[Katie Ross]

I will be needing a car when I get to HK as I have a baby.

Where can I get a car from - new or used?
Can anyone recommend a medium sized hatchback?
Is there such a thing as a taxi with a car seat fitted for a baby?

[jimbo]

You really don't need a car in hk, The public transport system is one of the best, far better than say London which I had the greatest displeasure of using for the past 5 years prior ot moving out here.

I have never ever seen a taxi with a baby seat attached to be honest.

If you're after a hatchback then look for a Honda Civic, Toyota etc you won't go far wrong with one of those.

The only problem with cars in hk are that a lot of them do have auto boxes, And not forgetting parking is extremely expensive again look at london prices.

try car8.com for cars but unfortunately its only in chinese.

[Tartampion]

Well it depends where you live, but sometimes a car would be a bonus especially if you have children.

You may want to have a look at : http://www.gocarsite.com/eng/index.php

it's in english. You'll get a rough idea about prices.

[jaykay]

If you're HK side then hardly worth having a car, public transport is cheap and will get you places quicker. On top of the costs of running a car (which isn't cheap here) you will have to pay for parking where you live. Parking isn't easy in some places in HK and wherever you go you will have to pay, that is if you can find a parking space.

There are hardly any hatchback cars here, most people prefer saloons (or notchbacks/sedans). The only mainstream hatchbacks are the small ones like the Honda Jazz and Toyota Echo (Yaris). HK Corollas and Civics are mainly saloons, although there are some Jap import hatch's but they need to be avoided. You can find some Euro hatch's here, VW Golf, Opel (Vauxhall) Astra, Ford Focus and the ilk but spares and repairs for these cars costs big money and the cars themselves are worth nothing when it comes to resale.

Before you get to HK think about where you are going to live first. HK isn't a big place so car ownership isn't a priority for most people, even those with families.

[fly]

There are a few other local car sites that may be used for comparison shopping... too bad I don't remember any of them, but someone here might?

[sigp226]

A car is a expensive item to maintain in HK. You have to figure out the follow:
Parking=HK$2000-3000 pre month. Hourly rate is about $20+/hr. Parking meter is cheaper but it is fully occupied most of the time. There is no such things as free parking in HK and you just can't on the street.
Gas=I think is about HK$12-13 per LITER. You could budget about $1500-2000/month for this.
License: $5700/year for 1.8 liter engine. You pay less for smaller engine but not much.
Naturally you car and insurace. Figuered at least $2500-3000 /month if you get the cheap one.
HK drivers are not known for courtesy, and the 16-seat mini vans are horrible.
There is no such thing as a taxi with baby seat. It is not a pleasure to drive in HK. I think the most hassle-free to go around with a baby is by taxi cab. I could give you connection for 20% off metered fare. PM me if you want it.

[Katie Ross]

Thanks for all those tips! very helpful...

[penguinsix]

If you are still considering a car, you may want to consider something with a little more room than a hatchback. I know it might be easier to drive and park, but it is also easier to crush when slammed by a bunch of idiots in a delivery truck or a mini-bus.

I'm sure you are a safe driver and all that, and to be honest, I found driving in HK to be not as bad as say the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel in NY and no where near the insanity of the mainland, but there are a lot of idiots out there. I'm not saying a Hummer, but something with some tin between your back seat (i.e. kid) and the bumper. A crush zone, I believe is the proper term.

I'd also really second the idea that if you are going to be on the island near everything you should just consider cabbing it or public transit. Cabs are cheap, and if you are close in, you could cab several times a day for about the same price as owning a car. Probably less than the congestion charge in London per day...