 Re: Economical Advice?
[quote=lordskid218]wats the most economical and safest quality car to own in Singapore?
a car which as economical implies:
1) doesnt drink alot
2) easy to maintain
3) doesnt give problems
4) safe even if in accidents (if u get wat i mean)
5) cheap and low cost and maintenence
6) 4seater
7) good to last
8) "warranty" and easy to find and cheap replacement parts (if necessary)
9) perfect for new and/or experienced drivers
10) good all rounder
11) nice appearance (of least importance and priority)
I can see that you're a new driver. Base on your criteria of wanting a sporty drive & also want economy, my opinion is get either get a Honda Fit 1.5 Litre most suitable for you. Honda Fit is very easy on the Fuel Consumption, 16 to 18 km/litre. It's 1.5 Litre VTEC engine provide at least 120 HP, fast enough for SG roads & good enough to squeeze thru the traffic jam. There is also a 1.3 litre variant available if you wish to have better fuel consumption, lower insurance & road tax. But of course the 1.3 litre engine provides less power.
Honda Fit also have full of aftermarket parts to choose from. Loads of Mugen accessories like bodykit, exhaust, etc. There is also a HKS exhaust for Honda Fit. Even if you throw your annual bonus at your workshop for upgrading every year, there are too much accessories to choose from. Replacement original spare parts are also easy to get in our local workshops.
One factor to consider is Honda Fit is only carried by Parallel Importers. Their aftersales service support may not be as good as Kah Motor, the official Honda automobile distributor. Kah Motor carries Honda Jazz, 1.4 litre DSI engine. Honda Fit is a Japanese Domestic Model while Honda Jazz is made in Honda's production plant in Thailand.
Most importantly, before you sign on the dotted line, always find an experienced driver to help you assess the terms & conditions of the contract. Also in terms of financial planning wise, besides the installment & petrol cost, it is advisable to have an extra allowance of $200-$300 per month for the barang barang hidden cost such as parking, summons, servicing etc. Not to forget the most heart wrenching annual insurance renewal & 6 monthly road tax renewal. A 1.3 litre road tax for a new car cost you at least $380 6 monthly excluding radio license. Insurance for drivers below the age of 25 & below 3 years of driving experience can be expensive. You may want to work out a car expenses planning with your friends who are experienced car owners.
You can always ask your insurance agent to quote your insurance for you besides the one quoted from the car dealer. Compare the plans & get best price & the best terms & conditions. You don't have to obligate to the car dealer no matter how they psycho you.
Another important factor to consider is whether you how much can you afford for your 1st down payment? Under the MAS guideline, the maximum loan allowed is up to 90% of the car's selling price only. For example if you downpay 10% for a car which cost $62000, after adding interest of 2.25% the total loan may come up to $85K to $87K with installment of $600 to $680 for a 10 year loan. If you calculate the repayment to depreciation value, it may take you 5 years to break even the repayment value. Selling the car before the break even point requires you to repay the outstanding balance to the finance company.The further away from the break even point, the more you repay. I have a friend who lost his job & owe the finance company $12000 of repayment for selling his car at his 3rd year of his loan.
The commitment for a car can be very heavy. You may wish to discuss the issue with your friends who are experienced car owners. | 
