Can You Live Without a Car in Singapore?

[halsey02]

The big question you will face is: can you survive getting around Singapore without a car.

And the simple answer is: yes, you can.

In all honesty, based on the prices for cars, it isn't even an option for many people. And budget-wise, you will never spend as much money on cab fares, trains and buses as you will in buying a car.

What about you?

Yes!, I have lived without a car all my life, take the public transport & for some quicker time & luxury , I flag or call for a taxi. Many, many moons ago, I happen to work for a trading company, just for a short while; the top sales person in the company, was a woman & she doesn't even own a car!!. It was quite normal, in everyday office chatter in the morning over coffee, the salesmen etc..to talk about their cars; & these people struggle to make quotas each month; whereas this woman who doesn't own a car...top sales every month.

The answer is yes!...in any other country that is big..you will need one..in SINgapore it is a no..

 

[chuckyworld]

Owning a car in Singapore are more of a burden, unless you really need it, as public transportation are pretty convenient.

even if I run my own business in Singapore, I will not own a car, it more of a headache like your mistress......

 

[Cestbon]

So you are saying only $7,500 to $15,000 per month salary should get a car? (since monthly installment payment, anytime can be $1,000 to $2,000 for low-end car). Makes sense. But a lot of people out there, salary $2,000 per month, still must get car to impress girlfriend.

Now to keep a car cost at least $1500/month for new small car . That included installment,insurance,road tax, ERP, maintenance, fuel.
Many forget the cost of maintenance,insurance,road tax.
When car break down They have finance trouble to pay. Then they use credit card and situation worst when insurance and road tax need to renew.

 

[bryanlim1972]

in case everyone has forgotten, the word "car" has its roots as "automobile". Henry Ford gave the human species the gift of Autonomous Mobility.

Sure we can survive without a car, but its part of our human aspiration to achieve autonomous mobility.

every citizen of the world has the right to autonomous mobility.

The big question you will face is: can you survive getting around Singapore without a car.

And the simple answer is: yes, you can.

In all honesty, based on the prices for cars, it isn't even an option for many people. And budget-wise, you will never spend as much money on cab fares, trains and buses as you will in buying a car.

What about you?

 

[shctaw]

Firstly; you do not own your "GIFT".

You rent it from Singapore Govt for 10 years.

Secondly; a lot of Singaporeans cannot afford to have it as a "GIFT".

Thirdly; Singaporeans will give any excuse to buy a car he want.

Lastly; They will blame foreigners when they grow old without saving.

As they have use up their saving on a stupid "Gift"; call a car.

in case everyone has forgotten, the word "car" has its roots as "automobile". Henry Ford gave the human species the gift of Autonomous Mobility.

Sure we can survive without a car, but its part of our human aspiration to achieve autonomous mobility.

every citizen of the world has the right to autonomous mobility.

 

[halsey02]

Firstly; you do not own your "GIFT".

You rent it from Singapore Govt for 10 years.

Secondly; a lot of Singaporeans cannot afford to have it as a "GIFT".

Thirdly; Singaporeans will give any excuse to buy a car he want.

Lastly; They will blame foreigners when they grow old without saving.

As they have use up their saving on a stupid "Gift"; call a car.

You "GIFT" the SINgapore government & pay their, sky high salaries, with bidding for piece if paper called COE to entitle you to own a car...you are gifting the blanc gods...that is the GIFT.

 

[bryanlim1972]

a car is not the only form of autonomous mobility.

Firstly; you do not own your "GIFT".

You rent it from Singapore Govt for 10 years.

Secondly; a lot of Singaporeans cannot afford to have it as a "GIFT".

Thirdly; Singaporeans will give any excuse to buy a car he want.

Lastly; They will blame foreigners when they grow old without saving.

As they have use up their saving on a stupid "Gift"; call a car.

 

[TopSage]

Overseas family buys a car because it's cheaper than using pubic transport. Peesai taking out a family of 4 is hell..especially if you are pushing a stroller. Even if you take the first train and go home on the last train also is a nightmare..So the answer is simple..dont have kids in peesai, die young or immigrate..

Then the govt turn ard and say why you guys don't have children.
See, singapore has many deep and serious problems that require bold out of the box.solution.One of them.is to allocate cars based on need. If you have 3 children pr.more, you should need a car.

 

[Froggy]

You didn't even mention the brand of the car. As long as car even cherry QQ is considered good right?

Racist remark. So Chinese cars are bad nigga?

 

[oli9]

The question here is NOT whether you can do without a car. The question one should ask is "Can U Afford a Car?"

 

[chupacabra]

Yo bro, but then our Malay compatriot seems to have no problem and yet continue multiply

Cannot be help..they not as forward thinking as others I guess. They prefer being in a vicious cycle.

 

[PhuaCheeBye]

Get NEA to get you a good price for Brompton bikes lah!

 

[chupacabra]

Good analysis, a car might not be necessary in Sg, but it sure would make life a lot easier.



Not true, even overseas, a car in the long run will always be more expensive to maintain compared to taking public transport, that include cab charges. But its always more convenient.

It's the quality time that matters when going out with a family. Yup can save money on public transport. But you cant save time. Sure cars have all sorts of liabilities but it is sure easier to dump all your kids shit in it rather than carrying it on your shoulders..Also you can save money by bringing home cooked meals in a car. But not in peesai..there is not much of a choice in peesai I guess.

 

[Scrooball (clone)]

So you are saying only $7,500 to $15,000 per month salary should get a car? (since monthly installment payment, anytime can be $1,000 to $2,000 for low-end car). Makes sense. But a lot of people out there, salary $2,000 per month, still must get car to impress girlfriend.

I am very impressed and puzzled at the same time as to how people with $2-3k income can afford a car. Even if you can get cheap 2nd hand car, you still need to pay the parking, ERP, insurance, maintenance, road tax, petrol etc.

 

[chupacabra]

That's why homes near to mrt station command a premium. It is quite a breeze to take train with kids if you stay near to a train station that is in central area. Folks staying along NS and EW lines in the suburb regions have it tougher, but I would say is not that tough.

Yes what you say is true, but if you take the difference in prices of a home in the central district and non central...you can easily migrate and buy 10 second hand cars..

 

[oli9]

I am very impressed and puzzled at the same time as to how people with $2-3k income can afford a car. Even if you can get cheap 2nd hand car, you still need to pay the parking, ERP, insurance, maintenance, road tax, petrol etc.

Those with $2-3K salary can afford car when COE was less than $5k. That was 6-8 years ago. I doubt if they can afford one now at this prices with their kind of salary. So they better get used to using public transport.

 

[tonychat]

A car is a tool to make poor fucks envy you.

 

[songsongjurong]

sure
[video=youtube;ty8qo0uvBxE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty8qo0uvBxE[/video]

 

[halsey02]

Get NEA to get you a good price for Brompton bikes lah!

$50 I take four, first year, one to one exchange & life time warranty....

 

[Troll]

Having a car just mean slightly better quality of life. You can go out and come back home as and when you want. No need to be at the mercy of bus or MRT schedules. No need to be at the mercy of our weather, there's just too much rain through the year, those times when it's not raining, it's just way too hot.

If you have young children and without a car, walking and pushing a pram from your house to the nearest bus stop / LRT station may be the longest 100'ish m you have to walk. But of course, you may say I can always take a taxi. But there's always an abundance of taxi when you DON'T need one. The moment you need one, they all seem to disappear or decide to change shift together. Other times, they are always on the other side of the street, and when you cross over to the other side, they come over to the side where you were waiting previously.

10 years ago, I was not a car owner, and I didn't even have a driving license. Because like many of you, I saw no point given our highly "efficient" public transport. But after being snub by taxi drivers on bad weather days a few times, I told myself enough is enough. I value the freedom and quality of life that comes with private transport, and to me it is money well spent.