I can remember vividly when it happened. In fact, I can still count with the fingers on one hand how many times it had happened over the years of which I had no control over. Could I have prevented it? I don’t know. But one thing I do know is that there were virtually no warning signs and when it happens, it sure does feel like the rug has been swept off the floor with you on top – your world stops momentarily. You start to wonder: What’s going to happen to my family? What’s going to happen to our plans? Who is there to help us?

What am I talking about? Well, yup, car breakdowns.

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First time it happened, it was near 11pm, we had ended our Night Safari visit with a 3 year-old Dana in our arms, tired, sweaty and asleep. Then, nightmare struck. I froze: the car won’t start.

About a year later,  we had finished some late night shopping at Shaw Isetan. Again, gear box failure! On both occasions, the wife and child were sent home via a cab while I followed the tow truck to the workshop. I’m glad that Volkswagen has since rectified the gear box issue.

I also remembered how our tires went flat along the North South Highway – poked by some sharp objects on the road. The sky was already pitch dark and we stood at the roadside, huddled together against the speeding traffic, waiting for help to arrive.  Then there was the ultimate scare we had in Sunshine Coast when our rental Ford Focus broke down in the middle of nowhere and we were left stranded for 3 hours, nearly missing our return flight home.

On all occasions, car breakdowns are associated with anxieties and inconveniences (and when you’re overseas, a greater deal of helplessness). That awful feeling gets compounded when you are travelling with your children, knowing full well that you can’t really do much should anything untoward happens to them.

I remember the old adage – ‘Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there’.

Our cars are complex machinery with complex parts like gears, shafts and pistons within. While regular maintenance does help to keep it in shape, our daily usage and how we take care of it is pivotal to maintaining its overall ‘health’, much like our own bodies.

Lack of proper care for the car would result in faster ‘wear and tear’ which eventually will result it inefficiency and worse, a total breakdown, at the least unexpected time. So, just because you don’t see it , doesn’t mean the wear and tear is not there. Like blood that runs through our bodies, the type of fuel our car uses, runs through the engines and as we all know, the engine is the ‘heart’ of the car. A engine breakdown would mean a catastrophic loss of the car.

I am a 2nd generation Shell fuel user. Just like my parents, we always refuel our cars at Shell because at Shell, it’s not just about refuelling, it’s about giving the drivers confidence and assurance that we and our cars are being cared for. From a simple wave of welcome, to assisting with checking the engine oil level, to checking tyre pressure and filling up the wiper water tank and cleaning the wheels (to make it sparkle again!), Shell employees have always held a high standard in giving drivers that ‘cared for’ experience.

All these, I’m sure, stem from Shell’s culture of giving each driver the best fuel for the optimum driving experience. Never sitting on their laurels, Shell is constantly looking into improving the experience for each driver.

I’ve been using the latest Shell V-Power Nitro+ for nearly a month now. The latest Shell V-Power Nitro+ is an improvement over the previous Shell V-Power. It comes with 25% more friction reducer in its Friction Modifier Technology that is designed to reduce friction in critical engine areas, thereby improving performance, act instantly in the engine and giving that ‘Oomph!’ in the overall driving experience.

The pick-up was visibly more instantaneous. Strong and powerful, it’s as if I’ve got a different car! Serious! In fact, not only is it more ‘punchy’, the pick-up is a lot smoother and steadier. I don’t feel any ‘jerkiness’ when the car accelerates. Rather, it delivers a gradual but yet strong pull towards my intended destination. Impressive! I could really feel the tangible difference Shell V-Power Nitro+ makes!

Normally, my Volkswagen Jetta delivers an impressive efficiency of about 12-13km per litre weekly. With the Shell V-Power Nitro +, the efficiency has improved to about 15-16km per litre every week – a testament that with greater friction reduction, more power is delivered to the engine so we can go further, faster.  But seriously, don’t just take my word for it. Try it for yourself and experience the difference Shell V-Power Nitro + can make to your engine and to your overall driving experience.

Visit the roadshow happening this week at VivoCity (Level 1 North Court, outside Bakerzin and Swarovski) from the 13th to 18th of October 2015 to find out more about the technology!  Here are some highlights you can expect:

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by Shell Singapore. All photos, experiences and opinions are ours (unless otherwise stated).