The next Cars ‘N’ Kopi meet crystalizes its next installment in the heart of Jewel Changi.
With a new meet and sleep schedule so god-awful that seeing the sun was a rarity, I wouldn’t say no to another morning meet, especially after returning from a pretty late session from the day before.
Its another Cars ‘N’ Kopi car meet, but named differently as so. As an underground-esque meet (a first for CnK) hosted in collaboration with Café Carrera, Porsche’s official cafe outlet in Jewel Changi, PORSCHE JEWEL UNDERGROUND could serve as a new spot and theme for future morning meets.
We kick it off by arriving extremely early, partly because I had misread the time as the usual 8am starting instead of the actual start of the meet at 9am. For this meet, Car’s ‘N’ Kopi’s organizer was giving out a special calender to the first nine drivers and first nine Porsche owners.
I think this parking area is much very reminiscent of Korean or Japanese parking garages. This could be a hallucination on my end, given there has fundamentally been a drought in new car meet locations, and maybe I’ve gone mad..
As is every Cars ‘N’ Kopi (or CnK-hosted) event, the attendents are always varying, and this event at Jewel comes as no exception.
Driven was the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which I had hoped would be sufficient to assist with some family matters after the meet (which didn’t transpire). Joined with me is a fellow Mercedes V6 of the same family tree, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class E280 stationwagon – one you may see in future articles from its owner.
With complimentary coffee at Café Carrera for all attendants, it was only a matter of time before queues were taking up to thirty minutes order. Its complimentary nevertheless, a lifesaver especially if you forgot to bring a drink!
Still on show is the Porsche 956 Group C prototype racecar, with a half-hour presentation done as part of the event. A heritage car on display in a location as important as Changi is not what I would expect in Singapore. Previously held here was a 718 Spyder, and initially at the cafe’s launch a 911 Carrera.
Its always an eclectic showcase at Cars ‘N’ Kopi, of different builds and models inspired by different cultures, ideologies, concepts, time and constraints.
All serve as an inspiration for an aspiring enthusiast, who may view these cars as an object of reference to keep pursuing their first car – though its a lost cause with Singaporean prices being so unreachable now.
One of the cars that surely caught interest is a true-2000s blast-to-the-past, a Mitsubishi Airtrek Turbo-R. Clearly as a current owner who has sunk more money than its worth am I biased to the model, but even without me, it was one of the cars basking in attention.
Not to be beaten, the Subaru-side wasn’t a no-show, one similar model year pre-facelift Subaru Forester XT also present and accounted for.
Both were and are undoubtedly characterful family barges, and a breed of commuter SUV that will likely never see a revisit apart from high-trim premium manufacturers.
The Airtrek will see an eventual revisit, as a friend was willing to have me assist for transportation for a shoot with it. The post will come at a later date.
One particular detail presented on some of the cars was a customized magazine illustrated by @konjo.zc21s and shown lovingly by friends. As an interested individual for reading material and especially penning personal works every now and then (which you can see in our RoadNotes section with me and other writers having our respective pieces), this is super cool and something I aspire to get to at some point.
Though with six unique car articles and nothing filler like content pages or advertisements and similar done yet, I think I’m a little early in considering the idea.. nevertheless, thumbs up.
It being a Porsche-collaborated event is no doubt inviting and convincing owners to turn up – many models being accounted for.
The star of the Porsche show is the 911 Turbo RUF Turbo R; a global unicorn with commanding presence and firepower to match its outspoken looks. As of now, it is on its final two weeks on its current COE term, before either renewal or export. A hope for the local car scene, or a crushing reminder of local ownership..
Present was many of the highest level of Porsche pedigree, and many of the mid-to-low. (in the Porsche universe, not my opinion, I have a defying crush for the 986 Boxster in 2.5-litre guise)
There was enough Porsche variation to stir the mind of all enthusiasts present to at least one model to fawn over. The non-attendee Macans and Cayennes don’t count..
On topic with non-Porsche icons, the final Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III GSR in Singapore struck a similar chord as the Airtrek. I’m hoping to cover this car as part of an Archival segment and reveal a piece of history of this exact car in the near future, whenever I and the other writers can start doing scans again..
Full white on white wheels is a sweetened deal that many of us can appreciate.
And behind a friend’s Kia Stinger GT is.. a basic-specced BMW 3-Series E90. It was pretty unassuming until I was briefed quickly about what makes it special. Initially, I had thought it was a non-enthusiast who got lost in the sea of modified cars..
I am unsure of the exact details, but as a 318i with no conventional integrated infotainment screen, this really seems to be barebones.
Special mention is a Toyota Corolla (AE101) whose bodykit and rumble was super Impreza-like!
My bad eyesight and the similar front bumper and World Rally Blue-esque color actually fooled me into assuming it was actually an Impreza WRX (GC8), but it wasn’t one.. as I have been informed, this Corolla is using a 4A twincam header on the 1.6-litre four-cylinder 4A-FE, a contributing factor that enables the car to rumble as it does. Mega cool and sounds just as good.
Ah, though it was labeled as an “underground” meet, being underground does attract that sort of audience, again..
Several cars, both Porsches and non like BMWs were more than keen to revbomb their way out of the carpark. I couldn’t say how fine it is, especially if out of most of the public eye in this case, but I smell impending trouble with this behavior..
Complimentary parking and stickers were provided as always – all as first come first serve. The parking ticket was much appreciated, especially when the parking fee was some S$33..
In any case, its a great time to re-immerse with the local car scene right before Chinese New Year plans hit and everyone gets busy. I know I will be – so many more articles to push..
~Efini
Gallery:
Read more: MotorGala: Classic Cars ‘N’ Kopi (3rd edition)
