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Many of us know that workshops are overcharging us. Whether it is an authorized workshop or it be Ah Tan's Motor (fictitious name). Many times we have no idea at all as to what went wrong and we will blindly listen to what the mechanics are telling us, nodding our heads as though we understood everything they said (or did not say). Most other times, we just grumble a little and hand over our ATM card. After all, when something goes wrong with our car, we just want to get it fix as soon as possible. Recently I met with one such incident and, in what I felt, had been totally ripped off. It was probably partly my fault for being too rough on the car. I had pulled up in a Shell station, grab the gear shifter, and with probably a little too much force, yanked it to "P". What followed was a heart sinking "krucckk" sound, accompanied by all the lights beside the gear indicator lighting up and the car now stuck in "R" gear. The gear shifter now has completely lost all resistance and could freely move from P to 1 with a push of a finger. The gear linkage had came loose. Now, if this were to happen to your friend (lets call him John), who is the average driver and knows nothing about cars, along say Ang Mo Kio Street 11. He/She would probably have thought the worst and a tow truck would be definitely called for. In his/her mind now, this seems to warrant a pretty serious repair, and equally hefty bill. The workshops know this and therefore, they charge accordingly. Let me show you what actually happened to my car. No. 2 is the Gear Linkage that goes to the shifter No. 3 is the Actuator Lever that is connected to the Gearbox itself Due to my excessive force, No.2 came loose from No.3. It is basically a rubber boot (No.2) that slots into a ball end on No.3. However, I had damaged the rubber boot slightly and it will not fit properly onto the actuator lever anymore. So, the workshop decided to change the actuator lever to another which has a screw end instead of a slot-in ball end. They then drill a small hole into the rubber boot so the screw can be fitted through and a nut can be used to hold it in place. This actuator lever is only a piece of metal about the size of your thumb. So I thought, Hey! That will be cheap! Estimated about maximum $30 for that piece. NO. It cost $240. I was a mechanic in army and I know a little about stuffs like that, $240, that is way overkill. The mechanic who knows me knew it was excessive but he said that's what the boss quoted and he can't do anything about it. Not wanting to put my friend in a spot, I reluctantly paid up. Now, if your friend John who by now believe that he needs to fork out at least $1000 for some huge damage to his gearbox was told that he will only have to pay $240. He'd be delighted and would have gladly paid up. Sad truth here is, due to the high cost of cars in Singapore, many people mistakenly think that car components cost a lot when in fact cost price for a basic Suzuki swift can be as low as $6000 -$8000 (est.). Do you think that a piece of metal warrants $240? If you have any similar experiences, do share under the comments section.
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The Car Paint Solution Cars are expensive. To protect our investment, we make sure our car is in good running order by regularly taking it to the workshop for tune-ups, oil changes and repairs. We also spend a lot of money and time to ensure that our cars are in 'showroom condition'. We wash and wax it - really wanting it to shine, to sparkle and to be noticed. Unfortunately, in taking care of both the paint and the shine, we often cause damage and deteriorate the sparkle. The Elements and Car Wax The quality of the shine will, naturally, affect the overall presentation of the car. Obviously, it is the paint that is most exposed to harsh environmental elements. The damages to paint from rain that is acidic, dust particles that stick to the car surface, and UV rays which speed up oxidation are real. These elements can ruin paint and shine quickly if one doesn't protect the paint. Most car owners' solution to maintaining the shine turns out to cause even more damage. SierraGlow - Glass coating protection One brand that utilises such paint protection technology is SierraGlow. As opposed to other products in the market, the company's offering - Glassglow - contains 95% Silica (one of the highest concentration in the market), which makes it comparatively more durable than those formed by other glass type coating materials. Besides providing extensive protection capabilities, the layer's high water and dirt repelling properties imply that owners will have an easier time cleaning up the car thereafter - a mild water bath will suffice for regular maintenance. What is the difference? SierraGlow is truly unique with its formula. Although the compound, Glassglow, is primarily silica, it is inert and inorganic. Why is this important? Organic materials, by definition, contain carbon, and carbon will react and interact with weather elements. So, acid rain, UV sunrays, bird dung or car shampoo will all interact with organic silica coatings. These compounds on the car paint will slowly deteriorate and dissipate. These organic compounds will need to be reapplied, and most companies selling these compounds will tell you to bring the car back every year or even 6 months for a "refinishing". Unlike other companies, SierraGlow's Glassglow is 100% inorganic and has the highest concentration of 95% of silica in the market. Hence, it will not deteriorate as quick. Since its inorganic compound does not interact with the standard paint threats, GlassGlow stays on the car. Even after each wash, your car's shine will stay. It is, thus, vital to ask before you select: Is the compound organic or inorganic? Advantages of using SierraGlow One big advantage of using SierraGlow is not just their inorganic GlassGlow, but the compounds that they use to prepare your car for the GlassGlow application. They may spend 3 to 8 hours to complete the paint preparation, as any house owner knows, it is the foundation that is the most important and takes the longest to build. Before GlassGlow is applied, they thoroughly clean and buff the paint. It is crucial to restore the surface to clean and smooth paint before applying GlassGlow. They use clay bars and the latest sponge or lamb's wool orbital buffers from Japan in preparing the paint. More notably, they use their own polishing/buffing compounds called TC Hard, TC Round, TC Combo, TC All or TC Finish. Each of these compounds is specially formulated for variety in paint hardness, the depth of surface scratches and general paint restoration. These compounds are unique and not sold on the open market as they were specifically designed for SierraGlow and its GlassGlow application. In SierraGlow's inventory are additional great car care products which also boast extraordinary cutting edge technology, namely the SierraWash and SierraBead. For instance, SierraWash is a car washing agent with a neutral pH value to ensure that there is no 'chemical attack' on the paintwork. SierraBead on the other hand, maintains a high water paint surface runoff, hence, reducing the occurrence of water spots, and renewing the glow and water repellence of Glassglow. In addition, SierraBead works well with all colours, and is suitable for use on different materials such as glass, aluminium and galvanised steel. While setting its emphasis strongly on product development to ensure maximum efficiency, SierraGlow's products are also environmentally friendly. They do not contain any volatile organic compound (VOC) and do not disrupt any environmental hormones. Under the SierraGlow program, all cars will be warranted against disintegration of the Glassglow layer for three years. You only require one application for a shine that will last for years. Every application will come with a serial number and proof of warranty for authentication purpose. For a limited time only, the package will come with a free 3M Scotchgard internal grooming service. Furthermore, all sgCarMart users will enjoy 15% discount when booking online with SierraGlow, simply by quoting 'sgcar108'. For more information on service booking and product, please visit http://www.sierraglow.sg/.
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Toyota hit by massive recall over faulty power window switches
SYF77 posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
Toyota has issued a massive recall involving 7.43 million cars, trucks and SUV due to a faulty power-window switch that runs the risk of catching fire. It is the largest recall since over 12 million vehicles including some Lexus models were found to have faulty accelerator pedals in 2009 and 2010. Fortunately, no death, injuries or accidents have been caused by the issue although the faulty switches could emit smoke. Nearer to home, Borneo Motors, the distributor of Toyota cars in Singapore, commented that 15,000 Toyota vehicles here are affected. A total of 14 models are involved in the recall and in Singapore, the affected models are the RAV4, Vios, Camry and Altis. The problem is caused by improper application of lubricant during the assembly process. The fix would involve putting heat-resistant grease on the switches or replacing them altogether. The recall is a blow to Toyota, which had just only reclaimed its world -
Nissan has brought its latest GTR to grace the F1 celebration. Staged at the Ritz Carlton Singapore, the 2012 GTR look very much at home with its smaller, 370Z sibling. The latest GTR promises a breath-taking century sprint timing of just 2.8 seconds The official F1 party, opening night of Podium Lounge, held by the poolside of the Ritz Carlton Singapore on Sep 21, saw plenty of beauties and plenty of enthusiastic guests. With Nissan showcasing its ever-popular GTR in the lobby of the Lounge, Azimuth showcasing its unique watch collections and a Dom Perignon VIP bar, Podium Lounge set the scene for a high luxury time. The Nissan GT-R is an icon of Nissan
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Browse through youtube and found many local cabbies reckless driving behavior footage, search comfort cab, transcab, ... many pop up.
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[extract] The Subaru Palm Challenge in Singapore has been around for as long as I can be bothered to remember and these days the contest includes a number of contestants from Asia. This is mainly because Motor Image, official distributors of Subaru in Singapore is also the official distributor throughout this region. Anyway, over in The Curve, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, hundreds were present to witness and support 62 of Malaysia
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Japanese electronics manufacturer, Casio, widely known for their calculators and G-Shock range of watches are also partners/sponsors of the Red Bull Racing team. As such they have recently announced a new model in the Edifice line of analogue metal watches. Since 2009 Casio has been an official partner for the Red Bull Racing team. The youthful image and energy of the team bundled with outstanding technology development capabilities was a perfect match for Casio and the Edifice brand concept. Designed in collaboration with the Red Bull team, the limited edition EFR-520RB reflects on the youthful and vibrant image. The 520RB is based on EFR-520 with distinctive updates that clearly tell the limited edition Red Bull piece apart. The timepiece features a multi-layered watch face and a dynamic face design built from the concept of -
Its here once again! Forza Motorsport has announced the September track pack for Forza 4 and now they have added the racing variants of the 2013 SRT Viper GTS-R (The stock car was added back in June). Both the #91 and #93 Viper GTS-R race cars are added to shred virtual rubber on virtual circuits. The #91 Viper is sponsored by Forza Motorsport and competes in the 2012 American Le Mans Series. But that's not all. On top of the vipers, there is a whole list of other cars from the 1968 Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale, to a 2011 Citro
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Team Petronas Syntium has successfully defended their championship title at the Malaysia Merdeka Endurance Race (MMER) 2012. Held over the last weekend, the race is the region's leading endurance event. The win is the team's third consecutive title, setting the record of the most wins in the race event. This year, the team managed to sweeten their scores - claiming a 1-2 win, over a 1-3 finish last year. It was the 458 from Singapore's Clearwater racing team which clocked the best timing for qualifying. The car put up a strong showcase of its outright pace, leading the runner-up by up to a lap. The car ran into technical problems ten hours into the race, and had to retire after 239 laps. Team LKM's Porsche GT3R secured the third position after the SLS AMG GT3s Earlier at the start-line At the pits The GT3R nursed back to the pits with a blown tyre More racing actions We look forward to more excitement at the Sepang circuit next year.
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[extract] The 1.4-litre TSI variant of the VW Passat has finally arrived in Singapore although it has been available in Europe for some time now. The new 1.4-litre Passat now takes over as the base model of the range from the 1.8-litre. It epitomizes the rising
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Renault-Samsung has released the initial details on the 2013 SM3 sedan, ahead of its launch in September. The Renault Fluence and the Samsung SM3 are basically identical twins other than the badges on the bonnet. This could mean that the updates on the Korean saloon will likely be applied on the Fluence that we are getting in Singapore. The face lifted SM3 features a revised front bumper that houses a new grille with more chrome. In addition, the design of the headlights has been updated. Nothing much seems to have changed at the rear end. On the inside, the upgrades include a new digital instrument panel, an electronic parking brake and a "SMart Connect" infotainment system that comes with GPS navigation. The new instrument panel looks pretty cool although it could have borrowed some styling cues from the 2012 Chevrolet Aveo. Details on the engine options are not available at the moment. However, do expect the existing combination of the 1.6L petrol unit with CVT transmission to be carried over. Reviews by existing owners of the Fluence in Sgcarmart suggest that the car is underpowered. Hence, let
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While the term 'Gentleman's Racer' might sound like an oxymoron, that's exactly what the MC Stradale is. Maserati's edgiest drive is hardcore yet still perfectly chivalrous around town. When a car maker announces that they will be making a road-legal racecar, everyone sits up and listens. So it was with Maserati, when news of a stripped out, hardcore version of the GranTurismo was underway, the world (myself included) waited in anticipation to see what this manic italian beast was going to be like. Well here I am, strapped in by a 4-point harness onto light-weight carbon fibre seats, surrounded by racy blue alcantara, shifting gear upon gear in lightning speed (0.06 seconds to be exact), and accelerating into license-revoking speeds. But it's not the speed - blindingly quick it may be - that has got the hair at the back of my neck standing, but rather, it's the glorious symphony of camshafts, pistons and the combustion of compressed air that has got me all fired up! If you thought that the 'ordinary' Maserati GranTurismo was loud, this car is dialled up to eleven (going on twelve)! The sound of this thing is simply orgasmic, it is a good enough reason to go out and get one. This 'thing', is none other than the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale. Let's start with what this car doesn't have. Rear seats for one. The absence of rear seats contribute to the total weight reduction of 110kg, it also makes the MC Stradale the only two-seater in the current Maserati range. The use of carbon fibre (gorgeous) seats also help reduce weight. Now let's talk about what it has. The MC Stradale generates 10bhp more from the 4.7-litre V8 engine than the GranTurismo S. Torque is also up with a further 20Nm improvement at 510Nm. This allows the car to accelerate from nought to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, all the way to a 300 km/h top speed. Let this be official - this car is FAST! Maybe it's the sound that enhances the sense of speed, but the MC Stradale accelerates angrily through every gear and every rev input given. And it looks quick too, with a new front splitter, sleek bumper with a lower chin, vented bonnet, and even a new rear bumper, the hard-edged nature of the MC Stradale comes through perfectly. Sexy carbon fibre seats covered is racy blue alcantara leather adorn the interior. It may be a little loud for some, but I felt right at home. The brilliant thing about the seats is how they manage to be comfortable and grippy at the same time. The 4-point harness and roll-cage are not mandatory, standard issue is the regular 3-point seat belts. But if you're going to buy a car like that, please go for broke and get the full works. The 4-point belts even have the seat belt safety sensor. How cool is that? With advanced electronics, shift times from the upgraded MC Race Shift electro-actuated transaxle gearbox have been shaved to a mere 60 milliseconds. This is only possible in Race mode, in this mode, the exhaust valves open permanently and the already superb song this car sings becomes a No. 1 billboard chart hit! On the note of drive modes, three are available, Auto, Sport and Race, the latter is only found in this exceptional car. One thing I wished Race mode did as well was tweak the suspension - the car is just too soft. Which brings me to my point of this being a gentleman's racer. It's quite amazing how it can be so ferocious, yet it is really stress-free to drive. The trade-off is that the car won't satisfy hot-blooded trackies. Point the car into a corner and there is some apparent roll, but keep the steering input steady and the line will still hold, but the pitching doesn't inspire confidence. So with a charismatic engine like this, the driver is best left to cruise and mess around with the gears just to hear the snarling symphony of the revs going up and down. Is it worth it? I say with all my heart, YES! At approx S$500K, this awesome machine undercuts other exotic cars by a few hundred thousand quid! With other racy upgrades like Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes, custom-developed Pirelli tyres, bespoke light-weight 20" wheels as standard, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale is a well equipped exotic that looks good, sounds great, goes fast and most importantly, allows the driver to do all this with much ease.
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Is it the local organizer or the angmo owner? Both seem to be playing taichi Local organizer also have quite a history, from being sacked as a student leader to using fake degree and now involved in a PR disaster. Call me low class but I don't understand all the fuss over a picnic..... need to dress like MIW, bring picnic basket and even buy a table just for the event (Ikea considered atas or not?) My last picnic was sit on park bench eating KFC
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Gobsmacked. This guy takes home $1800 all in and his wife is not working. He has 5 kids with a 6th coming. They can even go Genting for holiday.
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[extract] In partnership with Herm
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Read full story here
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Ferrari will display the F12berlinetta in Mid-September
PetrolHead posted a blog entry in MyAutoBlog
[extract] Formula One giants Ferrari will showcase an exhibit briefing us through its history from the 5th to 24th September at the Marina Bay Sands. The exhibit will highlight the marque -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8F4SMBVWM0...eature=youtu.be
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[extract] Diesel engines have undergone a technical revolution over the last twenty years. In the past diesel powered vehicles have been considered by many to be noisy, dirty (with smelly black exhaust) and underpowered. Today
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When we take cars out for reviews, they are either registered, or they would come with trade plates. Journalists generally prefer registered cars, because it makes things easier for us, in terms of identification and convenience. However, we obviously don't have it our way all the time, so we'll make do with trade plates sometimes. We do get quite a lot of stares from people when we drive around a car on trade plates, even for a rather standard, run-of-the-mill car. The effect is amplified if we get a somewhat nice-looking car, because it gives people double the reason to stare. I can understand people's curiosity and bewilderment when they see an unregistered car running around, but come on. That doesn't mean one should glare at us like we've committed a crime or anything. The look that some people give us is like we've done a cardinal sin and should repent. Besides, it's not like one would have never seen a car on trade plates before (unless they've never been to Ubi or Leng Kee in their lives, ever). So, the next time you see an unregistered car on the expressway, or somewhere out of those car belts, don't be too surprised. It's just one of us.
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[extract] Ask any layman on the street to differentiate the previous 997-generation 911 to the new 991 and they
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[extract] This will be the third and last instalment of iconic cars from movies and TV shows. In the first instalment, I did mention two of my favourite movie cars which were the Ford Gran Torino from Starsky and Hutch and the Mini 1000 from the show Mr. Bean. I will talk about these two cars in this final part of the article. Let us continue with this last instalment. British Leyland Mini 1000 from Mr. Bean The Mini is a part of the British automotive heritage and it even came in second place in an international award ceremony, Car of the Century (the winner was Ford
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In our sunny tropics, sunshine is abundant throughout the year. With climate change and the thinning of our ozone layer, harmful radiation from our Sun poses harmful effects on our personal well-being. Most of us spend a considerable amount of time travelling and it is important to find ways to protect ourselves from solar radiation. Solar films have been introduced to motorcars for a while and with improving product knowledge, solar films have become a functional product more than fashion. Let
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It is official. Market Street Car Park will be no more. In its place? Yet another office building in the heart of Raffles Place. The CBD parking crunch just got worse. With rental values of office space back on the upward trend again, it is no surprise that the owner of the Market Street Car Park has decided that the land it sits on would be better utilized as a proper commercial/office property rather than serving the needs of hundreds of drivers who work in Raffles Place. Well, it is hard to say no to money. But, perhaps businesses and organizations in Singapore should be quicker to do a rethink of their mentality that provision of car parking spaces as a drain on profit. Owners of commercial properties and shopping malls should be the first to take heed. After all, despite whatever the Government is trying to do; most middle and upper class Singaporeans simply refuse to travel on public transport. And, if you make parking difficult or if you charge an exorbitant rate for parking; there will come a time when the balance is tipped and drivers will simply figure that it isn't worth it any more and they will choose to pass on the shopping mall. Drivers are customers too; often generous ones at that. Property developers too have been all too anxious to cut down on the provision of car park spaces once the Government authorities have relaxed the requirements. Every square foot expended on parking, is one less square foot to be sold. While their sales talk about how providing 1 lot per unit is enough may smoke the first time house hunter, savvy drivers/house buyers are increasingly becoming aware of parking woes cropping up in newer private properties. After all, most who can splash the cash for the record breaking property prices today have the means to buy a second, third or fourth car. And when parking spaces become scarce, neighbourly relations take a beating and sometimes the parking woes get published all over the internet or the papers. That can only be bad for the property value. So to the big-wigs at these huge businesses, it is time to do a rethink. It might be a wise investment to build a little bit more parking space than you deem necessary. In quasi-business lingo, this is a hedge against the risk that the market attitudes change.
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What a way to kick start the weekend, sgCarMart (and some other lucky folks) spent the whole Saturday morning with the incredible McLaren MP4-12C at Changi Exhibition Eentre. Chances like this don't come often, so it was definitely worth waking up early on a Saturday morning. I have no idea how you can ever learn to appreciate any other car after driving a McLaren?? The MP4-12C is still new and while it is not the F1 successor, it was still an awesome experience, and as always we managed to take some great photos. Enjoy the shots!
