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At every car show or new model introduction, auto manufacturers would always come out with a long list, stating the unique features of their cars, but many a times, these features might just be forgotten over time, or simply taken for granted. These features may be a real technology break through (e.g. engine, gearbox, safety, etc.), or mechanical / electrical (e.g. spoiler, door opening mechanism, head / tail light, etc.). To kick start, anyone still can recall the following terminology? - Twin Door - Bi-Modal Trunk - Waku Waku Gate Sounds familiar? or are they aliens to you? or you think you know something about it? Well these are fanciful names given to boot / trunk / tailgate that open in more than 1 way. Twin Door by Skoda When the 2nd generation Skoda Superb was unveiled in 2008, the car come with many wow factors. But the one that really standout, at least to me, is the dual opening boot lid. It feel just like a small magic show, to see the 4 door sedan opening up it boot in 2 fashion, one like a typical sedan, and the other like a sport back. And after owning one for close to 4.5 years, I can attest to the usefulness of this feature, that ever allowed me to fit in up to 4x 24 - 28" language at one go, and even transporting a 3ft fish tank with the rear seats in-place (not folded). Bi-Modal Trunk by BMW Shortly after the Skoda Superb go on sales in early 2009, BMW follow suit with it own version of dual opening mechanism on the 5 series Gran Turismo Concept (which later debut as the love or hate it 5 GT), and give it the name Bi-Modal Trunk, which sound a little more sophisticated than the Czech brand. While it offer the same flexibility of a hatch back when opened in full (sport back mode), it offer much less practicality when opened in sedan mode, due to it limited access to the boot via the tiny yet wide opening boot lid. Waku Waku Gate by Honda The dual opening mechanism seems very much forgotten till 2015, when Honda introduce it on the new JDM Stepwagon, and somewhat take this concept to the next level, by allowing the tailgate to be used by passenger to access into the last row of the MPV! All are welcome to post the unique features of your car(s), or what you have came across. Up next, what are so special about these MPVs, Nissan Prairie, Toyota Raum and Toyota Isis?

does anyone here take before WSQ specialist diploma/cert? issit useful / recognize?

Hi Guys, like your opinion on following Qs: 1) How useful is changing to a higher pressure radiator cap? Let's say from 1.1bar to 1.3bar? My brother recently change from stock 0.9bar to 1.1bar and he said that fuel consumption has improved slightly, presumably from lower engine temp (due to increased pressure in radiator). 2) Is there any performance effect from changing to an aftermarket engine oil cap (eg. Mugen, TRD, Silver's) other than aesthetics reasons? I've read adverts that claim due to the reason that the aftermarket engine oil cap is made from aluminium, it has the effect of helping the engine disperse heat faster - lower temp engine runs more efficiently.

Turn your smartphone into tools.. Some of tools you may not know exist and it's freely available as android and iphone apps: Please share if you have any. Found this for android: 1. Instant heart rate monitor - can check your heart rate. 2. Acc. Blood pressure monitor - check your blood pressure I compare the above results with a Omron blood pressure checker, and the readings are pretty close.

Just having a random thought about getting blind-spot mirrors(round button-like) and technically it seems like a good device/aid to have. But i'm just wondering if it really does help for the lookout given the small area used on your side mirror? It seems like nobody uses them at all.

i know everyone here has bought many accs for you car. so what is - to you - the best buy for your car ?

Some of us keep absolutely nothing in our car trunks, while others have enough packed to live in their cars for weeks. Somewhere in between is this list of thirty things we think every car owner should always have on hand. Car Repair and Maintenance Spare tire (in good condition), along with a tire jack and tire iron, because without them or someone else to help you, the spare tire is useless. Here's how to change a tire, in case you need a refresher. Also, if your wheels require a special security key, make sure that's always in your car too. Tire inflater and sealer, like the Fix-a-Flat, which can plug a leak (and help you avoid using the above tools) just enough to get you to the auto shop. Jumper cables, because dead batteries happen to the best of us. We've got a crash course on how to jump-start a car, but you should familiarize yourself with your engine just in case things are a little different. Alternatively, you can pack an emergency battery booster so you don't have to rely on a Good Samaritan coming along. Your car's manual, which should be in the glove compartment already . Tire pressure gauge: As our sister site Jalopnik points out: "checking tire pressure on a regular basis can improve handling, increase fuel economy, promote tire longevity, and even save lives." Duct tape and WD-40. Seriously, check out these 10 heroic duct tape car repairs. Car repair information. A business card for your auto repair shop, the number for AAA (if you're a member), and car insurance claim forms should also be stored in your glove compartment. Safety and Survival First aid kit Flashlight Multi-tool Seat belt cutter and window breaker reflective triangle, so you don't get hit at the side of the road in the dark. Maps. Yes, the paper kind. Convenience and Comfort Paper towels or a hand towel Tissues or a roll of toilet paper Pencil and paper Umbrella Spare change/emergency money Recycled shopping bags for those impromptu shopping trips. Change of clothes/socks/shoes: also an emergency item, because if you get drenched in rain, it's no good to sit around like that. USB mobile device charger What do you think?

Today accompanying one of my friend to one an audio shop at macperson to do up his audio and i forget his address. whip up my iphone and saw that sgCarMart have feature the directory inside the mobile web. Something useful for most motorist here. especially when i need emergency tyre patching. I can know the nearest tyres-tiam. . . Well done!!!!

Not sure if many of us are aware of this link. this link is very useful in giving reviews, and they even include the noise emission level. www.mytyres.co.uk Assuming that the test reports are as real as it gets, then we are able to make informed decisions on tyre purchases.

topic =)

Hi there, I am considering buying a car with a motorised boot close function. haven't used one before. could i check how useful it is...especially if raining or hands full situation carrying lots of things. or is it just a niceity thing. anyone could share?

1. Seriously, stop smoking. "Smoking is probably the worst thing you can possibly do for your body, including your skin," Wattenberg explains

Can anyone share with me which iphone apps can allow the driver to see his own speed in digital format? of act as a head up with a floating digital speedo on the wind screen?

Entertaining the idea of installing one. Have always depended on a quick flip of the street directory or my OC as a scout if I am not sure of the way. Too many new roads and buildings keepn popping out and I am always lost in the Tuas area. Could be time to install a Garmin. Anyone with a GPS end up regreting or not using it much?

hey bros.. is grounding useful? like putting those cables for car batteries and stuff.. wat are they for? look nice only? thanx!

Last night chanced upon a free app (for now) as above. Found it very useful. Basically it makes your iphone work like a car video recorder with GPS logging functionality. I have been testing out a commercial recorder of $400 value and found the apps to be of much better quality, due to the good camera in my 3GS. 4G iphone should return even better performance. During playback, you can see the video together with gps location and speed, very cool. Should be good for oversea driving holidays too. But you will need to pay US$3 to get it exported from the phone, which I will gladly pay if the need arise. Try it and see if you like it.

Feb 22, 2011 Whistleblowing is useful WHISTLEBLOWING will continue to be an important tool against misconduct or illegal financial transactions within government organisations ("Whistleblowing has limits"; last Friday). The public will gain if there is an avenue for whistleblowers - guided by good faith and a sense of duty - to reveal wrongdoing in agencies. If whistleblowing is written into the law, whistleblowers should be able to reveal their identities to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) with the assurance of anonymity. In the United States, under the False Claims Act, whistleblowers may also be awarded a percentage of the recovered money. If necessary, the PAC should be strengthened in terms of resources and manpower so that it has the capacity to carry out its mandate effectively and efficiently. Kwan Jin Yao If prospective whistleblower is being fed/corrupted, doubt they wl do it. The problem for corrupted ones arises when they don't feed those that know about their ECA.

Thought this might interest a few. Sorry if this has been posted before. http://www.drivingfast.net/

Hi fellow iPhones smartphones users , came across this interesting free application I downloaded on iPhone called the parkpatrol. It is actually an application to alert drivers of the known parking warden lurking around your current location with the help of google map. Not only you can be alerted by known warden on duty lurking near you contributed by other application users, you yourself can contribute your share by pressing on the red button clocking your currently location alerting other drivers near your ares that you have spotted one on duty that moment!! User can key in the period of time your car be parking there without coupons or places not supposing to stating the distant you are away from danger allowing you to gauge and have advance time to move youf car. The more the merrier for users to download that application. Like facebook, not point having few to joint as you can't even search for anyone online. This application promotes the power of giving and taking. Imagine having most of the driving population to have that piece of software. To Siam Fatimah will be a breeze. Hahaha can't disclose much on words maybe you guys can download cos it is free. No harm trying yah?

Taking account of the speed limit and often congested road conditions.

Will it increase low end torque? Is Hot bit muffler good?

I have a reflective triangular emergency stand alone signage and a magnetic type turning beacon light place on the car roof that plugs into the cigerette lighter jack in all my cars. Recently, while driving home along a 3-lanes road during an evening peak hour heavy traffic & I was on the centre lane, there was a massive jam as vehicles on the centre lane tried to change to the left and right lanes. Some drivers simply don't give way and kept horning. As I suspected that there must be something wrong in front on the centre lane, I kept on the lane. While approaching nearer, I noticed an old Chinese man walking from one car to another but the drivers just drove off. This taxi driver seemed confused as he was putting both hands on his head and looked confused and panic. It was only was I was nearer when I realised that the old man is the taxi driver and that the taxi has broken down right in front of the traffic light. I then stopped my right behind the taxi, turned on my hazard lights and approached the old taxi driver to help him. He was in a panic state as no one borders to help him. I tried calming him down and asked what had happened to his taxi as his taxi's front and bonnet were damaged. He told me that he had a collision with a van somewhere and was about to drive to Delgro (from NTUC) to have the damages repaired and the engine suddenly died off. I placed the beacon light on my car roof that plugged into the cigerette lighter and the triangular emergency signage 20m behind my car. Despite several attempts to start the engine, it couldn't and so I asked him to put on neutral gear while I try to push his taxi to one side but the gear couldn't engage. As I found out that he is Hokkien, I spoke to him in broken Hokkien as I am Teochew and realised that he can't speak English, 73-years old and left with one year before he has to surrender his taxi licence, deaf on his right ear and without a handphone. Worst off is that he would be penalised S$1,000.00 by NTUC for the accident, pay for the damages and that NTUC may withdraw his taxi licence following this accident. I then helped him to call NTUC vehicle towing line for a tow truck and was told that it will take one-and a-half hours to reach. The lady from NTUC who took my call was surprised that I am a road user, not lated to the taxi driver and yet stopped to help a stranger, especially an elderly person. As this old man was still in a dazed, worried on paying penalties, telling me that he has grand-children, all his grown-up children doesn't give him and his wife money and that's why he is still driving the taxi for income. I told him that I will accompany him until the tow truck arrives and he kept thanking me for helping me. Suddenly, I heard a cracking sound and discovered that a big lorry did not notice the red triangular road signage and ran over it and drove off. As I always carry an LED mini touchlight in my key pouch, I used it to re-direct on-coming vehicles. As the tow truck did not arrive even after one-and a-half hours, I contacted NTUC towing line and was informed that we would have to wait longer. By then, it was about 7.30pm and the beacon light was still on. Seconds later, a traffic police arrived at the scene and told me that while filtering to another road about 50m away, the turning beacon light caught his attention. Using his walkie-talkie, he called for more police and about 4 subsequently came and re-direct the traffic until the tow truck arrived. Even as I was about to leave the scene as the policemen are there, the policemen and the old man kept on thanking me b'cos no drivers have bordered to stop and help this old man despite the latter approaching them. The question that kept hovering in my mind since the above incident is that is it so difficult for drivers to stop their vehicles and help someone and especially this old man. So to all vehicle owners, try to get a turning beacon in addition to the triangular refelective emergency road signage as it is very effective.

My Car Insurance is going due soon. I would like to pay through it via 0% installment. How many insuance comapny provide such a services ? Pls contribute to the following list :) Company: Bank: 1.AXA -DBS, Diners, UOB 2.NTUC - Citibank 3. 4. 5.

Dear bros, does voltage stabiliser really work for our car? Headlights and internal lights always dim when aircon compressor sets in. VS or grounding will help? (Though there's tons of info on VS helping in terms of increasing a bit on bhp etc etc....but?) Rossam F65, Pivot Mega Raizin, Hot Inazuma, Ez-stab, which one is recommended...need to add 5-7 point grounding for a better effect? or are these just snake oil for a new car? The way they look are just like capacitors..if i dun have ICE in my car, is it really necessary? Actually my headache now is more on the lights dimming part. Sort of like my alternator or regulator is not doing its job properly. Or should i just save the money and change to a better battery like efx (but damn boody exp)

Any advice ?