After working for two years, I saved enough money to make an initial down payment and was eager to own a car. My friend brought me to view a second hand car 二 手车in Jurong area 裕廊区. It was a German made 德国制造Opel Cadet. The paint work of the car had faded which did not give me a good visual impact. After tested the car, I noticed that the brakes did not bite well. The asking price was considered high ($5,500). It was not appealing to me. I decided to give it a miss. My friend who owned a Ford Escort 1100, brought me to the Ford Motor 福特车厂 to look at the brand new cars. Ford Motor show room was situated opposite the current Istana House 总统府 (next to Plaza Singapura) I tested the Ford Escort 1300 and fell in love with it. I booked a striking yellow colour 黄色 Escort. It costed me $8,000. Ford Escort was one of the cheapest car in town because it was assembled in Singapore. Ford Motor had an assembly plant 汽车装 配 场 at Bukit Timah. Ford closed the factory for good in 1980 due to the Government's removal of tariffs on imported cars, which made local assemby no longer cost-effective. I believed the old Ford factory is the present Hume Park condominium location.
Buying car in the Seventy was straight forward. There was no COE to bid. No season parking to book. Parking at the HDB car park was absolutely free of charge.
Ford Escort - 1st new ride
Car sold in the seventy was very basic. There was no aircon and radio come as a package. I later installed aircon and radio at my own expense.
Engine : in-line 4 push rod ,8 valves 1300cc back wheel drive
Suspension : Front - Macpherson structs, coil springs
Rear - absorbers, leaf spring
Brakes : Front: drum
Rear : drum
The car ignition system was high tension coil, distributor with contact point. The fuel system was carburetor. The battery charging system was by dynamo. Dynamo does not charge the battery when the vehicle was idling.
The car windows were manually operated. Power windows were non existent. No power steering. No seat belt. Seat belt was not mandatory.
Toyota Corolla- 2nd new ride
After driving the Fort Escort for 8 years, I sold it for $3,000. I bought a new Toyota Corolla for $19,000 from Borneo Motors 慕良车厂at Leng Kee Road. This car was much lighter then the Ford Escort in terms of vehicle weight, vehicle clutch pedal, brake pedal and steering wheel. It was one of the best selling Japanese car at that time. This car also did not come with aircon and radio. It was a 1200cc back wheel drive car. Fuel consumption and performance was better than the Ford Escort.
Engine : in-line 4 push rod, 8 valves 1200cc back wheel drive
Suspension : Front - Macpherson structs, coil springs
Rear - absorbers, leaf spring
Brakes : Front: solid disc
Rear : drum
Gear : 4 speed manual
The car ignition system was high tension coil, distributor with contact point. The fuel system was carburetor. The battery charging system was by alternator. Alternator produced AC current. It charged the battery when the vehicle was idling.
The car windows were manually operated. No power steering. I installed the front seats 3 point static seat belt when the LTA 路管局 made it compulsory 强制性.
Daihatsu Charade - 3rd new ride
After driving the Toyota Corolla for 8 years I changed to a new Daihatsu Charade 1000. It was a 3 cylinder 998cc front wheel drive car. This car come complete with factory fitted aircon and radio. I remembered I paid $500 for the COE (certificate of entitlement). In order to control the vehicle population growth, Singapore Government had introduced the COE system. LTA (Land Transport Authority) will release certain number of COE for each mouth based on their projection of vehicle growth on the road. All potential vehicle owners will have to bid for the COE and they can register the vehicle only when they successfully bid for COE. This car was under power but fuel consumption was good due the smaller engine and smaller in size.
Engine : in-line 3, 6 valves, SOHC (Single Over Head Cam) 998cc front wheel drive
Suspension : Front - Macpherson structs, coil springs
Rear - absorbers, coil spring
Brakes : Front: solid disc
Rear : drum
Gear : 5 speed manual
The car ignition system was high tension coil, distributor with contact point. The fuel system was carburetor. The battery charging system was by alternator.
The car windows were manually operated. No power steering.
Mitsubishi Lancer - 4th new ride
I tested drive the Mitsubishi Lancer 1300 GLX at Cycle & Carriage. It was a 1300cc front wheel drive car with power steering. I registered the car under week end car (now called Off Peak Car). LTA gave week end car (red number plate) owner $17,000 rebate from the price of the normal plate car. The annual road tax was also much reduced from the normal plate car due to restricted usage. The catch was the week end cars can only travel on the road from 7 pm to next day 7 am Monday to Friday. After 3.00pm on Saturdays. And free to travel the whole day on Sundays and Public Holidays. Car owners had to buy a $20 license if they wish to use their cars during peak hours. The Mitsubishi Lancer was bought at $42,000 with factory fitted aircon and radio. This car also came with central locking system and power windows.
Engine : in-line 4, 12 valves (2 inlet and 1 exhaust valve per cylinder), SOHC (Single Over Head Cam ) 1300cc front wheel drive
Suspension : Front - Macpherson structs, coil springs
Rear - absorbers, coil spring
Brakes : Front: solid disc
Rear : drum
Gear : 5 speed manual
The car ignition system was electronic ignition. The fuel system was carburetor. The battery charging system was by alternator.
Power steering, power window and central locking. 2 speed wiper with intermittent speed.
Nissan VIP - 5th new ride
I changed to the new Nissan VIP from Tan Chong Motors 陈昌车厂 after driving the Mitsubishi Lancer for 4 years. It was a normal plate car as I need the transport for work. I booked the Nissan VIP without testing as the car was not in Tan Chong Motors show room yet. I initially wanted to buy the popular Nissan Sunny. The " Sunny " was due to change new model . I was recommended by the Tan Chong Motors sales engineer to consider the new model (Japan domestic model) Nissan VIP. After looking the car displayed at the parallel importer show room and found the design quite pleasing. I decided to go for it.
Cars came with factory fitted aircon and radio, central locking system and power windows is a norm.
Engine : in-line 4, 16 valves DOHC (Duel Over Head Cam (2 inlet and 2 exhaust valves per cylinder), front wheel drive. Cam shaft is the mechanism that controls the opening and closing of the fuel inlet valves and the exhaust valves. Modern cars with DOHC or SOHC (Duel Over Head Cam or Single Over Head Cam) can control the opening and closing of the inlet and exhaust valves more precisely. For DOHC, one cam controls the inlet valves and the other cam controls the exhaust valves. For SOHC, the single cam controls both the inlet valves and the exhaust valves.
Suspension : Front - Macpherson structs, coil springs
Rear - absorbers, coil spring
Brakes : Front: ventilated disc ABS (anti-lock brake system) EBD (electronic brake force distribution)
Rear : drum ABS EBD
Gear : 5 speed manual
The car ignition system was electronic ignition. Fuel injection system. The battery charging system was by alternator.
Power steering, power window and central locking. 2 speed wiper with intermittent speed.
Toyota Corolla 1.6 A (G9 face lift) Ninth generation face lift - 6th new ride
I bought the Toyota Corolla in 2003. This was the world most popular car due to its fuel economy and reliability. This was my first automatic transmission car. I had been driving manual transmission cars for the past 20 years. I joined the Singapore Toyota club after owning Toyota Corolla. I took part in the Toyota club forum and start to communicate with other members on line. We discussed car technical issues. We attended regular meet up at various locations for bondings and also appreciated each other cars. Sometime we had mass purchases to take advantage of the collective bargaining power to bring cost down. We consulted one and other on technical aspect. Members also taught others on DIY items like installing grounding cables, signal lights to the side mirrors etc. The club also organised seminars with vendors free of charge for members to gain knowledge on automobile products.
This car came with factory fitted aircon with digital control and CD / radio, central locking system, security alarm and power windows.
Engine : in-line 4, 16 valves (2 inlet and 2 exhaust valves per cylinder) DOHC, VVTi (variable valve timing electronic injection) the opening of the inlet valves will stay open longer when more fuel is required for more power output, front wheel drive.
Suspension : Front - Macpherson structs, coil springs
Rear - absorbers, coil spring
Brakes : Front: ventilated disc ABS EBD, anti-roll bar
Rear : solid disc ABS EBD, anti-roll bar
Gear : 4 speed auto
The car ignition system was electronic ignition. Fuel injection system with variable valve timing injection. The battery charging system was by alternator.
Power steering, power window and central locking. 3 speed wiper with intermittent speed.
Auto head lights (the head lights will switch on automatically when the surrounding is dark)
Mazda 3 (M3) 1.6 sedan moutuckdeng - Cantonese (无得顶-广东话) - 7th new ride probably the last ride.
Prior to the launching of the new Mazda 3, I tested the Korea made Kia Cerato Forte. The Kia Cerato Forte was selling at $50,000. The car design and specifications can match today Japanese cars. Though a little tempted, I held back my decision.
When Mazda Motors launched the new Mazda 3 on a Saturday of 2009, I drove my Toyota Corolla down to the show room at Macpherson Road. I was fascinated by the beauty of the new model. It was a very sporty saloon car both externally and internally. The new Mazda 3 was selling at $65,488 for the normal plate after $1,000 early bird discount. It was $15,488 more expensive than the Kia Cerato Forte. The Kia Cerato Forte cannot match the Mazda 3 sporty design. (The Mazda 3 resembled the Mazda 8). The Mazda 3 had keyless entry but not the Cerato Forte. The Mazda 3 had the following features that Kia Cerato Forte cannot match some of them:
- DOHC with VVT 16 valves engine
- 4 speed activematic. the car can be driven in manual mode when necessary
- advanced keyless entry and smart start system
- 6 CD MP3 + 6 speakers
- power fold side mirrors
- LED rear combination lamps
- 2 air bags
- duel zone digital aircon control
After getting the Ministry of Finance approval and with the encouragement from the siblings, I signed on the dotted line for a Off Peak Car at $48,488 and also trade-in my Toyota Corolla at $27,000. I bought the Mazda at the age of 62 one year before my retirement.
I guessed this will be my final car before being call home to be with Lord.
Automobile Basic Maintenance Course
I joined the automobile basic maintenance course in 1981 after I bought my second ride Toyota Corolla 1200. The course was organised by the Pasir Panjang community centre 巴西般让民众连络所. The course instructor, Mr Wan taught the class both theory and practical on car engineering. The Pasir Panjang community centre managed to get a Datsun 1200 car engine from the Vocational Institutes. This enabled the students to do hands-on practical. The students were taught how to change spark plugs, contact point, engine oil. We even learned how to de-carbon the valves (grind valves/ top overhaul) and adjusting valves clearance. One of our course mate Mr Chan Beng Ann even volunteered to fabricate jump start cables for us. We kept the battery jump start cables in our car for emergency in case the cars cannot start up due to flat batteries.
Auto Adventure 汽车自由行
The course instructor Mr Wan organised auto adventures for the class. We drove up-north to Malaysia before the course ended.
1. Singapore - Genting - Kuantan . 24/25/26 October 1981
2. Singapore - Ipoh - Cameron. 25/25/27 September 1982.
All of us were very excited because to most of us, this was our first experience driving to Malaysia. We drove in convoy about 15 cars. All members pasted Castro stickers on the car for easy identification. The North South High Way was not constructed then. We used the old winding trunk road for the two auto adventures. No toll payment was required. The old trunk road was narrow. It had only two lanes. It can accommodate only 2 vehicles travelling in opposite directions. One up and the other down. Over taking of slow moving vehicles must be executed with extreme care. The drivers must ensure that there was no on coming vehicle before overtaking. It took a lot patient before one can overtake. Any wrong move will end up in tragedy.
custom check point
logging lorry
accident infront
instructor Mr. Wan
Back row 2nd from left
- Ah Kong64 (阿公64)
re-fuel at Shell station
SIN - Ipoh - Camera trip Sept 1982
spark plug office
Back row 2nd from right
Mr Chan Beng Ann
Front row 1st from left
Ah Kong 64 (阿公64)
spark plug office
Technology improvement of automobile over the years
Cars in the sixty and seventy were very basic. Cars manufacturers had introduced many electronic components progressively in recent years. Some features were for safety enhancement and some were for better performance.
1. TSI engine
This is the engine designed by the Volkwagen group. The TSI engine is
turbocharged and sometime supercharged as well. It gives them plenty of
power. For example a 1400cc engine can produce the power equivalent
to a 1600cc engine. It also features direct-injection fuel with lean burn
technology to cut fuel consumption.
2. DSG gear box
The DSG gear box is a twin-clutch Direct Shift Gearbox which is manual
gearbox in construction and is fully automatic in operation.
3. NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme)
Most new cars obtain 5 stars Euro NCAP rating by today standard. This
is the European New Assessment Crash Test maximum score.
4. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
This feature will prevent the brakes in lock up position during
emergency braking. The car is able to steer and stop in a straight line.
5. ESP (Electronic Stability Programme)
This electronic device can maintain directional stability by detecting a
skid and braking the right wheel to help the driver keep going where he
wants to go. In short, it curtails skid by automatically braking individual
wheels.
6. DSC (Dynamic Stability Control)
This electronic device is useful for vehicle with high CG (centre of
gravity) like SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle). It enhances the SUV stability
when negotiating corners.
7. EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution)
EBD maximises the useful braking force on each wheel and enable the
car stopping more effectively.
8. GPS (Global Positional System)
Some cars come with GPS as standard feature. Some can be obtained as
after maket item. Drivers can rely on the GPS to plan their route more
accurately instead of the using the conventional road directory.
9. Airbags
The airbags will inflate to cushion off the impact to the driver and
passenger when the car meets an accident.
10. Seat belt pre-tensioners and force limiters
Pretensioners made the seat taut quickly and automatically under heavy
braking or frontal accident. During crash, the force limiters will give the
seat belts some slack to reduce the chest impact forces.
11. Hybrid cars
The combination of petrol and rechargeable batteries technology will
reduce the petrol consumption and thus will reduce CO2 emission.
12. Battery cars
Cars that driven by rechargeable batteries have zero carbon emission.
The car manufacturers and the Authority are still testing the system to
sort out technical issue like the network of the charging stations to
enable the battery cars covering a wider range.
