Another COE bidding round, another record high. There seems to be no sign of Certificate Of Entitlement (COE) prices letting up. Even when the Land Transport Authority (LTA) increased the quota by 1,025 cars, it did little to curb the upward trend. 

Yesterday, COE premiums soared to $137,000 for the Cat E COE (which can be used to register any type of vehicle). Category A (which is used for cars with engines lesser than 1,600cc and 130hp and EVs with 150hp or less) closed at $101,000. Cat B COEs (which are used for larger and more powerful passenger cars) closed at $134,889.

Put into context, a Toyota Corolla Altis will now set you back at least $164,888 with the COE included. If you’re looking at a BMW 3 Series for example, you won’t get much change from $300k after placing an order for a 318i. 

Obviously, it only gets worse further up the automotive food chain. The combination of the revised Additional Registration Fee (ARF) banding and rates introduced in February, and the latest COE prices mean that a BMW X5 now sells for $543,888 with COE. Fancy a Mercedes-Benz S-Class? Entry to this range starts from $704,888 with COE for an S 450 L 4MATIC.  

At these prices, owning a new car is well beyond the means for the majority of Singaporeans. Besides car salesmen reporting a dearth of walk-in foot traffic to showrooms, the absence of car advertisements in the Saturday newspapers for the last several months points toward signs that car retail has all but dried up. 

This, then leads to the inconvenient truth that the bulk of COEs are snapped up by leasing fleets and companies that have huge reserves of cash to aggressively outbid the everyday Singaporean time and again. 

Surely, something can, and must be done? 

Actually, the solution might just be found in the past. Up until 1998, company-registered passenger cars bore license plates starting with the letter Q. In other words, Q-plates.

The road tax of these cars was twice that of privately registered cars. Eventually, this scheme was phased out after benefits like tax deductions from said road tax and expenses were removed. 

Similarly, rental and private hire cars were also issued with SZ plates but these were also phased out in 1998.

Perhaps it is time to bring these special plates back. Since these corporations have deep reserves for their cars, perhaps an additional registration fee could be tacked on company-owned passenger cars. Let’s say, $50k per car?

Also, an additional $10k a year on top of the prevailing road tax ought to ease the pressure off the COE bids. 

So if you look at the total cost of car ownership for a company, that’s $150k that would otherwise be put towards the COE bid anyway. 

Let’s face it. At this rate, we’ll be staring at $150,000 COE premiums in no time. 

So from a cost-of-business perspective, the new Q-plate scheme won’t be too far off what these companies are already paying. From an LTA revenue standpoint, the surplus would make up for any shortfall from lower COE bids. 

To go one step further, the Q-plates should also be extended to owners who are non-PR foreigners. Many of these individuals tend to be expats anyway and hold jobs with transport allowances. This will give a further incentive to apply for a Singapore PR or citizenship. Additionally, it would also alleviate any sentiment that locals are being deprived of COEs.  

The upside is that this will no longer penalise Singaporeans and PRs who until now have to compete with corporations for the same COEs. Hopefully, this will reduce overall living costs, and stimulate the car industry as well. 

In the United Arab Emirates for example, native citizens, known as Emiratis enjoy reduced prices on just about everything while many other countries have preferential programmes for its nationals. 

Singapore already has schemes to make housing as affordable as possible for instance. Surely something similar can be done for its citizens when it comes to cars.  

Opinions expressed are the writer’s own.

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV!

It sucks your hard-earned money and doesn’t give it back. Seemingly the only thing in Singapore that cannot break down, it’s the legendary ERP.

Electronic Road Pricing, or ERP, was a scheme conceived as a means to regulate the use of roads and handle traffic congestion. First implemented in 1998, these gantries are placed on selected routes and will kick in during morning and evening rush hours.

By doing so, the authorities hoped to promote the use of alternative routes, thus reducing the reliance on popular routes. So now you have two options: Pay the fee, or find another way around.

Of course, to this day the ERP is still a hot complaint topic. With its extensive coverage, the ERP has become virtually unavoidable for many drivers, provoking heavy criticism. Plus, whether it is really effective is still debatable.

So how does the system work?

There are a few components that make the ERP system work. The first is your In-Vehicle Unit or IU, which is where you insert your cashcard into.

Second, each ERP gantry consists of two sets of sensors. As pictured here, the first gantry has a short-range wireless system that communicates with the IU. The second gantry has cameras that are used to capture the rear license plates of vehicles as they pass by. This is to allow the authorities to identify errant drivers who do not pay the required toll.

Despite being fully automated, motorists can still fail to pay ERP rates from time to time. 

The most common causes for failing to pay the ERP is a missing cashcard or one that has run out of value. In some cases, it can even be the result of a faulty IU. 

What happens when I get fined?

If you drive through without paying, you will be subject to a fine. If you pay your fine within 2 weeks of receiving your notice, you will only have to pay the ERP charge plus an administrative fee of $10.

Miss the 2-week deadline, and you will be slapped with a $70 fine and a traffic offence. If you still do not pay up after 28 days, prepare to be brought to court. As with most things on our sunny shores, the authorities do not take this lightly.

Pre-COVID, the most expensive ERP charge was $6 for just a single gantry, although typical charges are between $1 to $3. As a rule of thumb, these charges are also usually the highest between 8-9am. Prices have started to rise again now that the pandemic is behind us, so make sure your cashcard has some value in it at all times.

It’s also worth noting that ERPs are operational every day except for Sundays and public holidays.

The rates are also reviewed once every quarter and during the June and December school holidays. The charges have also been fluctuating due to the COVID pandemic. At the time of this video, there are currently 78 active ERP gantries in Singapore. 

Will it ever be removed? Of course not.

As controversial as it is, the ERP is here to stay. Its main purpose is to encourage alternative routes or forms of transport, in the hopes of reducing overall congestion on our roads. Whether the system truly works or not is up for debate, but I digress. 

Love it or hate it, we can’t deny the ERP has become a cult icon, and we’re all just waiting for that special day, when it finally, FINALLY, breaks down.

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV!

The car industry moves at such a rapid rate that it doesn’t take long before an entire range changes right below your nose. After being away for the first half of the year due an overseas posting, the opportunity to be reacquainted with the latest range of BMW models proved to be timely. 

Conveniently, a range of 11 models from BMW and MINI were on offer where the invited media from the region would drive around Singapore in convoy and swap cars at regular intervals.

BMW 330i Touring

The cars that I wanted most to get my hands on were the Touring models. BMW-speak for wagons, these variants only appear in the brand’s local line-up once in a blue moon. Also, BMW is probably one of the last manufacturers to take the trouble to engineer rear windscreens that can open independently of the tailgate.

This clever feature is useful for hauling oversized items such as bicycles, Christmas trees or surfboards, that may otherwise prevent the tailgate from closing. Also, being able to open just the rear windscreen enables access to the luggage bay in tight spaces when opening the entire tailgate is not possible.

This used to be a common feature with wagons in the past but is now a rarity as other manufacturers strive to cut manufacturing costs and simplify their product lines. Over time, new customers do need even realise that such features existed and so it becomes something of a forgotten relic.

The other compelling reason for a BMW Touring is its styling. Easily one of the best-looking wagons in the business, the 330i Touring’s good looks are further augmented by the M Sport Pro package that is fitted as standard in Singapore. Some of the highlights include an extended M high-gloss Shadowline trim and the signature BMW kidney grille with double bars in black. A big hexagonal air intake with a honeycomb structure sits below the distinctive kidney grille, surrounded by vertical air curtains.

The look is completed with a set of 18-inch alloys, as well as gloss black roof rails and 100mm diameter tailpipes painted in Black Chrome.

Full disclosure, the drive in each car was very brief as the organisers wanted us to rotate and sample as many cars as we could in an afternoon.

However, being familiar with the local roads helps, so I was able to suss out the driving characteristics and some nuances from one model to the next. 

The afternoon traffic around Marina Bay presented very limited opportunities to sample the 330i Touring’s performance capabilities. On the other hand, the low-to-medium speed route on city roads were able to confirm my inclination that this would make for a more useable daily driver than the M3 Touring I jumped into right after this. 

BMW M3 Touring

The BMW M3 Touring was perhaps the most anticipated model on the list. Partly because this was the first-ever M3 Touring, and surprisingly, it is not available in the US market where I was stationed for the first half of the year.

Driving the 3 Series Touring models back-to-back is perhaps the best way to objectively notice the differences between the pair. What is immediately apparent is the ride quality and the sense of occasion that accompanies the M3 Touring. 

As you might expect, the M3 Touring is not for shrinking violets. On all senses, except taste, it demands your attention and that of passers-by as well. Inside, the sensory fest continues with carbon fibre panels, M badges, and the chunky steering wheel with red ‘M1’ and ‘M2’ buttons. 

As you might expect from a 510hp twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, there is more than enough ‘go’ to match the ‘show’. Even without calling up the M1 or M2 customizable sport modes, the M3 Touring is dramatically fast.

Electric Vehicles like the BMW i4 also tested here or the Porsche Taycan might match the M3, but the latter feels so much more involving to drive. It’s like cooking a steak with a microwave versus using a cast iron grill with smoked hickory and apple wood…

As its moniker implies, the M3 Touring is an endlessly capable car for long road trips. You’ll never want to stop driving it over a twisty set of Malaysian B-roads while the 500 litres of luggage space means there’ll be plenty of room for a shopping spree, or if you’re inclined, activity gear.

For the rest of us who are not fortunate enough to have a rotation of cars to suit the occasion, the M3 Touring can be a tad bit ‘extra’ on days when you want to cruise or are stuck in low-speed rush hour traffic. In such a driving condition, the firm, sporty ride and the enthusiasm for acceleration could grow tiresome.

Going one step down the 3 Series ladder to the M340i Touring would probably strike that perfect balance of performance and everyday usability. The problem is, you’ll just need to convince the BMW dealer to indent it.

BMW 318i

We round up the 3 Series family in this group with the entry model, the 318i. After the heady thrills of the fire-breathing M3 Touring, sliding into a garden variety 3 Series sedan felt relaxing and soothing, like a hot towel rubdown after an intense workout at the gym.

Most of the controls are still there, save for a gear lever and a few other switches. This otherwise plain vanilla 318i had some chocolate sprinkles on it that came in the form of the M Sport Trim.

This $9,000 topping buys you black gloss trimming, a chunky steering wheel, and a lowered rimer suspension, to name a few. Honestly, it’s an option I could happily live without, but to be fair, the M Sport suspension doesn’t affect the ride quality by much.

The unstoppable appetite for Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) means that the X3 has overtaken the 3 Series sedan as BMW’s top seller these days and so the 318i is the only remaining variant offered other than the M3 that sits at the extreme end of the performance range.

Those looking to drive something understated yet, refined and luxurious enough to pamper themselves will find it in the BMW 318i. Powered by a 156hp 2.0-litre turbocharged unit, it makes enough oomph to satisfy all but the most fastidious and furious of drivers. 

In the handling department, the BMW 318i still has the rear-wheel drive pedigree the Bavarian carmaker built its name on. Take it to a twisty road and the ‘3er’ engages the driver in a way that SUVs simply can’t.

BMW X1 sDrive16i

Next up was the X1. For many, this will be their entry point to BMW ownership. It’s not a bad place to start, to be honest. For one, its 122hp output means that it qualifies for the Cat A COE which generally leads to more accessible pricing. Although at over a quarter million dollars, it stretches the definition of ‘affordable’.

Fortunately, the X1 is pretty well built and equipped comprehensively enough to take some of the edge off the eye-watering price, no thanks to the current COE prices.

For your money, you get an X1 sDrive16i with wireless smartphone connectivity and charging, electrically adjustable front seats, and like almost all the latest BMW’s Driving Assistant, Reversing Assistant and Parking Assistant packages. In short, these features help to no end to take the hassle out of everyday driving and you’ll wonder how you ever did without them. 

The only omission that is noticeably absent on the X1 is the lack of adaptive cruise control, which you will find even in a Suzuki S-Cross these days. But at least the Bimmer comes with an electrically-operable tailgate and of course, that coveted blue and white badge on its nose…

The 3-cylinder 1.5-litre turbocharged engine might sound diminutive, but it gets the job done around town. Real-world acceleration feels much brisker than its 10.5 second 0-100km/h time might suggest. I suspect that most of that time is taken to reach the last 10km/h or so.

Rest assured, you won’t be left behind when the traffic lights turn green. Given this car’s impressive fuel economy of 6.8 litres per 100km (WLTP combined), is a happy trade-off for any performance shortcomings at the top end.

Those who place a higher priority on style will find the X1 a compelling choice. In this silhouette, the oversized front grilles seem to blend in more convincingly with the rest of the styling. Add in the commanding driving position that gives the driver great visibility of the road ahead and the promise of more cargo space, and you have a compelling starter BMW. 

BMW 216i Series Active Tourer

Another Cat A option that wears a BMW badge is the 216i Active Tourer. Just as the German carmaker calls its SUVs, Sports Activity Vehicles (SAVs), it positions this car as an Active Tourer. In any case, it makes for a more spacious and practical version of the 1 Series Hatchback. 

Having first driven the 2 Series Active Tourer (2AT) at its international launch in Spain last year, I was curious to find out if the experience would be watered down with a less powerful engine on local roads. 

On this front, I can happily report that the 216i Active Tourer feels perfectly adequate on Singapore’s roads. To be fair, even the more powerful 220i and 225e plug-in hybrid versions felt out of their element at times on the hilly roads around Malaga. However, our Sunny Island doesn’t have roads that are anywhere as demanding.

Perhaps what is more telling is that the identically powered X1 also driven in this group feels decidedly better to drive on the whole. With the Active Tourer, body roll is somehow more pronounced and it feels a tad less enthusiastic to change directions when driven enthusiastically.

Picking up on this difference alone was one of the biggest advantages of organizing a group test drive like this.

To make up for it, however, the 216i Active Tourer saves its owner $27k over the identically powered X1 sDrive16i. Put into context, over a 7-year loan, the difference roughly works out to $230 a month. 

n terms of functionality, there’s precious little difference where the 2AT makes for a more practical car than the X1. Perhaps, it has a slightly lower seat height that may make getting in an out of the car easier for family members with mobility issues. To work out which suits your use case better, I suggest making a trip to the BMW showroom to try them on for size. 

The 2AT is also just about as well appointed as the X1 so you’ll get the same host of features that matter, electrically-adjustable seats, hands-free tailgate operation and smartphone connectivity, and a suite of safety and collision avoidance features. 

The previous generation had a 5+2-seater variant that was called the 2 Series Grand Tourer. It was something of a hit especially when it was sold as a plug-in hybrid. At the international launch of the latest car driven here, I asked a BMW executive plainly if a second-generation 2GT is on the cards. “No,” was the definite answer, so don’t hold your breath for one. 

Where once the marketplace was full of mini MPV alternatives in the form of Citroën C4, Renault Scenic, and Volkswagen Golf SV, to name but a few, these have quietly gone leaving just the BMW 2AT and Mercedes-Benz B-Class to fill a very particular niche. 

If driving a mini MPV means something to you, then you won’t do better than the BMW 216i Active Tourer. However, if you can swing the extra $230 a month, the BMW X1 offers a more rewarding drive. 

For a full review of the BMW 216i Active Tourer, click here.

BMW i4 eDrive35

These days, no list is complete without an Electric Vehicle (EV) in it. In terms of the latest range of premium EV models, the BMW i4 is up there with the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and Porsche Taycan and Polestar 2 in terms of performance, range and desirability.

The variant driven here, the eDrive35, represents the entry point to the BMW i4 range. With a base price of $333,888 with COE, it undercuts the iX3 SAV as the most affordable EV from the Bavarian car manufacturer by around $8,000. 

If you consider that the average Singaporean clocks up around 20,00km a year, $8k could buy you over 3 years worth of charging in this car. 

The i4 eDrive40 has quietly been taken off the price list for a few months now, but the last time was listed in May, the asking price was $369,888 with COE. For $36k less, the owner of the eDrive35 gets a car with a slightly smaller battery, 66kWh instead of 80.7kWh. Max power and torque also take a dip by about 40kW and 30Nm respectively. This brings the tally of the ’35 to 210kW (286hp) and 400Nm. 

As a result, the ’35 takes 0.3 seconds longer to go from 0 to 100km/h. It needs at least 6.0 seconds to complete the task while top speed remains the same at 190km/h. 

When driven, you would be hard-pressed to tell any difference between how the ’35 and ’40 drives and feels. Yes, the newer car has a range that’s 10km shorter but if that margin makes any difference to your driving habits, you’re probably cutting things too fine. 

Given today’s COE prices, “every little counts”, as they say. So $36k savings over an iX3 for a car with better ride and handling makes for a rather compelling proposition.

BMW XM

Although I have driven the next two models in Arizona, USA when they were launched in March, I was curious to find out how these cars fared in the context of Singapore’s roads and traffic conditions.

The XM’s size for one thing, was hardly a factor in America, but the streets of Singapore are something else for this behemoth.

After all, “with great power, comes great responsibility,” and so the 653hp BMW XM has to be driven with restraint on local roads. Driving at 90km/h feels like you’re barely moving in this Million Dollar Baby ($1,007,888 with COE, to be exact).

Just as well then, that the BMW XM is luxuriously appointed with fine leathers and crystal knobs inside to pamper its occupants to no end. Too much is just enough, seems to be the theme of this car. 

There’s a loud button for the exhaust if you want the XM to make all the right noises, and you can drive it as an EV, if you don’t. Whether or not the exhaust notes are real or manufactured, you can never really be sure, but I suspect that most owners will be having too much fun to care. 

One less obvious advantage of driving the XM in EV mode is that operating in silence allows the occupants to savour the Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System that has no less than 20 speakers driven by 1,500 watts of amplification. Even over wireless Apple CarPlay, I could hear details in familiar songs that I was previously never aware of. You could say it brought The Cranberries’, Zombie to life…

Sorry, I couldn’t resist. To be objective, Dolores O’Riordan’s breathy vocals on this track were so detailed, it felt like you had a front-row seat to an intimate, secret concert at a small nightclub in Dublin.

Speaking of nightclubs, the XM’s extravagant styling inside and out makes every drive an occasion. I’m not sure if it would suit me as a daily driver, but when I get a chance to drive it once in a while, I know I’m in for a good time. 

BMW M2

The day ended with a drive of the M2, thankfully this time, we got back much earlier than the last time I drove this car…

After an extended amount of seat time when I drove it in Arizona, sliding back into the M2 felt like running into an old friend. I felt a bit more at home in the car with the main controls facing readily to hand. 

Although the M2 is far more satisfying with a manual gearbox, I was quite happy that the unit in Singapore was fitted with an 8-speed automatic instead. When I took over, rush hour traffic was beginning to build up to show this car’s broader breadth of talent as a daily driver.

The M2 may be packing a 460hp 6-cylinder twin-turbo engine that is largely based on the unit found in the M3 and M4, but it feels every bit as mature as its bigger siblings in terms of ride comfort. 

While the M2 is undoubtedly capable of violent acceleration and drifting shenanigans, driving it in moderation reveals a steering feel that sweeter than that of the M3 or M4. The way it’s weighted for that initial quarter-turn of the steering wheel, brings back that pure and direct feel of the 3 Series’ of yesteryear.

Comparisons with the previous generation M2 and even the 1M Coupe before that are inevitable amongst enthusiasts. Just as Air Jordan fans will have their favourites; 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11 through 14, the M2 has its own identity that in time, will make it a classic in its own right. 

This M2’s styling may not be as universally likeable as the previous F87 M2 was. Take it for a test drive, however, and it’ll grow on you, as it did for me. 

So many cars, so little time

There were actually more cars to sample but we simply ran out of time. The BMW X5 for example, has just had a minor Life Cycle Improvement (LCI) which is BMW for face lift. I was about to get into that until a huge wooden stake was discovered in one of its rear tyres. 

Perhaps a longer drive up north over a few days and nights would be even better to assess the nuances and capabilities of these cars. Until next time, hopefully. 

Read more automotive news at AutoApp, or check out our latest videos on Ignition Labs TV!

Less than 20 years ago, vans and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) could be owned and operated without having to register under a business. This pushed many potential car buyers at the time into van ownership instead, due to them being more affordable, but also due in no small part to the large gulf between petrol and diesel prices and the relatively insanely-good fuel economy figures of turbodiesel engines.

As all these associated benefits caused a massive influx of vans on our roads, this loophole was quickly plugged. From then-on, one had to register a van under a business and go through all the related costs, paperwork and hassles thereof. However, owning a van was still popular back then.

With record-high passenger car COEs and petrol prices being what they are, is it time to revisit the proposition of van ownership as an alternative to a car?

The Bureaucracy

The first step toward van ownership, for those who are not business owners, is to register a sole proprietorship, or sole-prop, at a minimum. That entails a one-time $115 registration fee, and an annual renewal fee of $30. That’s the bare minimum. There will certainly be other costs associated with running a sole-prop, but those are variable depending on what one decides to actually do with their newly-registered business.

Comparo Contenders

For this thought-exercise in van ownership, we decided to select two compact vans and a relatively-comparable passenger vehicle whose claimed fuel economy numbers are at least 20km/L (5-litres/100km).

This was done for two reasons.

First, it makes more sense to own a van with a modern turbodiesel engine. With lots of torque available from low revs, it makes hauling barang-barang that much easier. This also translates to more flexible and relaxed day-to-day driving on the road.

Which then brings us to the three natural contenders. In the van ownership corner, we have the ubiquitous Volkswagen Caddy, well known for its good fuel economy, torquey on-road characteristics and decent haulage ability. Its chief competitor is the Peugeot Partner. Although not as popular, the Pug comes into this comparo with similar torque and identical fuel economy numbers, but from a smaller engine than the VeeDub.

Representing the passenger vehicle is the recently-reviewed Toyota Sienta Hybrid Elegance. For one, this mini-MPV can morph into a minivan by stowing the seats for barang-barang haulage duties. For another, it boasts really good fuel economy numbers as our own tests have shown. The Sienta Hybrid may not be as torquey as the two compact-van contenders, but has proven itself to be really easy to drive and very likeable.

Item Description	Volkswagen Caddy	Peugeot Partner	Toyota Sienta Hybrid Elegance
Engine Capacity (cc)	1,968	1,499	1,490
Power (hp)	121	129	114
Torque (Nm)	320	300	120
Fuel Economy (claimed)	21.7km/L	21.7km/L	25km/L

Financial Sparring, BEGIN!

First up – purchase price. This is where both van contenders slap almost $30,000 worth of silly outta the Toyota Sienta Hybrid, and it is this sort of price differential that would likely cause one to consider van ownership in the first place. However, the grass may not always be greener on the other side.

Both the VeeDub and Pug boast claimed fuel economy numbers of 21.7km/L, which is impressive, but the Sienta Hybrid comes back from the mat to deliver a reeling blow to both compact vans with its 25km/L claimed consumption. DSSH!

This blow is followed up by another, exacerbated by current fuel prices. At the time of this article, SPC’s list price for RON95 petrol was $2.73/L and diesel at $2.70/L – as close as makes no difference. In other words, over an annual mileage of 20,000km, it is actually cheaper to run the Sienta Hybrid versus the two compact vans to the tune of about $300, or 25 buckeroos per month. DOOSH!

Things swing the other way when it comes to road-tax renewal, with both the VeeDub and Pug ‘outsmarting’ the Sienta by almost $300. Ah-HA!

However, that smugness doesn’t last long. Speaking of “The Man”, vehicle inspection fees are the same for both light goods vehicles and passenger cars at $67.41 per inspection, but the difference here is that a brand new car has its first inspection at the end of Year 3 and once every two years thereafter, but vans need to be inspected annually. Ka-CHING ka-CHING!

Not only that, but many, including yours truly, are unaware that it actually costs more to season-park a van at a HDB carpark as compared to a passenger vehicle by $900 per annum. OUCH!

Finally there’s the Preferred Additional Registration Fee or PARF value of a vehicle when it is de-registered at the end of 10 years. The vans have none, while the Sienta Hybrid has some. Sad trombone tune.

Have a gander at the table below:

Item Description	Volkswagen Caddy	Peugeot Partner	Toyota Sienta Hybrid Elegance
Purchase Price	$137,000	$135,000 (est. with COE)	$161,000 (rounded up)
Preferred Additional Registration Fee (PARF) Value	$0	$0	$15,421
Average Annual Depreciation Over 10-year Ownership	$13,700	$13,500	$14,558
Annual Fuel Cost (via claimed economy & 20K km mileage)	$2,488.48	$2,488.48	$2,184
Annual Road Tax	$426	$426	$714
Average Annual Inspection Cost Over 10-year Ownership	$67.41	$67.41	$26.97
Annual Season Parking Charges (HDB MSCP)	$2,220 ($185/month)	$2,220 ($185/month)	$1,320 ($110/month)
Sole Prop Fees Averaged per Annum over 10 Years	$38.50	$38.50	$0
Annual Cost (excluding insurance & servicing)	$18,940.39	$18,740.39	$18,802.97

All three vehicles come within spitting distance of one another in terms of annual cost excluding insurance, servicing and other running costs such as but not limited to parking charges at other carparks.

But There’s More To It…

Consider that vans must legally be fitted with commercial vehicle tyres, meaning when it comes to tyre-change time, one needs to go to tyre shops that carry such tyres. While they may look similar in terms of size, commercial vehicle tyres are load- and speed-rated for haulage duties while passenger car tyres may not be.

Also consider a trip across the border. With the Sienta Hybrid, one simply needs to get in and drive across with passport in hand. Not so for a G-plate van, which essentially means either complying with Malaysian regulations or renting a passenger car for the duration of the cross-border excursion.

And then there’s the little matter of speed limits. Vans are limited to 70km/h on Singapore’s highways, whereas passenger vehicles can travel at the posted speed limit which is often higher. Imagine the “beep beep beep” going off every time one creeps just a little over 70km/h in a van. Now imagine doing 90km/h on Malaysian highways with the beeper constantly beeping and ruining one’s sanity.

Also, while vans are great at haulage duties, what if one needs to ferry a flock of friends for a night out and about in town instead? Not a great idea. In the Sienta Hybrid, one merely needs to re-deploy the seats and everyone’s good to go.

All Said and Done…

… van ownership may not be the smarter financial choice that it once was for the above reasons. While looking good on paper at first glance, there definitely is a deeper consideration that’s needed.

While it may seem like we’re being harsh on van ownership, it is only because of the financial comparison. All of us here at the office like vans very much and would rock them daily if there was a practical purpose that outweighed the financial considerations above, or if the money-numbers were drastically in favour of vans as they once were nearly 20 years ago.

Looking for car reviews? Read them here!

Motorsport fans and adrenaline junkies, give a cheer, for a new go-kart circuit is now in business.

Behind the opening is The Karting Arena (TKA), the same folks behind Singapore’s first electric kart track in Bukit Timah. Thing is, while that venue is great for newbies, young’uns, and casual folk, the small track size and limited kart performance makes it a long way short of ideal for true motorsport and racing enthusiasts.

Which is why TKA has opened a new track for traditional petrol-powered karts — both speed-restricted fun karts as well as full-on pro race 2-stroke karts — over at Jurong, across the road from the SAFTI Military Institute. It’s the same site that was previously occupied by KF1 Arena, and before that, Kartright Speedway.

For racers, and racers-at-heart

The track itself isn’t very long, nor is it very complicated. It’s just 700m and 9 corners in total (compared to KF1 Kranji’s 960m and 17 turns). What it is though, is wide — with 10m being the minimum at any point. 

“This circuit’s layout was designed by racers, for racers. The width not only makes the track safer, but it also gives sufficient space for drivers to race cleanly side by side, which improves the racing. It also improves the flow, which is ultimately more satisfying for drivers,” says Paul Lee, TKA’s Director of Operations, and an experienced karting team manager and coach.

Like all of the other go-kart facilities in Singapore, TKA Jurong is equipped with plastic Tecpro crash barriers. These are safer and more flexible than traditional tyre barriers. If you wonder how effective the Tecpro system is, well — it’s even used in Formula 1, in fact.

A different test drive

AutoApp was invited for a preview session at the track for race karters. Our initial verdict? It is indeed a whole lot of fun. Despite the 180-deg nature of most of the turns, the large width makes the track properly flowing, as opposed to the tight, stop-start nature of Singapore’s other pro-level circuit, KF1 Kranji. It’s confidence-inspiring too, with plenty of space to hang the rear end out in the damp, as our exclusive preview video shows.

Other karters we spoke to that day raised another good point. The track’s wide corner radii put extra emphasis on precise throttle control, an important skill that KF1 Kranji doesn’t really allow the development of. Shorter in length TKA Jurong may be, but it certainly isn’t short on challenges to master.

Other facilities at the track include a 2nd-floor open air viewing gallery, air-conditioned lounges for racers and VIPs, private kart storage units, a helmet disinfecting station, and indoor and outdoor spaces for corporate events.

Get your helmets ready!

TKA Jurong has already begun pro karter sessions, and opened to the general public at the end of August. Rental kart rates are priced at $25 per session for youths (9-17 years old), and $35 for adults (18 years and older). The track is located at 511 Upper Jurong Road Singapore 638366; for more information, visit https://www.thekartingarena.com.

If in-person adrenaline is not your kind of thing, check out these must-try car mobile games instead!

Ask any foreigner, and they’ll describe Singapore as a tiny red dot barren of natural resources. Unlike our neighbours — with Malaysian tin, Bruneian oil, and Indonesian coal — there’s nothing much if you dig into Singapore’s ground.

Even our founding father, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, knew and acknowledged that. He had a simple strategy: “to develop Singapore’s only available natural resource: its people”. Looking at the number of skyscrapers dotting Singapore’s skyline, it’s rather evident that his strategy worked.

Over 56 years of independence, revolutionary inventions from our people have put Singapore on the map. In recent years, brands like Razer and Secretlab have made the news after going global. But, here’s three popular products that were (surprisingly) made on Singapore soil!

Creative Sound Blaster

Sim Wong Hoo’s Creative Technology revolutionised the way people worked and played using their personal computers. The once business-centric piece of technology changed, with the development of the Sound Blaster music synthesiser card.

The Sound Blaster stunned the world — and even Michael Jackson — at the 1989 COMDEX trade show in Las Vegas. For a device that only beeped, the Sound Blaster enabled not just music, but the reproduction of human voice. It turned out to be a runaway success, becoming the standard for computer audio.

Today, it’s impossible to imagine a computer without the ability to output audio. What’ll we do without YouTube, Spotify, or Netflix? The next time you watch a video or stream music, you’ll know you have a Singaporean tech company to thank.

Trek ThumbDrive

Thumbdrive, flashdrive, pendrive. Whatever you call it, you’re bound to have used this convenient and affordable way to transfer files. Data transfer back then was limited to CD-ROM, floppy disks, or Zip drives, which were either costly and/or cumbersome.

Enter Trek 2000 with their ThumbDrive, unveiled to the world at the 2000 CeBIT international trade fair in Hanover. Not only was it a thumb-sized portable storage device, it offered plug-and-play convenience with no installation or cables required.

It’s easy for us today to transfer movies — or even entire TV series — on this tiny little stick. It’s rather fitting that such a massive impact is made by a tiny device, from a tiny country like Singapore!

Ford Cortina (and other cars)

Today, Singapore is known as one of the most car-unfriendly places on Earth, but did you know that Singapore once had a significant car industry?

In 1926, Ford Malaya was set up to administer the distribution of Ford vehicles in Malaya, Burma (Myanmar), the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), and Thailand, and also started a plant in a shophouse off Enggor Street which handled final pre-delivery touch-ups for imported Ford Model Ts.

True car assembly in Singapore began in 1929, when Ford expanded operations and moved into a warehouse along Prince Edward Road. Such a facility proved advantageous when imports were disrupted at the outbreak of WWII in Europe in 1939, during which Fords captured 80% of Malaya’s car market. To meet this demand, the company built the Ford Factory we know today in 1941, which churned out car bodies for a grand total of two months before war arrived at our doorstep and the British took over the factory to assemble fighter planes. Talk about bad timing!

During the 1960s, more brands established car assembly presences here, including Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Morris, Austin, Renault, Vauxhall and Chevrolet, but that all came to a halt by 1980, when the government ended tariff protections for locally assembled vehicles. Somewhat fittingly, Ford neatly bookended Singapore’s car industry when it closed its factory doors in June that year.

The Ford Cortina Mk4 you see above is possibly one such made-in-Singapore car, and has been family-owned since it was delivered in January 1979!

This National Day, why not celebrate Singapore’s hawker culture by dabao-ing from one of these 5 makan places with easy parking?

They say time flies when you’re having fun, but the obvious truth is, time flies no matter what you do. That’s right, without realising it, it’s been more than a year since we began adapting to a new norm. With COVID-19 has come a myriad of challenges, and many of us have fought (and continue to fight) our own unique battles. So it should come as no surprise that we experience ‘pandemic fatigue’ in some form or other. Being cooped up at home, the constant fear of getting infected, and feelings of frustration and restlessness are just some of the signs of pandemic fatigue. Experts have advised various ways to cope, and perhaps, some physical activity might also give you some reprieve. While there are some constraints still, enjoying the outdoors and getting some exercise is still possible.

If you’ve already explored most of the nature spots in Singapore, it’s time to switch things up. After all, Singapore is peppered with many green areas across the island, and many of these consist of curated gardens and parks both renown and known only to those in the neighbourhood. Best of all, admission to these parks is absolutely free! 

Singapore Botanic Gardens

1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569

As the first UNESCO Heritage Site in Singapore, this one’s a no-brainer. As the first local botanic gardens dating back to the time of Sir Stamford Raffles, it may be one of the few places in Singapore that offer you a glimpse of the juncture between both our natural history and colonial past. 

The 160-year-old Gardens houses several different sections, including the National Orchid Garden and the Ethnobotany Garden. Of course, you may also be interested in catching a glimpse of the Garden’s resident swans. Regardless of where you choose to venture, the Botanic Gardens has many a tranquil sight to offer, making it the perfect spot for you to relax and unwind.

Opening Hours
Open 24 hours daily
Lighting hours: 7:00pm – 7:00am

Parking
Jacob Ballas Car Park
National Orchid Garden Car Park
Visitor Centre A / B / C Car Park

Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park

Along Bishan Road and Ang Mo Kio Ave 1

At 62 hectares, the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park is not only one of the largest urban parks in Singapore, but also one of the most popular ones. With an old canal converted into a 3km-long Kallang River that meanders through the park, it’s not difficult to see why this park is an ideal place to kill time and take your mind off more stressful matters.

The meticulously planned landscape hardly looks out of place even amidst different clusters of HDB flats, and is well-equipped to support different activities. With a wide variety of flora and fauna including the famous Bishan otters, you’ll hardly be bored even if tranquility doesn’t come immediately to you. 

Opening Hours
Open 24 hours daily
Lighting hours: 7:00pm – 7:00am

Parking
Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park Carpark A / B / C

Jurong Lake Gardens

50 Yuan Ching Road, Singapore 618661

Like the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Jurong Lake Gardens is one of Singapore’s newer urban parks, and tops the former in size at a sprawling 90 hectares. Jurong Lake Gardens brings together Lakeside Garden, Chinese and Japanese Gardens, and Garden Promenade, though the Chinese and Japanese Gardens are currently closed for redevelopment.

Nonetheless, there is more than enough of the Gardens left to explore, with a myriad of different habitats such as freshwater swamps and open grasslands reminiscent of those in foreign destinations.

Opening Hours
Open 24 hours daily
Lighting hours: 7:00pm – 7:00am

Parking
Jurong Lake Gardens North / South Car Park

Bonus: Shiseido Forest Valley and HSBC Rain Vortex

Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Boulevard, Singapore 819666

While not officially listed as a garden or park by NParks, the Shiseido Forest Valley is a wonderfully curated work of lush green landscaping, and I will fight anyone who tells me otherwise. Located at the heart of Jewel Changi Airport, everyone’s favourite airport shopping mall, the Shiseido Forest Valley and HSBC Rain Vortex are among the most Instagramable attractions.

Of course, that’s not all there is to the largest indoor waterfall and the surrounding garden. Jewel houses more than 2,000 trees and over 100,000 shrubs throughout the complex, and many of the 120 species can be found at the Forest Valley. There is ample seating area, and quiet corners where you can enjoy both the view of the fountain and the vibrant greenery around you. Coupled with the air-conditioned environment, the Forest Valley is a comfortable place to let your mind wander, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch an indoor rainbow if the light filters in just right. 

Opening Hours
Rain Vortex operating hours: 9:00am – 11:30pm

Parking
Jewel Changi Airport

Special mention: Pasir Ris Town Park

Along Pasir Ris Central, Opposite Pasir Ris MRT Station, Singapore 519639

Ok, sure, maybe there’s a bit of personal bias in this inclusion, but hear me out.

Pasir Ris Town Park is by no means fancy or extensive — it won’t take you more than half an hour to circumvent the entire park, after all. But the little park houses more than a few facilities that will keep you occupied. For one, you can always stop by the Pasir Ris Hawker Centre if you’re hungry. Right by it is the Sports and Recreation Centre if you prefer more structured workouts. There’s also a fishing pond in the middle of the park, and you can try your luck at angling for a fee, and bring your catch home. Did I mention that a family of otters frequents the canal that runs alongside it too?

But despite all these features packed into this small plot of land, my favourite thing about the park is always the view. Sure, it might not be as fancy as some of the other places on this list, but find yourself in the right place at the right time, and you’ll get to enjoy a visual treat every once in a while.

Opening Hours
Open 24 hours daily
Lighting hours: 7:00pm – 7:00am

Parking
Pasir Ris Hawker Centre
Pasir Ris Town Park

Looking for other ways to stay physically active? Give these home workouts a try!

There’s always that one friend who constantly insists that nothing ever spooks him. Like that time you asked him to go watch the latest horror flick with you and he was like, “Huh? Don’t want la, not scary”, or when you invited him to Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights and he more or less yawned in your face.

Urgh, we get it. So this Halloween, why not take a little drive around and give your insufferable friend a ghastly tour of some very “special” roads in Singapore! Be sure to elaborate on every sinister detail for maximum effect. *evil laugh*

Sheldon recommends:

Sime Road

There’s nothing like the combination of an old cemetery that was also the site of a World War II POW camp to set the scene for a creepy road. The access through old Leonie Road is a little tricky and the site of the once bustling dual carriageway now looks somewhat abandoned now that Leonie Highway taken on much of the traffic volume only adds to a eerie feel.

Be sure to look out for signs that lead to what’s left of Sime Road and Bukit Brown cemetery and I dare you to take a drive there after twilight…

Brin recommends:

Punggol Road down to Punggol Beach

A long stretch of road now flagged by young neighbourhood dwellings, Punggol Road leads up to the bustling Punggol Beach. There, you’ll find The Punggol Settlement, home to F&B establishments offering up exciting waterfront dining options to families, youths and more. However, *cue eerie music* things were not always as they are now.

In the past, this same destination was also one of the killing fields during the Japanese Occupation, as part of the Sook Ching massacre. Many Chinese civilians lost their lives and as such, over the years, human remains have been found even up to the late 90s. It is for this reason that the location is a national heritage site.

Despite the myriad of changes and developments, some Singaporeans say this stretch of road still gives them the creeps, especially when thinking about its macabre past. Welp.

Marcus recommends:

Malcolm Road

Go in the daytime, and this place seems anything but haunted. Malcolm Road is home to a cluster of colonial bungalows, cosily set atop a small hill next to the PIE. It’s a posh neighbourhood near town, flanked by prestigious schools such as St. Joseph’s Institution and Singapore Chinese Girls School.

Built around 1925 for high ranking civil servants of the colonial government, there’s a certain grandeur to them – set on a plot of land measuring over 30,000 sq ft, with a long driveway leading up to the house, an imposing black and white structure with massive pillars.

Seems lovely? Not quite – the family of a not-so-distant relative resided in one of these bungalows back in the 1980s. They narrated stories of the dog randomly barking at an empty hallway, and one standout incident involved an infant cousin. At just one year old, his vocabulary was limited to simple, single words such as ‘mama’ and ‘dog’. One evening on a visit to the family, he randomly pointed to an empty part of the house and went “glass man”, much to the horror of everyone around.

Though Malcolm Road isn’t one of the typical haunted roads in Singapore, local writer Goh Sin Tub regales readers of his book – Ghosts of Singapore – with a tale of a pontianak sighting along Malcolm Road. Looking at a map though, its proximity to Mount Pleasant Cemetery is probably reason why unusual happenings have occured. Lovely as it is during the daytime, visit after dusk at your own risk!

Now that you‘ve learnt more about some of the most haunted roads in Singapore, check out some secret driving spots.

So you’ve had to bid goodbye to that relaxing resort stay in Bintan, and wave sadly in Singaporean as Malaysia closes their borders till the end of the year. It’s okay, we know the feels. But why should you let these restrictions stop you from spending some quality time with your loved ones? So if you’re looking for child-friendly places that your little ones will love, check out these recommendations below, personally endorsed by the team at AutoApp!

Marcus recommends:

The Three Peacocks

Think of ulu restaurants to dine at, and places such as Neo Tiew and Changi immediately pop into mind. Those areas are the most kampong-esque, where you’d expect to be surrounded by greenery and see wildlife roaming about.

Unlike the ulu makan places we introduced in our previous article, The Three Peacocks is tucked away near the edge of Labrador Park. Despite being just a 15-minute walk away from the nearest MRT station, the restaurant feels ‘un-local‘ – in a good way, of course.

Plus, there’s a massive carpark with ample space. Not to mention dining tables spread across the lawn, and free-roaming resident hens and peacocks (hence the name!) that’ll come up to you. It’s easy to make the kids think they’re in Malaysia or Thailand, if not for the nearby condominiums at Keppel Bay towering over you (even if you are spending the school holidays in Singapore).

Dinner here won’t bust the budget either, as it’s a flat rate for everything, buffet-style. There’s a whole range of seafood from prawns to crayfish, as well as some marinated meats for the carnivores.

Address: 8 Port Road, Singapore 117540 (Map)

Brin recommends:

Little Island Brewing Co.

Fun day out with the kids? Take them to the pub, said no mother ever. Except me, that is.

But before you start dishing out some parenting realness, hear me out. Little Island Brewing Co is a laid-back, rustic set-up that serves up awesome food and even better beers. It also spans an impressive 10k square feet and can seat up to 400 (!) people.

But what I love the most? It’s location. At Changi Village, it’s a little out of the way for most, so you won’t have to worry about massive crowds (v. important during these trying times). And with some help from the sun, sea and beer goggles, it’s almost as if you’re at a beach-side resort bar if you squint a little!

There’s also a kids’ menu and child-friendly facilities like a playground, child seats, and changing station at the loo. Plus, there’s more than enough room for your stroller or diaper bags, which adds on to why it’s a great venue to bring the kids to during the school holidays in Singapore.

Food-wise, they serve up smoked meats, wood-fired pizzas with cheeky names (Optimus Prime Meat or Ham Solo anyone?) and a mean Sunday roast. But of course, if you’re not driving, do try their freshly-brewed beers. Because I’m a sucker for stouts, their creamy Black Milk nitro-chocolate milk stout is one of my faves. But if you’re looking for something more refreshing or light, you can’t go wrong with their Kolsch, Golden Ale or Hefeweizen selections either.

Though you usually need to get a special card to dispense your own beers from the counter, friendly staff will dispense it for you instead due to the COVID-19 situation. Swee.

That said, do not over-indulge and parent. And definitely do not drink and drive.

Address: 6 Changi Village Road, #01-01/02, Singapore 509907 (Map)

Everyone recommends:

Heap Seng Leong

In the era of minimalist modern architecture, Heap Seng Leong is a true time capsule from the 1960s. Look around the store and you’ll see kopitiam furniture that even some Malaysian coffeeshops have done away with.

Marble-topped tables and wooden shelving, for starters. Then there’s the countertop, occupied by two rows of glass jars filled with traditional biscuits. There’s no cash register here either – it’s all mental mathematics and a trusty old abacus.

Heap Seng Leong serves up typical kopitiam breakfast fare. There’s the regular kopi and teh that you’ll expect, paired with kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs. If you’re early, you’ll also find a Malay stall serving up nasi lemak, curry puffs, and assorted kuih-kuih.

What most people come here for though, is the kopi gu you – directly translated from Hokkien as ‘butter coffee’. It’s exactly what you think it is, a slab of butter plopped into a cup of hot coffee. The butter melts rapidly, forming a yellow buttery layer on the top of your kopi and giving it a smooth and silky mouthfeel.

The genuine, laid-back kopitiam feel at Heap Seng Leong is the perfect escape from modernity. There’s also the impromptu history lesson you can give the kids, which is sure to get them wide-eyed.

Address: 10 North Bridge Road, #01-5109, Singapore 190010 (Map)

Sheldon recommends:

Qian Hu Fish Farm

In case you didn’t know it, Singapore is one of the world’s largest exporters of tropical ornamental fish. One of the biggest exporters is arguably Qian Hu. Listed on the Singapore stock exchange, the company claims to export around 1,000 species of fish to over 80 countries around the world.

The fish farm is open to the public where you and the family can get up close to hundreds of species. Think of it as a free alternative to S.E.A. Aquarium in Sentosa or River Safari in Mandai with the difference being that you might bring home some fish and a new hobby.

Guided tours for access to parts of the farm can be arranged for a fee. This is arguably worth the price of admission as it would be an educational experience to learn how fish are bred and how to care for them.

A trip to Qian Hu during the school holidays in Singapore creates an opportunity for a nice, long drive, which can also be beneficial to the car. You also get to see a side of Singapore that many are not even aware of. Within a few minutes drive from Qian Hu, you can also visit Koh Fah Technology Farm where you’ll find a weekend farmer’s market selling fresh produce grown on site. Since we’re on the fish theme, there’s also an enormous display tank where you can see a couple of Arapaima – the world’s largest freshwater fish swimming about lazily.

When you get hungry, a nice respite from the heat would be to have a meal at Forrest at Orchidville. It’s a proper air-conditioned farm-to-table Chinese restaurant that serves more-than decent fare. One of it signature dishes, Volcano Rock Baked Kampong Chicken has to be pre-ordered a day in advance but is worth the effort. Another must-try is the deep fried crispy Soon Hock in Hong Kong sauce amongst many other dishes.

Address: 71 Jalan Lekar, Singapore 69850 (Map)

Jonathan recommends:

Amped/Bounce/Katapult Trampoline Park

If there’s one thing children have too much of (other than sheer unfiltered honesty), it’s energy. I’m not a parent myself so I can’t imagine how restless your little tykes were all cooped up at home during the Circuit Breaker, but I’m willing to bet you wouldn’t want a repeat experience during the September school hols.

A perfect antidote to that might be a visit to one of the big trampoline parks we have here in Singapore. Amped, Bounce, and Katapult all offer hyperactive little ones the opportunity to not only run amok to their hearts’ content, but also jump, flip, and literally bounce off the walls.

Each of the three parks have around 30 interconnected trampolines, as well as foam pits, slam dunk hoops, and even dodgeball zones. Katapult and Bounce even have giant air bags for the older or more adventurous ones to try out somersaults or other acrobatic tricks:

One of the great things about this activity is that there is no age limit, so anybody is free to have a go! For the adults, bouncing is also a great workout, as it engages muscle groups across your entire body.

In light of the COVID situation, all the locations have reduced their sessions from 1 hour to 50-55 minutes in order to clean and sanitise the park. Maximum capacity has also been reduced according to social distancing guidelines, so we’d advise booking your slots in advance to avoid disappointment. Prices start from $15 per block.

Addresses:

Amped: The Herencia, 46 Kim Yam Road, #02-11, Singapore 239351 (Map)

Bounce: Cineleisure, 8 Grange Road, #09-01, Singapore 239695 (Map)

Katapult: ORTO, 81 Lorong Chencharu #01-11 Singapore 769198 (Map)

Sam recommends:

Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

Last but not least, the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum offers a casual educational experience for the young, forever-young and oh-so-curious. The museum leads visitors on a journey from the past to the present day, with real dinosaur fossils that are bound to get Jurassic Park fans excited.

Besides the more eye-catching sauropod bones, the museum also includes interactive exhibits and displays on the biodiversity in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Since the museum also doubles as a centre for research, and exhibits are changed and updated periodically, so this destination is definitely not a one-off on the list!

The current exhibit continues the celebration of Singapore’s Bicentennial and charters a course through 200 significant natural history events in our island’s past. All of which, along with how we’ve developed as a nation, highlight how the country’s natural heritage has evolved.

Make sure to book your tickets in advance! The museum opens on Thursdays to Sundays with three different entry timings. Admission is free for children below the age 3.

Now that you’ve got some ideas on fun places to visit with your fam, why not consider a staycation at home with some exciting toys for the little ones and some good grub for you?

Singaporeans have a number of hobbies, and travel probably ranks pretty high after eating good food. Unfortunately, the luxury of travel remains a pipe dream for the indefinite long term. (Excuse me while I mourn the expiring airline miles I’ve been saving.) Nonetheless, the next best ‘getaway’ that we often turn to are local staycations. Many hotel chains now offer staycations and WFH(otel) packages for those desperate to get out of the house.

If you’re still debating the value of these staycation packages, why not try something entirely different? Here are some small ways you can transform your abode into a staycation home without breaking the bank like this Korean couple did. Let AutoApp take care of your car while you enjoy a much-deserved long weekend off.

Make plans, and actually take leave

The first step to getting into that holiday mood is to actually book your leave days. Nothing spells h-o-l-i-d-a-y like having official downtime, so make these arrangements beforehand. Since it’s a staycation, aim for the long weekend (the last ones of 2020 are Christmas and New Year’s Day).

Redecorate your room like an Airbnb home

Before you get up in arms about how costly redecoration can be, hear me out. Airbnb homes across different countries have some common themes and decorations that often lend it the holiday feel. Pick just one room in the house, such as your bedroom or living room, for some light redecoration.

To achieve the minimalist look and feel, move any clutter to another room for the time being (or, you know, actually clean the house).

Next, make small but strategic investments in some new decor.

Note: NOT sponsored. These are just some of my wishlist items. Even cheaper alternatives likely available on Taobao or AliExpress.

• Fairy lights with warm light bulbs, or a different kind of table lamp
• New cushion covers (1 | 2 | 3)
• (Fake and low-maintenance) greens
• Quirky, relaxing or travel themed wall art

Each of these items won’t cost you too much, and can be reused the next time you feel like jazzing things up again.

Get babysitting help

Capitalise on the phrase “it takes a village” and get your parents/in-laws to help babysit the children for a couple of nights. Bribe your friends if you have to. Much as kids are lovely and adorable, nothing ruins alone time with bae like a toddler needing to go wee in the middle of a late-night movie binge.

Relive your travel habits

For me, nothing gets me in the holiday mood more than eating cup noodles for breakfast in bed. Holidays are a time when you are more forgiving of any weird or unsavoury habits, so let loose for once and do something outside the norm.

Go sightseeing, but make it local

As a hardcore East-sider, much of the western half of Singapore still remains a mystery to me. Make some plans to explore a different part of the country you’re less likely to venture to on a normal day. Who knows, you might just discover some hidden gems you never knew about before.

Actually travel for food

How often have you put off trying a new restaurant or hipster café simply because it’s too far or inconvenient to get to?

Make a point this time while you’re on “holiday” and give it a go! If you need ideas, we’ve got plenty.

Make (around-island) road trip plans

If you particularly miss driving up to Malaysia on a road trip, take an around-island drive instead. Sure, the roads are not as long as Malaysian motorways and there isn’t cheap shopping after that last traffic light. But when your schedule is empty and your heart is light, even a drive around our sunny island can feel like a new adventure.

Stay entertained and fed with AutoApp while we look after your car for you!