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What can you get for $100,000?

The recent dip in COE premiums has seen some car prices drop below the $100,000 mark. We take a look at what you can get for less than six figures

For less than $100,000, including COE, you can now get one of these.
For less than $100,000, including COE, you can now get one of these.

The last time you could purchase a car for less than 100 big ones in Singapore was about three years ago, when Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums were hovering around the $50,000 mark, and heading onwards and upwards onto a trajectory that saw it almost reach double that figure over the next couple of years.

But with COE quotas having increased in the past couple of months, we are starting to see prices starting to dip again, with Category A COE premiums currently sitting in the lower $60,000 band. As a result, we are once again seeing the prices of some cars falling below the psychological $100,000 barrier, and no longer will one have to fork out six figures just to purchase the most basic of rides.

READ MORE: 669 reasons why high COE prices won’t last

But what are those cars that cost less than 100 grand though, and are they worth your money? We take a look at a few notable examples.

All prices taken from CarBuyer Singapore magazine, issue 224 (August 2014)

Chevrolet Spark

Current price with COE: $99,999

Chevrolet Spark: Looks great. No wonder it's a movie star.
Chevrolet Spark: Looks great. No wonder it's a movie star.

If you think you’ve seen the Spark somewhere before, you’re right. The car had a starring role in Michael Bay’s Transformers series of action movies, albeit in a minor role, but its striking looks have probably imprinted itself into the sub-consciousness of many. Underneath that wild styling though lies a simple car, powered by 1.0-litre 3-cylinder petrol engine producing 67bhp. You’ll probably be faster on a bike.

Worth the money? – Probably not, unless you value looking good above anything else. Or desperately want to drive something that has appeared in an action movie.

Kia Forte K3 1.6 EX

Current price with COE: $96,999

Kia Forte K3: Handsome looks. Excellent value for money.
Kia Forte K3: Handsome looks. Excellent value for money.

The days of Korean cars being cheap and nasty are well and truly gone, and no car represents the new age of Korean competitiveness more than the new Forte. Offering stylish good looks, a decent drive, plenty of space, and a long list of premium features, the Forte is an absolutely serious contender for the family man’s dollar. For less than $100,000, you can get the Forte in EX trim level, which may not be as well-equipped as the SX version (about 10 grand more), but it still throws in stuff like automatic headlights, controls on the steering wheel, cruise control, a reverse camera, LED daytime running lights, and Kia’s FlexSteer variable steering system.

Worth the money? – Even in entry-level trim, the Forte proves excellent value. The extra 10 grand does get you a fair bit more, so it’s up to you to decide if it’s worth the outlay.

READ MORE: Kia Cerato Koup review

Mazda 2

Current price with COE: $97,888

Mazda 2: Still a great car. New one coming soon.
Mazda 2: Still a great car. New one coming soon.

Mazda’s cheeky little hatchback has always been a firm favourite among drivers, with its clean-cut looks and lively character. That said, it is getting a bit long in the tooth, having been around since 2007, making it seven years old this year. It certainly doesn’t show its age, with the car looking almost as fresh as the day it rolled off the factory floor. A new one has just been unveiled though, and you can expect that car to arrive here by the end of this year.

Worth the money? – It might be worth waiting for the new model, which looks like an absolute stunner. But even if you go for this current model, you certainly won’t go far wrong with it.

READ MORE: New look at 2015 Mazda2

Nissan Note

Current price with COE: $96,800 to $99,800

Nissan Note: Cheeky practicality. Has a supercharger under the bonnet!
Nissan Note: Cheeky practicality. Has a supercharger under the bonnet!

The Note is a cheeky little runabout with a trick up its sleeve. The basic model, the 1.2, is fairly ordinary, and costs you just $96,800, but pay three grand more and you can have the Note 1.2 DIG-S, which boasts of a supercharger under its bonnet. That’s right, your tiny little Nissan has something in common with Jaguars and Audis. How’s that for bragging rights?

Worth the money? – On its own, the Note is actually a pretty practical car in its own right. Go for the DIG-S: the supercharger is well-worth the extra just for the novelty.

READ MORE: Nissan Qashqai review

Nissan Almera

Current price with COE: $93,800 to $100,800

Nissan Almera: Lots of rear legroom. Available with a manual.
Nissan Almera: Lots of rear legroom. Available with a manual.

The Almera is a Thai-built compact sedan designed to compete against the likes of Honda’s City and Toyota’s Vios, and its key selling points are a commodious cabin (there’s a huge amount of legroom for rear passengers), all-round reliability, and, in the right spec, pretty decent equipment levels. It’s not one for the enthusiast, this, but then again, it offers a manual version, which is as rare as a bus that arrives on time these days.

Worth the money? – The manual car may appeal to hardcore self-shifters, and is fairly affordable too at $93,800, but it offers almost nothing for your money. The mid-spec Comfort version (auto only) gives you ABS and front fog lamps at least for $98,800, but if you’re willing to just cross the $100,000 barrier by $800, you can get the Premium trim, which throws in quite a lot more. Sometimes you should just cough up the money.

READ MORE: Honda City review

Suzuki Solio

Current price with COE: $96,900

Suzuki Solio: Looks odd. But very practical and well-equipped.
Suzuki Solio: Looks odd. But very practical and well-equipped.

Suzuki are arguably the kings of budget motoring, and they’ve proved it again by offering a handful of models that easily come under the $100k mark. One of their more recent launches is this, the Solio, a tall, van-like looking vehicle that offers loads of practicality. And don’t think for one moment that it is sparsely equipped too, for the Solio throws in as standard things like electric sliding doors, keyless entry and engine push-start button, automatic headlamps and four airbags. Ichiban!

Worth the money? – It looks a bit odd, for sure, but if you need practicality on the cheap, the Solio is a car well-worth considering. Handy if you have to ferry folks who are somewhat less mobile, or if you’re a regular patron of Ikea.

READ MORE: Suzuki's prospects brighten on cheaper COEs

Suzuki Swift

Current price with COE: $88,900 to $91,900

Suzuki Swift: Used to be popular. Excellent all-round city car.
Suzuki Swift: Used to be popular. Excellent all-round city car.

Back in the glory days of 2006 to 2009, Suzuki sold thousands of Swifts here in Singapore, no doubt helped by its relative affordability. But there’s no arguing the fact that the Swift was an excellent car in itself, offering a great drive allied to solid Japanese reliability. In a sense, it was the perfect car for city urbanites, and it is a great shame that the current model’s chances have been harmed by high COE prices. Hopefully the Swift can find its mojo back again soon when prices start to fall.

Worth the money? – Absolutely. If you absolutely have to pick one car in this entire article to buy, we highly recommend this one, or the one below.

Suzuki Swift Sport

Current price with COE: $95,900 to $98,900

Suzuki Swift Sport: Excellent performance for the money. A driver's delight.
Suzuki Swift Sport: Excellent performance for the money. A driver's delight.

What’s better than a Swift? A Swift Sport of course. Suzuki takes an already-excellent package and comes up with nothing short of sheer brilliance. It’s not particularly powerful, producing just 134bhp (and sadly netting itself a Cat B COE in the process), but its all-round liveliness is bound to make any keen driver fall in love with it. Take one for a drive, you won’t regret the experience.

Worth the money? – Not only is it worth the money, we think it’s an absolute steal. It deserves much success, and hopefully its fortunes looks up over the next few months, as prices come tumbling down.