Used Cars You Can Buy In Singapore With No Regrets

We’ve heard of horror stories pertaining to used car deals sounding too good to be true - a cool-looking coupe with an annual depreciation of S$7,000, and then you realise that it needs an engine overhaul. Only after you sign on the dotted line…

Sure, car purchases can be an emotional affair, but seeking help from a crystal ball might not be the only solution. Reducing uncertainties can pay dividends in the long run, while still ensuring that lady luck is still in your favour. What car am a dealing with? Is the car known to be reliable?

These used cars listed below are accompanied by buying guides - that being said, these still need to be taken with a pinch of salt. Like we’ve seen with EV ownership, it’s a fact that they have less parts to potentially malfunction, but only time will tell if reliability is their strong suit.

2007 Lexus GS300

The third-generation GS300 was launched in Singapore in 2005, with a facelifted version reviewed by OneShift in 2007. In 2009, the GS450h Hybrid arrived locally. Notably, despite its performance advantage, the "base-spec" GS450h Luxury was priced at slightly over S$250,000 in 2012, which was the same price as the top-spec GS300 Super Luxury.

Here we have here a less complex, naturally aspirated 2007 GS300 Super Luxury, which in this day and age is as uncommon as it gets. Can rarity and reliability strike a balance? If there’s a brand summoned to be the project lead, ring Lexus up.

2008 Honda Fit

Introduced in 2008, the GE Honda Fit was larger than its predecessor, with a longer wheelbase, revised front suspension and enhanced power steering. Despite its increased size, it handled corners well and remained a practical family option, preferred over the sportier Suzuki Swift and the reliable but less “exciting” Toyota Yaris. In Singapore, the Fit was imported by parallel importers, while Kah Motor distributed the 1.5-litre Jazz.

Most locally sold Fits had a 1.3-litre engine producing 97bhp, with some offering a "Skyroof" option. A spike in registrations occurred in late 2008 due to record-low COE prices of S$6,200 (it’s not a typo!). Today, used Fits typically have had two to five owners, with mileage around the 180,000km mark (if you're lucky!).

2010 Toyota Corolla Altis

Singapore introduced the 10th-generation Toyota Altis in late 2007, becoming the first Asian market to do so. It came with two engine options: 1.6-litre and 1.8-litre naturally aspirated engines, both paired with 4-speed automatic transmissions, similar to the previous model. Despite the 1.8-litre engine producing 9bhp more than the 1.6-litre (130bhp vs 121bhp), it delivered slightly better fuel efficiency at 12.9 km/l compared to 12.8 km/l for the 1.6-litre.

In 2010, facelift models were introduced with dual VVT-i technology, enhancing both performance and efficiency. While the 1.6-litre kept the 4-speed automatic, the 1.8-litre switched to a “7-speed” CVT. The Altis was available in three trims - Classic, Elegance, and Sportivo. The top-tier Elegance trim featured Bluetooth, sat-nav, a touchscreen DVD player, and a reverse camera, while Sportivo added a body kit to the Classic trim.

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Browse Carousell Certified used cars here or if you need help with any part of the car-buying process, check out Carousell’s Car Buying Personal Assistant!