Car Culture in Hong Kong (Or Lack Thereof)

"Oneofsevenbillion" (oneofsevenbillion) 02/21/2015 at 16:08 • Filed to: Oppositelock, jalopnik, automotive, cars, car culture, hong kong, foregin affairs, bmw, mercedes, tesla, pagani, ferrari, lamborghini

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I live in Hong Kong and, despite seeming like no more than a foetus to most of you seasoned Jalops, I think I know a thing or two about cars.

Hong Kong is full of rich people. It has one of the highest GDPs per capita and is also home to the 7th richest man in the world (Li Ka Shing is about as rich as a medium sized African country). We have one of the highest number of high net worth individuals, and some of the highest property prices in the entire world. Fun fact, we also have the highest number of Rolls Royces per capita.

So what's the car culture like in a city where you have to shell out the equivalent of two hundred THOUSAND of your American dollars to buy an entry level Range Rover Sport? Where your bog standard BMW 320d costs $50,000 and a fully specced out MP4-12C costs $850,000? Well let me tell you: it sucks.

We recently ordered a Macan S. Ordered, however, is a gross understatement. We recently bought the non-refundable right to place an order on a Macan S. The car, if we agree to a binding contract written by Satan himself, will arrive (and Porsche has explicitly stated that this is no guarantee) in 2 years. So yes, we basically paid them to let us buy their car.

What you'll find even more ridiculous, is that this car was sold out before it even arrived in the showroom. People actually bought the damn thing BEFORE they had even seen it in the metal. Let me remind you that this isn't some coach built, whale-foreskin plated, carbo-platinum-kryptonite alloy, naturally aspirated engined, three pedalled, open gate shifting Italian goddess, but a plain-Jane Audi Q5 in a pretty frock and makeup.

The same thing happened with Merc's CLA- a two year waiting list! We weren't even allowed to test drive the new cayenne ("if you're buying it, then buy it. If you're not, then don't" we were told).

People change cars here like they change phones (even builders are toting the latest iPhone). It's absolutely astonishing given that parking spaces here cost MORE than most cars (fancy paying $125,000 for a 20x8 bit of floor?). It's an unwritten rule that if you've had the same car for three or (God forbid) more years...you just don't. It doesn't matter whether you're rich, infuriatingly middle class, or poor - and that's kind of depressing.

What's even worse is the obsession over vanity plates, with hordes of people paying hundreds of thousands for their plate to read something mildly amusing like "TOPLES", kinda cool like "AWESOME", or infuriatingly stupid like "A TRAIN". There's something quite sad and infantile about tootling around in a Prius wearing a plate that costs as much as itself, and then there's something even sadder and more infantile about being chauffeured in a Rolls Royce emblazoned with a plate that costs MORE than all the whale foreskins in the world. Seeing "UROLOGY" plastered across the modified front bumper of a matte-chrome two tone Toyota Vellfire makes me want to carve out my spleen and hurl it at this automotive heresy. (If you want to waste hours on end, laughing at the puerility, I suggest you visit !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ).

Yet seeing thirty or so supercars racing away from plainclothes cop cars on a misty Sunday morning makes the little boy inside me jump for joy. It's the sight of five or six Paganis taking off at midnight that makes me a very, very, VERY, happy boy indeed (if even THAT doesn't warm the innermost cockles of your heart, then you should go back to designing Audis and marketing electric steering to automotive honchos). A quick flick through !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! will have you wide-eyed and slack-jawed with envy.

The cars of Hong Kong (and their owners) infuriate me. They make me unspeakably livid, and they also make me giggle like a little girl. It's depressing, but it's also quite funny, and - as with any decent expository writer - I shall remain firmly on the fence and allow you, dear reader, to make up your own minds.

Oneofsevenbillion > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 10:00

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cf oopsiforgotmyburnerkey.kinja.com

Because I genuinely forgot my burner key.

JustDauKee > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 12:07

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cf. http://oopsiforgotmyburnerkey.kinja.com/i-live-in-hong…

E. Julius > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 16:15

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Hong Kong : all the alienating consumerism of the western world combined with the authoritarian fun of mainland China!

Really though, sounds like a pretty terrible place from your description (and not just about the cars).

Also, are there people who are just contentedly middle class, or just those who are infuriated by it?

Oneofsevenbillion > E. Julius 02/21/2015 at 16:23

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To answer your questions/respond to your statements:

1. Is it disgustingly consumerist? Yes. Is it oppressively authoritarian? Not really.

2. It's not a terrible place. It's a terribly confusing place. It's also home, so shush child, shut your lips, do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips.

3. No one is content.

I hope Bob's your uncle now.

E. Julius > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 16:28

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Well hopefully Hong Kong will move toward real democracy soon, I was hopeful during all the protests. Fair enough though, not cool to bash someone's home. I don't remember what song you're quoting, but my ex girlfriend used to listen to it all the time haha.

If nobody's content does that mean the rich people are also infuriatingly rich and the poor people are infuriatingly poor?

Also, I have three uncles named Bob haha.

Oneofsevenbillion > E. Julius 02/21/2015 at 16:42

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Please don't get me started with this Umbrella Movement bullshit. We were happy enough being governed by big business (functional constituencies - the real estate constituency accounted for over 48,000 voters at one point), until China spoke up and said "hey guys, guess what? You get to choose your own leader now, but we get to choose who you get to choose" then the proverbial shit hit the proverbial fan

E. Julius > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 16:43

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Hence the authoritarian fun of mainland China. Interesting to hear a local's perspective though. How long have you lived there?

Oneofsevenbillion > E. Julius 02/21/2015 at 16:46

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Hence bullshit. We have always lived under an authoritarian regime (ever since the Brits decided to trade some Opium in return for Hong Kong), and thrived under it. Why now do we react? It's just ridiculous anti-mainland sentiment.

I was born here. I still live here. Don't be racist.

E. Julius > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 16:47

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Was I being racist?

Oneofsevenbillion > E. Julius 02/21/2015 at 16:48

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No 

E. Julius > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 16:48

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Ok now I'm just confused.

Oneofsevenbillion > E. Julius 02/21/2015 at 16:49

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Excellent. Now can I feature on Jalopnik?

E. Julius > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 16:50

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Need more orbs: http://jalopnik.com/five-things-no…

Steve in Manhattan > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 16:50

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Can you sell your spot on the waiting list? Buddy of mine did that once with an Aston ... made some money. Do it a few times, and you can pay cash for something.

Oneofsevenbillion > E. Julius 02/21/2015 at 16:52

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Are my balls not big enough?

Oneofsevenbillion > Steve in Manhattan 02/21/2015 at 16:53

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But we kinda want the car....

Oneofsevenbillion > Steve in Manhattan 02/21/2015 at 16:54

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what makes you think we aren't paying cash?

E. Julius > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 16:55

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Ask Torch. He is master of the orbs.

Oneofsevenbillion > E. Julius 02/21/2015 at 16:56

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I don't speak Latin. Actually, that's a lie.

Steve in Manhattan > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 17:14

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Most people finance, others pay cash. Percentages .... And yeah, if you want it, get it. I can't imagine that sort of market here in US America, except for maybe a low production sports car. Saw something here the other day about dealers trying to mark up the Alfa 4C.

What's the used market like there? In 2 years, could you buy a Macan for a reasonable price?

E. Julius > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 17:15

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cool

Oneofsevenbillion > Steve in Manhattan 02/21/2015 at 17:20

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Darling, every car in HK has a waiting list now.

In all seriousness, the used market is still damn expensive. Theres plenty of supply and, surprisingly, plenty of demand. Many people prefer it in all honesty. A friend of mine has a used Gallardo Spyder, a used GTR, and has recently bought a used Cayenne S.

Steve in Manhattan > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 17:37

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Here in US America that is not what we're used to .... If I wanted, say, a used S-Class, I wouldn't look for it in the tristate area (NY, NJ, CT). I'd go, believe it or not, to Pennsylvania. For some reason, there are a lot of people who deal in used Mercs there, and you can bargain. Want a Subaru? Don't look here, look in a southern state where AWD makes no difference. You only have to be willing to drive the car home. And if you're diligent, you can probably find a dealer somewhere in the country who will sell you a popular car at sticker.

Oneofsevenbillion > Steve in Manhattan 02/21/2015 at 17:39

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Hong Kong is about the size of a pea. It's kinda hard to find any real range in prices based on where you're looking.

desertdog5051 > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 19:09

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Foetus threw me. I should have figured you (ex) British subjects would spell a thing different.

Oneofsevenbillion > desertdog5051 02/21/2015 at 19:11

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whatever happened to "that was a great read, thanks"

desertdog5051 > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 19:15

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Oh, forgot. That was a great read. (and it was). A thousand apologies. Thanks. And please accept the humble regrets of an uncultured American.

Oneofsevenbillion > desertdog5051 02/21/2015 at 19:28

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No! America gave us Breaking Bad, American Horror Story, Modern Family, etc!

desertdog5051 > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 19:32

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See what I mean? I rest my case. :)

ToyDeathbot > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 19:32

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I think you forgot about how even though their a really high supercar-to-people ratio, there aren't any race tracks in Hong Kong itself. That's slightly concerning since it means they're letting it out on the public roads.

Oneofsevenbillion > ToyDeathbot 02/21/2015 at 19:33

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cf. anecdote about rather illegal street racing.

472CID > Oneofsevenbillion 02/21/2015 at 20:52

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I know what you mean about the infantile stupidity of the vanity plates, but the examples you posted (pancake, honeybun, and pikachu) would greatly amuse me if I saw them in the wild.

Oneofsevenbillion > 472CID 02/22/2015 at 11:45

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oh do check out that Facebook page. It's absolutely hilaruous

Oneofsevenbillion > Oneofsevenbillion 02/22/2015 at 11:45

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To the extent that I forget how to spell

tbminusEe > Oneofsevenbillion 03/22/2019 at 11:27

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Any updates regarding car culture in HK? I was wondering what are the roads like?

Amazing read. Love your writing style. Hope you will get back to me because I would be thrilled to learn more about HKs car culture.

Best regards,

Fellow car enthusiasts