Riding on Free Service and Extended Warranty

If you have a car model that's not a hot-sell, you can expect to increase sales with free servicing and extended warranty. This is the "trick" car manufacturers resort to in order to increase the sales volume of their slow going models.

A good example is Ford. For the longest time, Ford cars had been trailing Japanese and Korean makes when it comes to sales volume, until Ford wised up and started offering 3 years free service to go with its 3 years warranty. As a result, Ford Fiestas have become a common sight on Malaysian roads.

Note that it doesn't matter if Ford cars are good or bad. The fact that they now come with 3 years free service means that Fiesta and other Ford owners don't have to worry about expensive servicing costs associated with Ford cars.

There is also another benefit that comes with the 3 years warranty. More Ford cars on the roads means better economies of scale for Ford's supply chain. So, when the 3 years are over, replacement parts for "now popular" Ford cars would be easier to obtain and more affordable (I don't know why the heck Ford didn't do this when I owned the quirky Ford Focus S2.0 hatchback that needed expensive replacement parts).

And if a car model is really slow moving, some manufacturers offer 5 years free service and warranty, e.g. the Peugeot 207 sedan. Imagine having to pay nothing for servicing for 5 long years and imagine not having to worry about expensive replacement parts for the next 5 years. Awesome!

Provided, of course, you can live with the difficult-to-like Peugeot 207 sedan's looks...

If It Ain't a Turbo, Anything Less than 2.0L Ain't Hot-Rodding

When I was driving my Waja 1.6L (M), I thought I was among the fastest on the road. Generally, I was. But each time I came up against cars with bigger engines, I found my car severely wanting.

I'd heard of port & polish and engine blue-printing as means for ramping up the engine's horsepower, but they were just too costly and time consuming.

That's when I realised, if I wanted more power, I needed a bigger engine right off. Nothing less than a 2.0L engine would do, and if I had extra money, I could always ramp up the horsepower later.

Sure enough, these days, anything less than a 2.0L car poses little challenge for my Kia Forte 2.0SX.

This is why I can't help feel a little sorry for all those racer boys who drive sporty looking hatchbacks mated to 1.6L engines that are not equipped with turbo, like Satria Neo CPS and Ford Fiesta. They spend so much and get so little.

Of course, most people spend only on what they can afford when it comes to fast cars. I know because I'm still like that - if I had more money, I'd always choose to buy a faster car.

Nonetheless, I've learnt that there's not point in sporting fast looks on a car that won't go as fast as you'd like, which is why I fail to see the point in garish looking spoilers and skirting for cars that are actually quite slow, like the Neo CPS, Ford Fiesta and Honda City.

For me, understated beauty speaks volumes when it comes to speed, like the VW Golf and Scirocco - these cars are anything but garish, and just by looking at them, you know they're fast.

If you want to go with a small engine car and you're into speed, be sure to choose something with turbo in it, like the Peugeot 308 Turbo. It may look a little weird but it really is fast. Otherwise, you'll just be dreaming of hot-rodding, instead of doing it for real.

Car manufacturers will peddle you all sorts of gizmos like gasoline direct injected (GDI), dual CVVT and even dual clutch. At the end of the day, your 1.6L car would still be slower than most 2.0L cars, unless you go down the port & polish, engine blue-printing, slap-on turbo path.

So, don’t be easily taken in by cars like the Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Veloster.

Ford Fiesta, Stay Away-Ya!

My auntie in the UK swears by them.

Cars, Bikes & Trucks (NST/Maybank) presented them with the Compact Car Award 2010.

But here I am saying bad things about them.

That's right. I'm saying stay away from Ford Fiestas.

Am I biased? Has my rotten experience with the Ford Focus coloured my judgment?

Well, consider this.

In the UK, Fords go on and on, and on.

I even drove a couple during the holidays, in between university semester breaks in the UK.

In fact, I loved the Fiesta so much, I really looked forward to owning a Ford Focus.

But the one thing I overlooked before buying my Focus had been the poor supply chain management in Malaysia when it comes to Ford cars, such that parts that are reasonably priced in the UK are not so reasonably priced in Malaysia (see my earlier posting http://grinnerscarsmalaysiablog.blogspot.com/2011/01/dont-let-your-car-make-you-poorer.html).

Didn't it strike anyone as odd how Ford cars lost their popularity in Malaysia? Well, it's not because they don't have what it takes to have a following, as much as the fact that they're more expensive to own and operate than most cars.

To boost the popularity of Ford Fiesta in Malaysia, Ford has thrown in a 3+3 package deal, i.e. 3 years warranty plus 3 years free maintenance. This is to make the car more appealing to discerning buyers.

Well, don't be fooled. For the first three years, everything will be hunky dory. But what about after the first three years when major problems need repairing?

You might think that you'd be able to afford the repairs. Well, God bless and good luck.

Many people get comfortable with not having to foot the service and repair bills during the first 3 three years, such that they don't really account for the need to cut back on other expenditures after the first 3 years.

The point of the matter is, if you're going to be saddled with expensive maintenance bills you should get a far better car.

Yes, the Fiesta has won accolades for first-in-class technology and safety features - yada yada yada. In the end, it's just a glorified looking, underpowered 1.6L hatchback that can easily be outgunned by the Proton Inspira 1.8L - Oh! the shame!

If you're going to be spending money on an expensive-to-maintain car, you'd be better off with a better car.

In short, don't waste your time and money on the Ford Fiesta when, on the balance, there are other cars that give you better value for money.

Don't Let Your Car Make You Poorer

This post is written at the request of my old FoMec (Ford Malaysia Enthusiast Club) buddy Nagai, on whether buying the Kia Forte is really a step-down from the Ford Focus. The following are my thoughts on the matter.

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Back in the late 80s, when Malaysia was experiencing a severe economic recession, my family was struck by poverty. My father's business failed because of the recession and we were forced to make ends meet by scraping by - including eating rice with only soy-sauce.

One thing we didn't do, however, was sell off my dad's old Volvo 244GL. Why? Well, it was mainly because of sentimental value - my dad bought that car for my mom. While we sold almost everything else, my dad couldn't bring himself to sell the car.

The result was that the Volvo became an unreasonable burden, as it ate into my dad's tiny income severely. The car needed expensive repairs almost on a monthly basis. And with so much debt to clear, it made my poor family even poorer.

From that experience, I've grown to hate any car that makes me poorer, including my old Ford Focus S2.0. With expensive spare part prices, the Focus made me decidedly poorer, with the last repair being a whopping RM14,000 transmission overhaul (for which I had to take a bank loan with oppressive repayment terms - I was desperate).

While I miss my Focus sometimes, I don't miss paying off its repair bills, thanks to my Kia Forte 2.0SX. Yes, I sold off the Focus and made next to nothing for all my troubles, but at least I don't have to worry about repair bills.

And it's not because my Forte is still under warranty. It's because the Forte is turning out to be the reliable car I expected it to be - it's been six months since I bought the Forte and nothing needs repairing.

By contrast, my Focus started having problems within the first six months of owning it. Nothing serious at first, but then, later, things like faulty brake calipers and burnt out headlight dishes came to the fore.

While my Focus was still under warranty, expensive repairs like these were covered (whether fully or in part). But once the three year warranty was over, the bills really started taking a toll.

So, is the Forte a step-down from the Focus? Well, the Focus takes corners better than the Forte and the Focus' shocks are especially good for racing about.

But compared to the Forte, the Focus is a little under-powered. No way could I keep up, let alone overtake, a Honda Civic 2.0 with my old Focus.

With my Forte 2.0SX, the Honda Civic 2.0 is surprisingly easy to catch up with and even overtake. At 3rd gear, my Forte would do 170Km/h at 5,500RPM and could still accelerate with vigour.

But that's not why I bought the Forte. Apart from a better engine and reliability, it has many contemporary features that the Focus lacks, like push-button ignition, cruise control, traction control system, six airbags (driver, front passenger, rear passengers and side-curtains), and a bass-thumping sound system.

Above all, from the very important aspect of spar parts, the Forte being a much more popular car than the Focus means that spare parts will be cheaper due to economies of scale. At the same time, since the Forte is being assembled in Malaysia, the supply chain for spare parts should be better than that of the Focus, hence reducing the cost of spare parts further.

Add that to the Forte's overall reliability and the Focus appears to me like a wrong purchase from the start.

In short, I need a car that won't make me poorer and, in most respects, is better than my old Focus. And I found it in the Forte.

Some of my old FoMec buddies may not be happy with my views and may have been luckier with the Focus than I had been. Well, God bless and may their luck hold out.

Challenged by an Old Flame

A couple of days ago, I came across a Ford Focus 2.0L sedan hogging the fast lane. While I didn't tailgate the Focus, the guy behind the wheel must have felt challenged, because he sped off.

It was as though he had something to prove or he just felt good about driving the Focus really fast, or both.

To be honest, I can relate. After all, the Focus is one of the best handling cars I've ever driven. So, I can easily relate to the feel-good factor of the car.

Did I give chase in my Kia Forte 2.0L? No, I didn't. While my Forte has a more powerful engine, I'm determined not to press it too hard.



You see, the one thing I learnt driving my old Focus S2.0 hard is that, while the engine and chassis can take it, the transmission may not. Sure enough, despite being certified as a "sport" model, the Focus S2.0 transmission went kaput even before reaching 100,000km.

So, while I still drive fast, I'm determined not to destroy my Kia Forte's transmission by driving the car too hard.

Which would I prefer to be in, now that I've had a feel for both cars? The Focus or the Forte? Well, of course the Forte.

While my red "Looker" can't handle corners as good as the Focus, it is so much more value for money, especially in terms of spare parts. Being a far more popular car, the Forte won't face the kind of supply chain problems that drive the spare part prices of the Focus up to unreasonable levels - unreasonable because they are comparable to those of luxury marques such as the BMW, Mercedes and VW.

Yes, I kinda miss driving my old Focus S2.0, but I'm not going to be spending on another unreasonably pricey Ford. Not when there are other options around (more of this later).

Goodbye darling, hello baby!

Sometimes you get things wrong to get things right. That's just the way it is.

After deciding to upgrade from my Proton Waja, I scouted around for a worthy replacement and found the Ford Focus S2.0.

The fun lasted for a while, until the car started to act up, requiring thousands upon thousand of ringgit in repairs.

So, I sold the Focus and bought the Kia Forte 2.0 SX. After driving the Forte for more than two weeks, I've come to realise that this is what I should have bought right after selling the Waja.

Of course, the Forte would not have been around about 3 years ago. Still, looking back, I can't help compare my old Waja to the Forte and conclude that the Forte is what the Waja should have been.

Let me explain.

You see, the Proton Waja was the first "performance" car that I owned. Yes, do laugh out loud, because we all know that, as far as performance goes, the Waja can't come close to being called that, at least not without heavy modifications.

And heavily modified was what my Waja was. From custom made extractor, to soft turbo, to spark plug enhancers, to adjustable coil springs and shocks, to stabiliser bar, etc, the Waja was quicker at standing start and around corners than most other cars on the road.

But then, it had two basic flaws. The first was its under-powered engine, which needed several thousand ringgit more to boost, and second, it didn't come with anti-brake lock/electronic brake distribution system (ABS/EBD).

Now, the Kia Forte 2.0 SX is not a performance car either, but it's what I aspired my Waja to be. With a 2.0 litre engine, the Forte 2.0 SX can outpace most cars on standing start without going all the way to 5,500 RPM (revolutions per minute) and it takes corners without tilting a lot (almost flat) or without swerving, thanks to its stiff chassis and traction control system (TCS).

Granted that the springs and shocks are a little soft, at least they allow the Forte 2.0 SX to perform well around corners, whilst providing a comfortable ride on bumpy straights - not like the Waja's adjustable shocks and absorbers that tended to bounce the car quite a bit.

As for overtaking, the Forte 2.0 SX is surprisingly eager to rev, such that I have to be careful when pressing down the throttle to shift automatically to a lower gear before passing other cars.

Once, I kept up with a Camry 2.4L that tried to outrun my Forte 2.0 SX for the fun of it. The Camry didn't manage to outrun my Forte 2.0 SX.

More interestingly, when I looked down at my speedometer and my rev metre, I saw that my Forte was doing 170 Kmh at 3rd gear and still accelerating.

"Okay, time to throttle back", I said out loud. "This is not why I bought this car," I added, reminding myself loudly that I didn't buy my Forte 2.0 SX for racing about.

Interior wise, my Forte 2.0 SX reminded me a lot of my old Waja. The central column cup holders are where they were in my Waja and the handbrake is on the right side (which is the correct side) of the cup holders instead of to the left. The seats are firm, yet comfy. And the cabin space is sufficiently spacious.

Plus, unlike my old Waja, my Forte 2.0 SX has most of the "bells and whistles" you'd expect in the latest generation of high-end cars, such as push-button start, keyless entry and locking, lighted-speedometer, 6-CD MP3/WMA player with bass-boost settings, auto-dim rear view mirror, etc.

All for the price of RM94,000++.
Again, I say, this is what my old Waja should have been like. In one word, the Forte 2.0 SX is "perfect".

That is to say, you don't need to tweak its performance and you certainly don't have to try very hard to do up its looks - I just added wider and slightly larger tyres because I like how larger tyres look on a car and I swapped out the honker for something more macho sounding.

The original honker sounded like a Kancil's honker. Not so perfect, huh? Well, swap that out and the car will be :)

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Addendum: Notice that I didn't compare my Forte 2.0 SX to my old Focus S2.0. Well, that's because the Forte 2.0 SX doesn't pretend to be a performance car like the Focus S2.0.

Feeling Betrayed by Ford

"Good-bye, my darling". These were the painful words I uttered when I handed the keys to my Ford Focus S2.0 to its new owner. God knows, I loved her so much. I identified so closely with her, such that she became part of my pride and joy.

So, why did I get rid of her? Oh, a little something to do with reliability and affordability.

You see, when it comes to low quality cars like Proton, you'd expect it to be addled with problems that necessitated repairs often. While that shouldn't be the case, at least the repairs won't amount to the cost of an arm or a leg often - I know because I've owned two Proton cars before.

With the Ford Focus, almost every repair costs thousands if not close to a thousand ringgit. And the straw that broke the camel's back for me was the destruction of the Focus' gearbox at only about 80,000km, costing me around RM13,800 to repair.

Yes, I'm paying for performance. But no, I shouldn't have to pay through my nose if the Focus were a little more reliable and the supply chain for spare parts were a little better managed.

This is Ford car for goodness sake. It's supposed to be about affordability and reliability.

If I wanted to spend on maintenance like how I would have to spend on a luxury marquee, I'd have bought a BMW or a Mercedes, or a Lexus. I wouldn't have gone with a Ford.

Performance? The Focus S2.0's performance is really nothing to shout about.

Having owned a Ford Focus S2.0 for more than 3 years, I can tell you for a fact that the car is fast, but not that fast - the Honda Civic 2.0 can outrun it any day.

The Focus takes corners well, but really, how many times a day would anyone like to drive like a madman around corners, risking life and limb?

No, the Focus' performance, relative to other expensive cars to maintain, is rather 'so-so'. Hence, I saw no reason to keep paying for a so-so performance car at performance car repair costs.

In fact, I feel so betrayed by Ford regarding this matter that I can't stand to look at another Ford Focus. If I see one, I'd feel such revulsion that I'd have to quickly look away.

For that matter, I also can't stand all things Ford now. Ask me about Fiesta or the Ford Ranger or the Everest, and I'd tell you: "Ford? Yuck!"

Thank you, Ford, for making me part with my darling Focus and for making me hate you.

Ford's Popularity Going Up, Says Sime Darby

With a high total cost of ownership, one can't help but feel rather surprised by Sime Darby Motor Division's claim that the Ford's popularity is going up in Malaysia. Perhaps when you have an increase in sales, no matter how meagre, such a claim may be justified, if only barely.

Having owned a Ford Focus S2.0 for slightly over 3 years, I can attest to the fact that the car is really expensive to repair or maintain. While it doesn't need repairs very often, when the occasion warrants it, the bill can easily come up to thousands of ringgit.

Just a few months back, I had to replace a faulty left-front-side brake calipers along with disc and pads. Guess how much I was set back by? A whopping RM3,900!

What the hell? If I wanted to spend that much on repairs or maintenance, I would have bought a BMW or a Mercedes.

So, I really can't see why a lot of people would consider Ford to be "popular".

Why did I buy mine? Well, looking back, I was simply too happy to buy my Ford Focus S2.0, because I'm a Ford Focus enthusiast. Beyond that, I think I would have bought something else if I really considered how much the repair bills would amount to.

Would I still recommend buying a Ford? Well, on the balance, I would, provided you're an enthusiast like me.

You see, the Focus S2.0 is comparable in performance to the BMW 32oi, if not better. It costs less than half the BMW 320i to own.

So, while you may end up paying as much to repair or maintain the Focus S2.0 or some other new Ford for that matter, you're getting performance on the cheap.

For now, I can live with that.

Ferrari Powered by Toyota

Fancy owning a Ferrari? Can't afford one? Well, fret not. You can now own a Ferrari powered by Toyota.

Yes, it's a replica. No, it's not available from Toyota.

You have to get it from a custom builder who would take a Toyota MR2, cut it up, bend it in places, bang in a few parts, weld this, weld that and - voila! - one Ferrari replica just for you.

It's not cheap. Upon close inspection, people would know it's not the real deal.

So, what? It's certainly cool!

Recently, Bloomberg gave coverage to a custom builder somewhere in Thailand. For several thousand USDs, you can get yourself a Porsche 911 replica or even a Lamborghini Diablo replica.

Check out YouTube for some of the amazing replicas that car enthusiasts have built, like the Ferrari 360 built from a Peugeot 406 Coupe. Amazing! (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgGcA5-OnOo&NR=1)

I want one!

This reminds me of the Peugeot 206 advert about some Indian guy transforming his Ambassador into a Peugeot 206 just for the love of the car. (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7eOVpBCtPo)

Hmm... I wonder if I can shape my Focus into an Audi TT :D

Wife Buying a New Car - Oh! Be Still My Beating Heart

It's nice to be able to buy a new car every few years. That's what my wife is about when it comes to owning cars.

I consider myself lucky because I'm married to someone who can do this and with cars that are above mid-range.

For instance, after owning a Kia Spectra for just over two years, she pooled her resources to buy the 1st generation Madza6 in mica-black (CBU with 8 airbags) about five years back. Of course, I had a hand in encouraging her to get the car, because I liked it and I'd get to drive it on weekends :P

Still, it's not my car. I can't really drive it to the hilt and, on weekdays, I have to go back to driving my own car.

Don't get me wrong. I love my Ford Focus S2.0 to bits. In terms of performance, the Focus is faster and more nimble than the wife's Mazda6.

It's just that in many other respects, e.g. spaciousness and prestige, the Mazda6 is better than the Focus.

Now that the wife wants to buy a better car, I also feel that I want a new car - I'm thinking of getting the new Kia Forte 2.0L.

Oh! Be still my beating heart. My money is needed elsewhere.

So, for now, I'll just sponge off the wife by driving her new car when she lets me :D

Clothes Maketh the Man, Rims and Tyres Maketh the Car

Haa! After years of being in denial, I finally gave in. I traded practicality for more style by upgrading my Ford Focus S2.0 with 18-inch rims and tyres.

My new 18-inch set won't give me better fuel economy. It won't enhance pick-up or acceleration. It won't even enhance ride comfort.

What it does is make my Ford Focus S2.0 look sportier and more stylish.

Really, it's amazing what low profile tyres and bigger rims can do for the looks of a car. I've seen old bangers like Volvo 240s, Datsun 120Ys and even the 1970s Mitsubishi Lancer appearing stylish and good looking simply because they have been equipped with nice large sport rims and low profile tyres.

Of course, it's not just about looks. There are some additional benefits that are quite important, especially for speedsters.

One of the benefits of large sport rims and low profile tyres is that a blowout at high speeds isn't likely to cause your car to flip because the drop from the rim to the road surface won't be substantial.

Yes, it has happened to me before. Apart from a terrible rattle and annoying sounds, my Focus managed to coast to a stop at a safe place by the side of the road, about 150 metres from the blowout point.

Also, low profile tyres tend to be firmer than high profile tyres (when properly inflated to optimal pressure). This means that handling at corners is improved because of lesser tyre-wall roll.

In addition, the 18-inch rims and tyres allow my Focus to accelerate more smoothly.

So, for as long as I'm able to, one of the things I'd do when I buy my next car would be to swap out the stock standard rims for nice large sport rims and low profile tyres.

Ford Mondeo - Oh! Dear. Oh! Dearo...

As as Fordie (Ford car enthusiast), I get very excited about almost all new things to do with Ford cars. I would usually spend quite a bit of time at the Ford service centre in Petaling Jaya, Selangor looking at the new line of Ford cars on sale.

And when the first Ford Mondeos were being prepped for official launch in Malaysia, I took the opportunity to snap picture after picture of the new cars using my phone camera.

Then, I found out the selling price of a Mondeo, which is RM178,888 on the road without insurance, and I got TURNED OFF.

What the hey? This is typical of Ford in Malaysia. Ford cars are brought in at a premium with apparent little regard for what the nearest competitor is offering - in this case, the classy and award winning Mazda 6.

Yes, the Ford Mondeo 2.3L has its little extras, chief among which are the six speed auto and control blade suspension system (known for giving Ford cars superior handling).

So does the Maza 6 have its little extras, chief among which is a more powerful engine and, arguably, styling that's more fresh looking.

What's more, the Mazda 6 is cheaper at RM174,000 for the 2.5 litre model.

Now, both cars are expensive to maintain - Mazda parts are known for being on the costly side and the same goes for Ford cars, if not especially so.

In the end, the tussle would be between classy freshness and expensive staleness. In this case, I'd personally go for the classy and more fresh looking Mazda 6 almost any day.

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Addendum: The Mondeos featured above are actually the hatchback versions that are not yet on sale in Malaysia. On the four door 2.3L version is on sale in Malaysia.

How Sad - No PCD 108 for My Focus and No Lowering Coils

After work today, I thought I could indulge in some retail therapy as a way to blow off steam and focus my attention and energy on something other than work and on something I like doing - making my car better. Unfortunately, the 18-inch rims that I selected wouldn't fit my car and the lowering coils I wanted weren't available. Sigh!

The Eneos Bukit Tinggi mechanics had already taken off the old 17-inch rims to fit the new 18-inch ones. But since the 18-inch rims were not PCD108, they just wouldn't come on.

Dang! I forgot all about the stupid PCD108 requirement (which is the length between each wheel nut). While finding PCD108 rims would not have been a problem in Europe, here in Malaysia where Jap cars rule supreme, PCD108 is like something from another world.

Yeah, I can get Volvo rims if I look hard enough in Sunway, but I'd have to go to Sunway and deal with people whom I've never dealt with, and I'd probably get cheated as a result. Of course, I haven't tried it and, so, I can't say for sure.

Still, the prospect of going to over-crowded Sunway to look for sport rims at tyre shops I'm unfamiliar with isn't enticing.

As for the lowering coils, Eneos didn't carry anything compatible with my Focus.

Next time I buy a car, I'm going to make damn sure that its upgrade path is not as difficult as the Ford's.

Meanwhile, I'll just have to wallow in my sadness...

:(

S40 2.0 Powershift - Tempting But No

Each time I see a new Volvo S40, my heart skips a beat. Despite the fact that the model has been around a few years now, it can still turn heads.

Now that the S40 2.0L variant has been launched, the S40 is all the more desirable for those who have always wanted one. Though not as powerful as the 2.4L version, the 145Bhp S40 2.0 "Powershift" is, well, a Volvo.

As Volvos go, the S40 won't be going out of style any time soon. For that matter, I suspect the S40's shape would be about as evergreen as the old 240.

At RM170,000+, the difference in price between the 2.0L version and the 2.4L version is a paltry RM1,000+. But in the long run, you save on fuel with the 2.0L version, by about 14% according to Volvo, which is a lot when you add up your fuel bill.

Yes, it's a slower car compared to the Ford Focus S2.0, in that the Volvo S40 2.0 Powershift takes 9.8 seconds to get from 0-100Km/h, compared to the Focus' 8.4 seconds. Nonetheless, the S40 2.0 has a higher top speed of 205. This means that, on long stretches, it'll leave the Focus S2.0 behind (the Focus S2.0 has a top speed of about 190Km/h).

Of course, for a speedster like me, the S40 2.4L would be the better choice. However, I'm no longer in the market for a new car.

In spite of all my blogs about wanting to buy a new car sometime soon, I recently had a dream; one that I took as a sign from Allah to be grateful for what I have.

That is to say, in that dream, I am driving an old Datsun bone rattler and I'm happy and grateful for what I have. Compared to the Datsun, my darling Focus s2.0 is so much better.

In fact, when I first started out in working life, all I had was a beat-up Mazda 626. If I could be happy and contented then, I should be able to be happy and contented now.

So, I'll stick with my Focus S2.0... for now.

C200K - A Tail Happy Car

Sigh! There must be something about the way my Ford Focus S2.0 moves that attracts tail-gaters. Maybe they mistake my need for speed in my Focus as an invitation to a pissing contest - or at least that was how it appeared this morning when I found a C200K up my Focus' shapely rear.

The new C Class was so close, it looked like it was trying to ram something up my Focus' tailpipe.

Did I oblige? Never. I gunned the engine and accelerated further.

But being a far more powerful car, the C200K had no problem keeping up with my Focus, until we reached the bends in the road.

Those who are familiar with C Class reviews would know just how tail-happy it can be. So, while I had little or no problems negotiating bends at high speeds in my darling Focus, the driver of the C200K began slowing down.

And I don't blame him for doing that.

On the test track, the tail-happy C200K would shine by swerving its rear in and out to accommodate high speed turns. However, on roads with concrete-reinforced dividers and guardrails, such test track flair could prove disastrous.

So, while pissing contests can be fun, the C200K driver did the right thing - he saved himself from the agony of smashing his luxury car on a ego trip.

Haa! I'm the one to talk, huh?

Well, I too slowed down and reached the office safely. So, there...

Primax 95 Really Agrees with My Ford

I believe in paying less for more. With PETRONAS Primax 95, I'm getting exactly that.

Although two notches below RON 97 fuel, Primax 95 gives just as much gusto when used in my Ford Focus S2.0 - the engine doesn't need RON 97 fuel.

What's more, the cleaning additives in Primax 95 as well as its combustion improver makes hard revving in my Ford smoother.

Previously, the variable valve timing transitions would be somewhat rough and even audible. Now, it's almost imperceptible - I just floor the throttle and keep my eyes focused on the road ahead.

Unfortunately, there are some cars that won't take well to RON 95 fuel. Among them are the venerable Suzuki Swifts.

No wonder they were being sold at a hefty discount about a month or so ago.

Anyway, if you plan on switching cars, be sure to ask if the car you're eyeing can take RON 95 fuel.

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Addendum: By the way, the Focus in the picture is not my Ford (no brainer there). It's a race version of the Focus S2.0 which, I hope, I can turn my baby into, someday.

Haa! Good as New

When I told my friends at the office that I've gone back to Ford to fix the dents and scratches to my car, some said that it'd be better for me to save money by going to some 'Ah Beng' for the knock-and-spray job. I'm glad I didn't.
Going to some Ah Beng would mean that the work would be sloppy and unsatisfactory, resulting in the car looking spotty. And it's not like I haven't tried it before - my old Waja got a patch job from some Ah Beng and was never the same looking after that.
Yes, I ended up paying quite a steep sum to Ford for the knock-and-spray job - RM995 to be exact - but at least my car looks good as new.
"I don't see the difference, papa," my son remarked, suggesting that he should have been able to spot the knock-and-spray job.
"Exactly," I replied, in that you're not supposed to be able to see that the car has been repaired and given a new coat of paint and lacquer over the damaged spots.
Of course, had it been a second hand banger of a car, I wouldn't have bothered to go back to the Ford dealership to fix my car.
But it's not.
My Ford Focus S2.0 is my baby and I'm determined to keep it looking pristine for as long as I can :P

The Door that Nearly Crushed Me - To Death

Not a good combination - low blood sugar and chitosis. These combined can dull your senses, as though you were intoxicated.
Being on a strict diet, I didn't adjust for the Ramadan fast. As a result, I found myself hopping out of my car while the engine was running without first pulling its handbrake and putting the shift in neutral.
The result? I had to jump back into my car when it started moving off without me in it!
The trouble was, the car was at the gate to my old house, and as I was jumping back in, the gate pushed the driver side door shut, crushing me in the process.
I felt like dying! I couldn't breathe.
The car kept moving causing the car door to crush me further. Luckily, I managed to pull the handbrake and wriggle myself out.
Goodness! What was I thinking? All I wanted to do was ensure that the gate didn't scratch my car door as I was going into the driveway.
Instead, I ended up causing a lot more damage to the car and placed my life in danger in the process.
The picture above of the damage to my car door doesn't look like much. Thanks to the solid build of the Ford Focus S2.0, the dents and scratches are almost impreceptible.
But the pain to my body wasn't. God! It was painful.
No more trying to stay off sugars and carbs during Ramadan. And no more doing things alone when I'm severely fatigued.
I nearly died today, but Allah has spared me, for now...
Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah).

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Addendum: Dangit! The repairs are costing me close to RM600 just for the front door. Oh, well. Dugaan (trial/tribulation) for something good that's coming my way, by Allah's Will.

New Saga that Comes with 1.6L Campro Engine

Hmm... I didn't realise that Proton has started producing and selling New Sagas with 1.6L engines - I only found this out after checking the Proton Edar website for information on the New Saga SE. The introduction of the 1.6L variant makes New Sagas a little more interesting, actually; a lot more than the introduction of the SE variants.

With such a small body, the 1.6L engine turns the New Saga into a potential pocket rocket. Of course, if there are any on the roads, I don't think I would have noticed, if only because my Ford Focus S2.0 tends to out-gun and out-run most Proton cars.

Still, having owned a fast Waja 1.6L(M) car, I can imagine how nippy and exciting driving a New Saga 1.6L(M) can be. It's no Gen 2 CPS, but it can run - fast.

The New Sagas featured above are not the 1.6L variants but the SE variants that sport 1.3L engines. At RM46,000+ for the auto version and RM44,000+ for the manual version, the SE variants are more expensive than the baseline 1.6L variant, which sells at RM39,000+.

While they have upgraded interiors and slightly more stylish exteriors, SE variants are not as appealing to me as the 1.6L variant.

But then, I don't intend to get a brand new car anytime soon. So, all this is just academic.

Still, if I wanted to get a New Saga, I'd do away with the fancy trimmings and concentrate on getting as much horsepower as I can.

Eyeing a 2nd Hand Avanza

The Toyota Avanza is without doubt one of the most popular 7-seaters on Malaysian roads. Reasonably priced at around RM70,000+ for the 1.5L variant (without ABS and airbags), the Avanza is the kind of family mover that's bound to remain popular well into the next decade.
When cleverly done up, it can look really attractive, as can be seen from the featured Avanza.
Not surprisingly, Avanzas can still fetch a reasonable resale value.
Nonetheless, as with all second hand cars, one of the main things to look out for is engine trembling caused by damaged engine mounting. The most obvious tell-tale sign is rough idling, which is audible enough to be discerned and can even be felt right through the steering wheel.
When in good condition, a car shouldn't vibrate so badly that it sounds rough and shudders at the steering wheel. So, regardless of the "tip-top" assurances by used car sales persons, walk away from an Avanza that feels rough to the touch. Otherwise, use that as a leverage for further discounts.
Another thing to look out for is the smell of cigarette ash in the passenger compartment. Experience shows that people who smoke in their cars don't really have much regard for them. So, you can imagine how "well" they have taken care of their cars.
As a result, cars that used to be owned by smokers tend to fetch lower prices. Again, either walk away or use this as a bargaining chip.
Yet another thing I like to look out for are worn out shocks. Test drive the Avanza you're eyeing over humps and potholes, and feel how well the car responds.
If it gets too bouncy, then you know the shocks would need changing out soon. Again, use this as a bargaining chip or simply walk away.
And of course, test out the aircon through and through. Old cars tend to develop aircon blower problems - you can't turn it up without causing the blower motor to overheat.
Look out for visible condensation. This is a sure sign that there's something really wrong with the aircon blower.
And if the passenger compartment doesn't cool down quickly enough, then it could be a compressor problem.
Personally, I don't know when I'm going to get an Avanza, if at all I'm getting one. The wife doesn't like it, albeit my assurances that it's pretty good.
What I do know is that, aside from the things mentioned above on 2nd hand car buying tips, the Avanza I buy would have to be equipped with anti brake locking system (ABS) and airbags. The former would help greatly in avoiding accidents, whereas the latter, well, would or should be useful in an accident.
Also, I hope I get a 7-seater soon (whatever it may be) because ferrying my wife, two kids, two dogs and my mother in-law can take quite a toll on my Ford Focus S2.0. Although this doesn't happen very often, the Focus is a pocket rocket for goodness sake, not a heavy load hauler :P
(The Avanza featured is courtesy of Siakap at http://www.flickr.com/photos/29621479@N02/3068883263/)