Market Watch: Used Cars With An X Factor

It’s no surprise that the car world in Singapore can polarise opinions. COE premiums can form a hot topic on its own, even before dipping into subplots.

And, most debates tend to surround the financial aspect of car ownership.

200 grand for a basic compact crossover? Unheard of anywhere else in the world. 30k annual depreciation for a late noughties JDM? That’s not exactly attainable.

But there is a silver lining. Sure, cars are made to ferry us in comfort, but paying more for them doesn't guarantee more smiles per mile. Cars with an X factor speaks to you in ways no words can describe.

These cars in our shortlist supply the secret sauce to make driving fun. Ignore paper numbers and feasibility studies - these are engineered to make you feel good!

2016 BMW i3

With short overhangs, an upright profile and rear-hinged doors, the BMW i3 looked like no other when launched in 2013. An airy cabin largely attributed to thin pillars and large windows ensured that it didn't feel claustrophobic, even though it was only 4 metres long, and 1.8 metres wide.

Generous fillings of carbon fiber reinforced plastic kept its weight down (1,300 kg for the Range Extender version). It also carried a clear sustainability message with the interior cloth options. A perfect antithesis to Chinese EVs, with its value now heightened by the diversity it brings.

2009 MINI Cooper Clubman

MINI Plant Oxford bid farewell to the last MINI Clubman in early 2024, 55 years after its debut. You can still grab one of its predecessors here in Singapore, a 2009 Clubman with 210,000 km on the clock. The barn-style split rear doors paid homage to classics like the Austin MINI Countryman and Morris Minor Traveller while the pillar-less, asymmetric rear-hinged Clubdoor facilitated rear passenger access.

Call it an extended hatchback or subcompact wagon, we’re just thankful that this brought about a fresh offering in an ocean filled with safe bets.

2019 Suzuki Jimny

It’s one of the cars that won’t be fully utilised by the majority of owners, and that shines the spotlight on the magnetism it brings on the visual front. What pulls at your emotions when you look at the Suzuki Jimny? It could be a fusion of retro aesthetic and compact practicality.

No wonder you’ll find tons of aftermarket parts for it, including countless magazines dedicated to customisation in Kinokuniya. Label it as a life-sized Tomica or baby G-Class - all we know is that its following has grown exponentially. Quirky and fun, it’s a true lifestyle statement.

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