This is a continuation of Part I, II & III. Once Part III is locked, we can continue here.....

Hi Tedz and all,

Just to start you off on our new page. Last Friday I went to Cafe 100 at about 11 (late). I saw 3 Marches but could not locate any March owners then. I left after a drink. Perhaps next time. How about a trip up north. Perhaps we can get Tan Chong to sponsor some freebies by giving them some publicity.

Till then

Toadie

for record purpose, the previous posts can be found here:

part I
part II
part III

here is where we left off.

pics of our past events (scroll down and may need to click "refresh" a few times) :

CNY@Changi
HOTstuff photoshoot
West Coast Mac
Sentosa
Qb house launch
TC tech forum

Originally posted by LaDyGaRnet:

omg, i just realised the cafe 100 outing was actually last friday.. i kept thinking it's this coming friday!!!!! argh!

Sorry for not turning up.. i guessed i was too upset abt the loss of my wallet then that i mixed up the date...

oh no, juz when you were deciding on getting a car you lost your wallet!!

what happened?

dun worry abt the meeting, we meet very often in fact. if you have left your contact we will be able to keep you posted abt kopi meetup sessions, either email or sms.

Originally posted by KamenRider:

how about celebrating our 1st year anniversary in July 2005?

the first post was started by addygirl on the 16 July 2004.

16 July 2005 happens to be a Saturday!!

where is the place

Hey LaDyGarnet........................mee too I dun need a car but after having own my little beanie ....I had been sooooooo in love love love with her though my milage expected was still so low as of todate

Originally posted by AngPow:

Hey LaDyGarnet........................mee too I dun need a car but after having own my little beanie ....I had been sooooooo in love love love with her though my milage expected was still so low as of todate

hihi Ang pow,
u should let the other marchies take ur car for a spin as too long keeping ur car will spoil the engine and ur car is also not a weekend car......noises will start frm somewhere and best to start ur engine to warm up abt 5-10 mins before driving off..........

Hihi LaDyGarnet…......for getting a 2nd hand car, best u bring some1 who knows on cars as the dealer will not tell u abt any troubles and problems starts down the road after a few months…......

Hope to be able to join u guys the next time round..

I lost my wallet on thursday... only realised it on friday on my way to sch.. so the whole of friday i was super moody, din even go out at night...

at 12am, a guy called and said that he had found my wallet...so i went to get it back from him...everything intact except cash and ezlink card...

i'm so relieved to get it back..coz my new driving license inside.. imagine i just got it in april then less than a month i lost it.. :S

i'm confused by different ppl who give their different opinions... some say new car better, sme say for me, i shld drive 2nd hand first.. bla bla bla..

of coz for me, i prefer a new car if i can afford to lah Anyway, i'm saving up now... so when time comes, i then decide ba.

Originally posted by LaDyGaRnet:

Hope to be able to join u guys the next time round..

I lost my wallet on thursday... only realised it on friday on my way to sch.. so the whole of friday i was super moody, din even go out at night...

at 12am, a guy called and said that he had found my wallet...so i went to get it back from him...everything intact except cash and ezlink card...

i'm so relieved to get it back..coz my new driving license inside.. imagine i just got it in april then less than a month i lost it.. :S

i'm confused by different ppl who give their different opinions... some say new car better, sme say for me, i shld drive 2nd hand first.. bla bla bla..

of coz for me, i prefer a new car if i can afford to lah Anyway, i'm saving up now... so when time comes, i then decide ba.

Well...... First 2-3 year will depreciate the most for new cars... so you are not wrong in saying there might be a good deal out there, especially for those unique but low re-sale marchie cars.......friends gave up and got tired of wheeling-dealing with the dealers... why? coz...

- 2nd Hand Dealers are still not very realistic in terms of pricing and hoping to hook someone who doesn't know the market. ...The dealers... grrrr... ... all cars are accident free if you believe them..they think ladies r born stupid !!!! then there is a Transfer fee that is around 1k+... that's money down the drain to LTA and not to off-setting your loan. ( still want to give money to the bank n Govt 4 wht ?)

Do your maths & homework properly I guess... For the more common Jap cars, I don't think I would want to pay a lot more than paper value coz 2-3 years ago, their pricing I think are on the high side compared to current. If that's the case, then a new one might be better. BUT if your intent is to sell after 2-3 years, then a 2nd hand car is definitely more worth it ... especially for those more unique, low resale cars. BUT... you need to have patience dealing with the 2nd hand dealers and be able to 2nd guess the real condition of their car....

Dealers have tried the following stupid damm lies:
1) Insisted the log card was at the 'head office' and will be shown once you book the car
2) Insisted there is no difference between Cat A and Cat E COEs.
3) Insisted it won't matter if you use the car for the full ten years. TRUE, but who does not want the choice of selling should the car turn out to be a lemon?

hi LaDyGaRnet: for new car i think it is abt like this, the other marchies can correct me as well.......

Finance: OCBC FINANCE LTD
Model: NEW nissan march k12
Total Price: S$59,000.00
Down Payment: S$9,000.00
Loan Amount: S$50,000.00

Monthly Payment for the respective Year:

1st yr S$ 4,258.00
2 yrs S$ 2,175.00
3rd year S$ 1,481.00
4th year S$ 1,133.00
5 yearsS$ 925.00 (it will be $925 per month for 5years/60mths)
6 yrs S$ 786.00
7 yrs S$ 687.00
8 yrsS$ 617.00
9 yrsS$ 559.00
10 yrs S$ 513.00

* Rates subject to change without prior notification.

Rule of 78 Loan Calculator

http://www.reidtax.com/rule78.html

Do you have:
1) In cash, at least enough liquidity to survive 12 months (retrenchment proving) including servicing of debt and expenses? Typically 6 months salary

2) No more than 30-40% of NET monthly income servicing debt? (including mortgages, loans, credit card bills)

3) A retirement plan, and regular contribution of your balance income to that plan?

If you satisfy all of the above conditions, how do you work out the affordability of purchases?

Simply find out how much you can afford to pay each month to bring your debt servicing to 40%. That's the MAXIMUM installment you can afford to pay each month.

The maximum downpayment you can afford determines the price of the car you can buy. Obviously you can load up to 100% financing if you wish, but calculate the interest impact first and make sure you understand the trade-off in cost and the amount you lose on resale. I personally would not load more than 70% financing, but others think otherwise. Whatever you wish to pay down, remember you need to rebuild your cash reserves to survive retirement.

Bottom line is, if you're contributing 40-50% of your net monthly income to savings via retirement plans, insurance, FDs etc, buy anything you want with the balance.

its not a matter of how much we make every month....
but rather, how much we can SAVE every month.

Originally posted by toadie:

Hi Tedz and all,

Just to start you off on our new page. Last Friday I went to Cafe 100 at about 11 (late). I saw 3 Marches but could not locate any March owners then. I left after a drink. Perhaps next time. How about a trip up north. Perhaps we can get Tan Chong to sponsor some freebies by giving them some publicity.

Till then

Toadie

hi Toadie,

The last 3 cars you saw was 2 black and a green..!
We went over to grab some soya bean milk..!
Across the street there is a soya bean store..!
We did not see any one hanging around our car...! ... we left abt 2320...!

till then...! we will arrange for another coffee session..! !

Hi to all i’m a newbie here just want to know how much you guys n girls is earning a month .Just want to do a survy before i buy a march.Cos my salary is abt $2.5k a month.I have deduct all those monthly expenses n left abt $1.5k.Dun know can survive anot if i add on the car instalement leh.

Hello March_Moo,

Sorry, i didn't turn up at Cafe@100 as I was nursing a cold, and after the farewell dinner for my boss, i went home.. next time lor..

Originally posted by wats_up:

Hi to all i'm a newbie here just want to know how much you guys n girls is earning a month .Just want to do a survy before i buy a march.Cos my salary is abt $2.5k a month.I have deduct all those monthly expenses n left abt $1.5k.Dun know can survive anot if i add on the car instalement leh.

this poll was done for the monthly car instalments .............
S$500 and below 10 / 10%
S$500 to S$600 14 / 14%
S$600 to S$700 22 / 23%
S$700 to S$800 11 / 11%
S$800 to S$900 15 / 15%
S$900 to S$1000 8 / 8%
S$1000 to S$1100 4 / 4%
S$1100 to S$1200 2 / 2%
S$1200 to S$1300 2 / 2%
S$1300 to S$1400 3 / 3%
S$1400 to S$1500 1 / 1%
S$1500 to S$1600 0 / 0%
> S$1600 5 / 5%

Originally posted by wats_up:

Hi to all i'm a newbie here just want to know how much you guys n girls is earning a month .Just want to do a survy before i buy a march.Cos my salary is abt $2.5k a month.I have deduct all those monthly expenses n left abt $1.5k.Dun know can survive anot if i add on the car instalement leh.

Yen says: "It hasn't got too much to do with how much you earn; it's about the way you spend your money."

Ryan says, "We are rather new here and can't advise; but as long as you have abt $1.2k a month to spend (excluding major repairs), i think you probably could afford one??"

Originally posted by LaDyGaRnet:

Hope to be able to join u guys the next time round..

I lost my wallet on thursday... only realised it on friday on my way to sch.. so the whole of friday i was super moody, din even go out at night...

at 12am, a guy called and said that he had found my wallet...so i went to get it back from him...everything intact except cash and ezlink card...

i'm so relieved to get it back..coz my new driving license inside.. imagine i just got it in april then less than a month i lost it.. :S

i'm confused by different ppl who give their different opinions... some say new car better, sme say for me, i shld drive 2nd hand first.. bla bla bla..

of coz for me, i prefer a new car if i can afford to lah Anyway, i'm saving up now... so when time comes, i then decide ba.

I understand how u feel .....Lost my wallet too... at Chartered Semiconductor at Woodlands on Tue morning....was doing sales pitch there......realise that I have lost my wallect the moment I walk back to my car....went back to search for my wallet...but couldn't find....gone in 45 min....remember took my wallet out out to scan my IC for visitor pass at 11am....realised lost at 11:45am ....gave my contacts to the security....still no answer from them yet....just went to TP today to get a replacement for my Driving Licence...

Originally posted by riken1974:

I understand how u feel .....Lost my wallet too... at Chartered Semiconductor at Woodlands on Tue morning....was doing sales pitch there......realise that I have lost my wallect the moment I walk back to my car....went back to search for my wallet...but couldn't find....gone in 45 min....remember took my wallet out out to scan my IC for visitor pass at 11am....realised lost at 11:45am ....gave my contacts to the security....still no answer from them yet....just went to TP today to get a replacement for my Driving Licence...

You lost at FAB what ??? 2 3 5 or 7 ???

Originally posted by nick34:

You lost at FAB what ??? 2 3 5 or 7 ???

Lost at FAB 7.

Originally posted by riken1974:

Lost at FAB 7.

hmm new FAB that started about 6 months back ... i try asking for you if any friends of mine there know of a lost wallet ...

Originally posted by vandagal2002:

this poll was done for the monthly car instalments .............
S$500 and below 10 / 10%
S$500 to S$600 14 / 14%
S$600 to S$700 22 / 23%
S$700 to S$800 11 / 11%
S$800 to S$900 15 / 15%
S$900 to S$1000 8 / 8%
S$1000 to S$1100 4 / 4%
S$1100 to S$1200 2 / 2%
S$1200 to S$1300 2 / 2%
S$1300 to S$1400 3 / 3%
S$1400 to S$1500 1 / 1%
S$1500 to S$1600 0 / 0%
> S$1600 5 / 5%

Thank for the advise but i dun quite understand by 10/10% 14/14%,ETC ETC.

Originally posted by wats_up:

Thank for the advise but i dun quite understand by 10/10% 14/14%,ETC ETC.

Hihi....this poll was done for the monthly car instalments .............was done some time back where example is that abt 14% of working group people will pay between $500-600 per mth for 10yrs.......

S$500 and below =10 paxs/ 10%
S$500 to S$600 =14 paxs/ 14%
S$600 to S$700 =22 paxs/ 22%
S$700 to S$800 =11 / 11%
S$800 to S$900 =15 / 15%
S$900 to S$1000 =8 / 8%
S$1000 to S$1100= 4 / 4%
S$1100 to S$1200 =2 / 2%
S$1200 to S$1300 =2 / 2%
S$1300 to S$1400 =3 / 3%
S$1400 to S$1500 =1 / 1%
S$1500 to S$1600 =0 / 0%
> S$1600= 5 / 5%

Yes it is very true the monthly can be just 500+ for a new car, but do u know it will cost abt 1.1-1.2 k per mth to maintain a car, including those car park $90.00 per mth) , insurance , cash card , things for the inside of ur car, and road tax, not adding the maintenance charges.

HAVE to look beyond monthly installment. Monthly installment only constitutes about half the expenditure on a normal 1.5-1.6 car.
FYI, even a van would cost you about $700 for expenses. Not to mention a car. Ride a bike or take public transport lah. Dun be seduced by low installment.

for ur case i think it will be Frankly it get to about $800 to $1000 to be honest as you can work out below as u have 1.5 k and still have balance....
1) Car loan
2) Road tax
3) Petrol
4) Maintenance
5) Parking at HDB , at office and going out
6) Insurance

Must do very careful calculation, as once you default on payment, they can tow away your car and you still have to carry on pay and paying for it even though you no longer have your car .

This advise is an EXAMPLE N if having as car is also part of ur job then i think it is very useful running around.........

Originally posted by riken1974:

I understand how u feel .....Lost my wallet too... at Chartered Semiconductor at Woodlands on Tue morning....was doing sales pitch there......realise that I have lost my wallect the moment I walk back to my car....went back to search for my wallet...but couldn't find....gone in 45 min....remember took my wallet out out to scan my IC for visitor pass at 11am....realised lost at 11:45am ....gave my contacts to the security....still no answer from them yet....just went to TP today to get a replacement for my Driving Licence...

Hi, understand how u feel , i lost my whole wallet with everything n waited 1 month hopping some good soul will return but fat hope for me..... super troublesome to change the cards, ic, driving licence..........

Originally posted by nick34:

hmm new FAB that started about 6 months back ... i try asking for you if any friends of mine there know of a lost wallet ...

thousand thanks