Bye bye Mrt, buses and cabs

23 May 2009 - We finally collected the car!! My first car!! It had been a busy day. In the morning, I went for Bollywood dance with Arsie and Eve, then rushed home for my insurance appt with Agnes. We left the house at 2pm and took the train to Eunos. Liew, its so freaking far, all the way at Ubi!!!!! I entertained myself with my mobile Monopoly throughout the long train ride. We alighted at Eunos Mrt and hopped into a cab to Automobile Megamart. We reached at 3.30pm. The EL (dad) was already there; his office is just 5 mins drive away.

The EL re-checked the car to make sure that everything is ok. Haha, they did the cleaning really well, even the boot compartment where the spare wheel is kept is spotless! Very satisfied! We completed the rest of the paperwork and then finally at 5pm, we were ready to go!

As The EL said that the existing car battery (the liquid kind) can probably only last for another 2-3 months, he led us (he was driving his own car) to a nearby workshop to replace the battery. The new battery is not the fluid type. The EL said it is better than the fluid type, more lasting, blah blah blah. Ok, I also can't really remember what he said, haha. As The EL is a frequent customer, the boss gave us $10 discount, so we only paid $110. I realise that my father is even better than my mother at bargaining, lol. Since we were already at the workshop, he asked the workers to help us pump air into the 4 tyres. Ok, I must remember that the tyre pressure is 220. Liew, so many things to remember! The EL said he will teach me more another day. Luckily he is good with cars, I can count on him to help me when its time to change the engine oil! Very grateful for his help. I shall get him to check the car every 1-2 months haha. Must make sure it is well maintained you know?

Usually, I re-fuel at SPC since its the nearest to home. Got 6% discount there. But I checked online and found that Esso's discount is even better! We applied for the Smiles card, which entitles us to 5% discount, then used the Citibank Dividends card to make payment. That entitles us to yet another 5% discount and 5% of cash rebate! Ok, I shall re-fuel at Esso from now on, as long as the promotion lasts, lol.

24 May 2009 - 2 days before we collected the car, I asked the old cat to help me wash the car every week. He said No, haha. Ok, so I said I shall bring it to the petrol station for manual car wash. Who knows, yesterday he suddenly came and told me that we must go shopping for cleaning accessories for the car. He wants to wash the car every week! Ok, so we went to Ntuc after church and bought whatever was needed for cleaning cars. Actually I don't really care, as long as I ain't the one cleaning, haha! Or maybe I shall help out the first time. If it is fun, I can consider, else he can do it alone, thank you very much. I also bought a sunshade to put in the car whenever we go to Hotberry. Don't want to have my bottom roasted or my hand burnt by sitting on a hot car seat and gripping a hot steering wheel, lol.

The old cat wanted to take pics of the car, so after church, we made our way to Jurong Lake Park. Haha, sounds familiar? We went there on our wedding day for the outdoor shoot mah, haha! We decided to take pics there since the car park is always near empty. There won't be anyone around to make us feel pai seh, wahahahahha!

Here are some of the pics taken:

Come to think of it, the whole process of our car buying is really quick. Went car shopping on 17 May (Sunday), made the purchase the very next day, and collected the car 5 days later. Haha, all thanks to The EL!

P.s. I like the car licence plate number... 8827, sounds nice, lol.

Haha, finally, from tomorrow onwards, I won't have to make a mad rush for the train to Jurong East anymore. No more rushing to queue under the hot sun for the shuttle bus to IBP, no more getting pissed whenever I need a cab and there ain't no cabs around. Hooray!

Motor Insurance

Both the old cat and I did not bother too much about car insurance until Thursday when Lake View came back to inform us of the insurance rates. The cheapest was AIG, priced at $1,852.72, followed by China Insurance at $1,888.08. Manz, and I had thought that it would cost around $1,500... We hurriedly did some reseach on the Internet and found some other companies. I asked Lake View to help us check out the insurance rates for Liberty and EQ. Somehow, I was under the impression that the dealer was supposed to settle everything. Well, apparently not, because Joyce (the lady from LV who was in-charged of insurance application) told me that they do not sell motor insurance for Liberty and EQ, but she can help me to check out the rates anyway.

That got me thinking... wouldn't it be better if I source for the insurance by myself? The rates would probably be cheaper since there will be no commission cost added into the price. Impatient me could not wait. I did some quick research and called MSIG on Thursday evening to request for a quotation. I read reviews online and it seems that this company has quite a number of positive reviews. That night, both of us stayed glued to the Internet, checking out car forums for reviews on motor insurance companies.

The next morning, I called MSIG to chase for the quotation. Wow, it only costs $1,460.43!!!!!! That is at least $400 cheaper than AIG and China Insurance!! Barely 5 mins later, our dealer, G, called us and asked if we decide to source for motor insurance by ourselves. I said yes. He then told me that I have to bring along the motor insurance certificate the next day, else I cannot collect the vehicle! Liew!!!! I didn't know that!!!

I called MSIG again and asked the person to email me the application form. I forwarded it to the old cat and asked him to quickly fill it up. The next half hour was spent answering phone calls from the dealer and the old cat. I quickly applied for urgent half day leave and rushed down to Shenton Way to the MSIG office. Phew, I finally got it settled and got the certificate! Feeling happy and relieved that its finally settled, I went home.

At 4.45pm, the dealer called me again, this time asking me if the certificate has his company name stated there. Liew!! Don't have! He said nevermind, I can still collect the car on Saturday, but I have to get MSIG to include that in somewhere on the cert and have it endorsed with the company stamp. Since MSIG closes at 5.30pm, there was still a bit of time. I called MSIG immediately and requested that they do the amendment on the same day and email it to me so that I can have it printed out. Phew, finally had it settled by 5.15pm! Yay! I am so happy that we have gotten a better insurance deal and I can finally collect my car!

STA Evaluation

The car was sent for STA evaluation yesterday and it is certified Grade A! Haha, we must thank The EL for helping us select this car. Honestly, if it were graded as B, which is also considered as not bad, I think I would want to reconsider our choice. I'm so happy that luck is on our side! And I was in such a good mood that I had problem sleeping last night! Yay, we will be collecting the car this Saturday afternoon. This Saturday will be a busy day. I have yoga in the morning, then rush home for my appt with our GE insurance agent, then wait for The EL to knock off after 3pm to collect the car together. This Saturday will also mark the last time I am ever borrowing Mum's car (yay!). No choice since I have yoga in the morning. I hope she doesn't play me out, lol.

We bought a car

I spent most of yesterday smsing back and forth between The EL (aka father) and 2 car dealers, while at the same time skyping the old cat about price. The EL and old cat are determined to get the best price, so I was caught in the middle. We were liaising the price for a silver and dark green Nissan Sunny. The silver Sunny is in very good condition, only need to do alignment and wheel balancing. The dark green is also good, but the silver is better lah. I personally prefer the silver cos I don't really like dark green, but it is more expensive. But in the evening, The EL gave me the green light to buy the silver one!

Although the silver one is more expensive, the 4 tyres are very good, whereas for the dark green, the 4 tyres need to be replaced and even though the dealer promised to replace 4 tyres for us free-of-charge, he cannot guarantee to give us good ones. The EL said if the replacement is not good (e.g. those that cost $60 each), there is a high possibility the tyre will burst when it hits a curb. Liew dangerous, better not. Then later I have to spend another $400 (avg to good ones cost about $100 each) to replace the tyres. So... if thats the case, since the silver costs only $400 more... might as well get it!

So the guy came down to our place last night to show us the documents and we paid the deposit. The EL and Mdm Yik came too, to help us check the documents, lol. So nice of them. Today, we will send the car for STA inspection. Actually we can collect it on Wednesday, but the old cat cannot take leave, haiz, so we have to wait till Saturday. Yay I will be able to drive to work from next Monday onwards! Thanks Old Cat!!!!

First time shopping for a car

I have always liked driving. Even as a kid, I used to play Daytona whenever I went to arcades. The time has come when I decided that I have enough of the inconvenience of not having a freaking car. I managed to psycho the old cat to get an OPC car, then after much consideration, we decided to get a normal everyday use car instead.

We will be getting a 2nd hand car for now, cos wanna change to a new car only in 2014. We have initially agreed to purchase a car only end of next year since want to carry out Plan B. So what prompted this sudden decision to bring forward the plan? Correction. We are only bringing forward the plan to buy a car, not Plan B, lol.

1. Even though The EL has 2 cars, I have to share with Mdm Yik, and our schedule clashes more often than not. I am tired of compromising.

2. The journey to Hotberry is tedious. It is 3 hours to and fro and I hate going there cos of that. I usually will not go when the car is not available. Getting a car will make things easier though... I still don't like to go.

3. I am sick of cabbing and I hate watching the meter jumping every few seconds. Cabbing on rainy days is a chore. More often than not, calling for cabs doesn't work.

4. I am tired of going to far places without a freaking car. Its a waste of time.

5. If we get an OPC, how am I going to get to work when I am expecting (in future)? I have to take cab (no way am I going to queue under the hot sun for the shuttle bus), and cab fare a month amounts up to $500 at least. If I am going to pay that amount on cab fare, I might as well buy a normal everyday use car?

So I gathered up my guts and told the EL about our plan. We want him to come along when we go car shopping since he is the expert in this area. Boy, he is really good!

Yesterday after church, together with The EL and Mdm Yik, we went car shopping at Ubi. We are very impressed with The EL. All he did was to open the car's bonnet and one look at the interior, he could point out at least 5 points about the car (e.g. this one good, that one not good) and the salesman cannot even deny! Mind you, its just ONE LOOK.

After that one look, he proceeded to dismantle certain parts to check the engine, and pointed out more points. He went around inspecting the cars, pointing out really minor flaws that we couldn't even see. He pressed hard down on the boot to test the spring, checked this, checked that, also don't know how he check. And then he bargained for the price. We decided to keep our mouths shut. Let the king of bargaining do the work. For parts that need to be replaced, he could even calculate out the individual parts to the salesman and get him to give further discount plus fix those parts for free.

The interesting thing is, just by testing the car, he was able to tell what kind of person the car owner was. E.g. The owner has no passion for cars, only needs a car for driving and thats it. Blah blah blah. Amazing!

We were very impressed!

Anyway, we are now in the negotiating process for 2 cars, both Nissan Sunnys. Not very fuel efficient, but the engine and parts are good. It is within our budget for now too. Hopefully we can get this car thing over and done with soon. I will be able to drive to work, no longer need to suffer air pollution in the morning!