Singapore, located at the southern tip of the Asian continent, has its own laws. Who throws away chewing gum or smoking in public, gets hefty fines or equal to caning. And even with cars, it has the high-priced city-state like something exclusive.
On the forecourt of the Japanese department store Takashimaya in the legendary Orchard Road has the local
Mazda dealers issued its latest jewellery. On the roof of the red Mazda 6 2.5 Luxury, a price tag that Europeans robbed the perched language: 128 888 Singapore dollars. A special price to mark the 50th anniversary as well as the country's Mazda 3 2.0, which attracts many passersby the 2.2 kilometers long boulevard with a purchase price of 103 888 Singapore dollars.
Does the Mazda 6 will cost in Singapore thanks to the local luxury tax on 86,000 euros and even the Japanese compact class model strikes converted with around 73,000 euros. Especially popular are, however, in the city and the island state is not only Korean and Japanese high-volume models, but European Premium models from
Audi ,
BMW , Mercedes or
Porsche , whose purchase prices are quite doubled ever by the luxury tax.
600,000 cars - more not
The countless BMW 5 Series, Audi A4 or Mercedes E-class cost in Singapore is a multiple of the Mazdas that are touted on the weekend at the Leo Sayer in the 80s sung Orchard Road. These days, throughout Singapore dresses red and white in the traditional national colours. Reason is the round anniversary of the autonomous Commonwealth State on 9 August. Every business, all restaurants and the ubiquitous traders at each of the crowded street corners lure with 50-year offerings. Since the car dealers want to make an exception and sell in the popular RHD state a few more mobile pedestals more. For hybrid or even electric models nobody cares in Singapore and convertibles are due to the year-round hot and humid climate in spite of Sun's hardly an issue.
However, anyone who is interested in a model of German and Asian production, in the hot, humid temperatures can not just boots to the dealer and get the dream car despite delusion seat price in the private garage. Because to get a license plate, with its 5.5 million inhabitants even harder than in some regions of China in Singapore. The national government has capped the number of vehicles already years ago and so everyone must dig deeper than ever into the bag not only for a Mercedes E 250 or a BMW 740 Li. A license plate costs in the auctions a few more tens of thousands or future buyers of new cars has the disposal of several old models after. Thus, the number of vehicles registered holding at 600,000 years.
Formula 1
No wonder that many Singaporeans forgo owning a car and travel the daily routes with buses, which largely underground MRT or the ever-popular taxis. The Park Chaos tries the government, not least around the 50th anniversary celebrations with a high-tech parking guidance system to counteract that extends between the Financial District, Little India and Central Business District. Driving is on the Singapore Island is anything but fun. The streets in the center are clogged, parking astronomically expensive and the speed limit on expressways is barren narrow 90 km / h. "Be tolerated 100 kph," said Hashim, "but who is caught with more than 100 km / h must be in court. Then it gets really expensive." As if that were not expensive enough, costing each entry into the City area - depending on the time - between 50 cents and two Singapore dollars. On the sunny island of Sentosa Iceland is allowed only 30 to 50 km / h fast. Since equal take the Maglev or the tourist gondolas.
There have Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in September better. Because if the Formula 1 has arrived in Singapore, there are on the street circuit only the limits of
physics than real speed limits. The race itself is in the South Asian country a powerful economic factor, the extensive limitations of the population will be only too happy subordinate. Like its European counterparts in Monte Carlo, the price will rise for several months and shed around one month after the race on 20 September. But as much as driving a car is also sanctioned in Singapore, cars have an enormous importance and are in addition to watches and household and home ownership as the most important status symbol. Who wants to feel again like Sebastian Vettel, can treat 430 and roar through Singapore at snail's pace at car rental company "Ultimate Drive" a motley Lamborghini Gallardo or a Ferrari F.
Tunings
Who holds something professionally in itself, has not infrequently a private chauffeur. Especially luxury cars and sports cars for sale in one of the most expensive countries in the world such as driving hotcakes. In Singapore around 50,000 vehicles are sold every year. No wonder that a brand like BMW in Singapore amounted to 3,200 cars sold in third place. Volume model: the 5 Series, because every second newly registered vehicle in the red and white city state is a premium-class vehicle. Audi sets in Singapore preferred from his middle-class model A4. It sells the models with the four rings on the grille in a spectacular traders operating on the so-called Car Belt. Three floors below ground level, eight on the ground with a large workshop in bunk seven. While the outside of the technical Audi look sets the tone, lures inside Asian feng shui. More and more, while Singapore developed into an SUV market. Bestsellers Porsche Macan is spoken of in the first half of 2015, 222 units have been sold - with a mighty advance of the Cayenne with 46 pieces. The main reason: the gigantic luxury tax.
On Car Belt not only potential buyers make preferably on weekends station, but here also meet the diehard tuning fans who in defiance preferred Japanese cars like Honda Civic and Subaru Impreza along the lines of Tokyo tune and present all restrictions and speed limits drift.
