COE prices crazy high, should I just keep my old car or bite the bullet?

Controversial take, but I gave up my car entirely and switched to a mix of Grab, public transport and occasional car rental for family outings. Ran the numbers: COE, insurance, road tax, parking, petrol added up to a scary monthly figure that made car-lite living genuinely cheaper for us, even with two kids. MRT plus stroller is manageable, and we rent a car for weekend Malaysia trips or big grocery runs. Not saying it's for everyone, if you have very young babies or work odd hours, a car is worth the premium. But do the actual math on your yearly car cost first, most people underestimate it massively.

I renewed my COE for 5 years via PQP instead of buying new, and no regrets given the crazy prices. My reasoning: my car was still mechanically sound, well maintained, so paying PQP was way cheaper than a new car's total cost including a fresh COE. The 5-year renewal also gave flexibility, I'm not locked into 10 years. Only catch is you must be realistic about repair costs on an ageing car, budget for maybe higher maintenance. For a family that just needs reliable transport, not a status symbol, renewal made total financial sense. Do get a proper mechanic inspection before deciding, if the car has major issues then renewal is throwing good money after bad.