Goodbye Nissan, Hello Lancer

And we're gonna miss you a lot... Just made a booking for the Mitsubishi Lancer 3 hours ago. It'll be the first time Lini and I will be getting a new car altogether. The Nissan March has been bought 2nd hand, something I regret now. Being 2nd hand, the resale value is lower and the dealer we bought it from had also given us recycled tires which we weren't aware of until it nearly caused us an accident last month. But the car itself has been great! I love its high headroom and wide windscreen. When you drive it, you don't see the bonnet and it's just you and the road. It helps that it's actually higher than the Lancer.

The data is Nissan's 1524mm height and 1661mm width versus the Lancer's 1430mm height and 1695mm width. In length, the sedan Lancer will be almost 800mm longer than the Nissan, so Lini may have to improve her parallel parking skills. And though I grumble about the leg room, the Nissan is still better than most stylish compact continental car. (I got into a Renault hatchback 2 nights ago and felt thoroughly imprisoned. In fact, getting in was itself a risky affair because I knocked my head against the door sill.) Its design was outstanding in 2003, when it first appeared. Nowadays, it's a pretty common sight, and its novelty has worn off. I'm also beginning to fret about its 1.2L engine...

But the car is only 3 years old, and only in Singapore is that considered an old age for a car. Sadly, the economics of COE rebate and current low price of COE compel us to get a new car. So, out goes a well-loved car and by the middle of April, we ought to have our new, black body, beige-leather seats, 1.6L Lancer. But for this month or so, I'll cherish the Nissan for all it's worth.

Chup