Market Watch: Buy These Sporty Used Cars At Less Than S$1,000 Depreciation Per Month

It’s no secret that the value propositions of Chinese EVs take some beating. OneShift’s Overall Car Of The Year 2024 Winner, the Denza D9, proved that luxury-leaning rules were meant to be rewritten. The MG4 penetrated the hatchback segment with driving dynamics that can ruffle feathers of big guns. Even BYD’s Seal proved that manufacturers can still strike a rich vein of form in an increasingly challenging sedan segment.

But where does this leave sporty cars that we were once very familiar with? Powered by an internal combustion engine, we had to dig deep into each vehicle’s kerbweight, front-rear weight distribution, and on the performance front, manage its powerband and gain an understanding of gearing and peak torque. A chore to some in a tap-and-go electric landscape, but a heartbreaking diversion for those who feel that nothing else was going to cut the mustard.

There’s still light at the end of the tunnel, with the used cars market a somewhat appealing option against a backdrop of eye-popping new car prices. Spending up to a grand on depreciation monthly might have proven a sweet spot for “bargain basement” used cars hunting in Singapore. Here’s what we’ve gathered so far on the sportier end of the spectrum.

2010 BMW Z4 sDrive23i

Depreciation: S$950 per month

Outright speed will not be its strong suit, but this E89-gen Z4 sDrive23i has a silky smooth 2.5-litre straight six (N52-coded) for you to exploit its rev-happy character. A 6-speed auto could also sound backdated in a generation that also offered an 8-speed in facelifts. But if old school thrills is what you’re after, a naturally aspirated 1,500kg BMW roadster serves as a brilliant foundation.

2009 Daihatsu Copen

Depreciation: S$850 per month

It places some of us with larger frames out of the equation with dimensions so compact. But if it’s a non-issue for you, revel in its simplicity - 660cc, no more than 70hp, 840kg. It won’t supply you with monumental levels of twist, but the Kei car-sized Daihatsu Copen will reward in ways cars three times its weight can’t administer. Get it near the ragged edge and let physics play to its advantage. We won’t see cars built like this again, so grab them while we can.

2008 Volkswagen Golf R32

Depreciation: S$990 per month

Some would argue that the 2000s produced the best supercars. Porsche Carrera GT, Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari 599GTB - some of these big-chested monsters could be argued as peak ICE supercars. Out of reach to most of us, sure, but it's a philosophy that trickled down to more attainable cars. If the mid-engined Renault Clio V6 supplied the hot hatch muscle in the early 2000s, VW’s Golf R32, with its 3.2-litre narrow-angled VR6, proved that there’s no replacement for displacement.

2012 Suzuki Swift Sport

Depreciation: S$990 per month

A pre-loved Suzuki Swift Sport option is a must given that the official dealer only brings in the “regular” 4th-gen Swift. We reckon it’s worth a shot by starting off with the 2nd-gen ZC32S. Not as long in the tooth as the fizzy, aftermarket-friendly 1st-gen, and not as costly as the turbocharged 3rd-gen. It’s a pity that only performance numbers sell in the car world. A width of 1.7m for zippy driving, short wheelbase of 2,430mm for more direct driving feel and a kerbweight of only 1,085kg contribute to make every journey engaging.

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