Test Driving 407, 308Turbo, 308Vti and Mazda 3

I am supposed to write my test drive experience right after CNY, but I was too busy until I forgot ( I know how some of my friends will back fire me for using this excuse...but they are not reading this blog, :P).

As my 1st experience viewing 407 and 308Turbo gave me some impressions on their specs and prices, I decided to visit NAZA again on one of the weekend in March to make a test drive, if possible I would like to test drive the Forte since its specs offered are also very attractive.

This is the 1st time I drive a car that is about 4.7meter length, mind u this is almost the length of Honda Odyssey. The pick up power is decent, probably becoz I am used to pick up power by a manual Wira which is much lighter n easier to abuse, but this car definitely has power, I didn't pressed hard enough yet. Since it's a French car, the control for wiper and turning indicator are at reversed position, so u can image seeing the wiper moving when I am trying to turn left/right. I can tell the car is very very stable and very low noticeable vibration/noise from the wheels , I am bias coz I have been driving an aging Wira that always have some problems every now and then ( absorber, tyre alignment, engine moulting, manifold, poor sound proof, suspension...), basically if I test drive any new car I will also say it's better...LOL!

The 407 model I tested was the Premium model which has the GPS navigator and leather seats, but I must say I don't quite like the leather installed ( which give a plus point to get the standard version), and the position of the navigator is not quite handy, probably bcoz I am not used to it yet, but the noise from the GPS sound is irritating...:P The ride was nice , this is probably the 2nd made in French product that I like , the 1st is French toast in case u wonder. Hmm....tempting....

2nd test drive is the 308 Turbo, which I am totally impressed by the super torque of 240Nm/1450rpm, the car responded to the need for speed immediately, nice dash board and speedometer, the only setback is I can't imagine myself driving this Turbo car for the next 7-9years with the moonroof, but I still love to have it as weekend car ( IF I can afford to have one.....). The Vti version failed me immediately the moment I step on the pedal, not bcoz this model is lousy, the Turbo sibling is simply too good that I lost my feel for a lower power car, it's not a fair test, but somehow I can't feel this model any more...

At the same day I also got to test drive the Mazda3 1.6 ( looking for the 2.0 but no where to find...), nice car to drive but lack of many features that are offered by the Lion Marque, rear seats are comfortable, look is very sporty, just not worth the price only.

Gatal me didn't stop test driving during this waiting period, on my outstation trip to Ipoh , I went to test drive the famous Honda City and the New Facelift CRV, as known, the handlings are good for both models, City is actually a pretty nice car to drive around, fast torque response compared to IDSI/VTEC, reclining rear seats is a plus point but the radio set is really disappointingly ugly, what a waste ! Overall specs for City is just normal if compares to Lion marque, waiting period of 4-5months will cool any buying desire off. On the other hand, CRV is always a nice SUV to own, nice dashboard and interface, only set back is the price, haha, anyway, I am just testdriving for fun....:P

That leaves Nissan Slyphy and Forte the only 2 model that I haven't test driven yet...hmm...

New Year, New Car ?

My hero is going to be 8yrs old in June 2010, i think year he will have to go for many major and minor surgeries to get his parts serviced and changed ( I still owe him a proper bumper.... TT.), estimated fees for all the operations may come to thousands...

To give up hero is probably a hard thing to do coz I am a sentimental person ( OK, may be I am more of a semi-mental person...LOL!), but try-driving car is definitely exciting! :D So, I decided to go on a journey to survey and check out what are the latest hot deals.

The 1st car that appeared in my mind is Lancer GTS that is currently under promotion, well, more of under Publicity than the real Promotion deals. Nice engine, good power, futuristic look, young and cool, but after actual viewing the interior, I was rather disappointed , it didn't change much compared to it 1st launch 3 yrs back, nothing get upgraded, and price increased !!! Mitsubishi Lancer, U are always my favourite bcoz of ur Evo version, but I have to cancel u out from my list coz u are not offering enough to match the selling price ! TT

I have always wanted a second hand S60,don't ask me why, I just love it on 1st sight, I know it does look abit old fashion and differ from the popular models like Honda / Toyota / Suzuki. After I went to read about it quite sometime ago, I am totally impressed with the technology Volvo put into this flagship model, features that I found in this model were 1st in its class and 1st in the world, that was years back, but I only start seeing them in the hot brands in recent few years, in other words, it still beat many young generations of new models with what it has got under the hood. :P

2nd hand price for a S60 is do-able for a 5-6yrs old unit, but long term service and maintenence will cost a bomb, I am not sure if I am willing to pay that price yet, but I don't mind test drive it 1st. There are a few units on the market, I am just lazy to go and test drive, may be after CNY I really gonna make some time for it. Perhaps a pre-owned S40 also can be under my consideration...

I like Accord, but not the current model, the facelift before the previous, the one that has long straight taillight, a 2005 unit cost around 85-90K, :D

To save money, i actually consider looking at the 2006/07 City or 2005/06 Altis, then I can still choose to MAX the car's potential without much worry about breaking it, 60-80K is definitely something do-able and worth a thought. How ar ? how to choose ?

If come down to real budget, perhaps a 2007/08 Persona can come under my list, 35-45K, get a 2-3yrs loan and whack the MAX use of the car, then a real UPGRADE in 2012/13... but after read about the car's FC for after 1-2yrs, it's really disappointing, better spend the $$ on 2004 City/Vios...

Anyway, thanks for my coleague Nelson who told me he booked a Forte, I also give chance to Forte. A peep on its features and benefits (typical salesman will do that.....I do that coz I am an analyzer...), very impressive and very nice design, somehow the KIA + NAZA thing never impress me, haunted by a model I never own but witness its horrible FC and resale value... NVM, I will give chance, let's go test drive!

One of nice working friday, Nelson and I took a trip to NAZA to ask for test drive for Forte but I think it's a sign from the GOD, it rained heavily and we never got the chance to try. Instead , I got the chance to view the Peugeot 407 and 308 THP, Peugeot was always priced at high price, I never want to think about it, but this time round I am impressed coz the once expensive 407 ( during CBU import time was RM160,000 ) is now a CKD with a lot of advanced features not offered in the famous A and C models, and the selling price is RM128,888 !!! Don't bother to look at the premium version that give leather seat and GPS navigator system selling at RM136,888 ( which I don't think worth extra 8K ). To top that, the promotion interest rate is 1.75% or a 5K discount , which make it even more affordable...

308 THP is definitely a nice deal, but I haven't liked a compact car yet. Anyway, I have a very totally different view on this car when I actually test driven it the next day, hehehe! wait for my update in next write up...

Raise the bar

I notice every now then I will check on how am I doing compared to the peers, it has been this way since many years back, I always subconciously want to achieve above what person at my age normally achieved. The last time I checked was 5 years back, so this year I made another check in. Probably I am not doing better compared to ppl to started their business earlier and those who graduated as professionals, but I have a feeling I am doing OK, tht should be the reason why I am feeling comfortable for the past 2years....damn...

So, I started to raise my bar, what skill should I have at this moment and beyond ? How much should be I be making ? Which area of my life I haven't explored ? what are the things that I haven't figured out and put my hands on it? what kind of lifestyle I want to live from now on ?

DAMN....this is hard, coz I actually the distance between me and this new bar is huge, I realise I am no way near the NEW me that I demanded to be. But I know it is not about making myself there, but to make myself on the journey to be there, with a new destination and goal, I will be more open for opportunities and take different actions to be who I want to be and get what I want to get.

SO , NEW me, I am on my way....Don't leave me too far behind pls....

Weird

YK, why are u being weird when u r with ppl who r not close to u?
Why do u think I m being weird with them ?

Bcoz when u r with us u r normal, when u r with them, u r weird.
Why can't u accept the part of me being weird is simply part of normal me? and like u said, those r ppl who r not close to me, I can't make everyone feeling me normal...

Why can't u just be normal with everyone?
Probably bcoz u already accepted me being weird as normal, u find tht it's weird for others...who is being weird now?

But then ppl can't get u..
Why do i need everyone to get me? I only need ppl who are close to me to get me.

Are u bipolar ? Have u checked with doctor b4 whether u r bipolar ?
hehe, may be I am, may be I am not, but whether I am or not, the most importantly is whether my friends accept me as who I am , not whom I should be as a normal person.

You are weird.
Yes, I am, and u r still my friend.