COE Prediction - November 2nd Bidding Exercise

Time flies so quickly and the next bidding exercise is just around the corner. I must admit that I have been tardy in posting the latest prediction and that is due to my heavy travel schedule over these few weeks. I did not follow much of the current motoring news but was informed by the C&C agent about promotional prices over this weekend - $4,000 off the large cc cars (>1,600cc)! I took that as a signal of slow orders.

The stock market has been volatile in the past week and many punters have lost money. Although Christmas is approaching, I think few motorists buy themselves an expensive Christmas present like a car, unlike most Chinese wanting a new car to welcome the Lunar New Year. Thus, my prediction for the second November bidding is a mild softening of quota premium due to the shorter elapse time from the last exercise but that is countered with spill-over of unsuccessful bids in Category A.

Prediction on November 18:
Category A: $15,000-16,000
Category B: $17,000-18,000

Verdict on November 21:
Category A: $14,404
Category B: $16,401

Inflation on Transport Cost

UP#1 The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has completed its Quarterly ERP Rate Review of traffic conditions on Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)-priced roads and expressways and has revised the ERP rates at several gantries including a record $5.00 rate at the PIE Slip Road into CTE from 8.30am - 9.00am.

UP#2 PetrolWatch reported that pump prices are soaring to the high heavens! As of 5 pm on 05 November 2007, all 4 petrol brands have increased pump prices for petrol and diesel by 7 cents. 98 octane grade petrol has broken the $2.00/l mark.

UP#3 COE Quota Premium for both Category A and Category B rise in the November 1st Bidding Exercise. Category A goes up to $16,839 from the previous $12,401 and Category B inches up to $18,001 from $17,589.

So is there any DOWN?

Yes, a record LOW speed limit of 70km/h has been set for the KPE tunnel (Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway). TodayOnline: Nearly 3,400 of them (3 per cent of total traffic till Nov 3) have broken the speed limit in the tunnel. Of these, 45 vehicles have been caught going 40kmh above the speed limit — which would lead to an automatic court appearance for the drivers.

Ahhhh ... isn't it a thumb-DOWN?