So as I told you guys, my car sponsorship with DUO Rewards is that I get to change my car once every 4 months!
The time has come to change my Sylphy into something else, and I actually felt quite sad!!
In the short four months that I drove her, she has become a huge part of my life... It's no wonder that people who drive hardly ever can bring themselves to go back to public transport.
Having your own vehicle, your own private space to travel that you don't have to share with strangers, having a powerful feeling of freedom that you can go anywhere you please... It's a seductive feeling indeed, even with a rental car!!
I've always told Mike that him picking me up to drive me home in Laopokasaurus (that's what we call Mike's car) and me taking a cab home by myself technically isn't much difference since I'm chauffeured in both cases.
But when I am on a cab I feel like I'm still on strange grounds, like I cannot completely unwind yet. I still feel kinda tense in case the cabbie kidnaps me. But the moment I go into Laopokasaurus, I feel like I'm in my second home. I can take off my shoes and put my feet up on the dashboard if I want!
So that feeling rather intensified with the Sylphy. She was my first car (kinda, even though I don't own her) and I've always felt like she's a little mobile home of mine. :') I always feel snug and safe and happy driving her.
That being said, I was still very excited to see what my next car was gonna be!!!
THE DAY:
YAY I'M GETTING A SUV!!!
It's a Subaru XV!!!
Oops so I am blocking the car and you can't see how it looks like.
Hahahaha
Ok this is better... One of my favourite things about the XV's sleek design is that the rims kinda look like flowers!!
Otherwise, it is a rather manly car. Much more manly than the Sylphy somehow! :X
From the fierce looking headlights to the black leather interior...
Also the car gave off a manly cologne scent when I first stepped in. Not sure if it's coz the previous driver was a guy but it made me wanna thump my chest and hunt boar. LOL
Mike likes it a lot for that factor I suppose...
Afterall I've always found men tend to love Subaru cars... Is it because of the All Wheel Drive? Coz the XV has that too.
The peeps at Downtown Car Rentals told me that the XV is actually like a baby SUV. This car is spacious but not super huge. I love that when you are driving it you are really high up and can see the roads clearly from the high angle.
The boot is as spacious as the Sylphy's.
What I love about SUVs is that you can have the option of piling your stuff in the boot up higher if you need to... The rear seats also fold down so you can transport LOADS of stuff! No more paying for Ikea delivery! :D
And people in the backseat can simply reach in and grab stuff if they need to without getting out of the car!
(I've been watching too much Walking Dead but I imagine this is useful in case of Zombie apocalypse and you have all your guns in the boot so you can conveniently shoot out of the window when being surrounded by zombies... versus having a sedan so you have to physically get out of the car to access your armory and will in the process get gnawed on.)
Baby car seat fits perfectly too! Of course what matters the most for baby isn't space... It's SAFETY!!
And the Subaru XV has a FIVE STAR SAFETY RATING. :D It feels so good to know that.
The XV also has a very weird feature that I think many of you will love!!
It is extremely fuel efficient!
During stop lights when you fully compress the brake, the engine actually shuts down.
It rumbles and stops, and it will startle you, making you think the engine has died if you didn't know that this is a specialty of the XV!! In fact, it is only trying to save fuel for you. The aircon and stereo is still on, it's just that the engine stops.
When I was told about this, I was quite scared.
"HUH??" I said. "Then isn't it gonna take a while for the engine to start up again?? And I will get honked by impatient people behind me!"
But the Downtown staff told me it only takes split second for the engine to reignite. Great technology!
Oh yes you may have noticed some of the extra stuff on my car.
Embarrassing and bright thing number 1:
Flowers.
I actually bought two Singapore flags to fly on the car window during the National Day period. After National Day ended, I modified my flag to put on flowers!!! My mom sewed them on for me and the flowers are from Daiso. :D
They look ridiculous I know but it looks so cute when the car is moving and the flowers are flying behind!! Also it makes me easier for me to find my car in a sea of other cars!! It stands out, that's for sure. LOL
I also believe it makes other drivers laugh so they will give way more to me. HAHAHA
Embarrassing and bright thing number 2:
A P PLATE?? N0000000000B!!!!
BITCH PLEASE!!!
Time to throw my P plate away!!! LAO NIANG HAVE HAD A LICENSE FOR A YEAR NOW MUAHAHAHA!! I am no longer a NEWBIE DRIVER!!!
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Want to rent a car too?
Nowadays COE is so expensive, renting is definitely the way to go!!!
Moreover, the holiday season is coming!!
It's probably going to be really tough to get a cab or squeeze into a bus during the holidays...
"Where are all the #$%^@# cabs?"
Why not rent a vehicle so the whole family can travel with ease? Don't have to worry about midnight surcharges after your countdown party and don't have to keep calling that horrible hotline that tells you all the operators are engaged at the moment.
Or squeeze into a train with other sweaty passengers...
Remember to reserve your perferred vehicle early in case all of them are taken!!
You can go to Downtown's website HERE to book!!!
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If you love discounts and free stuff, you definitely definitely should join DUO Rewards, Tan Chong International's loyalty program!!!
Ok here's the deal... You guys think there is a catch or something. Surely you have to pay in some form to get something good right?
BUT THERE IS NO CATCH.
Membership is FREE, it's for life. AND ANYONE CAN JOIN DUO REWARDS, not just drivers or anyone with Tan Chong cars!!
Once you have signed up HERE, you can see a list of all the merchants that DUO Rewards is collaborating with to give you great discounts and offers!!!
Here are some of them - there are too many to list!!
- 10% off for Bintan Lagoon Resort
- Free sessions at True Fitness and True Yoga
- 10% off at Twelve Cupcakes
- 5% off at Pet Lovers Centre
Why pay full prices for some of your favourite products and services when you can get them cheaper by SIMPLY SIGNING UP?? NO CATCH!!
Of course, DUO members also get rewards for every dollar they spend on any services at Tan Chong, be it car rental, car servicing, car purchase or even renting service apartments.
Also, this year, DUO Rewards is the Official Automotive Partner of ZoukOut 2013, happening on 13 - 14 December!
Ticketholders who sign up for Duo at the point of purchase from Zouk’s website HERE will stand a chance to win drink coupons or free entry passes to Zouk + Phuture!!
For those who have not bought tickets yet and would like a shot at winning a pair of FREE ZoukOut passes worth $236, check out the contest below:
You can find out more about the contest at DUO Reward's facebook page HERE and of course remember to like it!!!
LASTLY BEFORE I GO.........
Love your furry friends and want to do your part to help those that need our help??
Get involved... Just click on the picture to be a part of LostPaws and help reunite lost pets with their owners!! It's something kind you can do just by keeping a watch for lost pets near your house!
LostPaws set up a community watch to increase the number of eyes out there to watch out for missing pets... to help ease the stress of both owners and pets!
Don't worry, you won't get spammed once you sign up, merely a notification when there is a missing pet in your vicinity.
DRIVING OFF BYE!!