Today, I indirectly let a customer waited longer than she needed to...

At the end of the day, she wouldn't know she could have saved 10-15 mins of her time. Here's why...

There were quite handful of customers turn up to the service centre almost at the same time. Therefore a waiting queue had been built up. Some of them have their own selected Service Advisors to take care their cases. The rest without will be passed onto whoever advisor is free to serve. 

There was a lady came in without a selected Service Advisor wanted to service her car. When she walked in there was already a queue of five customers waiting in front of her. I then explained the situation to her, without choice at that time she accepted to wait. 

10-15mins later Service Advisor 'K' skim read through the files of the awaiting queue and told me that the lady can be passed onto Service Advisor 'M'. The reason is that 'M' can only serve a certain types of customer and the lady was one of the types. In other words, she could have 'jumped' the queue.

My little careless mistake here is I forgot to check a little further details into the lady's file. Imagine if the customer confront me, why she was waiting for nothing for 10-15mins before being served. It would be a pain to explain...

Always learning...
Harry Chi Li 

"Don't rush...take your time to learn." said more than one of my colleagues.

Perhaps I have been urging myself to touch on many more tasks during the past 5 days into my job...

I believe I am a hearty person. At least that's what my friends and lecturers told me back in Uni. When it comes to work. Working your best  is an understatement. To work out those extra miles would take you on further.  The Best or Nothing.   

On the other hand, "Accuracy" plays an important role in my job. For example, license registration plate, mileage, file numbers, check out/in dates etc are a wide and different form of information. To input and record them to the right documents and programmes require careful and clear measures. You wouldn't want your careless mistakes to come back to you later. When mistakes get back to you, it will delay the working process hence using extra time to finish the job. Therefore, reducing working efficiency and productivity. 

'Accuracy' at work will be one of my motto from today. There will be no efficiency if you fail to have accuracy. So be accurate before 'rushing'(better not rushing all the time anyway)!

Thanks for Reading 
Harry Chi Li   

Today, I was told to assist behind the reception desk.

I see this as a good opportunity to observe the art of 'dealing with customers' on the front line. Like yesterday, I was also searching accomplished tasks that were passed onto me.

Later in the afternoon, the reception has started to get busy with customers coming in to collect their cars for the weekend. I've put myself out to deal with walking in customers while my colleagues at the reception desk were occupied with work.  'So far ok' I guess. There are still lots of things to touch on.

Thanks for Reading 
​Harry Chi Li

'I cannot just sit here waiting for tasks' I whispered in my mind.

So I reached out to look for tasks. Ask and invite myself to help my colleagues. Trying to ease down the awaiting queue of accumulating tasks. I believe this will make the office's work flowing a little better efficiently. 

Other than looking for tasks, I have also started to create small tasks for my own to finish. These small tasks would be some preparation work, also to save time when those work will eventually needing to be done.

Haha I'm only day 2 into my job I hope I will eventually reach more manageable tasks to do. This is all because I know if I am sitting in the office with my colleagues, I should play a part to make myself useful.

Thanks for Reading
Harry Chi Li  

We all have to start somewhere...

Today, I have started my first day of working with Mercedes Hong Kong. In fact, my first ever 'working for real' day after being graduated from my University degree. I might have some brief working experience in my past summer-time job(no 's' here, it was just the one!) but nonetheless, I am pretty much a blank A4 paper walking into the service centre quarter past eight this morning.

I arrived 15 minutes earlier than my normal working hours, but the service centre in Quarry Bay was already lively. Around 3-5 customers have already came in awaiting and being served, I dropped a message about the reason I came in then sat down and wait.

A few moments later I was seen by the managers. Some hand-shakes, name introducing and being showed around the office... then that's pretty much half of the morning gone. The rest of the morning I was introduced the working systems and procedures. It was quite some to take in, hopefully my notes will help me along.

After lunch, I decided to walk around the service building to get used to the working environment. After a few more names were introduced, I spent the rest of the day observing the working flow in the service centre, reading a few information hand-outs and the automotive dictionary to enrich my knowledge into servicing cars especially Mercedes models.

As the day went by I left the service centre and off to home. Knowing the brief concept of the work flow I reckon this is going to be tough, tedious and long days to come. Nonetheless, this will be a challenge for me and I like seeing challenges. It an invitation to show my weakness and build my strength.

Thanks for Reading
Harry Chi Li 

"Which one will you choose?" said the owner of the S2000.

At that moment, I have never driven the Chrysler yet but I had a brief experience with the S2000. I pointed at the S2000. 

This S2000 is not a normal one also. I have been told that it is the GT model manufactured in 2009 painted with the Grand Prix White. Probably one of the last S2000s rolled out of Honda's factory. As far as I know, there were only 100 of these were built and it comes with a sportier rear spolier and those unique 5-spoke alloys.   

But let's not leave the Chrysler on the side. It is a beefed up version from a normal Crossfire Roadster. From a 3.2 liter V6 engine producing 215hp now supercharged and pumping 330hp. It also has bigger alloys, bigger brakes, a rear spoiler, spots seats trimmed with soft leather and suede and the 'SRT-6' badge at the back.  

How do they drive?

I went for a drive in the Chrysler first. It felt good, better than I was expecting. Not saying I was expecting it to be a bad car. I've just never heard of people praising a Chrysler to be one of those 'ahh you must have one of these in your life' kind of car. 

The SRT-6 certainly has plenty of torque and power to play with. It will pull like a train at any revs. The 5 speeds automative gearbox is smooth and comes with sports shift to select gears. Shifting up and down gears are not directly responsive but you can work you way round it, say shift down a gear bit earlier before the corner and shift up a gear before the engine hit the highest revs. It works out fine with me. 

A few reviews about this SRT-6 was reported with stiff suspensions. However, I felt the ride was not stiff and it absorbs uneven roads well. It felt easy to travel on normal B-roads with high speeds.  I would say there is very slight body roll while turning but it is expected being a roadster. Other than that,  I don't have any problem with the Crossfire, it brakes well, holds in corners, easy to drive at any speed! Good car.

Then I jump into the S2000, it is one of those 'ahh you must have one of these in your life' kind of car. Through the drive, it is assuring to say 'YES, YES and YES! IT IS one of those kinds.' In gear and drive on, let the rev builds up and hit the Vtec kicking in from 6,000 'humwooooooBARMMMM', shift up gear and keep it running high this car is in the 'Volume 11' zone. Simply can't get enough of this car revving on the top!  

Keeping it up the car handles very well too. If you like your sporty driving feedback on the road the S2000 has the full package. The chassis is rigid enough that, I would say, it can handle 100 more horsepower under the bonnet just fine. 
​
Living with it?

In my opinion, owning the Chrysler Crossfire will be nice. It is unique and they are rare on the roads, especially with this SRT-6 model. The seats looks special and the exterior does make this car looks luxurious. However, the interior could do better to keep up with the exterior and its uniques badge. It looks simple and feels plasticky. It hasn't even got a climate control. Practicality is also a downside on this one but if you don't have too much to carry with you all the time it will be fine.

The S2000 felt more value for money with the digital dashboard and almost every control units and buttons are very close to the steering wheel. Therefore the driver do not need to move far away from the steering wheel to, say put the volume up or turn the fan speed down. The interior is surrounded with soft material and leathers so somehow it felt more comfortable being in the S2000 than the SRT-6. The rear trunk also seems to have more useable space then the Crossfire.  
​
So... again..."Which one will you choose?" 

Well...the S2000! Don't get me wrong the Crossfire SRT-6 has no problem. It did left me a smile when I stepped out of the car. 'A solid car indeed' I said in my mind. But the S2000 is just the benchmark of a sports roadster can be. I was smiling and cheering almost the whole time I was driving it. It is such a joyful car. Not as quick nor powerful as the SRT-6 but I can use all the power I have from the engine. Like the owner said 'the car has its own character' it sure has! We were also discussing whether the car could be more powerful. We think it can handle it but it might ruin the good balance it has now in the car. A few tenth horsepower up would be nice perhaps but the car is already in near perfection in stock.

​Perhaps I will move on to a car like the Crossfire one day because then, I would like a comfortable land cruiser with plenty of power. But before then I would like a S2000, and there's nothing like a S2000. 

Thanks for reading. 

As far as I could remember, I don't think I have ever test driven a Honda before. But I definitely have heard of them from the internet. People joking about Honda drivers, 'Vtec Kincked in Yo', Civic Ricers blah blah blah...

It can be funny sometimes while looking through the memes and the jokes, but let's be respectful towards the company who has been making some seriously great sports cars of all times.

S2000. What a classic I must say. Front engine rear wheel drive with a six speed manual box and a soft drop top. 2-litre 4-cylinder engine packed with 240 bhp without a turbo nor a supercharger. A naturally aspirated engine  that can rev all the way to 9000rpm. Don't think there is any other example could quite match the unique recipe of a S2000. 

How does it drive?

Like a proper sports car. Sitting position is spot on, the gear shift position is close and similar level to the steering wheel, hence shorter travel for my left hand every time I want to change gears.

The ride was satisfactory because I found it quite uncomfortable on the go. Perhaps the bumpy roads of Hong Kong could be part of the reasons, but it does felt quite hard.  Although having the bumpy ride, the seats were not bad. I like them. 

I'm afraid during the drive I didn't have a chance to really explore the excitement of Vtec kicking in. Why? It is because the route I have driven was not an opened road and the traffic was very busy. I don't want to put anyone at risk. And driving around the city I barley went over 3rd gear. 

Do I like the S2000?

Sure yes! The dashboard, the handling, the steering and the balance of the car drives was good. I would certainly own one some day if I have a chance. 

After the drive in the S2000, I don't understand the jokes on the internet anymore. They could still be funny as a joke, but the car is certainly not a joke. It is a proper sports roadster.

Thanks for reading.

Over 360 Porsche attended to the Anniversary Event 

I have never seen so many Porsche in one place. It was a great morning to see some of the rarest collection of Porsche and other mass produce models. Looking all all the Porsche driving into the car park I was thinking...

'Ok...which one should I pick home? if I could?'
'The 993 has always been my favourite... a light blue will be great! ahhh look at that 993RS with the perfect blue colour in my mind...oh wait that RWB one is great too!'

RWB or RS ? hummmm one day....why not both? haha 

Have you ever seen a 'blue-ish' sunset?

Probably not in a natural way. But with the medium of photography, it is possible. 

This is one of the reasons why I love practising photography. I enjoy creating new perspectives to share with others. 

Thanks for Reading

Harry Chi Li

When the Old meets the New. 

The Z3 M-Roadster and the Z4 35is, both are 2-seater, top-down pocket rockets and powered by a straight 6 engine that produces well over 300-horse power. 

Z3 M-Roadster

Weight: 1,399kg

Horse Power: 321hp

Transmission: 5-speed manual

Engine: 3.2 L Normally Aspirated Straight 6

Z4 35is

Weight: 1525kg

Horse Power: 340hp

Transmission: 7-speed M-DCT (6-speed manual is an option)

Engine: 3L twin-turbo charged Straight 6

Somehow I always wish the cloth roof could be an option for my Z4. With all the advantages being a hardtop, having a cloth roof is just more ‘roadster’ to me. Plus as a car enthusiast born from the early 90s, I have just about to catch the love of high performance naturally aspirated engines, mated with a proper manual gearbox. This is why when I saw this Z3 M-Roadster the other night. I had a crush on it.

Then I had a quick drive in my crush. Yea. Boy’s dream. It was not disappointing at all. Just as I wish it would be. An Ultimate Driving Machine as BMW said. Every move is urgently connected. If you love driving, and love to be challenged while driving, then the Z3 M-Roadster is a good example for you.

But am I saying the Z4 35is isn’t as ‘ultimate‘ as the Z3 M-Roadster? No. They both are. Just the definition has been changed slightly over the years. At least I would still go home with the Z4 yet not forgetting the drive in my crush, for that one night.  

Thanks for Reading 

Harry Chi Li