Back in 1979, BMW had their last mid-engined supercar the M1 which not really saw the light in of mass production, price and having to pry the designs off Lamborghini who was faced with bankruptcy then. The M1 was also the first car produced by BMW M Division, aka the blue red and purple stripped Motorsports people who, brought the world their souped up roadsters, coupes and supersaloons which we all come accustomised too, such as the z4-M M3, M5 & M6.

We don’t really know what the rocket scientists in the M division would be brewing out next, but if you wish and if cash is not a problem for you, then can actually place a desposit with BMW, bypassing the hassles of middle man dealers or “performance motors ” for one of the most-sought after mainstream supercars come 2008, standing side-by-side with the F430 and the Gallardo, the BMW Z10.

The Z10 will be a mid-engine supercar powered by a 5.0L V10 found similarly in the M5 and M6. Only that it would be likely to be tuned up coughing out 550hp with a a power to weight ratio of 458bhp/tonne, given the expected curb weight of about 1.2 tons. In comparison, it’s M1 predecessor had a minute 3.5L inline 6 with 24 valves chruning out 277bhp & 324Nm of torque @ 6500rpm.

It’s a mixed bag when it comes to BMW’s controversial styling, which tested loyalists and fans with the sedans of 2005. Personally I see the Z10 more like a Gallardo Spyder with it’s front chopped out with 2 kidneys and badging in place. Look closely and you may hey! even recognize it’s blood parents: say… a cross between a Porsche Carrera GT mistress too? But like it or hate it, the z10 is still simply astonishing and a beauty to look at.

I guess BMW can have plenty to brag about the Z10 come next year. With the exception of Porsche strangely going towards sedans and more SUVs next year, I believe one of the reasons of the Z10 is the increased pressure on BMW to produce a mid engined car given increasing competition from VW’s “Veyron” and Audi’s R8. Furthermore backed by demands from fans to produce a true bred supercar in line with BMW’s relatively long experience in Formula 1, it’s about time BMW came out with a mid engined car to live in the light (or cover up the failue) the M1 always had till today, only time will tell.

And yes, on Cars. Dad came around one day with mum asking about plans for our next new family car. Despite all his talk on Renaults previously, he was considering the 2006-2007 1.6L Mitsubishi Lancer which is going for a dirt cheap $43,000 with COE at C&C, which is close to half of how much we paid for our current 1.5GLi Toyota almost 10 year ago with it’s COE expiring in a few years time. To dad, “a car is a car which gets people from point A-B and B-A, any other questions asked? and no, we do not need a convertible….”

This decision came about after serious considerations whether into continuing maintaining our 9 year old car which will needs an expensive overhaul for inspection soon or just scrap it and get a new one after this Chinese New Year? I suggested the standard Subaru Impreza 1.6 going at around the same affordable price. But as dad as dad, who had previously worked for Subaru and always bragged about how good their flat fours are, amazingly did not want to own a Subaru this time! And neither would be a Toyota, Hyundai, Mini, Volkswagon, Ford, Datsun (and the list goes on…) as he had owned them all first hand before, even before I was born! and wanted something different this time. But didn’t he own a Mitsu before when I was a kid?, “”that previous one was a resale”, he said… *collapse*

Another contender in the sub $43,000 priced car would be the 2nd most common car in Singapore – The Nissan Sunny 1.6L, (with the Lancer in Third and the Toyota Corolla in First). But if my eyes don’t fail me the new 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer is really pretty though, it’s like a cross between the old Mitsu Gallant and Volvo front styling, totally niffy. The thing I heard that variants starts at 1.8L up to the 2.4L in the 2008 Lancer EVO X. So the $43,000 price tag might not stay especially for a 1.8L.

However, realistically speaking, I actually do not need a car, it’s more of a want – something that almost all guys will spend on their first contact with big bucks. Even if one may argue driving a car allows you to take the shortest possible route to your destination (in my case most school and town), thus saving time. But if I get to drive one to school, the shortest route I will be taking is the exalt same route my bus takes me to school everyday. Same for town and such, it just IMPOSSIBLE to find a parking lot in the city – Let be wasting at least 30mins to even an hour waiting or trying to look for one, where all I need is a short bus trip from home to town and back.

In the Singaporean context, the car functions more of a social status as our very commendable network of public transport fully substitutes it in terms of it’s basic function relating to personal transport, contrary to other larger countries. Furthermore, with bus lane rules are getting stricter with dedicated lanes as well & so are rising fuel prices & taxes, pollution & stricter emission controls, things don’t look good & does not justify the perceived “good”.

Furthermore, we can fully exploit the opportunity cost of the money saved from buying a car – we can do alot with it like investing it or use it to fund further studies, so as mum hinted occasionally.

Though one can argue that a car is an invaluable resource at times of critical need and emergencies, I guess that only comes out of the blue where the true value of owning a car really shines. But there are vehicles called “Taxis” as well. Mmmm

Well I can’t deny that if I can afford it, I would still buy a car, in fact I was torn between the support for green cars, namely the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid, but the price ($80,000-$100,000) cannot justify itself where I can get another equivalent sized saloon of the same capacity at even less than half the price.

Besides that, I always have a soft spot for convertibles as well. For the record, the 800,000th Mazda MX-5 ($90,000) has recently rolled out of the factory, maintaining in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest selling most affordable 2 seater convertible. For me, a 2007 BMW E93 Cabriolet Hardtop Convertible 325i ($200,000) is what I can realistically dream for.

You can always expect something when dad leaves home on a saturday morning to work, on overtime. Strangely commuting to work by bus & leaving the car parked at home. Sure enough, mum later approached me asking: “shaun the car’s ours & I’ve got an assignment for you: I need you to drive us around the place today” Today as in yesterday, Saturday. Oh darn. Next thing before I know, I am am on my way from home to granny’s at Ang Mo Kio for some “special lunch gathering” with me as the chauffeur… After a good lunch at grans, it was so good that mum doggie bagged some food to be brought to Dad at his workplace as lunch, whos gonna do that? Me of course, sadly. So off from Ang Mo Kio we headed to Pasir Panjang, where my dad works, talking about personal deliveries… A long 15km + journey to delivery some nicely packaged food complete with china cutlery included. Thats first class dude, fit for a king? or dad who was just starving at the gate as we are about 1 hour late past lunchtime. duh!

Since its about 2pm++ We decided to drop by nearby Ikea for some shopping & stuffs. Parking is unusually easy due to the strange lack of cars, (usually adding to congestion) in Ikea considering it being a Saturday. Got a paper/note holder & some racks to keep my room & homework organised. Dumped our stuffs into the car before hanging out at the opposite AnchorPoint for some grocery shopping at cold storage & stationary. Its not long before its 4.30pm when mum called dad asking whether he needs to be picked up after work. & yes, cos he is not used to taking the bus! So its back to Pasir Panjang, then off back to Ang Mo Kio for Part II of granny’s special – Dinner! But before that, as all mums who just can’t take a miss of the grocery bargains. We found ourselves none other than at Ang Mo Kio’s premiere bargain market- Ang Mo Supermarket, where we spent the next 1/2 hour or so joining her in her indulgence, before settling down for a coffee break at the nearby coffeeshops.

Line Dancing @ AMK	Cold storage’s cold selection	Dinner at Grans

They are having some interesting line-dancing event in the area too, a social event you can’t miss but hilariously watch how clumsy people can be! Later spent the night at grans after dinner, only to leave at about 8pm+ to head home, this time its dad’s turn to drive, I was too tired from a whole day of driving! With 1/5 of the fuel tank emptied today & about close to about 100km travelled today, dropped by office-1 whole salers at bukit merah to get some printer ink cartridges before calling it a day at home.

Luckily I didn’t have to pay for any petrol…

Woke up at a dumpy 6.30am today, (only had 6 hours of sleep) as my driving lesson is one this morning. Had one at 8.30am and the other at 12.55pm in the afternoon. Through these two lessons & being my first time “singlehandedly” driving the car, managed to learn the following stuffs in circuit:

Start/stop/reverse the car
Changing up/down, to/from 3rd gear respectively
Wide and 90 degree sharp turns
Lane change left/right
Turning in/out, from/to, main/side road
Target stopping

My 1st lesson slot didn’t ring me much good impression as the instructor by the name of Mr Quek (couldn’t find his name on the instructor board anyway) obviously, having his first work of the day as rather quiet & dull (not to mention old- bad combination) & its a challenge trying to squeeze out whatever info I needed from him just to make my $58 for 100mins worth. On the other hand the 2nd instructor for the day (by the name of Mr lee, was rather funny and… not too old) was definately the better one of the day, always chatty and giving hints here and there, not to mention (and most importantly) having trust in your trainee. E.g. not stepping on the secondary footbrake at any slightest mistakes- as if your car might go runaway & smashing up everything & mincing up every predestrain in sight. Haiz… some people.

Moreover, a more positive instructor does bring up the in their students too- Mr lee said that I would be on the public road the next lesson if I could carry on the today’s performance, sounds rather assuring, although I was still rather jumpy on the moving off on 1st gear part.

Overall, the lesson(s) today do definately crave a better impression I have on BBDC, though theres always the cheaper.. private alternative. Moreover at BBDC, instructors will always change for me as I just dun find it worthwhile to pay additional surcharges for a fixed instructor, what really matters lies within and mainly yourself. Instructors good or lousy will serve their purpose as ballast on the passenger seat anyway…