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PR Newswire
28-05-2011, 02:01 AM
OK, the title was thought up by me! Just saw these few articles in the New Paper and decided to post them here for fun reading. Honestly, I am surprised people can spend sums like $130,000 on a Honda and $200,000 on a Porsche. If I invested $200,000 at 6% I would end up with a tidy $12,000 a year or $1,000 a month! Hard for me to imagine I guess, but these people must be loaded! 
Tue, May 24, 2011
The New Paper
Handbag or upgrade Honda?
S$20,000 of her joint savings with her husband into upgrading their Honda S2000.
By Joyce Lim
She had to choose between buying that branded handbag which she had always wanted or modifying her car.
Madam Choo Xiuhui, 28, was clear about what she wanted.
The credit analyst in a foreign bank had no qualms about throwing $20,000 of her joint savings with her husband into upgrading their Honda S2000 last month.
They had paid $130,000 for the car two years ago.
The thundering sound of the exhaust, the speed and the look of the car obviously turn her on more than the latest designer handbag in the stores.
Impulse purchase
She said: "Handbags are usually impulse purchases. Car upgrading takes more planning and time to save up for.
"We agreed to sacrifice our birthday, anniversary and Christmas presents this year and spend the money on upgrading our car."
Earlier this year, Madam Choo and her husband, Mr Mok Tze Yang, 32, a bank executive, were at the Tokyo Auto Salon show and spotted a Lamborghini in matte pearl white.
She said: "We loved the rare colour. When we returned to Singapore, we asked the owner of Garage R to help us source for it."
Garage R imported the paint directly from Italy for the couple.
Madam Choo also changed the exhaust and full suspension systems and installed a Japanese bodykit and rims for her sportscar. HKS Garage R customised the car's body work.
The car's dashboard was customised and an in-car entertainment unit put in.
Said Mr Mok: "My wife is able to appreciate the beauty of cars as much as she appreciates designer handbags. Not many women would be willing to share the cost of the car or modifying it, but Xiuhui was willing to spend on cars.
"It was our common interest in cars that brought and kept us together."
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Tue, May 24, 2011
The New Paper
She buys cars on a whim
It was the R8's stylish design that made her splurge on a second car.
By Joyce Lim
Like her cars, Madam Claudine Ho is fast and furious - that is, when she purchases them.
Last year, she hastily handed over a cheque of over $300,000 for a two-year-old Audi R8 when her husband, Mr Colin Chen, was away on a business trip for two weeks.
She knew that he would probably object to her purchase as they had already owned a top-of-the-line uberwagon - an Audi RS6.
Said the 39-year-old, who runs an events management firm: "I sent him a photo of the R8 and told him that I was buying it. By the time he was home, I had already bought the car."
As expected, Mr Chen raised concerns that her purchase was too extravagant.
"He said that it was a selfish car as it was a two-seater and the maintenance was high. But I had already bought it," chirped Madam Ho.
Last year, luxury and sports car sales in Singapore hit new highs as the economy rebounded and new models were launched.
Rolls-Royce sold 37 cars at over $1 million each, which was more than triple its sales in 2009. Ferrari's sales more than doubled to 69 units.
Audi, BMW, Porsche, Land Rover and Aston Martin also posted record sales last year.
Madam Ho's need for speed saw her previously owning cars like the Audi RS4 Cabriolet, Mazda MX-5 and BMW Z4.
Before her R8 purchase, Madam Ho paid close to $400,000 for an eight-month-old Audi RS6 in 2008.
Design
It was the R8's stylish design that made her splurge on a second car.
She said: "I love the subtlety of the RS6. Don't be tricked by its look. It may be a station wagon, but it drives like a high performance sports car and it is faster than the R8. I love speed!"
She has since spent more than $20,000 changing the exhaust systems and tuning both wheels to increase their horsepower and torque.
At least once a month, Madam Ho drives either car to Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit for a track session. After each session, she would spend close to $2,000 on servicing the car.
Her monthly petrol bill comes up to $3,000 and the annual insurance fees easily cost close to $20,000 for both cars.
Madam Ho said that her 47-year-old banker husband splits the cost with her.
Said Mr Chen: "She has expensive taste (for cars) and to me, she likes to buy on impulse. I prefer to consider first and I also like to keep cars for a longer time."
Madam Ho agreed sheepishly that she does not keep a car for more than three years. She usually sells them after a year.
Her passion for wheels and the need for speed was influenced by her friend, Mr Jeffrey Keng, who took her tracking in Malaysia.
Even with two cars parked in their three-storey corner terrace house in the west, Madam Ho is now shopping for a third - an off-road vehicle specially for tracking.
And her dream car?
A Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, which she hopes to get in two years.
Does her husband know about her dream car, which costs more than $1 million?
Madam Ho quipped: "No, but he will read about it in The New Paper."
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Tue, May 24, 2011
The New Paper
When she saw Porsche, 'it was love at first sight'
Madam Lim Mei Yen drives a Porsche Cayman S to work every day.
By Joyce Lim
FROM a Volkswagen Beetle to a BMW 320 Coupe to a BMW 630iA.
Today, Madam Lim Mei Yen drives a Porsche Cayman S to work every day.
Zipping around the city in her German sports car, it is inevitable that Madam Lim attracts a fair share of attention on the road.
The tax manager, who is in her 40s, paid $200,000 for the second-hand Porsche in October 2009.
Extras
She then spent another $20,000 upgrading it with extras. The list includes a Fabspeed exhaust, H&R lowering spring kit, Techart front bumper diffuser, daytime running lights kit, pedals and footrest set, BBS LM-R 19-inch rims, K&N air filter, Wetterauer software programming and a 997 steering wheel.
Madam Lim was driving a BMW 630iA when she thought of switching to a two-seater sports coupe. Her husband then suggested the Porsche Cayman S.
She said: "It was love at first sight. When I saw it, I knew that's the car I wanted. I didn't even do a test drive."
Madam Lim finds the Porsche easy to handle and powerful.
The body styling of the car also charmed her into indulging in her passion. Her monthly expenses for the car easily comes up to $3,500.
Like many women, she also splurges on shoes, handbags, clothes and watches. How did she develop her love for wheels?
Madam Lim said: "My husband is very passionate about cars, and I guess that rubbed off on me a little."
Her husband is two-time Kallang carpark race champion in the 1990s, Mr Amos Mok. The 42-year-old now runs Juzz For Cars.
He said: "I am happy with my wife's new passion as it is in line with what I do."
The couple, who live in a townhouse in the east, own three cars - Madam Lim's Porsche Cayman S, an Audi S4 and a BMW M3.
And Madam Lim's dream car?
It is the limited-edition Bugatti Veyron, which costs over $2 million and is not available in Singapore.
Tue, May 24, 2011
The New Paper
Handbag or upgrade Honda?
S$20,000 of her joint savings with her husband into upgrading their Honda S2000.
By Joyce Lim
She had to choose between buying that branded handbag which she had always wanted or modifying her car.
Madam Choo Xiuhui, 28, was clear about what she wanted.
The credit analyst in a foreign bank had no qualms about throwing $20,000 of her joint savings with her husband into upgrading their Honda S2000 last month.
They had paid $130,000 for the car two years ago.
The thundering sound of the exhaust, the speed and the look of the car obviously turn her on more than the latest designer handbag in the stores.
Impulse purchase
She said: "Handbags are usually impulse purchases. Car upgrading takes more planning and time to save up for.
"We agreed to sacrifice our birthday, anniversary and Christmas presents this year and spend the money on upgrading our car."
Earlier this year, Madam Choo and her husband, Mr Mok Tze Yang, 32, a bank executive, were at the Tokyo Auto Salon show and spotted a Lamborghini in matte pearl white.
She said: "We loved the rare colour. When we returned to Singapore, we asked the owner of Garage R to help us source for it."
Garage R imported the paint directly from Italy for the couple.
Madam Choo also changed the exhaust and full suspension systems and installed a Japanese bodykit and rims for her sportscar. HKS Garage R customised the car's body work.
The car's dashboard was customised and an in-car entertainment unit put in.
Said Mr Mok: "My wife is able to appreciate the beauty of cars as much as she appreciates designer handbags. Not many women would be willing to share the cost of the car or modifying it, but Xiuhui was willing to spend on cars.
"It was our common interest in cars that brought and kept us together."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tue, May 24, 2011
The New Paper
She buys cars on a whim
It was the R8's stylish design that made her splurge on a second car.
By Joyce Lim
Like her cars, Madam Claudine Ho is fast and furious - that is, when she purchases them.
Last year, she hastily handed over a cheque of over $300,000 for a two-year-old Audi R8 when her husband, Mr Colin Chen, was away on a business trip for two weeks.
She knew that he would probably object to her purchase as they had already owned a top-of-the-line uberwagon - an Audi RS6.
Said the 39-year-old, who runs an events management firm: "I sent him a photo of the R8 and told him that I was buying it. By the time he was home, I had already bought the car."
As expected, Mr Chen raised concerns that her purchase was too extravagant.
"He said that it was a selfish car as it was a two-seater and the maintenance was high. But I had already bought it," chirped Madam Ho.
Last year, luxury and sports car sales in Singapore hit new highs as the economy rebounded and new models were launched.
Rolls-Royce sold 37 cars at over $1 million each, which was more than triple its sales in 2009. Ferrari's sales more than doubled to 69 units.
Audi, BMW, Porsche, Land Rover and Aston Martin also posted record sales last year.
Madam Ho's need for speed saw her previously owning cars like the Audi RS4 Cabriolet, Mazda MX-5 and BMW Z4.
Before her R8 purchase, Madam Ho paid close to $400,000 for an eight-month-old Audi RS6 in 2008.
Design
It was the R8's stylish design that made her splurge on a second car.
She said: "I love the subtlety of the RS6. Don't be tricked by its look. It may be a station wagon, but it drives like a high performance sports car and it is faster than the R8. I love speed!"
She has since spent more than $20,000 changing the exhaust systems and tuning both wheels to increase their horsepower and torque.
At least once a month, Madam Ho drives either car to Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit for a track session. After each session, she would spend close to $2,000 on servicing the car.
Her monthly petrol bill comes up to $3,000 and the annual insurance fees easily cost close to $20,000 for both cars.
Madam Ho said that her 47-year-old banker husband splits the cost with her.
Said Mr Chen: "She has expensive taste (for cars) and to me, she likes to buy on impulse. I prefer to consider first and I also like to keep cars for a longer time."
Madam Ho agreed sheepishly that she does not keep a car for more than three years. She usually sells them after a year.
Her passion for wheels and the need for speed was influenced by her friend, Mr Jeffrey Keng, who took her tracking in Malaysia.
Even with two cars parked in their three-storey corner terrace house in the west, Madam Ho is now shopping for a third - an off-road vehicle specially for tracking.
And her dream car?
A Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, which she hopes to get in two years.
Does her husband know about her dream car, which costs more than $1 million?
Madam Ho quipped: "No, but he will read about it in The New Paper."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tue, May 24, 2011
The New Paper
When she saw Porsche, 'it was love at first sight'
Madam Lim Mei Yen drives a Porsche Cayman S to work every day.
By Joyce Lim
FROM a Volkswagen Beetle to a BMW 320 Coupe to a BMW 630iA.
Today, Madam Lim Mei Yen drives a Porsche Cayman S to work every day.
Zipping around the city in her German sports car, it is inevitable that Madam Lim attracts a fair share of attention on the road.
The tax manager, who is in her 40s, paid $200,000 for the second-hand Porsche in October 2009.
Extras
She then spent another $20,000 upgrading it with extras. The list includes a Fabspeed exhaust, H&R lowering spring kit, Techart front bumper diffuser, daytime running lights kit, pedals and footrest set, BBS LM-R 19-inch rims, K&N air filter, Wetterauer software programming and a 997 steering wheel.
Madam Lim was driving a BMW 630iA when she thought of switching to a two-seater sports coupe. Her husband then suggested the Porsche Cayman S.
She said: "It was love at first sight. When I saw it, I knew that's the car I wanted. I didn't even do a test drive."
Madam Lim finds the Porsche easy to handle and powerful.
The body styling of the car also charmed her into indulging in her passion. Her monthly expenses for the car easily comes up to $3,500.
Like many women, she also splurges on shoes, handbags, clothes and watches. How did she develop her love for wheels?
Madam Lim said: "My husband is very passionate about cars, and I guess that rubbed off on me a little."
Her husband is two-time Kallang carpark race champion in the 1990s, Mr Amos Mok. The 42-year-old now runs Juzz For Cars.
He said: "I am happy with my wife's new passion as it is in line with what I do."
The couple, who live in a townhouse in the east, own three cars - Madam Lim's Porsche Cayman S, an Audi S4 and a BMW M3.
And Madam Lim's dream car?
It is the limited-edition Bugatti Veyron, which costs over $2 million and is not available in Singapore.
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