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Tue, May 24, 2011
The New Paper
Handbag or upgrade Honda?

By Joyce Lim

SHE had to choose between buying that branded handbag which she had always wanted or modifying her car.

Madam Choo Xiuhui, 28, was clear about what she wanted.

Click on thumbnails below to view more photos. Story continues after photos. (Photos: TNP and Choo Xiu Hui)
 

The credit analyst in a foreign bank had no qualms about throwing $20,000 of her joint savings with her husband into upgrading their Honda S2000 last month.

They had paid $130,000 for the car two years ago.

The thundering sound of the exhaust, the speed and the look of the car obviously turn her on more than the latest designer handbag in the stores.

Impulse purchase

She said: "Handbags are usually impulse purchases. Car upgrading takes more planning and time to save up for.

"We agreed to sacrifice our birthday, anniversary and Christmas presents this year and spend the money on upgrading our car."

Earlier this year, Madam Choo and her husband, Mr Mok Tze Yang, 32, a bank executive, were at the Tokyo Auto Salon show and spotted a Lamborghini in matte pearl white.

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She said: "We loved the rare colour. When we returned to Singapore, we asked the owner of Garage R to help us source for it."

Garage R imported the paint directly from Italy for the couple.

Madam Choo also changed the exhaust and full suspension systems and installed a Japanese bodykit and rims for her sportscar. HKS Garage R customised the car's body work.

The car's dashboard was customised and an in-car entertainment unit put in.

Said Mr Mok: "My wife is able to appreciate the beauty of cars as much as she appreciates designer handbags. Not many women would be willing to share the cost of the car or modifying it, but Xiuhui was willing to spend on cars.

"It was our common interest in cars that brought and kept us together."

This article was first published in The New Paper.


 

 
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