BUYING A NEW CAR IN HK…
After a litany of woes with a used (1 yr old when we bought it – through LandRover) LandRover Freelander (company slogan – Worst4x4xFar), including water leaking into the engine block requiring a total engine rebuild, the gearbox being entirely rebuilt, the tailgate window opening and shutting at random, sporadic overheating , whining transmission, excessive road and tyre noise, asthmatic air conditioning and various bits of interior trim literally falling off, the final straw came with a terrible whining noise from the transmission combined with yet more steam from uinder the bonnet. I called LandRover and they agreed to buy the thing back from me. So “The Shed” as it had become known (very unaffectionately) disappeared from our parking space (they had to collect it on a lorry as it was undriveable) and I set out, clutching their cheque, to find a replacement.
The only rule – no more LandRovers!
We have two small children and two dogs, so either an estate car or a 4x4 are the only viable options, and my wife likes the high driving positions of 4x4’s so that is ideally what I was aiming for.
Firstly I thought I’d head down the second-hand route, and off I trotted to the AutoMall next to the Grand Hyatt for a look around. There were a few options which immediately presented themselves – a couple of BMW 3 Series estates (1997 and 2000), a Mercedes ML320 (1998), a few Lexus RX300, and one guy trying to tempt me into a RangeRover. Despite my vow of no more LandRovers I actually succumbed briefly to the salesmans entreaties and climbed into this beast. It was all very cosyt and comfortable. Then he put the key in to fire it up. BONG! “EAS FAULT” flashes across the LCD Display in the dash – Electronic Air Suspension – not cheap to fix. That immediately cured me of any urge to look any further at anything remotely associated with LandRover.
After a bit of consideration I decided a BMW 3 Series estate would do the job nicely. Not too big, not too thirsty , safe, reliable, nice to drive (we had a 3 series saloon in the UK before moving here and it was excellent) etc etc… I wander up to the salesman for the first car.
“Would it be possible to have a test drive in this car please?”
“Do you like the price?”
“Well I think $148k for a 1997 is a bit steep but if the car’s good then we can discuss that”
“Agree price first, then drive”
“But I don’t know what it’s worth until I’ve driven it. Perhaps the suspension is shot, or the brakes are worn out, or the aircon doesn’t work? How can I agree a price before I’ve driven it?
“No drive till price agreed”
“Sod you then” (Actually that bit was muttered to myself) and I stalked off.
Second 3 series estate
“Would it be possible to have a test drive in this car please?”
“Do you like the price?”
This is taking a familiar turn.
“Are you going to tell me I can’t drive it till we’ve a greed a price?”
“Yes.”
time for more stalking.
This time I head towards the Mercedes ML320. He’s asking $199k which seems good for a “prestige” vehicle.
And yes I can test drive it. Hurrah.
In I climb. First thing I notice is that most of the trim seems to have been made out of the cheapest plastic available at the time. Even so we set off. Out of the car park we go, and that’s where the problems start.
Me “What’s that noise?”
Him “The engine”
“All the Mercedes I’ve ever driven are quiet as a mouse, how come this one is so loud?”
“Small engine, big car”
He’s not joking. I try to head up Magazine Gap Road and we do make it to the top, but on the way up any attempt to accelerate by pressing on the right hand pedal are met with huge roars from the engine but no noticeable increase in speed.
“This is hopeless. I’ll be deaf in days. Let’s go back”
“Do you want to try a ML430?” (The V8-engined car) “I have one available”
“Sure”
And off we go. Much, much better, quiet, powerful, refined – a totally different proposition.
“Do you have any service history for the car?
“No”
“Is it a grey import or a Zung Fu car?”
“Import – don’t know where from or who by”
Hmmmm – suddenly I’ve gone off it.
Beaten by the Automall I decide to head to the Franchise dealers.
Mazda first. They have been advertising some used Mazda Tribute’s for a few weeks and sound like a bargain. Similar in size to the Freelander, V6 engines, and these have been used by Mazda’s own managers so service record etc is impeccable. Plus they are asking on $99k!
But oh what a disappointment. Like the ML320 only more so. The noise from the road once you are moving is unreal. The high profile “off-road” tyres roar and the engine whirrs, hums and thrashes away at varying volumes as you press on the accelerator but again with no noticeable change in speed.
Now I decide to start looking at new cars. After all this will be transporting my family about and HK’s used market is notoriously dodgy at best.
So to Toyota for a look at a RAV4.
“Hi. I’m thinking of buying a RAV4 and was wondering if you would have one I could test drive please, either new or used is fine.”
Sorry. No RAV4 in stock. We don’t keep them in stock in Hong Kong.”
“But I’ve seen a few about. How did those people test them?”
“They didn’t. Just ordered and we delivered. Takesd about 3 months.”
“Thanks but I need a car now.”
Maybe Honda?
“I’d like to have a look a C-RV please if you have one and go for a test drive”
“Not here (HK-side). Kowloon only. We have two new cars. But no test drive.”
“No test drive? Why? You said you have 2 for sale.”
“They are new. If you drive them they won’t be new”
I’ve never looked at it like that. Never will again either. I’m sorry but expecting someone to shell out the best part of $300k on a car they’ve never driven is insane.
I can’t believe how hard it is proving to spend a large amount of money in this town.
So to Subaru almost next door…. with very low expectations. Some friends in Australia have a Subaru Forester which they think is great so I decide to have a look.
Higher and taller than an estate, but lower than a 4x4, it falls between the two camps, but is still eminently suitable for the job which it would be doing. First shock – they have one in the showroom! In I go and have a poke about in it, then the salesman comes over.
“Do you have one of these I can test drive please?”
“Yes. You want to try it now?”
“Errrrrr.” (I wasn’t prepared for this turn of events) . “Sure, why not?”
“Wait five minutes please”
Four minutes later, a shiny silver Forester is out front.
In I get and off we go.
This is the 2.0XT model so has basically the same flat-four “boxer” engine as the Subaru Impreza Turbo Nutter car, albeit with a smaller turbo, and develops approximately 175bhp. The engine is also mounted very low in the vehicle. The result is a dull family estate on the outside that goes like the clappers when you get your toe down. And it has 4 wheel drive (AWD in Subaru speak) so goes round corners at ludicrous speeds with grip to spare if you feel like being a hooligan. It’s also pretty quiet, reasonably refined and comes with a 3 yr warranty on everything.
Then things get better…
“There’s something about the interior that doesn’t look like the one in the showroom?”
“Yes – the centre console has been updated for 2005 but the mechanics are all identical. We have three of these from last year which we are doing a deal on. We are selling them for $219k instead of $245k for the ones with the new-look interior.”
“So I can get one of these for $219k and it’ll just have slightly different air-con buttons to the 2005 car? Will it be a new registration or are they registered already?”
“Yes, basically just the buttons are different, and yes it will be brand new registration. The 3 year warranty starts the day you collect it.”
“Ok. Let me think about it.”
…..
“I’ve thought about it. Done.”
I collected the car on Friday night from Subaru, my new favourite company. 48 hours later and I am a very happy customer so far. Everything works, nothing makes strange noises, no windows have mysteriously opened themsleves while the car is parked and locked, no bits have fallen off, there is no pool of oil in our parking space, and no steam coming from under the bonnet. When you've had a LandRover before those are all minor miracles!
One last thing. Our old Freelander has now turned up at the Automall! It now has leather upholstery (it was cloth when we had it) and has I hope been totally rebuilt under the bonner. Even so I would advise all readers to avoid light-blue Freelanders like the plague - especially if the registration is KA 8430
Friday, February 25, 2005
TOP ADVICE
I was watching Queer Eye for the Straight Guy the other night (Ye I do watch it voluntarily, and yes I do enjoy it and find it funny. It makes me feel much better to know that no matter how low I stoop there is always someone else out there who is a bigger slob than me). Anyway while watching I heard possibly the best piece of advice ever dispensed on television.
Ted Allen, the food and wine guy, was going through some more schmucks alcohol collection, which was a very sorry mix of cheap and nasty wines and spirits.
He called the poor sap over and offered him this tip....
"Life's too short to drink cheap booze"
An excellent piece of advice which I think will have to become part of my philosophy of life.
I was watching Queer Eye for the Straight Guy the other night (Ye I do watch it voluntarily, and yes I do enjoy it and find it funny. It makes me feel much better to know that no matter how low I stoop there is always someone else out there who is a bigger slob than me). Anyway while watching I heard possibly the best piece of advice ever dispensed on television.
Ted Allen, the food and wine guy, was going through some more schmucks alcohol collection, which was a very sorry mix of cheap and nasty wines and spirits.
He called the poor sap over and offered him this tip....
"Life's too short to drink cheap booze"
An excellent piece of advice which I think will have to become part of my philosophy of life.
THE POWER OF BLOGS
Iran recently arrested 2 bloggers, Mr Motjaba Saminejad and Mr Arash Sigarchi for aiding countrer-revolutionaries and spying (basically they were criticising the regime).
In response, the Committe to Protect Bloggers (yes it does exist) called for a "day of action" by bloggers.
Oooh I bet the Iranian authorities were scared! The prospect of thousands of nerds across the world sitting in front of their computers and doing nothing except setting the heading for Tuesday as "Free Motjaba Saminejad and Arasha Sigarchi" must have terrified them.
Imagine the scene. It's a meeting of the Government. President Hojjat ol-Eslam val-Moslemin Hajj Seyyed Mohammad Khatami (crazy name, crazy guy) and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are getting a run down of the days agenda. Iraq is imploding on their doorstep and at the same time setting a dangerous (for Iran) precedent of democracy in the Middle East. Europe and America are demanding Iran gives up its nuclear ambitions (Europe using bribery and America using not-very-thinly veiled threats of imminent invasion), Israel appears to be adging towards peace with the Palestinians, possibly creating a secure Israeli state, probably nuclear armed but certainly funded by the US, within striking distance of Iran. Then suddenly an aide run in...
"Hold everything! New agenda. Item 1. Bloggers are holding a day of action against us!"
Hmmmmm. Grow up fellow bloggers. We're just people writing drivel and rehashing other news stories. If i want real news and comment I'll read a paper. The only people who care about blogs are other bloggers.
My advice to you, if you live in a harsh and intolerant regime, is DON'T BLOG! You'll be arrested, possibly tortured and very likely imprisoned, and there's not a damn thing anyone can do about it.
To prove the point, Iran promptly sentenced Arash Sigarchi to 14 years in jail.
Clearly they were quaking in their boots!
If you're going to hold a day of action go and burn down a couple of Iranian embassies. They'll notice that. Holding a "cyber-protest" in the "blogosphere" isn't going to do a damn thing I'm afraid, no matter how many get involved.
Iran recently arrested 2 bloggers, Mr Motjaba Saminejad and Mr Arash Sigarchi for aiding countrer-revolutionaries and spying (basically they were criticising the regime).
In response, the Committe to Protect Bloggers (yes it does exist) called for a "day of action" by bloggers.
Oooh I bet the Iranian authorities were scared! The prospect of thousands of nerds across the world sitting in front of their computers and doing nothing except setting the heading for Tuesday as "Free Motjaba Saminejad and Arasha Sigarchi" must have terrified them.
Imagine the scene. It's a meeting of the Government. President Hojjat ol-Eslam val-Moslemin Hajj Seyyed Mohammad Khatami (crazy name, crazy guy) and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are getting a run down of the days agenda. Iraq is imploding on their doorstep and at the same time setting a dangerous (for Iran) precedent of democracy in the Middle East. Europe and America are demanding Iran gives up its nuclear ambitions (Europe using bribery and America using not-very-thinly veiled threats of imminent invasion), Israel appears to be adging towards peace with the Palestinians, possibly creating a secure Israeli state, probably nuclear armed but certainly funded by the US, within striking distance of Iran. Then suddenly an aide run in...
"Hold everything! New agenda. Item 1. Bloggers are holding a day of action against us!"
Hmmmmm. Grow up fellow bloggers. We're just people writing drivel and rehashing other news stories. If i want real news and comment I'll read a paper. The only people who care about blogs are other bloggers.
My advice to you, if you live in a harsh and intolerant regime, is DON'T BLOG! You'll be arrested, possibly tortured and very likely imprisoned, and there's not a damn thing anyone can do about it.
To prove the point, Iran promptly sentenced Arash Sigarchi to 14 years in jail.
Clearly they were quaking in their boots!
If you're going to hold a day of action go and burn down a couple of Iranian embassies. They'll notice that. Holding a "cyber-protest" in the "blogosphere" isn't going to do a damn thing I'm afraid, no matter how many get involved.
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
LINKS
Time to update my links I think. I use the link list really as a way of getting to pages I like to read - i.e. find entertaining and/or informative - so there is no point in maintaining links to pages I find dull and/or sanctimonious and therefore rarely read, so i have updated my sidebar accordingly.
Byebye Ordinary Gweilo
Byebye Phil
I'm sure you don't care anyway
Time to update my links I think. I use the link list really as a way of getting to pages I like to read - i.e. find entertaining and/or informative - so there is no point in maintaining links to pages I find dull and/or sanctimonious and therefore rarely read, so i have updated my sidebar accordingly.
Byebye Ordinary Gweilo
Byebye Phil
I'm sure you don't care anyway
ALIEN INVADERS
Hong Kongers have just woken up to the presence of yet more Alien invaders in their midst. Somehow the presence of their nests in the mid-levels and dotted all over the south side of the island had gone unnoticed for years. Now however the Hong Kong government, led by visionary Chief Executive C.H. Tung and backed by Beijing, is determined to stamp out this menace. It seems the invaders have been here for much longer than anyone had imagined, and many have in fact been here so long that most Hong Kongers have started to regard them as in fact being native to the SAR. Nothing could be further from the truth. Research has shown that these invaders first started arriving in significant numbers in 1841 and 1842 and their presence and numbers have been growing steadily since then. Fortunately they are easily identifiable by their pale colouring compared to native species.
They are also relatively easy to find. The worker drones can be found most mornings on the mid-levels escalator, which they use to descend to Central where they forage during the day for the resources to keep their queen and young fed, while the queens remain in the nest, lying on the sofa in front of the TV, engaging in the bizarre ritual of "coffee" with similarly indolent queens, or ordering around junior female workers who remain in the nest to tend to the queens every need. At weekends, when usually resource-rich central empties out, they can be found during the day on the beaches of the south side of the island, or in the evenings in the areas known as Soho, Lan Kwai Fong or Wan Chai where they gather to celebrate another successful week eking out an existence in Hong Kong.
During the early years of this invasion there were plenty of resources available to sustain both native and “alien” species, and they co-existed happily. In fact many even felt that the new arrivals were a benefit to Hong Kong, as their industrious efforts produced by-products such as wealth, stable government and low tax rates. Now however the competition for resources is heating up, and more importantly, a side-effect of the presence of this alin species in Hong Kong is a grwoing from of dementia known as "desire for democracy". Research has shown that prolonged exposure to the aliens can cause native individuals to develop an unhealthy and unwelcome desire to decide their own fate rather than have it decided several thousand kilometres to the north. Clearly this menace has to be stamped out fast if Hong Kong is to fulfill it's potential as part of the glorious Motherland. Various schemes have been proposed.
C.H. Tung has already launched two major efforts to eradicate the menace.
Firstly he has started filling in the harbour, removing the major reason the invaders were first attracted to Hong Kong. By taking away a major resource and replacing it with concrete he aims to remove a fertile source of resources and replace it with a wasteland on which even the native species would be hard-pressed to survive.
The second part of his plan is to remove the food supply for the invaders. At present most of their nutrition comes from Central, and easy and energy efficient location given the invaders preferred nesting sites in Mid Levels. Tung is therefore attempting to move the nutrition rich feeding planes of Central to a remote and inaccessible location he has dubbed Cyberport. He hopes that by making their daily trips for sustenance at least as difficult as it would be in their native habitats the invaders will leave of their own accord. Unfortunately for Tung he failed to realize that in relocating the food supply for the aliens, he would also be relocating the food supply for native species, and so this plan has so far failed to produce any quantifiable results.
Donald Tsang meanwhile has a different plan. He has noted that the invaders are less able and willing to tolerate energy-poor nutrition and cramped nests. His plan is that the invaders can be driven out by sheer weight of numbers. He reasons that if the native species can be persuaded to up their procreation rate, then eventually the invaders will be driven out as the native species natural tendency to use all available resources and leave behind infertile wastelands will lower the average resource level for all to a level that only the native species can tolerate. An added attraction is that to fund this plan he will be using resources provided by the aliens themselves (a by-product of their endeavour known as “taxes”) to encourage the native species to up their reproductive rate. At first glance it seems an admirable plan, however it is not clear whether Mr Tsang has realized that if he replaces the aliens with the native species then this resource supply is likely to dry up.
It is shaping up to be a battle royal! Will the tenacious invaders hold on, or will the natives succeed in eradicating them permanently.
Only time will tell.
Hong Kongers have just woken up to the presence of yet more Alien invaders in their midst. Somehow the presence of their nests in the mid-levels and dotted all over the south side of the island had gone unnoticed for years. Now however the Hong Kong government, led by visionary Chief Executive C.H. Tung and backed by Beijing, is determined to stamp out this menace. It seems the invaders have been here for much longer than anyone had imagined, and many have in fact been here so long that most Hong Kongers have started to regard them as in fact being native to the SAR. Nothing could be further from the truth. Research has shown that these invaders first started arriving in significant numbers in 1841 and 1842 and their presence and numbers have been growing steadily since then. Fortunately they are easily identifiable by their pale colouring compared to native species.
They are also relatively easy to find. The worker drones can be found most mornings on the mid-levels escalator, which they use to descend to Central where they forage during the day for the resources to keep their queen and young fed, while the queens remain in the nest, lying on the sofa in front of the TV, engaging in the bizarre ritual of "coffee" with similarly indolent queens, or ordering around junior female workers who remain in the nest to tend to the queens every need. At weekends, when usually resource-rich central empties out, they can be found during the day on the beaches of the south side of the island, or in the evenings in the areas known as Soho, Lan Kwai Fong or Wan Chai where they gather to celebrate another successful week eking out an existence in Hong Kong.
During the early years of this invasion there were plenty of resources available to sustain both native and “alien” species, and they co-existed happily. In fact many even felt that the new arrivals were a benefit to Hong Kong, as their industrious efforts produced by-products such as wealth, stable government and low tax rates. Now however the competition for resources is heating up, and more importantly, a side-effect of the presence of this alin species in Hong Kong is a grwoing from of dementia known as "desire for democracy". Research has shown that prolonged exposure to the aliens can cause native individuals to develop an unhealthy and unwelcome desire to decide their own fate rather than have it decided several thousand kilometres to the north. Clearly this menace has to be stamped out fast if Hong Kong is to fulfill it's potential as part of the glorious Motherland. Various schemes have been proposed.
C.H. Tung has already launched two major efforts to eradicate the menace.
Firstly he has started filling in the harbour, removing the major reason the invaders were first attracted to Hong Kong. By taking away a major resource and replacing it with concrete he aims to remove a fertile source of resources and replace it with a wasteland on which even the native species would be hard-pressed to survive.
The second part of his plan is to remove the food supply for the invaders. At present most of their nutrition comes from Central, and easy and energy efficient location given the invaders preferred nesting sites in Mid Levels. Tung is therefore attempting to move the nutrition rich feeding planes of Central to a remote and inaccessible location he has dubbed Cyberport. He hopes that by making their daily trips for sustenance at least as difficult as it would be in their native habitats the invaders will leave of their own accord. Unfortunately for Tung he failed to realize that in relocating the food supply for the aliens, he would also be relocating the food supply for native species, and so this plan has so far failed to produce any quantifiable results.
Donald Tsang meanwhile has a different plan. He has noted that the invaders are less able and willing to tolerate energy-poor nutrition and cramped nests. His plan is that the invaders can be driven out by sheer weight of numbers. He reasons that if the native species can be persuaded to up their procreation rate, then eventually the invaders will be driven out as the native species natural tendency to use all available resources and leave behind infertile wastelands will lower the average resource level for all to a level that only the native species can tolerate. An added attraction is that to fund this plan he will be using resources provided by the aliens themselves (a by-product of their endeavour known as “taxes”) to encourage the native species to up their reproductive rate. At first glance it seems an admirable plan, however it is not clear whether Mr Tsang has realized that if he replaces the aliens with the native species then this resource supply is likely to dry up.
It is shaping up to be a battle royal! Will the tenacious invaders hold on, or will the natives succeed in eradicating them permanently.
Only time will tell.
SIX NATIONS / RUGBY
I have seen both the Wales v England and England v France games.
There seems to be a general wailing and gnashing of teeth at the state of English rugby at present. I would like to offer a couple of thoughts....
1. During the first year of Woodwards reign England got thumped by all and sundry as he experimented with his players to find a team that could play the way he wanted them to play. Robinson is merely doing the same.
2. England were 1 score away from winning both games, and outscored France 2 tries to 0 (the measure by which the whinging Aussies and Kiwis seem to measure games when their kickers have a bad day). At no point did France look threatening. Yes we had a bad kicking day and let France off the hook, but experience will help both Hodgson and Barkley in the future, plus in the wings there is not only Jonny Wilkinson but also Andy Goode, who kicked 11 from 11 last weekend in Leicester's 83-10 rout of Newcastle having starred the previous weekend for England A in their defeat of France A.
3. The World Cup is 2 years away. The raw 23 and 24 year olds of today will have 20 caps or more each to their names by the time it comes round and be a totally different prospect to today.
Long and short of it is we are likely to have a rough year, and may well lose again this weekend against Ireland, but I am far from despondent. Wilkinson and Hill are on their way back and will lend authority and experience to a side that I believe has great potential. I agree that at present we are not the side we were, and the Kiwis and South Africans both have reasonable claims to the number 1 slot on current form, but I am quietly optimistic that we have the strength in depth to get re-emerge when it counts as a front-runner.
The future's bright.
The future's white.
I have seen both the Wales v England and England v France games.
There seems to be a general wailing and gnashing of teeth at the state of English rugby at present. I would like to offer a couple of thoughts....
1. During the first year of Woodwards reign England got thumped by all and sundry as he experimented with his players to find a team that could play the way he wanted them to play. Robinson is merely doing the same.
2. England were 1 score away from winning both games, and outscored France 2 tries to 0 (the measure by which the whinging Aussies and Kiwis seem to measure games when their kickers have a bad day). At no point did France look threatening. Yes we had a bad kicking day and let France off the hook, but experience will help both Hodgson and Barkley in the future, plus in the wings there is not only Jonny Wilkinson but also Andy Goode, who kicked 11 from 11 last weekend in Leicester's 83-10 rout of Newcastle having starred the previous weekend for England A in their defeat of France A.
3. The World Cup is 2 years away. The raw 23 and 24 year olds of today will have 20 caps or more each to their names by the time it comes round and be a totally different prospect to today.
Long and short of it is we are likely to have a rough year, and may well lose again this weekend against Ireland, but I am far from despondent. Wilkinson and Hill are on their way back and will lend authority and experience to a side that I believe has great potential. I agree that at present we are not the side we were, and the Kiwis and South Africans both have reasonable claims to the number 1 slot on current form, but I am quietly optimistic that we have the strength in depth to get re-emerge when it counts as a front-runner.
The future's bright.
The future's white.
AND WE'RE BACK...
Actually have been back for a week but couldn't be bothered to update!
Anyway skiing was great, thanks for asking.
Lots of snow, a bit of sun and plenty of beer, including a cheeky few at the famous Mooserwirt - then 3 days sprinting round the UK doing a family and friends tour (please note family and friends are different categories, and while membership of "family" normally comes with a free membership of "friends" in one case there is definitely no crossover - hi Mum!)
Will be offering a few thoughts on recent events soon, if anyone cares.
Actually have been back for a week but couldn't be bothered to update!
Anyway skiing was great, thanks for asking.
Lots of snow, a bit of sun and plenty of beer, including a cheeky few at the famous Mooserwirt - then 3 days sprinting round the UK doing a family and friends tour (please note family and friends are different categories, and while membership of "family" normally comes with a free membership of "friends" in one case there is definitely no crossover - hi Mum!)
Will be offering a few thoughts on recent events soon, if anyone cares.