You weren't always into cars, right? What got you interested?
That's true — I did not have such a passionfor cars, because I always felt them to be a big commitment. But, I guess moving to Dubai changed my perspective.
After three years living in the Maldives, you forget that cars even exist. But here, you get to see all types of cars from all over the world.
I like small but torquey cars. Those first couple of seconds when you bury the throttle are always great fun.
I always imagined myself being behind the wheel of a sporty hatchback, enjoying myself on the open roads of the UAE and having a good time with my family and friends.
And you achieved that dream with your A1! But, is it A1?
This is the best small car I have ever owned. From its performance to the fantastic driving position and the fabulous interior, the whole package is simply amazing.
It feels like a luxury car, both in terms of its comfort and performance. I am extremely pleased with my A1 and just can't sing its praises enough.
I bought it new from the first batch of 20 which arrived in Dubai through Al Nabooda. It cost me Dh109,000 but I wasn't even thinking about the price. My A1 is still a baby, it's only five months old.
When I first saw it, I knew I had to have it. I knew it would be the right car for me.
Wouldn't you feel safer in a big, strong SUV?
My first thoughts were to buy an SUV, but it made sense to get something smaller as it would be easier to drive, park and would consume less fuel. And also, I think hatchbacks are more ladylike than big SUVs.
So, your mind was set on the Audi...
Not quite. I was also considering the Renault Mégane, but I changed my mind when I first laid my eyes on this Shiraz Red metallic A1.I have not seen a prettier car since.
It's great fun to drive and has a very nippy 1.4-litre turbo four-pot making 120bhp and can reach 0-100kph in 8.9 seconds. It also boasts superb handling and the more I drive it, the more confident I become on the roads here. One of the best things about it is its brakes — they have tremendous stopping power while the seven-speed dual clutch gearbox is very smooth and swaps cogs instantly.
But most important of all, this car goes really well with all my fancy outfits!
It almost matches your hair too! Do you plan to customise it? The car, not your hair!
I might look into a new set of alloy wheels and a navigation system. I like those 19in racing white Barracuda Tzunamee rims and duotone side sills by Senner Tuning.
What do your family and friends think of it?
All my friends love my car and always ask me when I'll be taking them for a ride around Dubai. Even if we don't go anywhere, we still have fun by rolling down the windows and listening to music because it has a great sound system. It feels more like a family member than a car that just takes you from A to B.I make sure it's fed, washed regularly and never too hot or cold! It's the sort of car that needs to be treated with love and care.
You must get quite a few looks whenever you're behind the wheel...
We get a lot of attention but I feel proud when people notice my car and make nice comments. I have had people stopping me on the road to tell me that I have a cool car and they even ask me if they can take it for a spin!
You say ‘no', right?
Nope, I let them have a quick go, but no longer than two minutes or I start to miss it!
You're very kind! I guess you can only do that in this part of the world. A final question, what is your dream car?
That would be the Audi e-tron concepts.
Bio
- Name Yenny Kalezic
- Job Receptionist
- From Indonesia
- Wheels 2011 Audi A1
- In the UAE Eight years
