Market Watch: Relatively New Cars You Can Buy In Singapore At S$1,000 Depreciation Per Month

If you fall under the camp who feels that frequent workshop visits are never going to cut the mustard, buying an old car is a surefire way to fall down the rabbit hole. Some soul searching and multiple calculations later, you realise that pre-owned cars with depreciation of less than S$12,000 per year are few and far between. Most have sky high mileages, about to reach 10 years of COE lifespan or simply have designs that never quite hit the spot.

We’ve done the searching and figured that there’s a “sweet spot” if you like your cars relatively new, without breaking the bank. Caveat: these tend to be smaller form factor vehicles with cost savings in mind. But in Singapore where vast plains make way for city streets, the pendulum has swung towards small-ish cars that thrive in these surroundings. All for less than S$1,000 depreciation per month…

2020 Mazda 2 Hatchback

The Mazda 2 sits on a platform that has done the heavy lifting since 2014. Sounds like a stretch too far, given that it has been through three minor refreshes in a decade? Granted, consumer tastes have changed for compacts to be of electrified nature, but if you place driving dynamics at the fore, nothing else relatively new at this price point comes close.

A 6-speed gearbox (not a CVT!), short wheelbase and a weight that rivals battery packs of hulking SUVs are tried and tested recipes. Heave a sigh of relief - prices have held steady since we did our buyer’s guide last year. Pick one up now and tackle some corners - the Mazda 2 will reward accordingly.

2017 BMW 116d

Sure, 2017 is not BNIB material by local standards, but a mileage of less than 10,000km per year sure makes it feel as fresh as a daisy. Even more so when it’s from BMW. This is the 116d - a spec we’ll never see again from the manufacturer.

Diesel-powered, rear wheel drive hatchback, hybrid levels of efficiency - the last point brings us to its USP: a fuel tank of 52 litres makes it capable of covering 1,000km per fill. That’s mighty in this age of electrification. If going green is on your agenda, buying a used vehicle should be on your shopping cart, too.

2017 SEAT Toledo

Even though this listing claims that this SEAT Toledo is a TSI, the surprise of finding out that a 1.4-litre TDI (diesel) lurks under the hood makes this find even sweeter. Like the 1 Series, it’s not in its first flushes of youth, but VW Group products tend to age rather gracefully if garaged well.

Couple it with tempting depreciation, feature-packed equipment list, superb fuel economy (claimed 25km/l), torque that supplies ample levels of shove (230Nm) and that massive boot - it’s all you can ever ask for a no nonsense point A to B hauler.

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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!