Past or Future

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Volkswagen Scirocco vs Mini Cooper S with JCW tuning kit

Cars nowadays are not just for daily transport from point A to B. At least the amount of groundwork and debate put into designing modern day cars should not be neglected. I've always believe that cars are an extension of your personality.

Colour choices, in my view, tell a whole lot about your personality.

Red - want to be noticed at any speed, any time, even when the car is left in basement 3 of Raffles City while he/she buys donuts.

White - Perfectionist, cleanliness freak.

Dark Blue/ silver - boring, safe, happy go lucky

Black - don't want to be seen too often but gets noticed when the time is ripe.

Lime green - ???

Rocccco

This 2.0 tsi 6 spd dsg Scirocco looks stunning. Its curves are slender enough to attract single ladies while having the strength and muscle to excite men with the need for needless wheelspins (its fwd btw).

Rims are matching but itchy backside owners will have to forgo this if they wanna install racing brakes, as i doubt the stock rim offset is enough. Furthermore, bbk want to be seen, and what will it be doing hiding behind those thick chrome multi spoke 18"?

This futuristic looking Kermit the Lady Gaga will turn heads in more ways than one. To me, it looks more like a hatch than its supposed coupe status.

Frameless doors will make u look cool for 3 seconds.

It just doesnt feel special inside the car. "Swiss roll" seats are comfy but where is the sportiness? The headrests look grumpy and uninviting. The steering wheel and instrument cluster, borrowed from older brothers, is practical but too common in the VW lineup.

Nevertheless, i will still label this mean green machine as a leap to the future basing on just the outrageous, rule defying exterior.

Coooooper


The cooper S featured here is no ordinary S. top up a few Ks and your 0 to 100 sprint gets up within 7 sec, around 0.4 sec faster than the estimated 7.3 sec. I have not tried the S with this tuning kit, but i've heard the exhaust rumble. Holy Moly. Sounds even better and beefier than the actual JCW. Its a whole 30 grand cheaper than the JCW, but i guess u can get close to 80% the fun.

Yes you can remove/mount the fog lights as easily as in die cast models.
Yes you can add 2 stripes as easily as painting Tamiya cars.
Yes you can adjust different lighting knobs to alter the ambience of the interior.

But this is a car, not a fashion parade or disco.

I must admit that its handling is spot on. Its a driver's car in terms of rawness and sportiness.

I doubt its practicality factor. Then again, its called a Mini for a reason.

(Photos courtesy of Oneshift.com)

German/British face off



vs ?

Super Import Nights

SIN was a build up to the following week's heart pumping F1 weekend.

Was rather disappointed with the cars on display. Where is the SUPRA?

This year's event was spiced up by a drifting Altezza who never got tired of doing donuts. He was drifting for the whole Sunday afternoon. Maybe not as he needed to top up vitamins for his rwd monster every now and then.



Godzilla with mascara and foundation to mask his wrinkles



Don't think you'll wanna speed up when you see this in your rear view mirror along the NSH



Pride of the land of the rising sun



Nice brakes



Looks like a 1.4 tsi with this bodykit on.

Preferred last years SIN as they had just launched the R35 gtr and the hype was just mind boggling.

I think i would still go down next year anyway... can't imagine missing these events even after negative feedback.

In the process..

Brakes are still in the process of bedding in.. basing to today's drive, i guess it'll take another 3 to 4 days for them to reach it optimum potential.

It is no where near racing BBK but it just requires modulation to get more brake feel. Should be more than enough for my driving habit and street cruising.


Had to carry these 45kg stock brakes back home cos of the massive clattering noise coming from the boot. Took 4 trips to transport these.


I prefer this more subtle look


Newer and sleeker sibling in the background

No more mods.

Installed R32 bbk ytd..

Still have the spongy feel but after proper bedding in, i'm rather sure pedal feel will improve.

Rotors are 345mm, compared to stock 310mm. A huge difference and its also aesthetically pleasing. Calipers are close to twice the size of the old one and it made the red one look like a rear brake.


Look at this puny rotor and caliper.



The colour scheme is quite off now but i guess only i care. So this will be the last mod.

This mod is more of a safety mod, cos it will be too late when u need it

Did some bedding in at lck.. looked like a moron when accelerating and braking but made sure no cars were behind before carrying out this idiotic but necessary task.



My old look (rear)


Time for another photoshoot.

It will not look at flashy cos the R32 Blue won't be as outstanding than the GTI Red.

No more mods. And time for some serious saving.

Audi A3 1.8T Sportback

There has been a lot of comparison between the Audi 1.8T and the Golf GTi. They are based on the same platform but in actual fact they are very different cars. 1 is comfort based while the other slant towards performance. Nonetheless, both cars provide plenty of driving pleasure.

At first sight, it looks like an extended hatchback, with more than enough space for 5 adults. and Alcantara-wrapped seats add a touch of sportiness in the cabin, although they are not as body hugging as the Golf. The materials used are top notch. Everything feels solid and compact. The centre console is easy to reach, resulting in near perfect ergonomics for the driver. Everything is easily reachable without having to lean forward. (Mirror adjustments, vanity mirror, radio controls etc.)

The drive is equally satisfying. It much more quiet than the GTi and a nicer place to be in. It may not be as exciting, but Audi is targeting this car for the small family man. The 7-speed s-tronic gearbox is silky smooth. When up shifting at around 4000rpm, gear change is seamless but it doesn't give you the "pop" sound like in the GTi.

I do not think that the A3 Sportback has many rivals. In fact, i couldn't think of any cars in the market now that is spacious (for a hatch), fuel efficient, relatively powerful and a joy to drive.

Upzzz for Audi's small car segment.



Overall verdict: 9/10