Hi, due to work, I will be moving to Singapore in a few months. Need some advice from experts on this board. Please help! Background: Currently in Tokyo with a Ferrari California (specced and bought new, driven for 1.5 years, 8000km only, in stock with no plans to modify for now) 1. Should I consider bringing it to Singapore? 2. What's the cost associated? Should I just buy something else instead for that money? (Looking at Tesla Roadster Sport as I want torque but doubt I need top speed) 3. Is the Ferrari warranty global? 4. Will the local Ferrari dealer (which is?) service the car? If not, what are my options? 5. Any recommended place that can help me in the process? 6. What's the car insurance situation like? I am paying less than JPY 200k per year right now. 7. Any fan clubs I join in Singapore for like minded drivers? (Have been on Fuji Speedway, and wouldn't mind attending track days, but not a hard core racer.) 8. Anything other word of advice? Looking forward to joining the crowd in Singapore! Ben
Why don't you contact the Ferrari dealership directly? They have imported used Ferraris previously and are aware of the cost factors involved, plus will be able to answer any questions regarding warranty & insurance. Drop an email to Andrew Howes at Ital Auto ([email protected]) explaining your situation and questions & I'm sure he'll be able to help. FYI when I moved to Singapore from Tokyo I opted not to import my cars as I found the whole cost issue too restrictive. The ease of importing cars has improved somewhat since then however so you may feel differently. As for clubs, there is the official Ferrari Owners Club (www.ferrariownersclubsingapore.com) & ExotiCars Club, plus numerous other track orientated car clubs such as Traction Circle.
Derek K, thanks a lot! Will reach out. Didn't know the local dealer was friendly to the idea. (Cornes in Tokyo has provided less than ideal service here...) What was roughly the cost you were looking at? Did you end up re-buying in Singapore? What do you drive now? I looked on the net and it seemed like the OMV is around SGD 200k, 110% of that as registration fee, 8% of 110% as tax, plus the COE (around SDG 60k?). So that's around SGD 300k in terms of cost. Also there is the shipping, but hoping the company will cover that. Am I missing anything? I can't really think of another car I want in Singapore that I would spend 300k on. And if I were going to, might as well drive a California... Ben
Taxes give or take work out to 2.3-2.5 times the declared import value, & shipping is relatively cheap by comparison. When I relocated I opt to export 2 of my cars back home to Sydney as the import taxes were alot less by comparison, whilst shipping was something like 5-7k per car from memory. I drive an F430 Spider & C63 AMG in Singapore. If you've got any other questions don't be afraid to ask.
Yours is a used car of 1.5 years old so body value will be lesser for sure The OMV is based on the declared value plus all incidental charges eg. shipping, packing etc. then GST of 7%. You'll have to pay for shipping but it's quite reasonable in this region. Probably S$5K or less. I am unfortunately spending possibly about S$15K just to do a round trip for my car from Malaysia to Italy & back. If you like to finance the extra or whole cost, think there are agents who can get you in touch with finance but being a foreigner with no track record, paying cash will most likely be the route.
Thanks to everyone for their experience. As summary of current situation: 1. Ferrari Singapore estimates a cost of around SGD400k after I get the car shipped to Singapore. This assumes I have the right emissions docs. 2. Still on the fence as to whether I should bring it over. Some has to do with the fact that I may or may not get a parking space. If not, then it really isn't worth the money. JAF (Japan Auto Federation) has told me about the Carnet setup, which will allow me to bring the car out of Japan (including into Singapore) for a year at a time. Unfortunately, for the same system, Singapore allows only 3 months. Has anyone done this before? I am happy to ship it out and back in once a quarter (happy to pay for many shippings instead of SGD400k.) Any idea how far I need to ship it to so I can get a reset on the 3 months? Anyone with experience with this? Really considering this because, not only is it cheaper, I would like to see if I can really enjoy the car in Singapore or not.
agreed .. having been there & done that, I would recommend selling up & buying when you arrive in Singapore. Oh & I know the perfect 430 Spider for you!
Thanks. Having driven a Maserati Spyder Cambicorsa for 2 years and then Cali for 1.5 years on almost a daily basis, I doubt I can stand the transmission on a 430 Spyder. Also have taken wife/kids on 4 hour road trips so the capacity factor is also important. (I know I would be in Malaysia if I drove 4 hours...) Still thinking. May take it there for 3 months on a Carnet license, drive it around, and then decide.
Does the local Ferrari Dealer or Club get access to the temporary F1 track in Singapore when it is set up? I assume the F1 event doesn't use the track 100% of the time, right? I would love to get some track time there... Anyone have any experience there? I have done Fuji Speedway, may do Suzuka in July. If I can get Singapore/Sepang done this summer, that would be really cool.
Hi The Singapore F1 track is a temporary circuit. Unfortunately its not open to the public. There was an opportunity last year when it was open to the Ferrari Owners Club of Singapore for a charity event during qualifying night. It was a 6 lap "chase Marc Gene in a FXX" parade. Once in a life time opportunity not to be repeated in the near future.
Good question. I've never seen any foreign plate cars in Singapore other than Malaysian & occasional Thai but they come here via land rather than shipped. If possible, you can try this option first. Our govt. system can be quite clever to prevent people from "abusing" it so let's just do it once first On the F1 track, it's on public roads here so unless you do a 5 figure charity donation through the dealer, it'll be unlikely for you to track your own Ferrari on the full circuit although wannabes will try their luck in wee hours. It's far cheaper if you enter one of the numerous private sessions in Sepang.
Thanks everyone! Not going to be able to do a 5 figure donation, even if they are repeating the event, so I guess that's a no-go. Will do Sepang if I get the car there, even if temporarily. Visiting shippers next...
MAY I ASK WHETHER ARE THERE ANY KIND SOULS IN SINGAPORE WILLING TO LET ME EXPERIENCE THE FEELING OF SITTING IN A FERRARI AND ALSO A DRIVE AROUND?PLEASE THIS IS MY ONLY WISH! (FYI) I AM ONLY 15 YEARS OLD.I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT! THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR TIME READING THIS EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANNA HELP.BUT IF YOU ARE WILLING TOO I CANNOT REALLY REPAY YOU MUCH. ON MONEY-WISE I CANNOT REALLY AFFORD TO GIVE MUCH.BUT YOU WOULD NOT WANT A CHILD'S MONEY RIGHT?BECAUSE YOU ARE RICH ENOUGH TO OWN A FERRARI!BY THE WAY MY CONTACT NUMBER IS 84482808.
MAY I ASK WHETHER ARE THERE ANY KIND SOULS IN SINGAPORE WILLING TO LET ME EXPERIENCE THE FEELING OF SITTING IN A FERRARI AND ALSO A DRIVE AROUND?PLEASE THIS IS MY ONLY WISH! (FYI) I AM ONLY 15 YEARS OLD.I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT! THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR TIME READING THIS EVEN IF YOU DON'T WANNA HELP.BUT IF YOU ARE WILLING TOO I CANNOT REALLY REPAY YOU MUCH. ON MONEY-WISE I CANNOT REALLY AFFORD TO GIVE MUCH.BUT YOU WOULD NOT WANT A CHILD'S MONEY RIGHT?BECAUSE YOU ARE RICH ENOUGH TO OWN A FERRARI!BY THE WAY MY CONTACT NUMBER IS 84482808.
Yes, don't understand why people insist on having left hand drive in Tokyo. Manual cars, maybe, but no longer an issue with paddle shifting. I have asked around, and some guys were saying that it's because they want people to know that it's a foreign car. I don't think I have ever been mistaken for a Japanese car when I step out of my California...
Thanks for everyone's advice on this. Just a quick conclusion for now, I am not bringing my Ferrari California to Singapore. 1) Doesn't seem like I can get parking at work and nothing near by that is convenient. Kinda defeats the purpose. (Yes, I currently commute in Tokyo with it.) 2) Cops are not particularly forgiving here... Had not realized how nice Tokyo was in this respect until i hear stories in Singapore. 3) Flooding. Unfortunately, wife decided on one of the buildings that will have this issue. See link, http://www.asiaone.com/print/Motoring/Owners/Story/A1Story20110608-283038.html 4) Cost is high, estimated at SGD 400k, and I drop about 40k a year of that which is not recoverable. In the off chance that I stay in Singapore for over 10 years, there will be another large COE bill I have to foot. Considering the points above, this makes no sense. 5) Car is 1.5 years old, and have another 1.5 years to change my mind... Thanks again for everyone's help. Current plan is to downgrade from the Ferrari to a Toyota Previa. No kidding. Ben
