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  1. Blogger
    I can't help but think that if there was such a thing as a world ranking for the motoring enthusiast's version of hell on earth, Singapore would pretty much be amongst the top few contenders. In fact, I think our sunny island stands a good chance of coming in first.
     
    Let's start with the cost of ownership. With hefty import taxes and COE necessary evils to control our vehicle population, we find that most motoring enthusiasts are priced out of the cars that they truly desire. In fact, most would end up driving something far less exciting than what they really want (read Toyota). Furthermore, with the natural lifespan of cars clocking in at 10 years, it has become a costly endeavour to tap on the 2nd hand market for exciting or classic cars of the yesteryears. In Singapore, it seems that only the rich or the upper middle classes can get their fix of motoring adrenaline.
     
    And say you are one of the car enthusiasts who somehow scrapped together enough to buy a reasonably exciting and exotic car, this is but the start of your troubles. You stand out. And sometimes, your fellow drivers don't like that. They may carelessly swing their door too wide. Or add on a few artistic decorations. Or even if they are not the green-eyed variant, your fellow Singaporeans sometimes have clueless offspring/mates who would inflict damage on your nice car doors. Oh and let's not forget the powerful sun, dirty rainwater and potent bird poo and what it could do to your shiny paintwork. Trying to keep your car in good shape can get quite frustrating in this part of the world.
     
    If that was not enough, the next critical issue comes up - where would you unleash your car to enjoy the drive? With traffic conditions ever-worsening, I dare say that your daily commute to work would not quite cut it. And until the track at Changi is all done up, motoring enthusiasts, I am afraid, almost always have to resort to heading up north which raises another whole new set of concerns. The alternative (in Singapore), is something highly dangerous, illegal and ought to be discouraged.
     
    And last but certainly not least, we have a whole maze of legal rules and regulations governing what we can do or cannot do with our cars. Some make sense, some do not. But if you intended to be law-abiding, it would suffice to say that you probably would not be able to do anything much to your car. Customisation and modification is something that many car enthusiasts would enjoy but the rules pretty much put a dampener on any ambitious plans in this regard.
     
    Disagree? Let us have your picks and nominees for motoring hell in the comment boxes below.
  2. Blogger
    Recently I encountered a breed of motorist I call the homo schizophrenius. How do you identify such a motorist? Well, its trademark characteristic is a split personality type of driving behaviour on the road. Let me elaborate. This particular motorist was driving aggressively along the road heading towards the expressway. It was even aggressively squeezing ahead of other cars on the merging lanes leading to the filter road entering the expressway. Wow, sure sounds like he is in a hurry doesn't it? Upon entering the expressway, it cuts aggressively into the second lane. Forcing an oncoming vehicle to brake. And upon which, it decides to stay in Lane 2 and crawl at the pace of 80km/h. Hmm... wasn't it in such a big rush just seconds ago? I went along my merry way and soon lost sight of it. But surprise, surprise; nearly 5 exits later, when I checked my rear view mirror I spot it sprinting down the expressway. It soon passed me at high speeds, weaving in and out of the various lanes! The only logical conclusion - driver with split personality.
     
    And that got me thinking about this issue of Singaporean driving standards. Are we really that bad in general, or was my experience a rare sighting?
     
    Intuitively, I gravitated towards the former opinion. Singapore drivers are bad. After all, not a day goes by without a new thread on Mycarforum lamenting an inconsiderate or kayu or reckless driver. Speak to your friends and family who drive and you will frequently encounter horror stories about the Singapore driver and his/her antics on the road. From such anecdotal evidence alone, the natural conclusion is that we are a nation of bad drivers.
     
    But after thinking and exploring the issue further, I realized that we probably aren't as bad as we think.
     
    For one, the laws of statistics will tell us that most people will be average. Distribution usually follows a bell-shaped curve. And that suggests that most of us on the road should, well, be average. That is unless, somehow, that the distribution of drivers in Singapore is drastically skewed.
     
    And that is pretty unlikely. After all, drivers do have to pass a driving test. And despite its flaws, it does ensure a minimum level of proficiency. What are the odds that the bulk of the drivers passing the test are bad? Remember, the numbers of bad drivers have to be pretty significant to skew the distribution curve heavily! I would say that it is highly unlikely.
     
    So why the discrepancy with theory and what we experience?
     
    My explanation is that with the sheer numbers of motorists on the road each day and the sheer amount of mileage that we clock; it is inevitable that we will encounter quite a few of those black sheep motorists over time. And such experiences stick with us because they are frustrating or amusing (in my case). Such stories also get passed around a lot more often because they make for more interesting reads. Would anyone of you be interested to hear a story about how a driver was courteous and filtered left when he spotted a faster car coming from the back? Maybe; but it sure wouldn't generate as much discussion as a story about a driver who persisted in hogging the right lane at 75km/h with a clear road ahead. And because such incidents create a larger impact, we instinctively form an opinion that Singapore drivers are bad. The next time we encounter a bad driver, we place greater emphasis on it and remember it because of confirmation bias. This is something like a cycle and eventually, most of us drive around thinking that others on the road are lousy drivers.
     
    Not convinced. Well, let's end off by looking at it from another perspective. How many of you think you are excellent or at least above average drivers? If you all are above average and I am too; then where have all the bad drivers gone?
  3. Blogger

    Of Dreams and Cars

    By Blogger,

    Ever so often, I spot a head-turner along our business or shopping districts and I stare lustfully admiringly as it zooms off, leaving me wondering about the day when I can lay my hands on a beauty just like her. And other times, I spot owners of magnificent machines pottering along at a snail's pace on a B road where I would have let her rip and I can only wonder if I would be a more deserving owner/driver.
     
    Sigh. It is tough being a car nut with the bank account of a church mouse.
     
    So, on days when the boss is droning on and on, I tend to let my mind wander and think about what would be in my garage if I ever struck it rich enough. And after countless internal debates and struggles, I have assembled my "dream team" of the 3 cars (currently on sale) that I would have in garage. At risk of extreme ridicule from you guys, here it is:
     
    1) Maserati Granturismo S
     
    With its hot screaming Italian supermodel looks, picking this baby is a no-brainer. This is my idea of car pornography and pretty much takes the cake when it comes to car design. This car turns heads as well as (if not better) than super cars that are twice its price. And have you heard the exhaust note? The closet attention whore in me says that this absolutely has to be the centerpiece in my dream garage. Nuff said.
     
    2) Mitsubishi Evo X
     
    No, I am not kidding you with this entry. I think that no garage would be complete without a JDM monster and my pick is the Evo X. The Evo X provides a vastly different form of driving experience from the Maser. It would function as a road legal track machine for weekends spent at the track. And with the large number of after-market parts and support from Japanese tuners for the Evo X, this would be a car that I can totally modify and customize to my heart's desire (or LTA's legal limit). And deep down, I am just a Singapore beng. Techno and blue lights anyone?
     
    3) BMW 335i Convertible
     
    My dream garage is complemented by a BMW 335i as the more practical daily driver. With terror car parks being par for course these days, it would be absurd to consider driving the Maser or the heavily modified Evo out to work. And on occasion, I would probably need to ferry passengers around in greater comfort than the Evo can offer. So the final entry has to plug this gap of practicality. But at the same time, it would still need to be a classy and good looking ride that I would enjoy looking at. The 335i checks all the above boxes; plus it has enough brute force to see off ricer boys and crazed taxi uncles. Perfect.
     
    What would be your 3 picks for your dream garage?
  4. Blogger

    Heart or Head?

    By Blogger,

    Broadly speaking, there are cars that appeal to our hearts and cars that appeal to our heads.
     
    Cars that appeal to hearts tug at our heartstrings and incite a lust/infatuation that borders on the irrational. The classic example of such cars have to be Alfa Romeos. For generations, Alfa has churned out cars that sent grown men (and women) falling head over heels. Despite the occasional tantrum, owners (or ex owners) still think the world of their Alfas.
     
    On the other hand, we have cars that we know check all the right boxes when it comes to practicality. They almost never break down. They are fuss free to maintain, reasonably priced (well relative to Singapore standards), have a big boot, sip fuel ... Well, you get the idea. These are cars designed to tug at our brains or heads. They are the logical choice. For a long while, Toyotas dominated this class though we see the Korean car manufacturers chipping away at its dominance today.
     



     
    And this brings me to the conundrum plaguing me today - what is a young (relatively, speaking) driving enthusiast on a young man's budget who just sold off his ride and is in the market for his next ride to do? Heart or head? Or is there a way to get a little bit of both?
     
    Part of me really wishes to splash out the cash on the car I fell in love with (yes, it is an Alfa). But my saner side questions if I can put up with any niggles. Reliability may have been improved in recent years, but it is likely to be a slight distance away from the Japanese marques I have been used to. And let's not even talk about the horror stories that friends have been passing along about their parents' Alfas. They are like a bucket of ice cold water extinguishing my passion for all things associated with the Serpent crest. Not to mention, it does require a rather hefty financial outlay for someone at my stage in life.
     
    And then there is the contender to the Alfa. Another equally attractive car (to me) that speaks to the Beng in me. Prices are a lot less steep but I am sure the worries are no fewer. I speak of the almost legendary EG and EK Honda Civics. The same old cautions are administered in large doses. Reliability, worries over accident history, the inevitable problems with driving cars that are more than 10 years old. The list is long. Once again, my saner side is screaming and telling me NO.
     
    On the other side, these two cars face a myriad of competitors. I have test driven bread and butter cars from all major Japanese and Korean marques. Yes, they are within budget and yes, reliability is not such an issue. But if I bought any one of them, I would always have the niggling thought that I was settling. They would never be my first choice.
     
    And as each COE bidding passes, I am still unable to make up my mind and I remain currently car-less and hopeful for that one car that could be the perfect compromise of both heart and head. Any suggestions?
  5. Blogger
    Every year we are assaulted with a slew of new launches from the various car manufacturers. They range from hyper-machines chucking out gazillions of horsepower to tiny fuel-sipping run-abouts. In all likelihood, the months ahead will be no different and we can expect a mind-boggling range of new cars to hit our shores. Here, I would like to take a couple of minutes to talk about 3 cars from affordable marques that I am impatiently anticipating. And in no particular order whatsoever:
     
    1. Nissan Juke
     
    The Nissan Juke is probably going to be the first of the 3 cars here to be launched in Singapore. But that is not our main concern here. We are here to talk about why I am eagerly awaiting my opportunity to crawl behind the steering wheel of one. First up, its controversial looks. Nissan has designed some thing that has left me undecided about whether I like it or not. Whichever the case may be, this is definitely not a shrinking violet and is bound to grab the eyeballs of everyone standing near one. Nissan has been experimenting with somewhat radical looks with its previous 2 SUV type models and I guess the design philosophy has come to fruition with this one. Curiosity is practically killing me as I wonder how our Singaporean market will take to this design.
     
    Next, is of course the availability of the turbo-charged 1.6litre engine. My half-decent memory suggests that it has been a long time since Nissan put a snail on any one of its mass market cars (GTR excluded, for obvious reasons). In fact, Nissan may well be embarking on a path of exploring the possibility of greater efficiency through turbo-charging relatively low capacity engines. Will this take Nissan down a new direction and make it the future VW of the East? I am guessing a lot will depend on the Juke and its sales figures. And of course, I really want to test Nissan's new take on the turbo-charged engine and see what it is good for.
     
    2. Hyundai Avante 2011
     



     
    Hyundai's new Avante can hardly qualify as news anymore and hence, I doubt that I need to describe it in great detail. But if you live under a rock, here is the blog post to read about it.
     
    Moving back to the main discussion for today though, what has got me all excited about this 2011 Avante has got to be the new direct injection engine. Known as the GDI, its 1.6 litre unit will chuck out 140BHP and 166NM of torque. While these specs is nowhere near the famous VTEC engines of yesteryears by the other H brand (read B16A etc), these figures are pretty much class leading in our current market. Which leads me to wonder, will this 2011 Avante be Hyundai's first rice and boyracer car ever? That I will only be able to find out once I get in one and see how those 140 ponies behave on the road. Here's hoping they are a riotous and noisy bunch.
     
    3. Suzuki Swift 2011
     



     
    The upcoming variant of the Suzuki Swift, like the Avante, has been previously discussed on Myautoblog (read it here). So once again, I will skip the details and move onto the crux of my blog entry.
     
    The Swift, in my mind, has always been one of Suzuki's best sellers in Singapore in recent years. All forms and guises of the Swift can be easily spotted along our roads and it is no surprise. It is a decent piece of kit for the price. And that is the whole reason why I am so excited about the new Swift. How will Suzuki improve on what is already a pretty good car in its class? Come to think of it, is Suzuki even able to? Will the follow up Swift in 2011 be Suzuki's next blockbuster or will it be a box office dud? The only way to find out is when it is finally launched for sale in Singapore. Here is hoping that Suzuki pulls off yet another success and follow it up with an even better new version of the Swift Sport. I can hardly wait.
  6. Blogger
    My favourite theory for the fact that traffic is always so heavy and slow on the PIE between Adam and BKE exit is the speed camera planted in the middle. I believe that the threat of being caught on candid camera and the innate instinct of many Singapore drivers to play it safe is the reason why the average speed along that stretch plummets so drastically compared to the stretches immediately before and after. It is of course made worse by the fact that huge signs advertise the speed camera's existence way way way in advance so some kiasu drivers already start slowing down.
     
    With that, I guess it would hardly come as a surprise if I said that I hate speed cameras and curse at them each time they seemingly cause the traffic congestion I'm stuck in. Yet deep down, I know that speed cameras have a role to play in road safety. Some stretches of roads are way too dangerous to travel at breakneck speeds and it is far better that we all put up with a traffic slowdown compared to people dying or getting injured from accidents. And that pretty much sums my attitude to speed cameras; I hate them but I grudgingly accept that they serve a purpose.
     
    So it piqued my interest, when I recently came across an anecdote in a book that described an interesting and speed camera-less way of ensuring that motorists keep to a safe traveling speed on dangerous stretches of roads. Surprisingly, all it requires is some paint!
     
    The road in question is Lake Shore Drive in Chicago and for years, a famous S-curve along the road claimed the lives of many accident victims. Some even call it the "Dead Man's Curve". In 2006, the city adopted a novel solution that has drastically reduced the number of accidents through the clever use of road paint to create an illusion that caused drivers to subconsciously slow down. Horizontal stripes were painted across the width of the road. These stripes are not strips or bumps that forcefully slowed down the cars. Rather, as the stripes got closer to the curve, the space between each stripe would become smaller and smaller. While driving along, a driver would get the sensation that the car was actually speeding up even if it was traveling at the same speed all along. Instinctively, he would tap on the brakes to slow down!
     
    Personally, this idea really speaks to me. It is elegant, cheap and it only affects drivers at the most dangerous parts. This is a solution that LTA should definitely be looking into!
     

     
    References: Thaler & Sunstein, Nudge, 2008, Yale University Press
  7. Blogger
    I spoke to a female acquaintance several weeks ago about the car she drove. She remarked that her parents had insisted on her buying the better spec-ed variant as it came with better safety equipment in the form of more airbags, better brakes etc. But she ended off by saying "But I don't think it makes a difference because I simply end up driving more recklessly".
     
    And that indeed is very telling of us humans and our attitudes towards risk taking. Psychologist Gerald Wilde points out that humans have a tendency to compensate for lower risks in one area by taking on greater risks in another. Such an attitude was evidently at work during a German experiment (as described by Malcolm Gladwell). A group of taxis were fitted with ABS while another were left untouched. And other than the ABS, both groups were identical. For a period of 3 years, these taxis were observed in secret. Logically speaking, the taxis with ABS ought to be safer. But the results revealed that the opposite was true. They tended to drive more recklessly by tailgating more and driving faster. They used the additional safety to drive more recklessly without increasing their accident risk. In which case, the introduction of ABS probably did not do much to improve road safety (at least in Germany).
     
    Yet, improving road safety has been one major area which car manufacturers devote huge amounts of research and development towards. Volvo, for example, is extremely proud of its collision avoidance system. But if past experience and theory holds true, then perhaps such systems may prove to be a massive waste of resources. If, we drivers, are going to act like the German taxi drivers, then they are not going to make much of an impact on accident rates. And I guess it will probably be the case that protected by the safety of a system like Volvo's collision avoidance system, motorists may well multi-task even more on the roads. How about coffee or breakfast while caught in the morning peak hour traffic jam? How about a shave or putting on some eyeliner? And why not, since it would be near impossible to bump the car in front with the safety system?
     
    In which case, it might just be cheaper to leave things as they are and focus R&D dollars on other projects like environmental friendliness.
    Credits: Malcolm Gladwell, "Blowup", The New Yorker
  8. Blogger

    5th Gear Returns!

    By Blogger,

    Despite some doubts as to its continued existence several months back, Fifth Gear has returned to British television screens in a new, shorter and compact format. Having caught a couple of episodes of the new version, I am in two minds about it.
     
    Now, Fifth Gear has always been in the shadow of the insanely popular Top Gear (incidentally returning on June 27th). And for the past few seasons, it seemed as though Fifth Gear was playing catch up. They were trying new stunts and roping in celebrities, Top Gear style. Personally, it did not quite work for me. It is a bit hard to mimic the over the top Top Gear style and yet retain a more serious (or respectable) aura. With the new version of Fifth Gear, this problem appears to have been somewhat resolved. No more trying to be Top Gear, the past couple of episodes have been more car-centric than ever. Which is good news. After all, in my opinion, we hardly need another Top Gear type car program; especially when it would probably not be half as entertaining.
     
    But, unfortunately, Fifth Gear has also been cut to a half hour program. Perhaps this is to appeal to Gen Y and its notoriously short attention span or perhaps it is due to budget cuts arising from the Eurozone woes. Whatever it is, I feel that something has been lost. Fifth Gear had always provided more information, and more detailed reviews of the cars driven. And they would include cars of all segments; from supercars I can only dream about to bread and butter cars within my reach. But now, with only a half hour, the reviews have become shorter and more condensed. And the detailed descriptions have been cut down. To me, this is a mighty big waste.
     
    In any case, I guess I should be thankful that Fifth Gear was not cut and that I can get my weekly fix of dogfights and more serious motoring programming to complement the immense entertainment and laughter provided by Top Gear. Now to countdown to Top Gear's new season and to see what Clarkson and the boys have got in store for us all.
     

  9. Blogger
    Singaporeans are a pretty practical bunch. It is hardly a surprise that certain car marques associated with reliability, fuel economy and resale value dominate our best seller list. We go for the safe bet; the choice that makes sense to us numerically. And so, I am often met with a puzzled look when I explain that the most important attribute for me when car shopping is power (both bhp and torque) or when I tell people that my hobby is modifying my ride to go that little bit faster. Inevitably, the following refrain will be heard. "Fast car in Singapore? For what? Our roads are so congested and traffic lights are everywhere. You won't be able to travel much faster than my [insert choice of unclemobile]."
     
    To them and those of you practical minded folk reading this (yes, even in a car enthusiast's forum, they exist), my answer is a firm Yes.
     
    I personally find it strange that society can look upon practicality with such deference and respect. To me, being conventional and practical reeks of one thing - being a boring person. But I don't expect that practical folk can ever understand this and I just want them to stop being so judgmental and so insistent that their way is the only way. So here goes. This is my tongue-in-cheek list of "practical" reasons why sports cars or fast cars have a point in Singapore.
     
    1) Some sports cars can become future classic cars. Just like art pieces, there is a chance that some day down the road, that sports car may actually appreciate in value or at the very least, retain value much better than the typical bread and butter car would. Well, I will admit that it is a bit of a gamble and not all sports cars will reach cult classic status but there is the possibility right? And isn't this just like investing in art or fine wines?
     
    2) Powerful cars are safer. Yes, you heard me right. Powerful cars allow you to overtake more easily and more safely. Fast cars usually also come with better and grippier tyres, better safety features and better brakes. If driven sedately, I would say that such cars would probably be a lot safer than the typical bread and butter car. Now, isn't being safe a very important consideration, even for you practical folk?
     
    3) Sports cars incentivize you to keep you healthy. You never thought this is possible but your car can have an effect on your health. Driving a sports car with a rock hard suspension is painful for those who do not keep themselves limber and fit. The hugging bucket seats mean that you must keep your weight and girth in check. And if you do not stretch regularly, I doubt you will be able to climb in and out of a low slung sports coupe. Now we are often lazy when it comes to keeping fit, so what better incentive can there be than the fact your ridiculously expensive sports car will go to waste if you didn't?
     
    With all these practical benefits, be sure to make your next car a fast or sporty one!
     
    Note: this is meant to be a light-hearted and humorous article, not genuine advice/opinion!
  10. Blogger
    Have you ever wondered whether your iPhone can replace your full-sized car GPS set?
     
    Well, the default Maps app that comes with your phone would hardly come close. With limited search parameters, the need for 3G connectivity and the lack of a voiced turn-by-turn navigation function, it is at best a map with GPS functionality. Good enough to figure out where you are, but not quite capable of directing you from one place to another like a proper GPS.
     
    If you want some thing that comes a little bit closer, you have to (not surprisingly) pay. Yet, a search on the iTunes app store will reveal many GPS apps, all of which cost money and with no way of testing it before payment; how do we know which is bang for your buck? No fears, because GPS crazy me actually bought 3 of the most popular ones and will let you know which one is the best in this short and sweet iPhone GPS shootout.
     
    Let's bring on the contenders!
     
    Mobile Maps SEA
     

     
    Cost: Extremely pricey! This app costs a whopping USD $59.99. Whether it is worth it though is your call; after all a full function GPS set is likely to cost much more!
     
    Likes: Easy to use and intuitive interface. Navigating the various functions are simple and the 6 digit postal code search is speedy. I especially like the ability to set your Home address which gives you a one touch method of getting yourself home in less time than it takes for the lights to change. Among the 3 apps, it also has the most functions, including internet support. In addition, it has the most comprehensive list of maps as it covers more countries within SEA; including Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand and Manila City (Philippines). This may be a boon for those road-trip warriors amongst us.
     
    Dislikes: The price and the fact that the maps are updated only by the manufacturer. This may be problematic if the manufacturer were to delay the release map updates.
     
    Papago! Singapore + Malaysia
     

     
    Cost: This is the cheapest of the lot. Starting at USD $19.99 for the Lite version to $29.99 for the Pro version, this app is by far the cheapest of the lot. The Lite version simply does not have a 3D navigation feature. Compared with the others, it is practically a steal.
     
    Likes: This app uses malfreemaps, which is something that users of Garmin sets would already be very familiar with. As the maps are community maintained, you get the best and most updated Points of Interest (POI) information which are maintained by users themselves. The level of detail is unrivaled. The maps are also updated most frequently; typically every one to two weeks. HOWEVER, do note that only tech savvy folks who know how to change the map used by this app will be able to access the latest maps released by the malfreemaps community. For most of us, we have to wait for the app creator to release an update to the app along with the latest map, which is not as frequent as the map releases.
     
    Dislikes: Navigation around the functions are a little less intuitive for my liking. It is not the best one to use if you wanted to run it on the spur of the moment; say if you made a wrong turn while driving and got lost. You will probably have to find a quiet place to pull over and operate it. In addition, some users report problems with inability to seek out satellite signals. However, this should be resolvable by simply deleting the app and reinstalling it or by removing any reflective covers that you might have cocooned your precious phone in.
     
    TomTom Malaysia & Singapore
     

     
    Cost: Another pricey one! Price is also USD $59.99.
     
    Likes: A pretty decent and clean interface. This app also comes from an established GPS navigation company and hence the map is likely to be accurate and reliable. Coverage of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. Recently released updated map.
     
    Dislikes: Search function is not intuitive and may be difficult to use. Earlier versions took a long time to locate the satellite signal and may be unstable on older iPhones. However, it may have been resolved with the latest update but I have yet to test run it sufficiently. For its price, I expected more.
     
    Final Verdict
     
    Papago! Singapore + Malaysia. The availability and possibility of swopping in updated maps makes this a winner. After all, what is the use of an outdated map? More importantly, at its low price point, the interface and lack of full functionality is something that can be overlooked.
  11. Blogger

    Beautiful Roads of SG

    By Blogger,

    When Singapore roads are mentioned, the image conjured is often of well paved roads with HDB blocks rising in all directions and the next traffic light a few meters away. Hop over to our neighbouring country and the view changes dramatically. Especially when going up to places like Ipoh where dramatic views are a sight to behold along the way. Over in the European countries roads such as the Le Viaduc de Millau just demands you to slow down and take in the amazing sight.
     
    Le Viaduc de Millau

     
    So what if you just want to take a chill out drive on a lazy weekend afternoon? Well, thankfully, there are still places in Singapore where is more than just concrete and traffic lights.
     
    Take Mandai road for example, located at the peripherals of the Upper Seletar Reservoir. This gorgeous, although rather short road mimics the feel of driving along in a countryside with a beautiful lake to the left. Travel pass it in the evening on a clear day, the water ripples and dazzles with the setting sun.
     
    A picture postcard moment.

     
    A countryside feel

     
    It's a pity I can't stop to take a better picture, it is hard to drive and snap at the same time.
     
    If you fancy just a straight long drive without feeling like you are driving in town, there is the all famous Changi Coast Road that runs for a good 8km or so along side the Changi Airport Runway. When I am feeling stressed or depress, driving down this road almost always gurantee a quick relieve. Best of all, do it driving top down. Ah, driving nirvana.
     
    Changi Coast Road

     
    Cruising with one of these top down on a coastal road is a bliss

  12. Blogger

    Jeep-ing

    By Blogger,

    When it comes to serious off-road capabilities, Jeep undoubtedly is the choice. With over 69 years in producing off-road vehicles, they should be doing it well too.
     
    This 4x4 legend is something of an icon by itself. I have never seen any other car brand being stamped on t-shirts with so many people wearing them. My guess is that in our boxed up world, the notion of "Go Anywhere, Do Anything" (Jeep's tag line) tug deep at our hearts.
     
    Although Jeep's lineup consist of many different vehicles, nothing epitomizes it's sense of freedom more than the Jeep Wrangler.
     
    Driving it here however, is hard work. To drive with the top down, the soft top has to be taken down manually, a back breaking, muscle bulging work that takes up a good 20mins or so. There are also no power windows, or power locks! (Pre 2010 ver.) The steering is taught and heavy, although it comes with much road feel. When performing a u-turn, it takes some strength to control the steering wheel from eagerly springing back to centre.
     
    However, all the manual work brings about a flavour to this car, much akin to driving a classic, retro vehicle. You feel different and special.
     
    Without cushy interiors surrounding you, driving the Wrangler with the top down ushers in the environment around providing a very raw driving feel (The Mini Beachcomber concept is pretty similar to the Wrangler). Imagine the tram ride at the Zoo, and you will get what I mean, the connection with the environment is what gives Jeep that feeling of "Freedom".
     
    Now, imagine the same tram ride combined with a 3.8L V6 and a supremely tough chassis. The Wrangler will make you feel like the other cars on the road are toys.
     
    Although it's off-road purpose might never be fulfilled in Singapore, it is still fun negotiating the "urban jungle". The Wrangler is one vehicle that will make mince meat of any humps or curbs, crossing a hump at 50km/h is no big deal.
     
    Sadly, my friend sold his jeep due to it's high running cost (other than the hefty road tax, it is also thirsty as well), in place he got a Renault Koleos which banishes him to the confines of 4 Doors, a Roof and a Boring ride. He misses his yellow Jeep and so do I.
     
    Freedom!

  13. Blogger
    Now Singapore drivers are a varied and diverse bunch but there is one thing that most of us unanimously hate - increasing motor vehicle insurance premiums! And (no surprises here ) I think I have the solution to put an end to unjustified insurance claims, or at the very least reduce the amount of complaints from drivers. Motor insurers, I sure hope you are reading this!
     
    The major problem, as I see it, with motor insurance, is a lack of transparency. We have no idea how our premiums are determined and how any increments are determined. With such lack of transparency, is it any wonder that most of us will react to any premium increase as an opportunistic attempt to earn more profits?
     
    Ever been to a restaurant and received one entire bill with no break-down telling you which dishes cost you how much money? Ever received a mobile phone bill that just stated the amount payable with no break down of how much was incurred on calls, sms-es etc? I really doubt it. Yet, when we receive our insurance renewal quotes, we essentially get one figure and our no claims discount (if any). Of course we would be pretty upset if the quote is much higher than the previous year's. Assuming that he/she had not been involved in any accidents, any rational driver would assume that their insurance premiums would get cheaper over the years because:
    1) The value insured is less now that the vehicle's market value has depreciated over another year.
     
    2) They have established one more year of safe driving records and hence proved less risky to insure.
     
    3) And, not forgetting an increase in the NCD.
     
    To deal with this, I propose a premium system that breaks down the insurance premium into several components, each of which must be clearly detailed in any insurance quote. Let me illustrate how this system would work.
     
    1) The insurers determine a basic rate that covers the average administration costs of a motor insurance policy for an accident-free driver. This rate should be largely the same for everyone, barring some differences based on vehicle categories such as bikes, cars and goods vehicles.
     
    2) Add on a component to account for the value of the vehicle insured. I am no acturial scientist, so I will leave it to the experts that the insurers or GIA hire to determine the formula for calculating how to translate the value into a premium.
     
    3) Add on or subtract a component based on the risk profile of the individual driver - here is where things like gender, age and any other individual attributes insurers deem important are factored into the premium. As a general rule, a driver profiled as safe should receive a deduction, while a driver profiled as unsafe would receive an addition to the premium. Accident track records should also be included here.
     
    4) Finally, add on or subtract a component based on the individual vehicle. It is common knowledge that insurers do not look too kindly on sports cars or cars bearing certain brand badges. Here is where the insurer can factor in this component. Drive a 2 door, turbo-charged sports convertible? Pay $X more. Drive a slow, sedate uncle-mobile? Deduct $X from your premium.
     
    Through this entire process, the final figure will be arrived at. Of course, the insurers may not use the exact same components that I have used. After all, they do pay their risk analysts large salaries and they should arguably be able to come up with a better break down of the premium. What is more critical is that they OUGHT to adopt a roughly similar system and that they MUST include the break down in every quotation.
     
    This is a win-win system for both insurers and drivers. For the insurers, the benefit is clear. They reduce the amount of griping from drivers and the bad press they receive every time motor insurance premiums are discussed. More importantly, it becomes much easier to convince drivers of a need to increase the premium by pointing to the exact component that underwent an increase rather than pointing to the fact they lost money. With a clear break down, I am sure they will also be better able to target the errant drivers while not penalizing the safe ones.
     
    As for us drivers, we also receive benefits. For one, looking at the premium, we can best adjust our habits and lifestyles to reduce our premiums rather than simply passively accepting increments. If the component based on the vehicle is high, we may perhaps think of changing cars. If on the other hand, it is because of the value of the car, we may opt for a downgrade. With this system, we can take on an active role, where possible, to try and reduce our premiums. When purchasing cars and obtaining insurance quotes, we can now make better informed choices.
     
    Doesn't this seem much better than what we currently have in place? Once again, motor insurers, I hope you are reading this!
  14. Blogger
    I received a mailer from the Security Department the other day. Basically, it reminded everyone to cross the roads properly and detailed an accident that took place several weeks ago. A pedestrian had gotten knocked down and suffered minor injuries. The clincher? He had been reading his emails on his phone while crossing the road!
     
    Now, I had heard rumours of the accident on the grapevine on the day of the accident and when I passed the rumoured accident scene, I saw collateral damage to bollards along the road side. The car must have been damaged pretty bad, trying to avoid the pedestrian.
     
    That really got me thinking. Assuming (and I am really assuming here) that my postulation about the accident is correct. The driver is more or less innocent of any wrong doing. Yet, in all likelihood, even if he is safe from the sanction of the law, he has probably incurred upon himself a hefty repair bill. What is probably going to happen is that he will submit an insurance claim and his premiums will rise significantly next year. All this because some pedestrian was reading his emails and stepped out onto the road in front of him! Talk about bad luck!
     
    In more extreme cases, reckless traffic crossing can actually result in deaths of motorists. Remember the case where a drunk tried to cross the PIE? The worst part is that the victims are unlikely to be able to obtain any compensation from the errant pedestrian. There is no mandatory third party insurance for pedestrians. Unless the pedestrian is a millionaire, most victims of poor pedestrian road safety will never receive their rightful compensation unless they are self insured.
     
    Road safety is the responsibility of all road users, pedestrians included. But from what I observe, many pedestrians are starting to take road safety for granted. Many cross at unauthorized road crossings; some even taking their own sweet time to do so and force drivers to apply a hefty amount of braking to avoid hitting them. Honks to warn them of their feckless behaviour may sometimes be greeted with rude stares or even the universal gesture. Most pedestrians are of course more of the complacent variety - they are just careless with road safety. Just like the pedestrian I described.
     
    Something must change. I suggest that heavy sanctions be adopted to combat such behaviour. To start with, we should enlarge the offense of jaywalking to include reckless road crossing, increase the fine to $100 and conduct highly publicised Traffic Police Ops to catch offenders.
     
    What say you?
  15. Blogger
    It is widely acknowledged that our road tax system is heavily skewed in favor of the small engine capacity car. I will not bore you guys with the detailed mathematical formula of the road tax system here on our sunny island (you can read about it here). It will suffice to say that any car with an engine capacity larger than 1,600cc is likely to face a pretty hefty road tax bill. A 3,000cc car attracts an annual road tax of $2,386 compared to $744 for a 1,600cc one. The road tax on the 3,000cc car can pay for both my road tax and insurance with a couple of hundreds to spare! With such a policy in place, it doesn't take a genius to figure out which cars will sell best in Singapore. No wonder Kah Motors brought in the 1,600cc Civic specially for the Singapore market!
     
    The main justification why drivers should be taxed lies in the economics concept of negative externalities. Drivers create pollution which affects others; they also consume scarce fossil fuels. These are costs which society as a whole will bear rather than the individual driver. The tax aims to impose some of these costs back on the driver when they are deciding whether to drive or to use other forms of transport.
     
    However, by taxing based on displacement, the assumption seems to be that a larger displacement vehicle will consume more fuel and pollute more (and thus should pay more tax). However, this assumption no longer stands. With current advances in automotive technology, I am sure we all know that there can be larger but more frugal and less pollutive engines. Using displacement as a benchmark is a poor and blunt proxy for the true purpose of road tax. If I drive a larger displacement vehicle but it is actually greener because the engine technology is advanced, I still get penalised! That doesn't seem fair, does it?
     
    And I believe that I am not the only one who thinks this way. There is, in fact, some acknowledgment globally that vehicle owners should be taxed based on the pollution their vehicles generate rather than displacement. In the UK, for vehicles registered after 2001, road tax is imposed mainly based on the amount of CO2 emissions that the vehicle emits. Before 2001, UK had a road tax based on displacement as well. This is indeed a welcome trend and one I believe that the LTA should look into.
     
    But if I have my way, I would abolish road tax altogether and replace it with a higher fuel tax. Now, before you readers rush to flame me in the comments section, hear me out! While a pollution based tax is in the right direction, it is still too blunt an instrument. That is because the buying and ownership of a highly polluting or a big displacement car will not in itself create pollution. We pollute and consume scarce fuel only when we drive! Now, if you drive more, you create more pollution, you pay more! Isn't that even fairer than simply taxing based on pollution? After all, if I own a Range Rover Sport but only drive it 1km to the market on Sundays, surely I pollute less than the person who travels >100km in his Toyota Altis daily? So, shouldn't he be taxed more?
     
    Of course, I must admit that my system is not without its flaws. For one, it is possible that in some cases, an extremely polluting car, driven a short distance can still outweigh the pollution caused by a year's driving for an extremely green car. Well, I believe that these are the outliers and are likely to be very very rare and that my system will be fairer to the majority of Singapore drivers than what we currently have. What say you?
  16. Blogger

    2010 Hyundai Sonata

    By Blogger,

    The 2010 Hyundai Sonata has finally been released in Korea and I believe it should be coming to our shores in the near future. Finally, new Sonata owners won't have to worry about ignorant Singaporeans who flag their cars down as a taxi..
     

     
    Recently launched in Seoul, Euisun Chung, Hyundai
  17. Blogger

    To Bus or not to Bus

    By Blogger,

    The roads are getting awfully crowded these days. Eco-conscious folks, the government and a whole host of other well meaning folks will have us believe that we should endeavour to use public transportation. A short and unscientific poll of my friends revealed that we all generally agree that more people should switch to public transport. Unfortunately, by more people, we really meant OTHER people.
     
    And that got me thinking. Why do most people drive if they can afford it? Can public transport ever become a close enough substitute to driving?
     
    With that (dangerous) thought in mind, I decided to leave my trusty ride in my campus carpark and take a short bus ride to and from Orchard to run some errands. It wouldn't be that bad, I reasoned. After all, I had my iPhone loaded up with mp3s to entertain me and the bus would take essentially the same route I would take if I were driving. I would save on ERP and exorbitant parking fees. It was looking like a sure win proposition.
     
    In the end, I caught a ride from a pal who was passing by Orchard and took a bus back to campus after I was done. That bus ride revealed the gap between public transport and driving. First, the bus took forever to come. The signboard told me it would take 5 minutes for my bus to arrive but 20 minutes later, there was still no bus. Next, it was 3pm but the bus got more and more packed! Strange, for a non-peak hour bus ride. The longer travelling time was compounded by the jerky driving style of the bus driver. It seemed like an eternity!
     
    And, in the process I guess I got my answer. Despite repeated claims of a world class public transport system, it is still nowhere near driving. And it probably will never come close until some radical changes are implemented.
     
    Here are my suggestions on how to increase utilization of public transport in Singapore:
     
    1. Nationalise the public transport companies and measure performance by non-financial metrics like passenger comfort and punctuality
    2. Make public transport cheap, cut-throat cheap. Half of the current price would be about right. The subsidy will be funded by ERP & COE.
    3. Increase the frequency (by quite a few times)!
     
    But I know that my suggestions are unlikely to be implemented in the near future. So until then, I am sticking to driving until I can no longer afford to.
  18. Blogger
    Erm... when it comes to shifting gears, that is.
     
    I recall when I test drove a VW equipped with a fancy DSG gearbox for the very first time. At that time, it seemed to me to be the way forward. A gearbox offering all the perks of a manual transmission without the need to physically depress a clutch pedal? I was very much sold by what I had been reading about it. The test drive, on the other hand, quickly revealed what the specifications sheet could not. True, it offered all the on paper benefits of a manual, but somehow, it had also eradicated the fun and feel of driving a manual car. After that experience, I was certain. Even in a horrendous jam, I'd much rather be driving a manual over a DSG. To me, the driving experience was really that much poorer.
     
    Yet, I am certain that I am clearly in the minority here. In Singapore, it appears that the manual transmission is headed the way of the dodo bird. Increasingly, car distributors locally are no longer offering a manual option or relegating it to a special indent basis. Hordes of Singaporeans crowded the VW showroom for the Polo launched with a 7 speed DSG transmission. Accordingly, most cars that we see on the road are now either a conventional auto or of the DSG type.
     
    All this, of course, is very bad news for me. And it leaves me somewhat baffled. If probed on their preference, most Singaporeans attribute their choice of a non-manual transmission to practicality. It is more convenient; less tiring in traffic jams; it is easier to drive; it is less straining on the knees; better resale value and so on. But in the UK, and most of continental Europe, I am told that most cars are manual. That is despite the fact that London has comparably heavy congestion and the steep 1 in 3 slopes that dominate much of UK's urban landscape. Even grannies in UK are game to drive a manual car. Doesn't it mean that most of our so-called 'practicality' reasons are really small and niggling inconveniences that we can live with and are not really as severe as we think? Why then, do most Singaporeans still prefer non-manual cars?
     
    I can only think of one reason for this. Just like our dominant national philosophy to life, most Singaporeans only want to get to the destination; the journey and the experience in between is insignificant.
  19. Blogger
    Is it time for LTA to revise the speed limits on our expressways?
     
    The only conceivable purpose (to me at least) for imposing laws regulating the maximum speed we can drive at is safety. It keeps us safe; it keeps the people/objects around us safe. But is our current speed limit on the expressway an over-enthusiastic curb (i.e. is LTA being too kiasu)? My answer is YES.
     
    The reason? It is no longer reasonable to restrict our expressway speed at 90km/h or less (for passenger cars) in most circumstances. To begin with, most passenger vehicles in Singapore are safer and more capable of traveling safely at speeds above 90km/h per day. Most of our passenger cars are not manufactured exclusively for the Singapore market and would reasonably be in use in areas such as Europe where speed limits tend to be higher. Thus far, we have yet to hear of accidents in Europe occurring because their speed limit has been set too high, have we?
     
    Furthermore, considering the ever efficient LTA and the immense amount of road planning and road maintenance, we have really wonderful expressways with very few stretches which are dangerous at speeds slightly above 90km/h. Of course, a few expressways have to be specially excluded such as the KPE (due to it being a long tunnel), but I am sure most stretches of expressway in Singapore are safe for travel at a slightly higher speed. When these factors are considered, it does seem that our current speed limit may be overly cautious.
     
    Now, do not mistake me for the speed demon. I am all for some restriction; it just seems that the current speed limit can do with a slight upward tweak. It will surely go a long way to making those late night journeys home that little bit faster.
     
    What do you think?...
  20. Blogger
    GM has announced that it has extended its deadline for potential bidders of Saab, in a move that hands the Swedish car-maker a lifeline for survival.

    GM is still continuing the wind-down process of Saab though, but in the wake of renewed interest in Saab from Spyker Cars, as well as several other interested parties, GM has extended the deadline for bids from 31st December to 7th January.

    "We are preparing the wind-down process. At the same time we are open to options, to bids that come in. Therefore the deadline has also been dropped," said Saab spokesman Eric Geers. Spyker CEO Victor Muller has made a final offer for Saab, with a decision to be made soon.

    Saab has also announced that it will restart production of the new 2010 Saab 9-5 as well as the 9-3 Convertible models. "We have the orders and we have to deliver them as usual. We also have the orders for the 9-3 and others. The factory has to continue again," Geers said.
  21. Blogger

    2010 Opel Astra

    By Blogger,

    Here's the all new Opel Astra. It projects a more elegant and classy image than the outgoing model and has grown alot is all dimensions, being 170 mm longer, 160 mm wider and 50 mm taller. With such dimensions, it engulfs the Mark VI Golf. Not only that, I feel that the Astra managed to look more sophisticated than the Golf.
     
    A bigger car inevitably weighs more. Opel said the new Astra carries an average 40 kg more than the equivalent old car.
     
    On the positive side, torsional rigidity of its chassis increased by a massive 43 percent, and NVH level is improved significantly with upgraded insulation. As expected, the new Astra is much more refined than its predecessor. Its wind and road noise level is among the lowest in the C-segment.
     
    A new series of turbocharged power-plants makes its debut on the new Astra. The 1.4L turbo churns out 140hp while the larger 1.6L unit delivers an impressive 180 hp. The Astra comes with an optional 6 speed automatic gearbox that is found on the Chevrolet Cruze. However, it's no DSG.
     
    The Astra does come with the ingredients of a successful hatchback. It shares the same underpinnings as the recently launched Chevrolet Cruze, which has received commendable feedback from local car magazines with regards to its body control and handling characteristics. I can't wait to see it when it arrives at our local shore.
     

  23. Blogger
    Thierry Dombreval, vice president of sales and marketing of Toyota France, has confirmed that the Toyota Celica will make its return in 2010. This will be the 8th generation of the rear-wheel drive sports coupe and Toyota will be developing the new Celica in collaboration with Subaru. The old Celica was a banging good car and I bet the new one will be even better.
     
    The standard GT version will come with a 1.8-litre engine which produces 140bhp, the GTS version will showcase a 1.8-litre 180bhp engine with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard. Well these are the speculated engines that Toyota will produce for the new Celica but hopefully more details will be available soon for the version that is going to be sold here in Singapore.
     
    Car 'zhngsters' get your wallets ready!
  24. Blogger
    [extract]
     
    General Motors has issued an official announcement saying that it will gradually shut down Saab, following a breakdown in the negotiations with Spyker after "certain issues" arose in the deal.
     
    A previous deal by Koenigsegg to buy up Saab feel apart in late November, and General Motors then reiterated that it will shut down the 72-year-old Swedish brand if it is not sold by end of 2009.
     
    General Motors
  25. Blogger
    The subtly facelifted Ford Galaxy MPV that will be making its world debut at the 2010 Brussels Show in January 2010. More significantly, the revised MPV marks the debut of Ford's all-new 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbocharged petrol engine, which is highly efficient.
     
    The new 2.0-liter EcoBoost STCi engine employs turbocharging and direct injection technologies. It pumps out 203HP at 5,500 rpm with a maximum torque of 300Nm, delivered across a broad 1,750-4,500 rpm range.
     
    Linked to a standard dual-clutch transmission (DSG), the revised Galaxy performs the century sprint in 8.8 seconds with a top speed of 217 km/h.
     
    On the outside, the new Galaxy features a subtly redesigned snout with a more sculpted bonnet. It also receive revised lower and upper grilles along with new silver roof rails and LED tail lights.
     
    I am looking forward to the new Ecoboost/DSG combination to be deployed in the Ford Mondeo. This will pose some serious challenge to the Japanese camps with the appropriate pricing.
     

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