SINGAPORE, Jan 14 — There’s only one Singapore Motorshow every year, and only so much time to see it all. Here’s what you need to know to get the most out of your time at Suntec:
1. If you want good service, bring your family
The salesmen at each booth have to entertain everyone, but there’s an unwritten screening process they use to spot time-wasters. These tend to be groups of young men. A man with the wife and kids in tow, on the other hand, is seen as a genuine prospect. It’s just common sense that you’ll be taken more seriously if you show up with your Financial Controller beside you, after all.
2. Prepare to walk and walk
Scouring every part of the show means you’ll end up walking 6km to 8km, at least by our reckoning. Make sure you have good walking shoes on, then. And if you were planning to take young kids with you, plan for frequent breaks so they can rest their legs. You could always “rest” inside a new car along the way.
Tell the stand attendants that you’re assessing the seats’ comfort.
3. The best time to visit is...
Friday morning, the day after opening. There’s a Public Preview Day ticket that lets you enter the show this afternoon, four hours before the doors officially open to the public, which costs S$10 (RM30.50). If you want a relatively thin crowd for the regular ticket price of S$6, try the morning of the show’s second day. Last year, it was still fairly empty at that time. As for the weekend crowds, think Ikea on a Sunday.
4. Budget four hours to see it all
This year’s event is double the size of last year’s show. You could breeze past everything in a little under two hours, but to properly examine each booth — and take in Russ Swift’s amazing stunt show — you’ll need twice that amount of time.
Over 20 car brands will be there, so even if you limit yourself to just six minutes at each stand, you’ll need more than two hours. As for the Russ Swift stunt performance, each show lasts 45 minutes but you’ll have to start queuing for tickets good and early. Add another hour for the accessories floor on Level 3 and your four hours are up. Maybe five would be safer?
5. Get a race queen to dislike you by...
Being too touchy-feely. Anything beyond an arm around the shoulder or waist is considered crossing a line. And trying to take upskirt photos isn’t just wrong, it’s also futile: Models in short skirts wear shorts underneath for protection.
6. Get a race queen to like you by...
Making her laugh. Rachel, 24, a model at last year’s event, said: “We clock in long hours each day, easily surpassing 10 hours and most of the time, we are standing. It’s a very taxing and tiring job. Hence, it would be nice for someone to crack a joke perhaps and light up our faces, to brighten up an otherwise mundane day at work.”
7. There’s plenty of shopping
Even if you’re not on the hunt for a new car, this year’s show has a whole floor of products and accessories on offer, and even lifestyle items like air purifiers. Shop for cheaper car insurance, a portable car washer, or even ways to spruce up your existing car. The next best thing to a new car is one that looks new, after all. — TODAY
*The Singapore Motor Show takes place from January 14–17 at Level 3 and 4, Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. For more information, click here.
