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As'ad Abu and wife Zalehar
Car: Hyundai Matrix
This couple have been AA members for around five years and were taking part in their third Auto-Venture with AA. This is the Abu's second Hyundai Matrix and they find this small people mover both roomy and comfortable enough for long hauls like this across peninsular Malaysia.
As'ad said the reason he first took part in an Auto-Venture was because, ''I wanted to enjoy the drive as well as meet other people. You start out strangers on these drives and end up friends.'' The couple have taken their Hyundai to Thailand with AA on their two previous two Auto-Ventures and rated the Penang leg as the most interesting point of the trip. ''Seeing the spice farms there was great because back home you don't see what the plants look like.''
Car: Hyundai Matrix
This couple have been AA members for around five years and were taking part in their third Auto-Venture with AA. This is the Abu's second Hyundai Matrix and they find this small people mover both roomy and comfortable enough for long hauls like this across peninsular Malaysia.
As'ad said the reason he first took part in an Auto-Venture was because, ''I wanted to enjoy the drive as well as meet other people. You start out strangers on these drives and end up friends.'' The couple have taken their Hyundai to Thailand with AA on their two previous two Auto-Ventures and rated the Penang leg as the most interesting point of the trip. ''Seeing the spice farms there was great because back home you don't see what the plants look like.''
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H.C. Lim
Car: Peugeot 206
Lim was originally a member with an Automobile Association when he was stationed overseas and decided to join the AA in Singapore on his return here. This was his first Auto-Venture with the Automobile Association of Singapore after recommendations by his friends. ''The main purpose of this trip is to get away from the rat-race, take it easy and kick-back,'' he said. While not his first trip to Penang, it gave him an opportunity to catch up with family and friends he has there. ''What hit me was the effort the organisers put into getting this done, while there are always hiccups, overall it was pretty neat.'' This is his second Peugeot 206 which he is ''absolutely delighted with.'' He added: ''While not a sports car, it has a very good power-to-weight ratio.'' Clearly a Francophile when it comes to cars, he now has his eye on a Peugeot 407.
Car: Peugeot 206
Lim was originally a member with an Automobile Association when he was stationed overseas and decided to join the AA in Singapore on his return here. This was his first Auto-Venture with the Automobile Association of Singapore after recommendations by his friends. ''The main purpose of this trip is to get away from the rat-race, take it easy and kick-back,'' he said. While not his first trip to Penang, it gave him an opportunity to catch up with family and friends he has there. ''What hit me was the effort the organisers put into getting this done, while there are always hiccups, overall it was pretty neat.'' This is his second Peugeot 206 which he is ''absolutely delighted with.'' He added: ''While not a sports car, it has a very good power-to-weight ratio.'' Clearly a Francophile when it comes to cars, he now has his eye on a Peugeot 407.
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Subramaniam and family
Car: Toyota Corolla
Subra has been with the AA for over 20 years - although this is only his second Auto-Venture with the organisation, in which he was joined by his family - his wife Kausalya and his daughter Gowri. "I have been to Penang before, and love it, which is why I joined the AA for this tour. I actually enjoyed all parts of the trip." He has no worries about putting big mileage on his Toyota, as he recently travelled to Pangkor island on his own. But the Auto-Venture has certainly given him valuable back-up support. "You get to meet lots of new people on these kind of tours, and I am always very interested in meeting different characters. I will definitely join another AA Auto-Venture.
Car: Toyota Corolla
Subra has been with the AA for over 20 years - although this is only his second Auto-Venture with the organisation, in which he was joined by his family - his wife Kausalya and his daughter Gowri. "I have been to Penang before, and love it, which is why I joined the AA for this tour. I actually enjoyed all parts of the trip." He has no worries about putting big mileage on his Toyota, as he recently travelled to Pangkor island on his own. But the Auto-Venture has certainly given him valuable back-up support. "You get to meet lots of new people on these kind of tours, and I am always very interested in meeting different characters. I will definitely join another AA Auto-Venture.
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Mahenbra Prasad Rai
Car: Hyundai Trajet
Mahenbra has owned his Trajet for five years and finds it ideal for transporting his family on longer trips like these. The key factor that sold this MPV to him was the central isle that his children can easily walk through. "I was driving a Mercedes E320, but had to switch as I have six to eight family members (there were seven on this Auto-Venture with his wife, children and niece) so this is a very good car." He has been a member for over 10 years, although this is his first AutoVenture. "I was always reading The Highway, looking for opportunities, but somehow they were always long trips - this one was just six days and it was the school holidays. I can assure this will not be our last, we enjoyed every bit of it, especially the Mines resort in KL."
Car: Hyundai Trajet
Mahenbra has owned his Trajet for five years and finds it ideal for transporting his family on longer trips like these. The key factor that sold this MPV to him was the central isle that his children can easily walk through. "I was driving a Mercedes E320, but had to switch as I have six to eight family members (there were seven on this Auto-Venture with his wife, children and niece) so this is a very good car." He has been a member for over 10 years, although this is his first AutoVenture. "I was always reading The Highway, looking for opportunities, but somehow they were always long trips - this one was just six days and it was the school holidays. I can assure this will not be our last, we enjoyed every bit of it, especially the Mines resort in KL."
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Chew Soon Ing and wife Lim Beng Hong
Car: Toyota Camry
This Life Member has owned a host of cars over the years with the AA, including models from Ford, A Mitsubishi, Rover and several Toyotas. He has owned his latest Camry for two years and this is his third Auto-Venture. "I join these events because they are well organised and because I feel comfortable with the mechanics following behind. If something happens to the car, I know they will take care of it." He told The Highway that he had not been to Cameron Highlands for over 20 years and this stood out as the highlight of the trip. "I like the climate here; it is very relaxing as in the morning I don't have to use the car's aircon, I can just wind down the window and enjoy the peace." He added: "The most important thing is that you enjoy driving to do this."
Car: Toyota Camry
This Life Member has owned a host of cars over the years with the AA, including models from Ford, A Mitsubishi, Rover and several Toyotas. He has owned his latest Camry for two years and this is his third Auto-Venture. "I join these events because they are well organised and because I feel comfortable with the mechanics following behind. If something happens to the car, I know they will take care of it." He told The Highway that he had not been to Cameron Highlands for over 20 years and this stood out as the highlight of the trip. "I like the climate here; it is very relaxing as in the morning I don't have to use the car's aircon, I can just wind down the window and enjoy the peace." He added: "The most important thing is that you enjoy driving to do this."
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James and Mei Lin Low
Car: Citroen C5
Despite being an AA member for 30 years, this is also James and Mei Lin's first Auto-Venture. Said James: "We have only driven up to KL once before so this was exciting for us." Highlights? "The makan in Penang," said James. "It brought back old memories of food in Singapore in the 1970s." Despite this being their first major road trip out of Singapore they found the pace was relaxing and with four to five hours in the seat between each leg they did not find it tiring. "What attracted me to the car was the good suspension," said James. "While its performance is not fantastic, comfort is the most important thing to me and it was ideal for a long trip like this. We would definitely do this again and bring some other friends along with us. Going with the AA has given us a sensed of security."
Car: Citroen C5
Despite being an AA member for 30 years, this is also James and Mei Lin's first Auto-Venture. Said James: "We have only driven up to KL once before so this was exciting for us." Highlights? "The makan in Penang," said James. "It brought back old memories of food in Singapore in the 1970s." Despite this being their first major road trip out of Singapore they found the pace was relaxing and with four to five hours in the seat between each leg they did not find it tiring. "What attracted me to the car was the good suspension," said James. "While its performance is not fantastic, comfort is the most important thing to me and it was ideal for a long trip like this. We would definitely do this again and bring some other friends along with us. Going with the AA has given us a sensed of security."