Market Watch: Interesting Used Cars We Can Buy In Singapore At S$1,000 Depreciation Per Month

That wacky car world that we live in takes no prisoners. A five figure drop in COE premium could just make or break your state of mind, depending on when you pulled the trigger. That’s the harsh reality new car buyers in Singapore have been facing - consult the crystal ball, or bite the bullet and don’t look back.

Buyers of used cars have it easier in this respect - COE price fluctuations hit softer as it does not directly impact these purchases, but sooner or later the trickle down effect will reflect what the market thinks about a car’s value, in terms of annual depreciation.

Although COE premiums spiked back to soaring levels recently, the new year was sandwiched by notable dips,, which could nudge used car sellers to revisit their listing(s) and value their asset accordingly. While some still play the wait-and-see approach, it’s always a good time to dive into the classifieds to discover interesting cars previously jostled out of a price bracket. What do we have this time round?

2011 Honda Accord Euro S

Depreciation: S$11,500 per year

Finding an authorised dealer-registered Honda Accord on our roads nowadays is a tough ask, which makes the parallel-imported Accord rarer than hen’s teeth. Slap on a Type S badge and we’re talking unicorn levels of rarity here. For those that find the Civic Type R not practical enough, the Accord Type S fills this gap without dialling down much on the fun factor. A JDM-spec 2.4-litre motor managed by a 6-speed manual, in a family sedan? The world is striving towards a buttonless future, but we could still make do with self-serviced satisfaction.

2011 Volkswagen Golf GTD

Depreciation: S$11,800 per year

Owning a diesel car in 2024 could make you look like the bad guy - top it off driving a Volkswagen manufactured right smack during the dieselgate scandal. While we assume that the air has been cleared with VW having paid the price, we can’t deny based on performance alone the appeal of a Mk6 Golf GTD. 350Nm from the turbo 4 is a big figure for an ICE-powered car. Sure, it lived in the shadows of the Mk6 Golf GTI, but save on depreciation and receive more low-end performance - that’s a deal that sounds too good to be true.

2020 Opel Astra Sports Tourer Diesel

Depreciation: S$11,600 per year

If you’re into left-field choices, this takes some beating. A diesel-powered wagon from a brand not often on our lips. Hear us out, because this is a proper workhorse that deserves “interesting car” status. Ignore the stereotypes associated with PHV drivers, this is actually a brilliant, logical used car purchase. It doesn’t break the bank, it’s spacious, delivers more than sufficient punch on tap (320Nm) and it’s in an unassuming shade of brown. Flying under the radar has never been so effortless.

2020 SEAT Toledo

Depreciation: S$11,900 per year

Small family sedans are still relevant, despite the wave of new, electrified high-riders flooding the market. A small footprint makes city driving a cinch and a lower centre of gravity gives you more confidence around the bends. Add a sizable boot that swallows any type of load-lugging duties - that’s another feather in the cap for the SEAT Toledo. Shared VW Group platform work towards its favour here - VWs and Audis on the same piece of kit costs a fair whack more than the Toledo. Save some money while at it, and service it like any of its other siblings.

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Selling your car? Whatever the reason, caryousell@carousell, sell your car at the highest price today.