You Touch It, You Buy It

Here's an interesting article I stumbled across on yahoo.com. The article was basically pointing out the connection between potential buyers and how touching/feeling/holding the potential purchase actually heightens the chance of the buyer making the purchase.

Makes me wonder. I've driven alot of cars. Different cars. I can envision myself with a number of them. Whether it's a car I've been dreaming of, or something that looks cool, is fast and has excellent handling. At any rate, in all my wildest fantasies I've never pegged myself to be a Camry type. Such a generic, standard issue car. Borderline boring is what I might have said about it if asked last week. So little brother's usual car is in for servicing and the Camry is sorta a fill in till he gets his ride back. Little brother travelled a few days ago and asked me to drive him to the airport so he handed me the keys to the Cam. At first it was a bit awkward, about a couple of minutes to adjust to the handling and feel of everything. Different from other brother's Mazda and definitely different from mother's Previa. And yet it still had that feel, or rather, Toyota flavor about it. By the time I got him to the airport I felt more comfortable in terms of the overall driving feel. It was late though, so I just went home without really taking it for a more indepth spin. The following day I opted to take it to sharjah. Nothing like taking a car out on that long stretch of highway to put it to the ultimate test. I was reasonably impressed. Despite it being a cheap Toyota car it was fitted with one of those beep once to let you know when you've gone over 120kmph but once you hit 121/122 it goes silent and just flashes a little light saying 120kmph. (I cant stand the cars that have to alarm once you hit 120 and proceed to get louder the faster you go) It did 140 pretty smoothly, not much noise or shaking - as some cars like to do if you go a bit fast. Climbing to 160 was just as smooth, didnt leave you feeling like it was straining to maintain that speed. It was more like "I'm at your service, would you like more power?". I mean sure it wasnt reeking power like the Lexus but it was doing a pretty impressive job for a Camry. So I was cruising at a comfortable 160, nothing more nothing less. Suddenly I hear this noise like a helicopter was trying to land. For a few seconds it got louder, and I was wondering if it was really from the cam or not. Slowing up some, the noise eased up a bit then I was 100% sure it was from the Cam. I was thinking what the hell? My first thought was that there was some prob in the engine or something. Pulled over to find one of the back tires had blown. Totally shredded, looked like wolverine had taken his claws to it or something. (Pretty ironic since just a few weeks back I had been telling my mom and bro that I needed to learn how to change a tire since it was something I dont know how to do and would come in handy one day.) So I'm sitting there at the Dubai-AD border with a shredded tire waiting for my bro to come and fix it, and I'm like "Wow, our first day out and this is what you do to me?!" After like an hour or 2 of waiting the tire was changed and I was back on the road. I felt pretty sour at the car but I carried on with my day and by the return ride home I had decided to name it. Misty. Dont ask.

The car has definitely seduced me. I'm thinking to ask can I keep her - or at least get her little brother Aurion (IMO Aurion is the classier sibling). The power of Touch & Buy... Perhaps.

My New Wallpaper

I couldn't resist. Truly amazing car - to look at. I wouldn't exactly wanna own it. Those things are cursed with problems - expensive ones, though I'm not sure but maybe they fixed all of the problems of the previous Range Rover when they created this one the Range Rover Sport. It's definitely going on the list of cars I need to drive at least once. Maybe I'll rent it for a few days this summer inshalla =)

Why Fox, why??

Fox Inc. has done the unthinkable..It was brutal!

They just up and cancelled Drive! Of all the stupid sheemot they could have cancelled.. BAKAS. And it was just starting to get really good - albeit last week's ep really disturbed me but still that is my own fault for being such a coward.

They have evoked the curse of El Hazard's evil dark side.. bwhhahahahhaha

::sighs::

Drive

I don't usually watch movies or tv series - unless they're animated - but sometimes if the show is relatively "clean" I'll watch it. I honestly have no idea why the heck I started watching this new series. Maybe it was the fact that it's about cars and speed... So far I've only downloaded and watched the first two episodes, nothing objective in them. There were some down right funny parts. Especially the scenes with Wendy. There were a few parts I felt I had "something" in my eyes and had to rub at them with vengeance before anyone came in and saw (ha ha). I think I like all the racers except the army guy and his girlfriend (yeah I said his girlfriend but since they are constantly in the car except for the small breaks they get they don't have time to make out or get too najess so it's fine.) I didn't like Corinna at first but after they showed her story I had a change of mind.

I wonder how long this series will last (even though I think it's a great show I just get the feeling they are going to cancel it suddenly like they tend to do/have done with other good series...)

2007 Toyota Camry

As I promised Dragon, here are the new Toyota Camry pics:

Hmmm, I might have to get me one of those....

(Note: These pics are from the Australian edition and their steering wheels are on the right.)

Wakarani II

I’m 75% convinced I must have some sorta decision making disorder. I must be the most indecisive baka in the world!

Now that I have a job the next thing is a car. Only problem is I can’t make up my mind what to get…

Firstly there's the Lexus GS 430:

Ah, the GS 430…a truly amazing car. Makes my heart flutter whenever I see it go by. Sporty and elegant at the same time, it’s the BMW 5-series rival –without the problems most 5-series owners complain about. It’s not killer expensive for a luxury car with the starting price at Dhs. 191,000 for it’s look-alike the GS 300 (difference between the GS 300 and the 430 is the 300 is 3.0 L and the 430 is 4.3 L and all the features that are optional on the 300 come as standard features in the 430…. Um, I think I’ll spare u guys the in depth details though. – aren’t I such a kind and caring blogger? Lol.) Lastly, the MPG is very reasonable, 18 in the city and 25 on the highway. The GS 300 gets 22 in the city and 30 on the highway.

Next is the Nissan Altima 3.5 SE:

The Nissan Altima 3.5 I think of as a sporty but modest GS 430 in its own way. It’s half the price of the GS at Dhs. 88,000. The 2007 editions are set to feature Intelligent Key with Push Start Ignition, Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System, Rear View Monitor and an advanced touch-screen navigation system. The Altima 3.5’s MPG is in the same range as the GS 300, with 21 in the city and 27 on the highway. Both the GS siblings and the Altima have amazing colors to choose from. God! The choices!


Then there’s the Infinity FX 45:

A mid-sized SUV. Has a funky looking rear end but that can be overlooked. FX 45, like the altima and the GS 430, has a younger look-alike sibling ; the FX 35. The FX 45 has Bluetooth capability, parking sensors, intelligent key and DVD as standard features. Both FX 35 and FX 45 have 4-wheel drive. The sales guy mentioned the price but somehow I only remember the starting price was Dhs. 1_ _, 000. I saw a used one for sale with low mileage on it for Dhs 145,000 (No I wasn’t and am not looking to buy a used car, I just happened to see it advertised in the paper one day) so I’m guessing the price most be between Dhs. 155,000 and 140,000. It has some pretty impressive color choices as well. I especially like the Silver and the Navy Blue colors with the complimenting titanium-silver aluminum roof rails. The MPG lags a mile behind the GS 430 at 17 in the city and 24 on the highway. For that and the price I’d just go with the GS 430 except for the fact that this has 4-wheel drive…

Of course when speaking about 4-wheel drive SUVs my first love, the Nissan Patrol comes to mind:

Like the rest of Nissan’s line of cars, the Patrol got a design upgrade in 2005. I thought the design before was pretty cool but this new design has topped its predecessor. I’ve yet to find the MPG for this one but I read it’s been improved since the Patrol got its new design. Starting price is Dhs. 130,000…. Hey! It just dawned on me that it’s cheaper than the Infinity FX 45 even though it’s bigger….Weird. Oh but then again Infinity is the luxury line of Nissan, like Lexus is the luxury line of Toyota..