My Eyes on the Impreza STI

When Subaru came out with its new Impreza, I thought it was the ugliest design Subaru could ever come out with. But over a year later, I've set my eyes on the new Impreza STi.

The change came about after a little visit to the Naza Auto Mall off the Federal Highway in Petaling Jaya. Stacked up against loads of other super cars, the Impreza STi really stood out - the black-colour STi is especially impressive.

I know I said that I'm determined to stick to mid-range fast cars, especially hatchbacks. But having pushed my darling Ford Focus S2.0 to its limits (or to the limits that I dare reach on Malaysia roads), I can't help but feel that I want more.

At 145 Bhp, the Focus S2.0 is a fast car, but that's nothing compared to the Impreza STi's 306 Bhp. With that much power, I'd be untouchable... well, almost.

There are more powerful cars in Malaysia but, in Malaysia, you really don't need much more than 300 Bhp, what with road conditions and traffic being what they are.

Also, in the affordability region, the Impreza STi is just within reach - just.

Of course, at slightly over RM200,000 (from Naza), it'd be like buying another house. And so, I'd be very reluctant to get one any time soon.

Instead of paying RM1,000+ per month on my Focus S2.0, I'd have to pay RM2,300+ per month for the Impreza STi.

Will I do it? I dunno.

There's so much more I need to do with my money, like putting aside enough for my children's college and university education, my own retirement, etc.

But damn! I've been dreaming about this car almost every night since I laid eyes on it up close.

I know I'm going to both enjoy and regret buying the Impreza STi, if I ever get around to buying one. I'd enjoy it because it's one of the best performance cars in the world that comes with 4 doors!

I'd also regret buying the car because the fuel bill and maintenance bill would make me sengkek (broke) almost every month.

But damn! It's an Impreza STi. It's going to take a lot to keep me from buying this car when I save up enough for it.

An Innovation that Should have been Malaysian

Imagine a car that fits into half a lane, travels up to 160 km/h but consumes only one litre of fuel for every 100 km. Imagine that car to be a Proton or a Perodua, or an Inokom, or some other Malaysian make.
Wouldn't it be ground moving? Wouldn't it be revolutionary? Wouldn't it put Malaysia on the world automotive map?
Sadly and as usual, Malaysia has been beaten to the punch, because VW has come up with a 'proof of concept' at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show. Looking like a silver bullet or a cigar, the VW 2-seater L1 Concept looks futuristic and stylish, and is reportedly close to production (sometime in 2013; see http://autos.yahoo.com/auto-shows/frankfurt_auto_show_2009/1106/Volkswagen-L1-Concept).
Now, why couldn't Malaysia Boleh result in this feat? We are not short of engineers and imagineers.
Yet, something as practical and as functional as the L1 Concept escapes every high-flying Malaysian automotive executive bigwig.
I'm sorry if this sounds scathing, but innovation is the way forward in any industrialised/industrialising nation and Malaysia is seriously lagging behind in the automotive arena.
Fortunately, all is not lost. Being first doesn't always guarantee success.
For instance, Tata of India wasn't the first to successfully produce small economical cars. Yet, Tata managed to produce a highly lauded small car that's cheaper than European makes, that is the Tata Nano.
So, why can't Malaysia come up with something like the VW L1 Concept meant for low income earners with up-scaling options for middle to upper income earners? It's not too late.
Malaysia Boleh, yes?

In a Traffic Jam, Learn to Give Way

Drive in Kuala Lumpur (KL) long enough and you'll understand the importance of giving way. Lane hogging and cutting off other drivers would only worsen the jam and cause tempers to flare.

Don't believe me? Try to cut off every single person who needs to switch into your lane and then try to switch lanes yourself in front of someone as uncompromising as you.

Infuriating, isn't it?

Unfortunately, not everyone is convinced that giving way is perfectly good etiquette and one that is to be expected of civil society.

"It's just so weird that people simply cut you off at the slightest opportunity here (in KL)," as a close cousin of mine from the UK said. "In the UK, this would be a major cause for road rage."

"Well, if you hold on to your right of way as though it's a God given right, at some point, you will have to switch lanes... then what?" I retorted.

"Well, you should raise your hand (as a way of asking permission) and say thank you...," he responded, reaffirming his stand.

Since it was a family get-together of sorts, I let it go - didn't want to sour the occasion by being quarrelsome over something seemingly minor. But it has been playing in my head ever since.

Really, now? Should giving way be done so grudgingly that you only do so when people take the trouble to lift a hand in salute or look you in the eyes with a smile on their faces?

In a typical KL traffic snarl where motorcycle riders zip through lanes at high speeds, there just isn't enough time or much opportunity for such niceties. If there's a reasonable opening, just signal with your indicator and move in.

What's wrong with that?

And what's reasonable? Well, reasonable is when you don't cause the driver whom you're cutting off to brake or swerve suddenly. Reasonable is when you allow the driver whom you're cutting off to slow down at a comfortable pace.

In other words, reasonable is when the driver you're cutting off experiences only a minor inconvenience - the sort of inconvenience he or she would inevitably impose on others as well. This is what giving and taking in a KL traffic snarl is all about.

If you haven't taken to this driving etiquette yet, eventually you will.

Despite his protestations, my cousin from the UK now drives like any other KL dweller when he's back in KL. Whenever he needs to switch lanes, he looks for a reasonable opportunity, signals with his indicator and moves in - no waving, no smiling; he just goes.

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.

Demotivated by Stupid Page View Counter

Have you ever tried talking to people who weren't interested in listening to the things you want to say? It's no fun, is it?
Yeah, well, that's what blogging is like if you don't know how many people are actually reading your blogs. You don't know if you're making the connection or not.
If I wanted to simply keep a log for myself or keep it personal, I would have kept a diary and stowed it where no one could get to it.
Thus, I've installed a new page view counter - one that works. Let's hope it works without a hitch.
The downside to this annoying affair is that I now have to restart the count - it's so annoying I actually stopped blogging for almost two weeks.
Sigh!

Slap Him - He's French!

What a madman, this Frenchie. As the picture shows, Alain Robert really has no fear of heights and is supremely confident of his physical abilities.

If it were me, I'd have nightmares - before and after the feat. Heck! If I ever make it to the top, like a cat, I'd be screaming for help to get down!

Alas, I'm not an Frenchie with a hidden deathwish.

Of course, it's amazing what he has done - so amazing that the helicopter in the picture risked buzzing so close to my window on the 70th floor just to get a closer look at 'spiderman'.

And for all his troubles, Robert's been fined RM2,000, which is really a slap on the wrist.

Well, at least he got slapped. After all, he's French!

Just kidding :D

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