These Are The Used Cars We Would Buy At S$10,000 Depreciation Per Year

Right off the bat, shelling out S$10,000 annually just for a car’s depreciation sounds absurd (discounting rare, highly sought after breeds that are specced to the gills). Layer it with the fact that we are classifying them as bargains makes it all the more laughable. But such is the reality of Singapore’s automotive landscape that bears no resemblance to any other part of the world.

While the upward trend of cars new and used are showing no signs of abating, here in Singapore we also have to contend with “local curbside battles” involving COE predictions, additional tier of ARF affecting luxury cars and even registration fee hikes. Inner workings behind each hike remains anyone’s guess, but one cannot ignore the reality that cars have become more expensive. Utilitarian rides like Volkswagen’s Golf and the Honda Jazz have seen depreciation peak at 14 to 15 grand per year, which makes us wonder if that could be the go-to pricing for relatively new, lower mileage used cars for small families.

Toying with the filters on Carousell’s Used Car tab brought about some pleasant surprises - even more so when at time of writing, we’re still digesting the price of a Category A COE-eligible BMW X1 hovering at a sliver under a quarter million bucks. Although premiums have eased at the start of 2023, it's still a hefty sum for many - flicking the switch to pre-loved cars couldn’t be more satisfying. And for added peace of mind, you can also explore free used vehicle inspections from OneShift. Here we have three capable haulers that punch way above their market value might suggest.

Lexus IS250 (2nd-gen)

The tussle for accomplished compact luxury executive sedans tend to steer towards those with German heritage, but we will hand-pick one with JDM roots especially when S$10k annual depreciation in Singapore gets you one that has consumed a full cycle of COE. This Lexus IS250, or any other examples in the market of similar age, has piled on close to 200,000km of mileage. But with prompt servicing and replacement of wear and tear components, we’re confident that these can withstand the test of time effortlessly. A naturally aspirated motor and 6-speed automatic pairing (backed by Toyota-led assurance) is about as bulletproof as it can get. It possesses a couple of cool tricks up its sleeve, too. A 2009 Mercedes-Benz C180 can be had for similar depreciation, but we’ll have to deal with two absent (and exponentially more desirable) cylinders over the Lexus. Grab them while we still can, because days of piloting a creamy smooth V6 are numbered.

MINI Cooper S (R56)

Any MINI-branded vehicle was never going to be considered as good value given its strong lifestyle lean. But their sporty, late 2000s hot hatches have recently appeared more tempting than ever. Keen drivers can even consider cross-shopping away from similarly-aged JDM examples like the Honda Civic Type R, now costing comfortably more than twice the annual depreciation of a R56 Cooper S. Sure, the MINI’s inherent flaws might become apparent on a track when pitched against the FD2R. But on legislated tarmac (even with an automatic), its steering brimming with feel, relatively featherweight frame and punchy turbo motor makes for a fun experience. Even an old foe like the Mk5 Golf GTI is priced nearer to the Type R nowadays, which makes the R56-coded Cooper S particularly irresistible.

Opel Mokka X Diesel

Tables have turned against familiarity when depreciation is in the limelight. An Alpina D4 Bi-Turbo Coupe is going for less depreciation than a BMW 428i Coupe. Calling this phenomenon mindblowing will still be a massive understatement, until we realise that this trend trickles down even to mainstream SUVs. We’re aware that trusted formulas in Europe might not translate to instant success, and the Opel Mokka X in diesel guise is a victim of this application. When launched in 2016, it wasn’t the most spacious SUV and it steered with less conviction than Japanese rivals. But it might have the last laugh 7 years down the road. A Honda HR-V will set you back nearly S$14k annually, and hybrid C-HRs are tiered at S$15k per annum. The Mokka X might not bear the same level of desirability as its successor, but with 320Nm of torque (sneaking into Golf R32 territory) and a claimed fuel consumption of 19.6km/l, its performance to price ratio is tough to beat.

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