help end argument over car issue--please!

[angel]

My husband wants to know if it would be beneficial for us to bring our car (Dodge Intrepid) with us from the U.S. when we move there in a few months and maybe sell it over there and bring back a nicer car (he is thinking a Mercedes) when we return to the states in about 4 years?  Does that make sense?  He had some guy at his office that said in some overseas posts that people pay top dollar for American cars.  I said that Singapore is not like that because cars are so expensive any way (Toyota Corolla=$75,000).  Plus, ours is a left handed driven car, illegal right?  Plus, I'm sure there are regulations concerning buying and selling and shipping, etc.  Any comments to end this argument would be greatly appreciated.

[Rob]

Rules for importing cars can be found at  www.gov.sg/lta/Forms_PDF/ProcedureDoc.pdf

IF yr car is less than 3 yrs old, you can import it. You still pay all the duties and taxes etc and will have to buy a COE (currently abt $S30K). I also think (thought I can't find details) that you can only import RHD cars

There are few American cars on the roads here (aprt from the odd Chrysler), so I can't imagine that there would be much of demand for your car. There would be no service support network, and local servicing places would not know what to do with it etc, etc

Details of new car prices at www.aas.com.sg

[This message has been edited by Rob (edited 22-03-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Rob (edited 22-03-2001).]

[CK]

The real basic answer is NO its not worth bringing a left hand drive Dodge to Singapore. Tell your husband he's dreaming!

[Pomp]

Only military, diplomatic, and other utilities (eg. road sweepers) vehicles can be Left hand drive here.

Rob, there are actually more American cars here than meets the eye.  Besides the Chrylsers, don't forget the Fords (although only the Taurus model here is made in the US), the Cadillacs, and a couple of other brands which are 100% GM-owned (eg. Saab).

[evehow]

Hello, please tell your husband he's dreaming if he thinks he can sell his car here for "top dollar."  For one thing, the steering wheel is on the wrong side!  No one here in his right mind will buy your husband's car!

From the sentiments expressed by my friends, American cars in general are not too popular here due to the servicing costs and availability of (or lack of) parts.  Japanese cars (Toyota and Nissan) here seem to be more popular, also European (Merc, Opel) and Malaysian cars (Proton - cheap and available parts).

However, that's not to say that there isn't a single US-brand car here.  Personally I've seen Ford (most popular US brand I think) and Chrysler, but what I'm trying to say is Jap cars are more popular with locals.

[Singaporean]

Nissans are assembled in UK, partly owned by Renault ... nothing's quite what it seems anymore. There are so few national industries left, it's globalisation

Back to the original question, angel, I don't think the local market has a high view of American cars, even aside from all the logistical issues.

Husbands should listen to their wives more ...  

[Matt S]

I am sorry to inform your husband, but American cars are only held in high regard by Americans! As far as buying a Mercedes in SG and shipping it home, that is an absolute 'no-brainer' as well, as i'm sure your aware SG is one of the most expensive places on earth to buy a vehicle. I will give him some credit though, changing from a Dodge to a Mercedes is definitely a step in the right direction!!

[Enigma & Tilly]

Tilly looked into bringing our cars over from Australia when we decided to move to Singapore, I thought she was joking on the costs entailed but it worked out that we had to pay nearly 3 times the cost of the car (2000 Toyota Celica & 1999 Nissan Maxima) so seriously take the advice of the other guys there right here NO Way.

We roughly worked it our that it would cost 3 x what we purchased the Celica for in Australia.  Plus I not sure but there is a quota on the types of cars allowed in Singapore (probably new cars though).