is a car in singapore a necessity or a luxury?
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i was wondering what the ppl here thinks of this question. i have been told that when i grow up, get a job, i shall get a car as it will be easy to drive to work and simply also because as well everyone else is doing it.
however, with the recent increase in oil prices and also my sudden realisation that a car is something that you need to continally contribute money to maintain it, i feel that if i were to get a car, i might face problems in my finance later on.
then again, there are rumors of public transport hikes again recently and hence now even public transport sounds more and more expensive nowadays.
therefore, what are your views on this? is it better to get a car or stick to public transport? is a car, in your opinion, a necessity or a luxury? -
to some profession, it is more convenient to have a car. imagine wearing formal suit and waiting under the hot sun for a cab. n some of the times, u travel more than one location.
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for myself, i wont get a car till my pay hits high 3k at least...still must wait long long
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a must for my job
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what u doin? sales?Originally posted by nick34:a must for my job -
it is a must for the rich and a necessity for those who need it for their job.
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nope ...Originally posted by shinta:what u doin? sales? -
depends bah but sometimes it pretty much needed or more accurately not luxury.
for example if your job requires to move around very often from one end of the island to the other. in fact i feel if you must travel very far and long to reach your workplace then you sort of need the car le -
yea i pretty much consider it a necessity..
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for me unless i can well afford one if not wishful thinking only..
maybe when i am married i would share 1 with my future hubby ?
heh...
i would love to have a car, coz without a car alot of place u will not wanna go..
example,
do u thinking u would go once a week to changi village for dinner by cab if u are staying in bishan area ? i doubt so lor.. do u think u would go JB shopping so freq if u do not have a car ? i doubts again. 
But for me i guess shldn't be a problem, at least i am 1 step closer in having car.. heee....
if not car rental is fine with me too.. heee... -
to be honest...
it all boils down to one very simple thing $.
if u are OK $ ...that is above 3.5K per month...or 4K..
u should be able to afford a small car Vios / City / Nissan...without much problem after u take into consideration the cost of owning a car..n your HDB loan, personal expenditure..parents allowance..
i won;t recommend anyone getting a car...unless u haf sufficient $ .
a car is definitely a status thingy in SG...n definitely helps if u wana chase a gal
i dun wana to get into any 'fights" about having a car is to chase gals..etc
but to all those guys out there who drives..n chase gals...know the difference...
when they have a car to chase gals..n when they dun have one....
it is just different lor
guys who have cars...are "generally" more fun..cos they can bring the gals out..to "funny places" n cool places...
although a car is not a definitely win in chasing gals...
it will definitely help....
but if a gal likes u because u have a nice car...
brother..u gotta think twice!
best!!! -
I know some guys especially SAF regulars buy cars to show off now deep in debt...
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Having a car is just for my convienence, not others' privileges....
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I really regret getting a petrol car. Burn a hole in my pocket.
If I were you, I get those hybrid eletric/petrol cars. I think made by Toyota. -
are they really cheaper? are there good solar cars arounds? no fuel costsOriginally posted by alexkusu:I really regret getting a petrol car. Burn a hole in my pocket.
If I were you, I get those hybrid eletric/petrol cars. I think made by Toyota.
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unless ur company is paying for ur transport, otherwise, owning a car in sg is pretty much a luxury item. no matter how much the prices increase for public transport, it's simply a fraction of wat u'd cough up in order to own a car. face it, how big is sg? its not like u live in big countries and have to drive hundreds of kms from work in town to home in the suburbs. sides, our public transport network is pretty well established.
but as much as i'd hate to admit it, yeah, driving does make romance blossom a little easier. its not so much of getting a materialistic chick to hope on for a ride, but more for the ease of commute (dun have to wait for cabs/buses) and the time u save that can be put to "better" use........ -
No matter how much the public transport raise their fare, it would not be even close to the expenses of owning a car. Easily 5 times of what you would spend monthly on public transport.Originally posted by Peanut Butter:......then again, there are rumors of public transport hikes again recently and hence now even public transport sounds more and more expensive nowadays......
Still waiting for mine!Originally posted by tailslide:......but as much as i'd hate to admit it, yeah, driving does make romance blossom a little easier...... -
not sure eh.. i saw a toyota prius goin at Nz15k. I probably opt for the lexus hybrid when I start working and earning my own $$. It uses electricity when running at low speeds. Hopefully hybrid technology gets better by that timeOriginally posted by hisoka:are they really cheaper? are there good solar cars arounds? no fuel costs -
but hv to spend time looking for parking space.Originally posted by tailslide:but as much as i'd hate to admit it, yeah, driving does make romance blossom a little easier. its not so much of getting a materialistic chick to hope on for a ride, but more for the ease of commute (dun have to wait for cabs/buses) and the time u save that can be put to "better" use........
I think take cab is better if u know the right timing -
It is needed
Anyway, road tax for car is 2/3 the amt of road tax payable by public buses -
I think its a little of both. You don't expect an executive to be taking bus right ? or a sales person running into the place hes supposed to meet his client all sweaty. for them its a neccessity.
Get a small / cheap car. i don't think thats a "luxury" what .. if you get a small / cheap car just for basic travelling needs i think its ok cause if you took taxi everywhere it will still be expensive so might as well just get a small/cheap car.
for those who cant afford but still want to buy nice car to show off, thats a "luxury" people see you have cool ride but they don't know your pocket got 1 big hole.
I think for a teen lets say 18 - 23 *still schooling* to own a car no matter how lousy, is a luxury -
To me it is more of a necessity.. Driving a car is more than just point A to point B.. there is many things to learn and to improve one's skill.. also modifying a car has no limits.. so more or less is a hobby.. an expensive one perhaps but very rewarding...
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If the car is been used by more then 3~4 person everyday in your family. I think a car is a necessity.
If just to sent your wife to work & put yourself to work, the car sit in the parking lot for the rest of the working hours, it becomes a luxury item. Provided $ is not a problem.
Why not opt for a Bike? Like me
Cheaper then cars & get to where you want. No parking problems, no traffic jam, Summon also cheaper. Only have to put up with rain but look how big is Singapore. If I really need to make that trip in rain, I dial a cab. For family days, public transport & cab makes sense for me. Sunshine is pretty ok for me here in Singapore. I have tried riding on the road at more then 50 degrees. I find Singapore heat condition is ok. Even wearing a tie & coat riding a bike also looks cool
Basically car have 5 seats, fill at least half or more makes sense to owning a car. Lesser filled means you are paying for nothing.
Some informations for your considerations:
I ride a 125cc Bike. Paid the bike Cash, I don't have loans. Petrol cost me average SG$60 per month. Bike insurance is $169 third party per year. Road tax is $80 per year. Parking is free at work & shopping place. Parking at HDB, I don't pay at all, I cover my bike everyday. ERP cost me average $10 for 3 months. -
what about owning a car for married people with young kids?
Is it a necessity even if one's dont earn much?
I've seen my colleagues working tonnes of overtime just to cover their expenses.
Isn't it better for them to save on that kind of money for something else.
I rather they spend more quality time with their spouse and kids than to work so much overtime just to cover the expenses... -
A car in Singapore is both, a luxury and a necessity. Here's why:
It's a Luxury because you would not have to arrive at work already sweaty and moody from rushing for seats in MRT and squeezing with other commuters.
It's a Necessity because our Public Transport, though touted to be WORLD CLASS, still has plenty room for improvements - such as buses should arrive on time more often, and the LRT/MRT should breakdown less often. While Taxi drivers should stop playing with Peak Hours to pick up commuters, and drive safely instead of recklessly.
Driving a car doesn't necessarily mean you can sleep longer and arrive early. Instead, it's the other way around; you need to plan your daily route, get up a little earlier to beat the rush hour jam, ERP, and get that parking space at your office. Otherwise, you'd be stuck in jam, get charged for ERP, and then arrive late to realize you can't find a convenient parking lot, then go see your boss's black face.
Yes haviong a car is luxurious, comfortable and privacy assured, but it has it's own frustrations and stresses.
Driving, needs a lot of pre-planning. Unlike taking Public Transport.