My friend very nicely let me drive her BMW 318i from her house to my house. Whoa. I lurrrrrve the car. It's not called the Ultimate Driving Machine for nothing. The engine is very responsive and I love the roaaaaarrrrr under my feet. All them horses being whipped in shape.
I shall aspire to a BMW.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
iOwner
I couldn't wait till this weekend so I snuck off work after lunch yesterday and went to collect the keys to my new apartment and went to see it. Boy it's small. Reality hits. I'm a homeowner!!! With it comes a barrage of bills bills and more bills. It's absolutely frightening this obligation I have just undertaken.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
The other highlight of the day was visiting my friends' place to get ideas on what to do with my place. The place has been paid up as of Friday 20 Oct, bank loan disbursed etc (i.e. astronomical interest has started to accrue).
I shall collect keys this week or the week after, and have a look at the place to decide what I want to do with it.
Got some pretty good ideas, and a rough idea of the budget. They passed me their collection of home magazines, and now it's homework time.
Bah. It's a lot of work.
I shall collect keys this week or the week after, and have a look at the place to decide what I want to do with it.
Got some pretty good ideas, and a rough idea of the budget. They passed me their collection of home magazines, and now it's homework time.
Bah. It's a lot of work.
Road Test Part III
Couple of my friends wanted to go test drive the Honda FIT at Eunos, so I went along. Turns out they haven't converted their license so they couldn't try anything. We tried the Honda Jazz again (I drove) with 4 passengers (it was ok not bad). Went up a steep slope and it was ok.
We also tried the Toyota Vios (this time 1.5 manual). OH MY I LIKE.
They had a special offer today on the Corolla Altis and I was sorely tempted. But $35k is still $35k and money doesn't grow on trees.
The highlight of the day however, must have been the CHERY QQ 0.8 AMT (YES THEY COME IN AUTO VERSIONS), selling for a "bargain" price of S$34k. I HAVE FINALLY FULFILLED MY DREAM OF TESTING THIS CAR!!!!
Ok, and I have to say, this is seriously the shittiest car I've ever driven. Let me count the ways...
1. on the exterior, there were such large spaces between the panelling that I asked the salesperson if it would leak water.
2. on the plus side the doors don't slam like a milo tin (unlike Protons). However, i tried to open the engine cover, and accidentally pressed the panelling abit, and er it was thinner than a milo tin.
3. the light meters are in the strangest places and I accidentally turned the lights on and couldn't turn them off 'cos i didn't know where the light switch was.
4. the engine is seriously shit - noisy, loud, rough and underpowered. Kinda like a diesel engine. And underpowered (but that's to be expected of a 0.8litre car) - I floored it and it chugged along like a beached whale.
5. the brakes don't work very well even though I stepped quite hard on the brake pedal and there were times I wondered whether I could stop at the traffic light. I mean seriously, I think emergency braking is probably non existent.
6. the signal stick squeaked like a spoilt joystick, and er after I turned the corner, the signal wouldn't stop blinking and the signal stick didn't return to the proper place. The salesgirl said the spring was probably spoilt but assured me that the shipped models would be fine. I had my doubts.
Otherwise, the car works, although I would be concerned for my safety (ref: milo tin like materials).
Price? S$33,500 or so for the manual.
If I haven't already mentioned it, this car is seriously shitty - I think the Perodua Kancil is better, and the car makes the Kia Picanto look / feel like a Mercedes Benz. If you thought your car was bad, you should try this to put things in perspective.
The salesgirl offered to sit down with us to do the numbers, but er we said it was ok and left.
We also tried the Toyota Vios (this time 1.5 manual). OH MY I LIKE.
They had a special offer today on the Corolla Altis and I was sorely tempted. But $35k is still $35k and money doesn't grow on trees.
The highlight of the day however, must have been the CHERY QQ 0.8 AMT (YES THEY COME IN AUTO VERSIONS), selling for a "bargain" price of S$34k. I HAVE FINALLY FULFILLED MY DREAM OF TESTING THIS CAR!!!!
Ok, and I have to say, this is seriously the shittiest car I've ever driven. Let me count the ways...
1. on the exterior, there were such large spaces between the panelling that I asked the salesperson if it would leak water.
2. on the plus side the doors don't slam like a milo tin (unlike Protons). However, i tried to open the engine cover, and accidentally pressed the panelling abit, and er it was thinner than a milo tin.
3. the light meters are in the strangest places and I accidentally turned the lights on and couldn't turn them off 'cos i didn't know where the light switch was.
4. the engine is seriously shit - noisy, loud, rough and underpowered. Kinda like a diesel engine. And underpowered (but that's to be expected of a 0.8litre car) - I floored it and it chugged along like a beached whale.
5. the brakes don't work very well even though I stepped quite hard on the brake pedal and there were times I wondered whether I could stop at the traffic light. I mean seriously, I think emergency braking is probably non existent.
6. the signal stick squeaked like a spoilt joystick, and er after I turned the corner, the signal wouldn't stop blinking and the signal stick didn't return to the proper place. The salesgirl said the spring was probably spoilt but assured me that the shipped models would be fine. I had my doubts.
Otherwise, the car works, although I would be concerned for my safety (ref: milo tin like materials).
Price? S$33,500 or so for the manual.
If I haven't already mentioned it, this car is seriously shitty - I think the Perodua Kancil is better, and the car makes the Kia Picanto look / feel like a Mercedes Benz. If you thought your car was bad, you should try this to put things in perspective.
The salesgirl offered to sit down with us to do the numbers, but er we said it was ok and left.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Went for VJ Choir's Les Miserables practice today and was thoroughly impressed. They have so many guys with such warm and strong voices that I felt utterly ashamed and disgusted with myself, and I'm at least 10 years their senior. You can't beat talent, and I haven't got any.
So we withdrew from "helping" them (we're more of a liability) and will just buy tickets to watch instead.
I shall now mope in the office and do my annual self-evaluation.
So we withdrew from "helping" them (we're more of a liability) and will just buy tickets to watch instead.
I shall now mope in the office and do my annual self-evaluation.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Wahlau. Not one, but TWO car salespersons called me today. One got my voicemail. The other lucky one got through and offered me a "SPECIAL OFFER" on "LIMITED STOCKS" on the Corolla Altis, which now goes for S$51,988, while the Vios now goes for S$47,276.
Surprise surprise, this is S$1,500 less than the price just quoted to me last weekend, which happens to coincide with the recent CoE price drop in an amount of...S$1,500!!!!
Oklah at least they called me. Hyundai didn't bother. Nor did Mitsubishi.
It's a sign. Hmmmmmmm. This weekend I'm testing the Honda FIT.
I saw the sign
and I opened up my mind and
I am happy on living without you
I've left you oh-oh-oh-oh.
Wahlau. This song was on number one on the charts for like 53 weeks. I remember when we used to set up sound systems in sec. school this song would be like the ultimate favourite.
God I'm old.
Surprise surprise, this is S$1,500 less than the price just quoted to me last weekend, which happens to coincide with the recent CoE price drop in an amount of...S$1,500!!!!
Oklah at least they called me. Hyundai didn't bother. Nor did Mitsubishi.
It's a sign. Hmmmmmmm. This weekend I'm testing the Honda FIT.
I saw the sign
and I opened up my mind and
I am happy on living without you
I've left you oh-oh-oh-oh.
Wahlau. This song was on number one on the charts for like 53 weeks. I remember when we used to set up sound systems in sec. school this song would be like the ultimate favourite.
God I'm old.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Test Drive Galore Round 2
Right. I'm exhausted. All the excitement in the afternoon today has completely drained me.
Cars done today:
1. Mitsubishi Colt - not bad, but slightly on the pricey side. The engine's pretty powerful.
2. Hyundai Verna 1.4 Auto - terrible. Underpowered, engine noise is atrocious.
3. Hyundai Avante 1.6 Auto - slightly better than the Verna, but all those claims about the Korean cars finally matching up to Japanese cars - pfft. Still feels underpowered.
4. Honda Jazz - Not bad. Quite powerful for a 1.4 car. A bit pricey though.
5. Toyota Vios 1.5 Auto - Very good - best car I've test driven so far, except for the Altis. Very powerful. Gear change was excellent - very smooth.
6. Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Auto - Feels a lot less claustrophobic than the Vios 1.5.
Have decided that the Civic is out of my price range.
I couldn't find the Proton showroom. Dang. But that was just for fun anyway to see how bad it is.
So I've test driven all the cars I may potentially want to own, and all it boils down to now is to:
(a) decide how much I want to pay for a car;
(b) pick one.
Strong contenders:
(a) Kia Picanto 1.1M - basic car just to get around.
(b) Hyundai Getz 1.1M - as above, but looks slightly better
(c) Vios 1.5 Auto - very good car, but $10k more than above
Possibility: Mitsubishi Colt 1.5A or Colt Plus 1.5A - I could fit a bicycle at the back of this one, which is a big plus point.
Cars done today:
1. Mitsubishi Colt - not bad, but slightly on the pricey side. The engine's pretty powerful.
2. Hyundai Verna 1.4 Auto - terrible. Underpowered, engine noise is atrocious.
3. Hyundai Avante 1.6 Auto - slightly better than the Verna, but all those claims about the Korean cars finally matching up to Japanese cars - pfft. Still feels underpowered.
4. Honda Jazz - Not bad. Quite powerful for a 1.4 car. A bit pricey though.
5. Toyota Vios 1.5 Auto - Very good - best car I've test driven so far, except for the Altis. Very powerful. Gear change was excellent - very smooth.
6. Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 Auto - Feels a lot less claustrophobic than the Vios 1.5.
Have decided that the Civic is out of my price range.
I couldn't find the Proton showroom. Dang. But that was just for fun anyway to see how bad it is.
So I've test driven all the cars I may potentially want to own, and all it boils down to now is to:
(a) decide how much I want to pay for a car;
(b) pick one.
Strong contenders:
(a) Kia Picanto 1.1M - basic car just to get around.
(b) Hyundai Getz 1.1M - as above, but looks slightly better
(c) Vios 1.5 Auto - very good car, but $10k more than above
Possibility: Mitsubishi Colt 1.5A or Colt Plus 1.5A - I could fit a bicycle at the back of this one, which is a big plus point.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
I'm of two minds about the latest new Chorale schedule. On one hand, it's great that we can go out after practice, the shops still being open, have long leisurely dinner, walk around, go home, and it's only 10 pm.
On the other hand, I kinda miss the combined (cheap but tasteless) dinners at beer garden - our opportunity to bond. Members just leave after the practice. But as the new queen says, it's more like the opportunity to clique.
I'm of two minds.
Most of the old faces are gone. We are left with the new faces. Big change in environment. This is the second renewal phase since I joined. Will I be left obsolete in the sidelines? Only time shall tell. One thing's for sure, our time to, er, climax (shine?), has come and gone.
Side and irrelevant thought. One of the new staff (she) in the company's surname is Cuming. Uhm...
On the other hand, I kinda miss the combined (cheap but tasteless) dinners at beer garden - our opportunity to bond. Members just leave after the practice. But as the new queen says, it's more like the opportunity to clique.
I'm of two minds.
Most of the old faces are gone. We are left with the new faces. Big change in environment. This is the second renewal phase since I joined. Will I be left obsolete in the sidelines? Only time shall tell. One thing's for sure, our time to, er, climax (shine?), has come and gone.
Side and irrelevant thought. One of the new staff (she) in the company's surname is Cuming. Uhm...
Toys for the boys
The saying goes, you can't take the toys away from the boy. Or was it you can't separate the boys from their toys. or something like that. aiyah ok i made it up. The point is as you get older, the toys just become more expensive. And I have *so* many toys to buy.
i remember when I was 8, and the bestest toy which I wanted more than anything in the whole wide world was this robot-like watch which could open and show the time inside. My classmate had one and I wanted to kill him so that I could steal it from him.
when i turned 10 or 11, I wanted a mountain bike with gears more than anything and I kept pestering my parents for one.
when i was 14, it was a PC.
At 17, a hi-fi set.
between 19 - 23, i lusted after every new handphone and PDA.
and when i started work, the possibilities became too endless to list. a swanky watch. check. super slim camera. check. Digital SLR. check. New lens for digital SLR. check. The list continues.
But right here right now, all i can think about is this - my object of lust and desire:
Sigh.
I swear I'd never lay my eyes on another car again, but i think it would be just a matter of time before mine unfaithful eyes begin to rove.
Sigh.
Decisions decisions.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
What a terrible day. I overslept and woke up at 9.30 am. After work I decided to head town for choir practice for some performance. Thought I was late and took a cab. Turns out the journey was so jammed it would've been faster to take the MRT.
Practice was truly dreadful hearing all these lao-laos from a uni alumni society screech away. One of them screeched a high C. The basses were singing a different key. The women and the conductress sounded like Minnie Mouse. I felt like killing myself there and then and it was all I could do to stop myself from reaching into my briefcase to grab my pen to stab myself. I felt compelled to share my suicidal tendencies by SMS to all my friends there.
The only (semi) consolation was tao huay at Selegie after this session of pure torture. I can't say I found it very good it was quite tasteless. After that we tried to call a cab for 40 mins by which time I felt sticky, smelly and tired.
On the way home the cab driver had this wheezing breath pattern that sounded like (i) he was going to have a heart attack; (ii) he was snoring while driving; or (iii) he was going to have an asthma fit. None of which are good. Everytime he breathed I felt as if it were me and after a while I felt belaboured.
His driving was appalling swerving left and right. Halfway through he took out his Vicks stick (I guess to clear his nasal passage), and DECIDED TO BLOODY LEAVE IT STICKING OUT OF HIS NOSE BOUNCING AROUND WHILE HE CONTINUED DRIVING. I was sitting in the front seat. I felt so nauseated I wanted to vomit in his cab.
Got home feeling like I wanted to puke. Had some alcohol which er made it worse.
And now all I feel like are some greasy, salty fries. Sigh.
Practice was truly dreadful hearing all these lao-laos from a uni alumni society screech away. One of them screeched a high C. The basses were singing a different key. The women and the conductress sounded like Minnie Mouse. I felt like killing myself there and then and it was all I could do to stop myself from reaching into my briefcase to grab my pen to stab myself. I felt compelled to share my suicidal tendencies by SMS to all my friends there.
The only (semi) consolation was tao huay at Selegie after this session of pure torture. I can't say I found it very good it was quite tasteless. After that we tried to call a cab for 40 mins by which time I felt sticky, smelly and tired.
On the way home the cab driver had this wheezing breath pattern that sounded like (i) he was going to have a heart attack; (ii) he was snoring while driving; or (iii) he was going to have an asthma fit. None of which are good. Everytime he breathed I felt as if it were me and after a while I felt belaboured.
His driving was appalling swerving left and right. Halfway through he took out his Vicks stick (I guess to clear his nasal passage), and DECIDED TO BLOODY LEAVE IT STICKING OUT OF HIS NOSE BOUNCING AROUND WHILE HE CONTINUED DRIVING. I was sitting in the front seat. I felt so nauseated I wanted to vomit in his cab.
Got home feeling like I wanted to puke. Had some alcohol which er made it worse.
And now all I feel like are some greasy, salty fries. Sigh.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
D-Day
The day has come. TOP for my apartment has been issued today. This means:
1. My apartment is now fit for living
2. the other 90% of the purchase price (10% from me, 80% from the bank) is due within 14 days from today
3. I need to tell my landlord I'm moving out. I feel bad.
4. I need to go source for furniture and stuff. I have no idea where to go.
5. I need to collect my keys
6. I need to buy a car
7. I need to apply for PR like immediately
8. I need to go to the lawyers to sign my life away
It's too soon!!!! I'm not psychologically ready!!!! I wasn't expecting this day until at least January 2007.
Sigh. I couldn't work the entire day.
Help.
I haven't been in a state of panic like this for a long time. Hm. Let's see - equivalent panic levels in the past:
1. Age - 10 - fresh blanket of snow in the backyard. We build a snowman. I decide snowman needs to be melted. I drop my pants (in the open) and pee on ye snowman with glee, only to discover near the end of the deed that my neighbour was onlooking with horrified eyes. Panic. Suffice to say I avoided said neighbour for a long long time.
2. Age - 14 - deciding it was fun to have a joyride in my dad's car. Drove said car round PJ at 3 am, only to get it minorly stuck in the drain outside the house just before parking it. Malay passerby thought I was stealing the car, and tried to help. Noise. Dad came rushing out of the house with brick. Panic.
3. Age - 22 - stuck alone outside a locked train station in the middle of the night in Vienna with no accommodation and nowhere to go. Taxi drivers (east-european looking) peering / staring / glaring at me like sharks circling prey. Badly lit streets. Strange characters lurking around in the shadows. Thought I was going to get killed by beggars. Panic.
Boohoo I wanna be a kid again. Adult responsibilities suck.
1. My apartment is now fit for living
2. the other 90% of the purchase price (10% from me, 80% from the bank) is due within 14 days from today
3. I need to tell my landlord I'm moving out. I feel bad.
4. I need to go source for furniture and stuff. I have no idea where to go.
5. I need to collect my keys
6. I need to buy a car
7. I need to apply for PR like immediately
8. I need to go to the lawyers to sign my life away
It's too soon!!!! I'm not psychologically ready!!!! I wasn't expecting this day until at least January 2007.
Sigh. I couldn't work the entire day.
Help.
I haven't been in a state of panic like this for a long time. Hm. Let's see - equivalent panic levels in the past:
1. Age - 10 - fresh blanket of snow in the backyard. We build a snowman. I decide snowman needs to be melted. I drop my pants (in the open) and pee on ye snowman with glee, only to discover near the end of the deed that my neighbour was onlooking with horrified eyes. Panic. Suffice to say I avoided said neighbour for a long long time.
2. Age - 14 - deciding it was fun to have a joyride in my dad's car. Drove said car round PJ at 3 am, only to get it minorly stuck in the drain outside the house just before parking it. Malay passerby thought I was stealing the car, and tried to help. Noise. Dad came rushing out of the house with brick. Panic.
3. Age - 22 - stuck alone outside a locked train station in the middle of the night in Vienna with no accommodation and nowhere to go. Taxi drivers (east-european looking) peering / staring / glaring at me like sharks circling prey. Badly lit streets. Strange characters lurking around in the shadows. Thought I was going to get killed by beggars. Panic.
Boohoo I wanna be a kid again. Adult responsibilities suck.