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Dennis Chew not only bought his dream home last year, but also his first car. The Love 972 DJ tells 8days.sg he spent a little over $60,000 on a four-year-old BMW 1 Series last October (which sounds like a pretty good deal when a similar-aged BMW 116 costs around $80K). Only thing is, Dennis doesn’t know how to drive, and he doesn’t intend to get his driving license either. The car is actually a (super generous!) gift for a close family friend. “I used to live with my nanny and her family, and they treat me like their own. I noticed her eldest son was a bit down after selling his car when he semi-retired, so I decided to surprise him with a car on his birthday,” says Dennis. “I decorated the car with the words ‘Happy Birthday’ and he was very happy and touched.” Just like how Dennis, 48, fell in love at first sight with his Executive Maisonette flat, it was a similar case with his new ride. “I personally like Mercedes, but when my friend who owns a dealership showed me the BMW, I was immediately drawn to it. The license plate number is related to my radio station, so I like it a lot. My friend took me for a test drive in the BMW and I felt very comfortable in it, so I bought it immediately. The car is in very good condition and such a good deal is hard to come by,” shares Dennis. “The hatchback is quite cute and doesn’t really suit him, but I don’t care. I buy the car I want ‘cos I’m the one paying for it,” he laughs. No driving for Dennis As much as Dennis enjoyed the thrill of car shopping, he has no intention of signing up for driving lessons. As someone who says he’s easily distracted, he reckons the roads will be safer without him. “I’m not someone who can multi-task. When you talk to me, I will probably turn to look at you and unconsciously turn the steering wheel the same direction,” he explains. “I also like the thrill of speed. The first time I rode a jet ski, everyone thought I was a pro ‘cos I was going at high speed, so I think I will be like that when I drive. I am not good but yet I want to speed.” His friends also don’t think he has what it takes to pass the driving test too. “They all think I would not be able to get a license, so many years ago, I wanted to surprise them by passing the test and taking them for a spin on my birthday. However, everyone found out that I was taking lessons ‘cos I blurted it out in my sleep when we were at a staycation. So I gave up after that. I have nothing to prove already!” he guffaws. https://www.8days.sg/sceneandheard/celebrities/dennis-chew-bought-this-bmw-as-a-birthday-gift-for-a-close-15011162

Perhaps a sign of worsening economic conditions in Spain, Renault is giving away a free Twizy electric car for every Laguna, Latitude or Espace model purchased. The offer from Renault is a drastic attempt to move vehicles out of the dealer lots, after new vehicle sales in Spain fell to a 19-year low in the first half of 2012. Both the Laguna and the Espace are unpopular models for the French automaker and this could be the reason why they have been removed from the UK dealership in February. Priced from 6990 euros, the Spanish-built Twizy could be a slow-selling model as well and hence the bundled deal. The Twizy measures 2,320mm long, 1,191mm wide and 1,461mm tall. It is powered by a 20bhp electric motor generating 57Nm of torque and weighs 450kg including the battery pack. It has a maximum driving range of 100km and takes three hours to charge using a 220V 10A outlet. The car has a maximum speed of 45km/h and can thus be driven in most European countries by drivers from 16 years old without a driving license. If the car is driven at maximum speed, it means that the car has to stop and get charged up after 2.2 hours. Given that a full charge takes three hours, I guess it does not sound very inviting to own one.