Pete's Write

The car selection process : That's listed here: http://peteswrite.blogspot.sg/2017/01/my-car-buying-process.html So you have set your eyes, heart and wallet on that three pointed star car. Now I don't need to tell you that you should have done your due diligence on a few things: - buy it because you like the car, the features, ride, safety etc etc. Not just for the badge. Well at least be clear why you put your hard earned cash on it! - do your sums on the outlay, financing etc - that includes the loan package, the duration, interest rate etc - find a good rep who will serve you well, during the sale and more important, after you have coughed up the dough.. - look at the spec sheet, and make sure whatever you want is in black and white - go through the details, eg, black leather, may come with black trim, and if you want a lighter trim check that  - some things are not included, and you should go through the list that the rep gives you,...

Some companies like Merc have this magical overtrade (OT) thing, which means the sticker price is much higher than what you can expect to pay The OT has Nothing to do with the scrap car value.  Say a car SRP = 180k OT is what the agent gives as a discount. The condition is you must trade in a car. Any car ( only condition is that you own it > 6months apparently)  Say OT = 10k  Then whatever value you get for your car is dependant on the SALE price of your current car. Eg if you have a 5 year old Camry and you get an offer of 50k for it.  So you pay 180-10 net, then minus the 50k for the Camry.  The net price is 170k, PLUS whatever freebies they give. That's the ad trick. They will add in the freebies which you get if you get a loan. Eg Nano, DVR, service credits, solar film etc, things which I have posted earlier. Say all these have a net value of 10k, then they will say your car is 180-OT-Freebies or 160k. So the ad will say, get...

My own take Phase I Aim - who drives the car, what's the purpose (eg, fetch kids, mum or personal vehicle) & Budget - most important, how much do I want to spend, now not some nominal sum, but what I feel I can afford, and if I want something nice, will it fit, and does it make sense Phase II Research - what's out there, what is nearing the end of it's lifespan, what are the got to have features etc Reliability issues, safety, maintenance Delivery date - some conti cars take a few months to reach, can you wait? Phase III Walk the ground - showroom time! To avoid too much confusion, avoid considering more than 5, max 10 cars. And choose the type first, i.e. MPV, SUV, sedan etc Test drive: Understand that most of time, we aren't going to be like Top Gear, so things like ergonomics, comfort, economy etc matter more than handling under severe conditions  Test the handles, switches etc and of course easy egress - my mum is the gold standard. If ...

A few pointers and reminders about getting the best surround effects Priorities -  WAF or good speaker position Some basic rules of speaker placement are needed to get that surround ambience. For a 3D sound, the 5.1 or 7.1 surround layer needs to be around the ear level when seated. It's very hard to get ceiling mounted speakers to sound right, even if they are pointed at the MLP. For the Atmos / DTS speakers on the ceiling, don't fret if you can't get the right angle, there's a decent range, and if you use a coaxial speaker with adjustable tilt and swivel, that will help spread the sound. And again, that's the word - spread the sound. Maximum Effort We have said this countless times - getting the right ambience surround isn't a simple press button solution. It doesn't mean that you have the latest Audyssey, MACC, or REW software installed in your amp = sound surround.  AFTER you do the initial calibration, you will need to adju...

By now, the news of her sudden demise would have spread across the world, and we are all recalling all her famous movies, photos and the one that is etched in the minds of those who were in their puberty years when she wore that brass bikini in Star Wars. But behind this image of her, is another... A young girl who had an affair with an older and married actor, someone who couldn't cope with the pressure and limelight of Hollywood. Someone who then turned to drugs, drinking and had depression. We like to remember the good parts, and certainly she was the darling of Hollywood when she grabbed a laser gun and shot her way to fame. She then did a lovely comedic turn in Harry Met Sally, along with a good run as a writer too. Yet, I can't help feel sad, that the life of a Hollywood star is adored, admired and even idolised, and we are quick to emulate their looks, and even adopt their epicurean lifestyles. Likewise, we mourn the loss of George Micheal, but are their lives truly wort...

Good news! I have updated the video section with a comparison with the Samsung ☺ In addition I have added a comparison with the older Oppo 83 Nuforce. Just to set expectations right: this is a review in progress and will be updated with more content as I tried with with more 4k displays and compare it with other players). Furthermore, as this is a personal review, I will try and compare it with as many players as I can lay my hands on, but I don't intend to make my review an end all review of all the current player. Oppo has been at the forefront of players which provide exceptional value for money, and in recent times, they have moved from providing merely simple value players to players which even the keenest audiophiles will want for their top tier systems. With the advent of the Ultra High Definition (UHD), 4k format, we have all been anticipating what Oppo has up their sleeves. Wisely they have not tried to be the first off the mark, and have instead ...

It's interesting.. Each time I see the cars suggested for the car of the year award, I am amused. Not often do these lists coincide with the most sold cars. So what do these lists mean? Best tech, best ride ? Maybe in a small place with few B roads and mostly start stop traffic, hot yet wet weather, and very expensive COE, we value different other thIngs. Why is it that a Corolla sells well for example? By modern car buyer desires, it falls behind in the tech and cool count: only two airbags, fewer safety features and a less than desirable shape or interior. Yet it continues to outsell its rivals handily. If you take away the PI sales it is likely to feature at the top again. Perhaps it's because fans of the Corolla value reliability above all. The fact that their speaker covers don't fall out, there aren't many transmission issues reported, maintainance is affordable and when the time comes to sell it, finding a buyer is far easier then even selling your HDB...

There have been a spate of movies which feature loners with skills, and this isn't really a recent phenomenon, but the 'man with skills' tag was brought back to prominence by Liam Neeson in his first "Taken" instalment, and I think producers were taken aback by it's popularity, leading to more of such movies, with fine examples that worked like Jack Reacher, Equaliser and more. The distinctive characteristic of the protagonist in these movies is a man who has some serious training in handling himself under extreme circumstances, but who is governed by some inner moral compass, which forces him to take up arms to defend himself and his beliefs, whilst handling anyone or anything that gets in his way, with extreme prejudice. So that's what the basic premise of this show is about really, but with an extra twist, Ben Affleck plays this skilled loner well since he isn't really known for his dialogue, and add an extra dimension in the form of au...