Which was the most collectible car of 2008? Which new model that appeared this year would you gladly keep for the full lifespan of its COE? Plus wouldn't even think twice about paying the prevailing quota premium to renew it? Four multi-car owners share their top choice with Samuel Ee

Nissan R35 GT-R

MAX Ong, 35, is a businessman who already has a BMW M3 and a Porsche Boxster. But it is his latest acquisition, a Nissan R35 GT-R, that he loves best. An avid driver, he goes up to Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit regularly for track day with his club. And the Nissan GT-R never disappoints him.

"Its technology lets you drive fast and confidently," says Mr Ong.

Over the years, the GT-R has achieved cult status for its supercar performance but this latest generation is even more exciting. Its arrival in Singapore earlier this year was met with huge interest. With a 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 engine, 480 horses, 588 Newton-metres of torque and all-wheel-drive, the Nissan has been dubbed Godzilla by its fans. Zero to 100 kmh is achieved in just 4.2 seconds, with the top speed listed at 285 kmh.

Equally impressive for Mr Ong are the slick six-speed twin-clutch gearbox and instrument display. The latter is a seven-inch touch screen in the centre console which can be configured to display a myriad of information, such as all the temperature and pressure readings needed, the turbo boost, the torque split between the front and rear axles, fuel consumption, lap counters and even tyre pressure.

"You can also moderate the suspension setting between soft and hard, for either urban or sport driving. It is a very technical car and very good for setting fast track times," he adds.

All this for only $265,000 to $285,000. As a parallel import, the GT-R is available in three variants with different levels of equipment. "In terms of dollar per bhp, it does what it does very well," says Mr Ong.

But there is a downside. "The maintenance cost is high," he explains. The recommended engine oil change is every 3,000 km, and the transmission oil every 10,000 km. Then there is the wear and tear on the clutch plate and brake pads. Regular servicing can come up to as much as $1,500 each month to keep the GT-R in fine fettle.

But then, as Mr Ong puts it: "It is so much fun."

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

ALAN Fong, 62, is a managing director who has owned dozens of cars, each for about two to three years at a time but never more than five. So it comes as a surprise when he says he would like to buy a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and keep it for eight years.

"I like it," he says simply. "I like its power and its AMG engine." AMG is Merc's high-performance division and the C63 is a tuned version of the C-Class sedan with a 6.3-litre V8 engine packing a whopping 457 hp.

Mr Fong heads Crestchic Loadbanks, a worldwide loadbank specialist. He currently has five cars at home, ranging from a Honda Legend to a Porsche Cayman S. But he may replace one or two of them with the C63, for which he is currently negotiating with exclusive dealer Cycle & Carriage "I like the engine because it is naturally aspirated. Turbocharged cars have a lot of power but the turbo can sometimes give problems." The C63's list price is $358,000 - "expensive but value for money", especially when some other cars with similar performance cost more, he says.

In addition, the Merc is a fast car that is comfortable and has a seven-speed automatic transmission. "It doesn't look fantastic but it's okay to me. It looks like an ordinary C-Class sedan. Anyone looking at it from the front won't know what it is until they go to the back. I like that. It's not something that is obvious."

On why he is thinking of keeping the C63 for eight years, he says with a laugh: "Eight years is just nice."

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

THERE is no doubt that executive director Renny Heng, 28, has a thing for fast cars. He already owns a Porsche 911 GT3 and a Ferrari F430. So when you ask him what he thinks is the most collectible car of 2008, you can be sure his choice will be something very exotic and very powerful.

He loves the mid-engined Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport. The Veyron is the fastest production car ever built. Its eight-litre, turbocharged 16-cylinder engine drives all four wheels and propels it from zero to 100 kmh in less than 2.7 seconds. The first Veyron coupe was delivered in end-2005 but this year, the Grand Sport version with a targa top was unveiled.

Before taxes, the Grand Sport costs 1.55 million euros (S$3.2 million), higher than the 1.2 million euros for the coupe. It can be ordered here through Malayan Motors but there is one snag - it is only available in left-hand-drive. "You can only buy one here if you are willing to keep it in bond," says Mr Heng. "But I would want to drive it, so the only option would be to buy one overseas." He says he is attracted by the Veyron's aesthetics and engineering. "I like the front best. For me, a car has to have a lot of curves. That gives it more character," he says.

The Veyron has two-toned paintwork and he says his dream combination is brown and silver. "I also love the quad-turbo W16 engine with 1,000 hp," he adds. "It is awesome."

Mr Heng also appreciates fine wine and complicated watches and he admires the Veyron because it possesses the same two qualities - it is limited edition and good (only 150 units of the Grand Sport will be produced). He explains: "A lot of things are rare but they may not be well made."

Wiesmann GT MF4

HE may tool around town in modern sedans such as the BMW M3, BMW 523i and Mercedes-Benz E200 but what company director C S Whey, 34, really wants is some old-world charm - preferably in the form of a Wiesmann.

This niche German sports car manufacturer builds classic sports cars with modern technology, which in this case, comes courtesy of BMW.

The brand, which was introduced here in July by Automobil Manufactur, features a lineup of three models, all of which have BMW powertrains. But Mr Whey says the only one that he would get is the GT MF4, not least because it is the only Wiesmann available in right-hand-drive.

This two-seater coupe has a 4.8-litre V8, with 367 hp to haul around only 1,240 kg of car.

"The MF4 has the best balance of design, power and performance," says Mr Whey. "It is like an old Porsche 911. It is the complete package - not too big, with enough power and very direct and very responsive."

His very first car was a Lotus Elan and he says that it taught him to appreciate good balance and neutral handling.

But the styling of the Wiesmann equally appeals to him. "It's like a Morgan or a Caterham, with a front grille that came from a very stylish era," he says. "It has so much charm."

At $658,000, the MF4 ought to have a trunkful of it. But Mr Whey says it is practical too.

"Because of the BMW engine and transmission, it has the possibility to be serviced by the local BMW dealer if necessary."

samuelee@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The Business Times on Dec 27, 2008.