My 1st Dream Car - Mitsubishi Pajero Mini

My first car, my dream car. Saw the catalogue and keep day dreaming about it.  Went down to Cycle & Carriage a few times to look at the Pajero Mini.  Kenna a few rude salesman and "see me no up" kind as well... 

Well, I really don't blame them, cos at that time, I am only a 22 yr old boy. 

Then one fine day in 1999, I noticed a kind and nice saleslady running up and down at Cycle & Carriage Showroom.  I asked her for her assistance but she told me she is attending to a customer and asked me to wait for another 5 mins.  Having waited for about half hour, I decided to wait for another 5 mins.  

When she completes her sales with the customer, she approached me.  Then, I asked her if there is a Pajero Mini on display and her reply was, the old one is discontinued while the new one will be arriving at the launch at Takashimaya in 2 weeks time.  Feeling great as I was told the car was bigger as compared to the previous model.  Next is how to convinced my parents to go down to Takashimaya with me.  Well, I somehow managed to and bring them along to Takashimaya on a Saturday afternoon 3pm to view the new Pajero Mini.

On the actual day, I met this nice saleslady and she showed me the car.  I was amazed that the car came with leather seats but with a old technology of winding up the windows.  She said she could make it motorised, and quietly tell me the car doesn't comes with leather seats.  Next, I asked if there is a test drive car to drive and after checking, she arranged for 2 cars! both auto and manual!  Superb service!

When down to Cycle & Carriage the next day, nicely greeted was 2 Pajero Minis waiting for me to test drive.

After trying both the 3 speed Auto and the 5 speed manual, I decided to opt for the 5 speed, 659cc non turbo Pajero Mini XR-II.  The price tag, a whopping $81,800! COE alone was $45K then. My dad paid the deposit almost without thinking. Thanks Dad!

At that time, a Lancer GLXi 1.3L was only $79,800.  I was tempted to change to the Lancer as its more spacious and comfortable as compared to the Pajero Mini.  But my dad says its ok.  Since I love the Pajero Mini so much.  Once again, thanks Daddy! :)

3 months later, I got the COE! and a nice number plate that I am holding till now.  My colleague asked me if I have bid the number I said no.  The next best thing is, I collected the car 3 days after my birthday!  A nice birthday present from my Dad!

Now cut story short, here's some of the pics that I still have.  That time, digital camera is relatively expensive and I managed to get hold of a Sony Mavica that uses a 1.44MB Floppy Disk!

Enjoy the pics... :)

 

 The center console that houses my audio.

"Open up" view - with Nera Digital TV

The Processors, Digital TV receiver and Audio Control Overdrive under the driver seats

Clarion 6 disc DVD changer under the passenger seat

Audio Control EQL behind left passenger seat

Alpine V12 2Ch and 4Ch Amplifier

The overall rear boot look

My 1st Dream car was with me for 3.5 yrs.  I wanted to keep the car and have not been giving me any problem, despite every gear change is at 5,000 rpm and I have achieved a top speed of 140km/h, 5th gear at 7,000rpm redline!

I had also participated in one of the Kallang Advance Rally Course and I actually won a 1st position (Salom Course) then.  Everyone is shocked!  Too bad I don't have the pictures anymore.. During the course, a local mag photographer took a shot and placed it on the cover paged a local magazine. 

Until I can find more pics of the engine bay and other pictures... Here's a tribute to my 1st dream car..

May I present to you, the Mitsubishi Pajero Mini XR-II! :)

My 2nd Dream Car - Peugeot 206cc

This is my 2nd dream car.  Looking back, I would think that I can only drive this car when I was young, or when I am old.  Why, because its quite a selfish car... Although I know someone, a family of 4 can fit this car without any problem...

Thinking back, I really like this car a lot.  This is also the car I've driven the longest.

I had a hard time searching for old photos,  guess this is my first photoshoot taken in Mar 2003 with my good friend's 206GTI.

Did up my audio and here is my initial ICE setup.

Alpine V12 Amps was eventually replaced with Kicker 300.4 and Kicker 400.1

I eventually make some way on my boot and changed the rear setup from 2 x 12" Kicker to 1 x 10" Kicker

The process of installing the 10" Solo Baric includes doing this.

The stock head unit was replaced with this

to this.

Stock brakes were also changed to a RENAULT RS calipers with rotors upgraded from 266mm to 283mm.

The original rims were also changed to a BBS to make way for a bigger monster.

eventually the brakes were upgraded to 4 pot AP Racing with 304mm rotors

with the rear brakes upgraded from 243mm to 266mm to eventually 290mm

Along the way, the engine bay were also "decorated" with "Green" filter

Samco Hoses

and eventually changed the Green filter to BMC CDA

With the engine bay that eventually looks like this.

my exhaust were also replaced to create a nice bassy sound.

Been to several meet ups and made several friends.

also took some "lonely" shoots

Managed to "poison" a friend of mine to go car shoot with me...

Eventually I wrote an article in the local car magazine

Signing off here's a shot that a friend taught me to shoot this...

Goodbye my Peugeot 206cc. I miss driving you.

My Mitsubishi Colt Version R Journey

Haha... a friend "scolded" me for having such unfair treatment as compared to my Colt Version R(CVR) vs my Jetta.  Too bad, during that time, I wasn't really prepared to "blog it".  Nevertheless, here's all that I have in terms of pictures.

I remembered it was 5 Jan 2009 when I went down to Pandan Garden Cycle & Carriage alone to pick up this car.

Stock Engine Bay 
Mileage @ collection time

Stock Console

For me, it seems quite difficult to keep my car in total "stock" condition.  So here's some mod that I have done during the 21 months of ownership.

Well, this is my firest "mod" for the CVR... wahaha

Next, I took the CVR out for her first photoshoot along 40 tiang...

Close up view on the stock rims.

I and quite a fan of ICE.  If you have seen my Jetta pictures, you might have noticed that I can sacrificed my spare tyre just for ICE.

Anyway, I don't think I have any more stock setup pictures and here comes the "modded pics".

Pioneer AVH-P4150DVD with DEQ-P7650 Processor and CD-BTB200 Bluetooth Adapter.

My custom boot setup, with Kicker 300.4 to power up the front speakers while a Kicker 400.1 to power up a 10" Kicker Solo-Baric.

Front stage - Focal speakers with a nicely fitted tweeter pod.

Other than ICE, my mod list will include brakes, handling and performance.  Having used a set of AP Racing brakes on my Peugeot 206cc, I would wish to have another set of AP installed on my CVR.  However, due to budget constraints and also needed to leave my car for a week at the workshop, I decided to opt for other bolt on kit instead.

Then I found a set of 2nd hand ATS mini 6 pot 283mm cross drilled slotted rotors that fit the car.  Furthermore, the red painted calipers fits my RED CVR very much... however, the stock rims could not clear the brakes and hence had to get a new set of wheels.  Feeling that a silver rims looks kinda bored, I decided to resprayed it immediately when I get the set of new rims.  Here's the look...

I remembered Ralliart Pit approached me to help them advertise on Carbuyer and thereafter I took the opportunity and ask them for some better Ralliart deals from them.

Frankly, I am also a great fan of Ralliart, hence most of my mods are very Ralliart biased.

Here's some of my Ralliart Parts.

Ralliart Engine Oil Cap Cover.

 
Ralliart Rear View Mirror Cover.

"LTA Friendly" Ralliart Exhaust.

Ralliart Intake Pipings and Intercooler Pipings.

Ralliart Grounding Cables.

Ralliart Suspension (Shocks and Springs) with Cusco anti roll bar (Rear). 

Cusco Front Anti Roll Bar.

I am also a fan of Recaro seats and finally got a change to fit this EVO X Recaro onto my CVR.  Never regret having them installed. 

 
Bolt on railings.

Passenger Seat

If you have noticed earlier, I was using a 2-Din Pioneer Head Unit.  In order to keep my Ralliart triple meter, I managed to source for a OEM hood and center tray to fit it.

not forgetting hooks to hang my clothes.

I simply love the psst psst sound of HKS SSQV.  So since its a turbocharge CVR, its a must have for me! 

I wonder why the car came with some funny matching interior colour.  So I decided to take those panel out and respray them RED!

Driver's console

Passender side window console.

Gearbox console.

Overall Look.

Finally, a BMC CDA filter taken off my ex Peugeot 206cc.

and at the same time, my good friend customised and "air diverter" for me.

Also tested the throttle controller by Blitz.

To keep the ATF temperature cooler, I decided to install a large ATF cooler taken off a Mazda CX7 (I think).  Here's some pics.
Just before the ATF Cooler is installed.

After installation.

Joining in the "fun" is the engine oil cooler.

and at the same time, "upgraded" the horn...

Signing off, recommend one free modification to increase the boost of CVR.  Removed the "pill".  But be careful during removal, this item is very very small!  After removal, my CVR could achieve 1 bar boost!

The final look of my CVR before I hand over to my aunt who took over the car.

 

I am sure that you'll be with the good hands of my aunt.
(",)