As the song “Five Years” by David Bowie started playing through the speakers of my car, as I am on my way to a car workshop in Singapore for my regular car servicing, my thoughts drifted back to five years ago when I sat in this car for the first time after getting it. It was November of 2018, I was 26 years old and I had just been promoted working in a SME as a marketing executive. I had been at this company for 4 years before receiving a promotion and I was over the moon.
That night, as I was making my way to meet my friends on the public transport, I started dreaming of bigger things I should start working towards, a branded watch? A new branded bag? Or a solo overseas trip? I was getting giddy thinking of the good things ahead of me, when I suddenly felt something repeatedly hitting against my back. I turned around to see what or who it was and realised it was someone’s bag hanging carelessly off her shoulder, swinging around and hitting me repeatedly. At first, I was determined not to let this minor incident ruin my perfect day but as a sweaty man boarded the already crowded train and had his sweat-soaked back smothered all over my arm, my day was ruined.
It was supposed to be a perfect night! I had planned to meet some of my best friends for dinner to celebrate! But now, annoyed and sweaty (from the sweaty man), I was not in the mood for a celebration. Upon reaching the restaurant, I had immediately started ranting to my friends about my horrid MRT journey. I continued to rant when one of my best friends suggested that I get my own car. When those words first left her mouth, I was bewildered and thought she was joking to lighten my mood but she was serious. She herself had just decided to start saving up for her own car as she was also tired of the busy and squeezy commute to and from work, and as the night went on, the thought of owning my own car did not leave my mind.
The morning after, I was on the public transport once again and it was as if the universe was trying to convince me to get my own car as well. During that morning commute, there were multiple young children screaming and crying at the top of their lungs and I had my heel cladded feet stepped on by not one, not two, but five times. Upon alighting from the MRT, my mind was set, I am getting my own car, no matter what.
After doing much research and consulting my peers who have their own car, I was settled on saving up for the Honda Jazz Hybrid. It was listed as the top car to have as a beginner and was within my ideal price range. So it was set, now all I needed was to save up.
It took 2 long years before I had saved enough funds to search for a trusted dealership and finalise my purchase with them. After I had settled all the necessary paperwork like the car accident insurance claim and payments, I finally held the keys to my new Honda Jazz Hybrid.
Driving back home, I entered the multi storey car park, heart pounding excitedly against my chest, a new stage of my life. I started thinking of the places I could drive to, the independence I felt and my newfound freedom as my time spent outside was not limited to when the public transport stops running. Not even a second later, questions like when I am supposed to service my car, which car workshop or car garage in Singapore should I visit and when I should visit them surfaced in my head. The nice lady at the car dealership mentioned briefly about the maintenance and servicing of my new car but I was too excited to process her words. Now it is too late. I had no one to turn to in my family as I had been the first person to ever have their own car but now what?
Before letting my thoughts spiral out of control and drive me up the walls, I quickly got out of the car and went home. I did what anyone would have done in my scenario and went to Google in search of answers.
Some of the questions and answer I received online:
- “How often do I service my car in Singapore?”
“The general guideline is to bring your vehicle in for basic servicing every six months or every 15,000 km, whichever comes first.”
- “How often should I wash my car?”
“As a general guideline, it’s recommended to wash your vehicle every two weeks.”
- “Do I need to change my tires?”
“Yes, it is recommended you replace your tires after driving 10,000-50,000 km.”
- “What is the pros and cons of having a local workshop”
Pros and Cons of a local Workshop
After this general search on Google regarding the pressing questions I had, it put me slightly at ease and less on edge regarding this big purchase that I still felt clueless about. I had finally gotten ready for bed and was about to drift to sleep when “What if I got into an accident!”. This thought suddenly came to mind, and I sprang out of bed to grab my laptop. “One last google search about this and I will go to bed” I said to reassure myself.
“What to do in the event of a car accident in Singapore?”
“Remain calm and do not panic.Check if anyone is injured. If there are personal injuries, call 995 for an ambulance or 999 for police assistance. Avoid moving your vehicle unless absolutely necessary, especially in cases involving injuries. Take clear photographs of the accident scene, including damaged vehicles and property.”
Unfortunately, that was not my last google search that night and I had pulled an all-nighter, as the questions kept flooding my mind. The wheels in my mind couldn’t stop spinning for long enough preventing me from falling asleep.
Although Google had proved to be a convenient and useful search, it was not very helpful in diluting any anxiety I felt towards owning the vehicle. But looking back now, where I feel like a much more confident and responsible car-owner, I think it is safe to say that everything falls into place when the right time comes. Although it would have been helpful if first time car owners were more prepared and well versed in the knowledge concerning car care, I would not have had it any other way.
From one anxious first time car owner to another, I hope this blog article will allow you to find some comfort in the similar situation that I was in and realising that I am still alive and well, even with my lack of knowledge on car repairs and car servicing matters. If I had to leave one piece of advice to you, it would be to have a trustable and stable car workshop in Singapore that you can rely on. You can even ask the mechanics all your questions to which they will provide better answers that will definitely help you find some solace.
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