Roof Up? Roof Down? Decisions, Decisions...

The mission was set. Each pundit selected their choice weapon. At the end of the day, only one will emerge the best. Melding punchy performance and drop-top eye-catching good looks.

It took some thorough deliberation behind closed doors. Our market may be small, but where roadsters are concerned, Singaporeans are spoilt for choice. Which led us to narrow it down to the 'old school', soft-top, strictly two-seater formula. I quickly decided on the Audi TTS, ol’ man Joel picked the Porsche Boxster S and Krado, our in-house JDM fan, went straight for the Nissan 370Z Roadster. As you can see for yourself, the choices were diverse.

To read more, click on burnpavement.com now!

The Potentially Special One

The Audi A1 jumps onto the scene in time – just when the Mini’s a decade old…

Here is one thing you cannot deny: The Audi A1 was designed and built to give the Mini Cooper a good run for its money...

When the current Mini Cooper came onto the scene - under parent company BMW no less - it struck a chord with its lovely exterior and cheerful interior. With sound build quality and an eager engine mated to a slick-shifting manual transmission or convenient self-cogger, the Mini had the ingredients to become a volume seller - which it did with success. Well after a decade in the market, the sheer number still running on the roads (and more being delivered to new owners), surely denotes its popularity.

The popularity of Mini has also sparked a trend in lifestyle hatches, which explains why other brands decided to go, “Oh wow, that might work!” and followed suit only years after the Mini. So along came an onslaught of premium hatchbacks like the Fiat 500, Alfa Romeo MiTo and even the Citroen DS3. In all honesty, neither could reach the level of success the Mini has achieved. The fact that you can personalize it as much as you can like Lego ensures your Mini won’t look exactly the same as the one that pops up next to you at the red light.

So now it’s Audi’s turn to capture a slice of this niche-but-popular (ironic, I know) segment. To begin with, the elements are all too similar – three doors, chic exterior, stylish and sensible interior (boot space not a priority though) and a whole entire list of customization options. Interesting...

To read more, click Audi A1.

A Fabulous Find

I'm into fashion & design, so it was a god-send when i chanced upon this particular blog that has everything that I love, combined.

Brooke Hagel is just oh-so-fabulous with her works.  The fact that she could do all of those drawings amazes me.. Kudos girl!

http://fabulousdoodles.blogspot.com/

What Marriage Means to the Sexes

Recently, I've had talks with both my girlfriends, as well as a bunch of guys.  I came to a conclusion that when it comes to marriage, both have an exact opposite opinion on the topic.  It seems that it really lies in both ends of the spectrum.

 

For guys, they always have this inkling that they have yet to achieve something in their life.  As such, talks of marriage are being shelved and when asked, they'll ask to wait for 3-5 years.  They believe that this time-frame is enough to achieve everything they want in their lives and careers.  On the other hand, the girls are not willing to wait that minumum of 3 years.  Why?  They don't think they should hang on to a relationship, only to resent the guy after a year or so, because he is holding them back from the kind of life that they so desire.

 

So what happens next?  A quarrel will ensue it will seem that the girls are pressuring them to settle down and the guys are nor ready to.  That's not what a marriage is about.  Marriage & family should never just another tick in the box.  It should be something that both want and are ready for, not because of circumstances, being manipulated or pressured into it.

I found out that when guys think of marriage (which they think they will eventually end up doing one day), is a sort of entrapment, kind of like having kids will burden them for at least the next 20 years, a change in lifestyle (not being able to hang out with the guys as much, no more poker nights, no more "guys" nights out); all of which they are not ready or prepared for at all.

Girls, on the other hand, equate marriage to love that is happy, fulfilling and powerful.  They think of giving (as well as receiving) an unparalleled feeling of comfort, happiness and a promise for the future together.  A companion and partner who will always be there for them through everything, just as how they will be there for their partners.  Being each others' ICE (in case of emergency) points of contacts.

Marriage has got to feel right and it's not only about being with the right person, but also meeting that right person at the right time.

As great a guy/girl that person may be, if either one is not ready to commit, then they are just not right for each other.  Fret not, though, as all is not lost.  One day, that right person will come at the right time.  Until then, we should all reflect on our relationships and decide whether the person we are with is the right person who had come at the right time in our lives. x

Wedding Bouquets

Wedding season has begun in Singapore & brides everywhere are in a frenzy as to what bouquet to carry down the aisle.

The common practise for most brides is to hold a bouquet of roses, whilst walking down the aisle.  There are, however, some unconventional brides who have a strong opinion on the kind of flowers that they would be bringing.

Some have opted for lilies, while others go for wildflowers.

Personally, I would choose a bunch of tulips, like the ones pictured here.  It's sweet, yet has a strong presence.  It's also different & modern.

Tulips are symbolic of fame & perfect love & its meanings change with its colors.  Red tulips means "Believe me" & a declaration of true love.  Variegated tulips means "You have beautiful eyes" & Yellow tulips means "There's sunshine in your smile" & cheerful thoughts.  Cream colored ones means "I will love you forever" & White tulips symbolizes heaven, newness & purity.  Purple tulip symbolizes royalty, while Pink tulips means affection & caring.  And last but not least, Orange tulips mean energy, enthusiasm, desire & passion.

Whatever your choice of flowers or colors, all attention will be on you as you are the Queen of the Day... x

More For Her | Renault Megane CC

...that’s what the Megane CC is, with that all-smooth drive and chic interior.

They say cabriolets are much more appealing for the fairer sex, which to a certain extent, makes sense. The next time you were to drive past one, just take a quick glimpse inside – and it’s sure to be a lady behind the wheel. It also makes good sense for females to drive a cabriolet. Besides the fact that most do look feminine, the practicality of an acceptable boot size and rear seats that can accommodate at least two other friends justifies the cause of buying one.  This should explain the prominence of cabriolets like the Volkswagen Eos, Mini Cooper cabriolet and of course the Audi A3 cabriolet. But let's not forget the French Renault Megane Coupe Cabriolet too.

 Speaking of which, the Renault Megane CC proved itself to be a rather attractive proposition simply because of its price. Compared to the Volkswagen, Mini and Audi cabriolets, it has the cheapest price tag. Ok, so it might not carry the most prodigious badge, but buyers as most ladies, don’t really care – as long as it’s stylish (which the French is synonymous with anyway) and goes from A to B without fuss, it seems like the perfect proposition. But as the years go by, the Megane CC lost its appeal - mainly due to its age catching up (something even SK-II can’t help with). And like adding salt to the wound, the also French 308CC pops into the scene with a much faster engine, and then later on, given a more efficient transmission. The curvier body further seals the deal. But now Renault is back into the whole coupe-cabriolet scene with this updated one, which is not a bad one at that either.

To read more, click on http://www.burnpavement.com/article.php?id=514

Surprise of Sorts

A Lexus hatchback? Hybrid? Nope, your eyes are not playing any tricks... 

It seems that the only manufacturer who is placing much focus in the developing, manufacturing and selling of hybrid cars is Lexus. From the RX400h to the LS600h, Lexus is riding on this entire green-efficiency programme of their's to entice buyers to sway away from a conventional Mercedes-Benz, Audi or BMW. And it is working well – worldwide, as Lexus’ hybrid cars have been (and still are) gaining popularity among executives and their ilk.

Even here in Singapore, the hybrid models from Lexus actually accounts for a significant amount of overall sales. But what is the real reason behind the healthy sales of these hybrid cars, you ask? Well to put it into perspective: If you run a business and your peers are driving (or driven) around in German luxo barges, why follow the herd, when you can be different? On top of that, you are also doing Mother Earth a B-I-G favour. Also, Japanese reliability gives one a peace of mind…