutes. Could we instead opt for the Audi RS 5 Sportback? Yes, but there has always been a vicious sense of satisfaction when we pilot the E90/92 M3 - an unhinged aggression from M machines made 15 years ago that we hope fellow petrolheads can enjoy before BMW makes (even more) room for the electric revolution.

R35 Nissan GT-R

Depreciation: S$40,000 onwards per year

At this rather comical end of the price spectrum you’d imagine that we shortlist a couple of fast estates from Germany. We are massive fans of wagons and they are definite choices for one car garages, but we’d like to take this opportunity to highlight how functional the R35 Nissan GT-R is taking into consideration its supercar-rivalling performance even without a post-showroom tune. Rear seats are more usable that we give it credit for, and when driven casually it reveals a calm demeanour, contradicting its tremendous physics-defying potential. Sure, parts sourcing might be an issue in Singapore, but we’d reckon that joy lies in the hunt and it can be addictive - NISMO’s Omori Factory South of Tokyo is “only” a 7-hour plane ride away, allowing the perfect excuse for a family holiday in Japan perhaps?

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