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Showing posts with label motoring news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motoring news. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Some tidbits and news on upcoming reviews on a Truck vs a Bus, a Volkswagen Passat and a Jaguar XJ L

6:25 PM 0

As usual I've been busy. Busy with life. I have also decided to clean up my personal Facebook page of all unwanted and negative clutter. Clutter has been mostly political and anyone who irritates the heck out of me. My Facebook feed is now very positive and I only see what I want to see. Clutter and deadweight holds you back. If you want to achieve more in most things you gotta get rid of it. Life is so much  better without idiots. 

Most of you would also realise that I am bilingual. I speak and write fluently (or decently well) in English and the Malay language. I also know how to swear and curse in umpteen more languages too. Being bilingual is a good thing, but one of the languages must be English if you want to spread your wings globally. I started writing in English because I wanted a broader audience instead of using my mother tongue. I also had the privilege to write for publications elsewhere aside from Malaysia. One of the great things about the knowledge to converse in English and the internet is that it opened up an avenue and a platform for me to share my thoughts to others through a channel that is easily accessible most of the time. And since English is the most widely used medium in most continents (Mandarin could be the most used language but it isn't used on all continents globally), it is the way to go. Look where English has gotten me. I get to drive nice vehicles most of the time.

Speaking of vehicles, upcoming reviews and articles will include:

A comparison between a bus and a truck - which is actually more pleasurable to drive
This is me driving a Scania prime mover truck at the Sepang F1 Circuit....
...this is the Scania Marcopolo bus that I drove right after the truck. So which is actually more fun to actually punt around at about 80-90kmh?

A review on the Volkswagen Passat B7 - still on sale in Malaysia till the new one arrives. Is it still a worthy drive? Expect this soon folks. (I just need to start putting the words together for this first).



A review of the M.I.6 Director's car - The Jaguar XJ L 2.0 - The (longer) Drive Experience. This is because I did have a go in one earlier but that was a short spin. This would be up sometime next week, in lieu of the latest James Bond movie, Spectre. Why? Jaguar Land Rover vehicles are used extensively in that film as well as the previous one, Skyfall. What better way to celebrate a Bond movie by driving something that was heavily featured in one?


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Friday, February 28, 2014

Carama Launches Malaysia’s First Car Service Price Calculator

3:08 AM 0

I happened to attend the launch of 'Malaysia's First Car Service Price Calculator' which is located at www.carama.com. There you can reportedly get the estimates for your basic car servicing costs and repairs. Quite easy to use once you have registered and it will give you a rough (I do mean rough) estimate on the cost of repairs and/or servicing. 

There is also an interesting infographic which I have placed below detailing what we Malaysian car owners actually worry or think about when it comes to servicing one's vehicle. It does make some sense and Carama (by Castrol) intends to assist us owners in making finding a proper workshop or mechanic a hassle free experience (or hassle free after you register at the website, that is). Aside fromt he price calculator, Carama ensures its users the chance to tell-all. If one has good experiences at the service center, he or she can actually write a short review so that it can help others. This makes the servicing experience accessible to all. 

Mr Sumeet Wadhwa, General Manager of Carama
Oh yes, some may be wondering why Castrol, a brand known for lubricants are tying up with workshops and service centers. Well brand awareness is high on the list and it is a way to help its customers as well as a way to assist workshops and service centers for a small fee (nothing is free one must remember). As everything is transparent, customers should not worry about overcharging and whatnots. It's a noble cause I say. 

On the same note, Carama is new and is basically working to expand its network to outside the Klang Valley as well as adding more vehicle brands. Currently its car database consists of the common brands and in the near future, it would include specialist workshops as well to cater a broader range of customers. Also note that the targer market is for the younger, more internet savvy consumer. Obvious since the system sits on the internet. There are some promotions on-going (till  April 15th 2014) and if you're interested more do scroll down to the press release after the infographic below.
Press Release:
Carama Launches Malaysia’s First Car Service Price Calculator
Empowering you with the knowledge of how much to pay for your car maintenance

Kuala Lumpur, 28 February 2014 – Carama by Castrol, Malaysia’s first online service for trusted car care today launched the Service Price Calculator, an innovative online tool giving car owners peace of mind by providing estimates for their car maintenance. The tool is the first-of-its-kind in Malaysia.

A recent survey by Carama.com and Paul Tan, Malaysia’s automotive blogger, showed the people surveyed feel a need for assurance over the quality of workmanship and transparency in pricing. By helping to address these concerns, Carama can play a key role in the relationship between car owners and workshops, and at the same time, hopefully encourage higher standards in car workshops across the country.

Sumeet Wadhwa, General Manager of Carama said “The survey results collected from over 1600 car owners in Malaysia indicates concern and uncertainty around quality of repair and maintenance costs for their vehicles. Carama streamlines the workshop selection process and all Carama workshops provide car owners peace-of-mind through a three-month warranty on all services and repairs. By introducing our Service Price Calculators to consumers, they can now calculate estimates of their repair and not feel overcharged.”

Roy Williamson, Director, Castrol InnoVentures said: “This is a great step for consumers in Malaysia. The quality assurance offered through Carama and pricing transparency has the potential to lift the standards of independent workshops in Malaysia and consumer perceptions. We are excited to bring this opportunity to both Malaysian workshops and car owners.”

At this stage the service price calculator covers a selection of car makes and models including, Proton, Perodua, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Ford, and Naza.

Launched in August, Carama, has a network of more than 130 workshops in Klang Valley. Carama features a workshop locator,service price calculatormy car logbook and Carama Rewards (four percent cashback on all services and repairs) to help car owners simplify their car care experience and find the best workshop for their car. Carama also features the Carama Certified Shops that have been through the “40 point” rigorous screening to meet the highest standard of workshop quality. All bookings made through Carama.com are assured with a 3 months warranty provided by the selected workshop, fair price assurance and free drop off service within 5 km of the selected workshop. 

For more information about Carama and how to locate the nearest workshops, kindly visit http://www.carama.com.  Be rewarded with RM20 by just signing up and save an extra RM10 when you use promo code mycar2014* at time of booking.
Like and engage with us on Carama Facebook for the latest car care tips and awesome infographics.



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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Bizzare Malaysian Cow-Jacking makes UK Daily and you don't need a truck, a Proton Wira is all you need.

4:52 PM 0
Malaysia is in the UK news again. This is a good thing, in a bad sort of way. I read this piece yesterday in the Harian Metro Malay tabloid newspaper. At first I didn't think nothing of it but this piece of news has reached the Dailymail.co.uk. A paper in the UK. If it came out all the way in the UK, it is important news to be shared with you readers out there.

What happened was that three really stupid crooks had drugged four (4) cows and stuffed all of them, I repeat, all of them cows, into a Proton Wira. Their caper came to an end as the Proton Wira died due to the excess weight some distance away from the farm of which they were stolen from.



Moo? How did I get in here? 

They would have made it if the Proton had survived the weight of four cows. I suppose the car died from various reasons. Either the weight put a strain on the chassis causing everything to break or the strain caused the 1.5liter engine to die an early death. Whatever the case was the poor Proton died. Maybe if they have thought this thing through and stuffed three cows instead of four the poor Proton might have survived. Or they may have gotten away Scot free.Whatever the case, these Malaysian cattle thieves have made Malaysia famous by having this bit of news reported half way round the world.

Now a bit of advice to future cattle rustlers out there. Don't be so stupid and take a car to transport cows, try using a small truck instead. The only piece of cow that a car should have in it is either the material used to wrap the car's seats or in a grocery bag, carrying small chunks of meat from the local market. Those idiots. Making Malaysia famous for having stupid people. As if our politicians aren't bad enough.


Photos: Dailymail.co.uk
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Sunday, January 5, 2014

Local motoring news: Roads around KL closed from 7.30am to 9.30am 1st Sunday of every month

4:43 AM 0
KL Mayor at the "Green Car-Free Morning" event earlier today. Source: TheStar
For the interest of all you readers in and around the Klang Valley (as well as those who intend to visit Kuala Lumpur), Fifteen roads would be closed from 730am to 930am every 1st Sunday of the month in Kuala Lumpur. 

During the two-hour period, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Senggarang, Jalan Ampang, Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Pinang, Jalan Kia Peng, Jalan Stonor, Jalan Conlay, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Semarang and Jalan Tun Perak WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL SORTS OF MOTORISED TRAFFIC. It is also described as 'Cycling Day' for Kuala Lumpur. 


So do take note, folks. If you plan to enter Kuala Lumpur, do so either earlier or later. According to the local dailies, the reason for this closure is that under the 'River of Life' project, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall was considering providing special lanes to encourage city folk to use the bicycle as a means of transportation in the city.


The 'River of Life' is an Entry Point Project (EPP) in the Greater Kuala Lumpur/ Klang Valley National Key Economic Area (NKEA) under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) aimed at transforming the Klang River into a vibrant and livable waterfront with high economic value. Don't ask me why something to do with a river is connected to a motoring-free two hours every first Sunday of the month. But I suppose it is to provide a greener, more eco-friendly Kuala Lumpur for all of its residents in the long run. I suppose two hours of no CO2 emissions from vehicles would make a small impact in the air quality in Kuala Lumpur. Whatever it is, just be aware that certain roads in Kuala Lumpur are closed during the periods stated above.
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Maybach bites the dust....Again

7:21 AM 0
No one wants a Maybach actually. They'd rather buy Bentleys, Rolls Royces, Aston Martins and even Perodua Myvis. Which is why parent company Daimler AG, more famous for owning Mercedes Benz is ending the brand in 2013.

Read what I think about this whole thing here. Posted over at MyAutoBlog.org.
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Friday, April 9, 2010

Its like driving drunk if you use the phone with a hands free kit while driving - utter nonsense!

3:57 AM 0
Do read the article and see if you agree with me. I sure hope that Deputy Director of the RTD reads the original news report properly as it's utter rubbish. 200 tests subjects, which I think is too little and there is no real comparison between having a chat with the hands free while driving, eating a burger while driving, talking to a friend about quantum physics and doing extremely advanced mathematics while driving or driving a car with three loud children screaming non stop for 30 minutes. Do click on the title to read the article or click here.
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