For a long time car manufacturers have claimed impressive power and torque figures in their product brochures. One would really wonder how this will be translated into real world driving experience and also how efficient the engine really is. This is why test driving a car before buying is critical. Test driving is not only for those who are buying a used car (to check for damage and other related issues), but it is also important when it comes to buying a brand new car. Buying a car based on the specs on the brochures will often leave the car buyer with a sense of dissatisfaction as the car usually does not live up to their expectations. Test driving the car will enable the car buyer to ascertain if the claims printed on the brochure lives up to expectations.
Having 200hp and 300Nm printed on the brochure but with a vehicle weight of 1800kg, it may look like the car will have decent performance but test driving the car will enable the potential buyer to see if it lives up to expectations. The test drive also will determine the overall experience that cannot be described in the brochure. The other key point is the transmission. On the brochure it maybe printed with 6 speed automatic but is the automatic transmission good? is it efficient? Test driving the car will show its true potential.
For example, to make a simple comparison between a Peugeot 308 1.6 Turbo and a VW Golf 1.4 TSI, both offer 160ps and 240Nm however the performance figures are very different. The Peugeot does the 0-100km/h sprint in 9.6 secs while the VW Golf does it in 8 secs. Why the big difference despite having the same power and torque figures? The simple answer is the transmission. The transmission loss between the two cars is the key difference. The Peugeot's 6 speed automatic being a traditional automatic usually loses about 20% to 25% of power while the VW's DSG transmission only loses 10% of power. This also has a direct impact on the fuel consumption as greater transmission efficiency means that the engine does not need to work as hard to deliver the required performance.
Korean cars in the past were also known to have poor transmission systems which really hampered its performance. Kia was notorious for having poorly designed transmission that high transmission losses which resulted in poor fuel consumption and overall performance. Having changed their design philosophy and investing a tonne of money into better research and development, I am glad to say that Kia has made some good progress over the last 3 years. I still have my reservations about the fuel consumption claims made by Hyundai and Kia because in the past their cars were not known for good fuel economy. Claims made in other countries based on their local tests are also inaccurate as the driving condition differ from that of our country plus the fact that in the tropical climate the air conditioning is used all the time and this has a big impact on average fuel economy figures.
My suggestion is to never buy a car purely from the brochure. Take the time to test drive it to get a real feel for the car. You may just discover a few things that you really dislike or like about the car that may affect your final decision.
Thursday 24 May 2012
Wednesday 23 May 2012
electric power steering vs hydraulic
With the introduction of each new model the car manufacturers are looking for every which way to help improve the fuel consumption of the car. One of the current trend is to use electric power steering instead of the traditional hydraulic system. The electric power steering takes away the load and dependency of the engine to supply power assistance for steering actions. In theory the electric power steering appears to be a good bet since it does take an effect on overall fuel consumption and makes parking very easy, however the down side to this is the "feel" or lack of it from the electric power steering. the fuel consumption savings is in the region of 3% to 5% making it a serious improvement to fuel economy.
Typically with a traditional hydraulic system there is a certain level of communication between what the front wheels are doing and the feedback you get from the steering wheel. Most driving enthusiast or people who really enjoy driving fast do not like electric power steering as the steering feels numb and the driver is unable to really feel the grip levels of the front wheels.
Honda has been one of the early birds to use the electric power steering and many drivers complained of over assistance in power steering system making it possible to turn the steering wheel with your little finger. Honda engineers have claimed that the system will stiffen as the speed of the car increase or is speed sensitive but having driven numerous Honda cars in the past the level of stiffening at high speed is not significant enough to invoke serious confidence. Honda took the electric power steering concept one step further and introduced their Variable Ratio Geometry steering which makes the front wheels turn more at certain amounts of steering input to assist in the car's maneuvering. This can be quite overwhelming for someone driving the car for the first time as the car will have a tendency to turn more than expected. This system is only good at parking speeds as it will reduce the amount of steering input.
The latest company to join the band wagon of electric power steering is Porsche with their introduction of the new 911 model (991 series). The new car promised better handling than before but through nearly all the motoring journalist feedback the new electric power steering has put some damper to the overall driving experience of a great car.
Audi is also an advocate for electric power steering and numerous complains have surfaced about the dull and lifeless steering feel. I for one do not like the feel of electric power steering. It just feels too numb and disconnected.
Typically with a traditional hydraulic system there is a certain level of communication between what the front wheels are doing and the feedback you get from the steering wheel. Most driving enthusiast or people who really enjoy driving fast do not like electric power steering as the steering feels numb and the driver is unable to really feel the grip levels of the front wheels.
Honda has been one of the early birds to use the electric power steering and many drivers complained of over assistance in power steering system making it possible to turn the steering wheel with your little finger. Honda engineers have claimed that the system will stiffen as the speed of the car increase or is speed sensitive but having driven numerous Honda cars in the past the level of stiffening at high speed is not significant enough to invoke serious confidence. Honda took the electric power steering concept one step further and introduced their Variable Ratio Geometry steering which makes the front wheels turn more at certain amounts of steering input to assist in the car's maneuvering. This can be quite overwhelming for someone driving the car for the first time as the car will have a tendency to turn more than expected. This system is only good at parking speeds as it will reduce the amount of steering input.
The latest company to join the band wagon of electric power steering is Porsche with their introduction of the new 911 model (991 series). The new car promised better handling than before but through nearly all the motoring journalist feedback the new electric power steering has put some damper to the overall driving experience of a great car.
Audi is also an advocate for electric power steering and numerous complains have surfaced about the dull and lifeless steering feel. I for one do not like the feel of electric power steering. It just feels too numb and disconnected.
Monday 21 May 2012
Peugeot 308 turbo - my opinion
Peugeot has been making good head way into the Malaysian market since its launch 3 years ago. The initial model was offered with the 4 speed automatic transmission. Justice was not done to this model as the gearbox was just not suited for the car and was unable to extract the best from the engine.
Having test driven the updated model with 6 speed automatic here is my verdict:-
Handling: - Peugeot cars have always had good handling for a front wheel drive car and it is also comfortable to drive. I didn't notice any difference in handling between the 4 speed automatic model and the newer 6 speed automatic model.
Performance: - the newer 6 speed automatic had better matched ratios which allowed more power to be put to the ground. the engine power was also updated to 156ps which was a welcomed improvement. The fuel economy was said to have improved however i was unable to test this since I didn't own the 4 speed model or the 6 speed model.
Interior: - in typical Peugeot fashion the interior is well laid out and fit and finish is decent.
Exterior: - there were some minor changes to the rear bumper but nothing major.
Overall driving experience: - for the price of the Peugeot 308 turbo it is quite a bargain since no other European model offers such performance or value for this price however, those in the market to buy a European model and has a slightly bigger budget, I would strongly advise them to buy the VW Jetta 1.4 TSI or the Golf TSI. Both these models handle as well as the Peugeot, offer better performance from a smaller engine, offers better fuel economy and better gearbox. Even with the new 6 speed automatic the true potential of the Peugeot 308 1.6 Turbo engine just does not shine. The engine is extremely capable as it has been proven many times over in the Mini Cooper S (with a higher state of tune). The real Achilles' heel for the Peugeot is the gearbox. I am very sure that if Peugeot uses a twin clutch gearbox with good ratios, the car will be much better overall.
I would give this car a 3/5 rating.
Having test driven the updated model with 6 speed automatic here is my verdict:-
Handling: - Peugeot cars have always had good handling for a front wheel drive car and it is also comfortable to drive. I didn't notice any difference in handling between the 4 speed automatic model and the newer 6 speed automatic model.
Performance: - the newer 6 speed automatic had better matched ratios which allowed more power to be put to the ground. the engine power was also updated to 156ps which was a welcomed improvement. The fuel economy was said to have improved however i was unable to test this since I didn't own the 4 speed model or the 6 speed model.
Interior: - in typical Peugeot fashion the interior is well laid out and fit and finish is decent.
Exterior: - there were some minor changes to the rear bumper but nothing major.
Overall driving experience: - for the price of the Peugeot 308 turbo it is quite a bargain since no other European model offers such performance or value for this price however, those in the market to buy a European model and has a slightly bigger budget, I would strongly advise them to buy the VW Jetta 1.4 TSI or the Golf TSI. Both these models handle as well as the Peugeot, offer better performance from a smaller engine, offers better fuel economy and better gearbox. Even with the new 6 speed automatic the true potential of the Peugeot 308 1.6 Turbo engine just does not shine. The engine is extremely capable as it has been proven many times over in the Mini Cooper S (with a higher state of tune). The real Achilles' heel for the Peugeot is the gearbox. I am very sure that if Peugeot uses a twin clutch gearbox with good ratios, the car will be much better overall.
I would give this car a 3/5 rating.
Friday 18 May 2012
Proton Preve - first global proton model
Proton recently launched their new Preve model which was suppose to be a big step up from the previous models they developed. At the launch there were 3 models on offer, the basic 1.6 manual, 1.6 CVT and the first ever 1.6 Turbo. This created a lot of excited with the local media and a lot of claims were made by Proton on the big improvements made in the development of this car. Proton being Proton, they have never really focused much on quality or technological innovation. In their history of manufacturing cars, they have thus far developed only a handful of models on their own. All other models were rebadged Mitsubishis or Citreons. Having little experience in developing their own models Proton had to rely heavily on their subsidiary Lotus which had far more engineering and design capabilities despite producing far few models of cars than Proton.
Proton went on a big marketing campaign to promote the Preve and even spent a lot of money on teasers. At the launch Proton received good number of orders amounting to 4,000 bookings of which 70% went to the new 1.6 Turbo model which was naturally the premium model of the 3.
The real verdict of the car was still yet to be known as no journalist at that time had ever driven the car or seen the actual car in the flesh. Since then the car has started to hit the streets and several journalists managed to test drive the car. Journalists in Malaysia are usually discouraged from saying bad things or giving bad reviews about Proton cars which is a real travesty to the motoring publication industry. I always believe that the readers should always be given a chance to read the real news. Anyway, Proton openly allowed the public to test drive the Preve at all their showrooms across the country hoping to impress upon the potential buyer the numerous improvements made.
I for one have always been critical about Proton cars maybe because I have been annoyed with the poor quality cars they have produced and how they survive in Malaysia purely because of Malaysian government protection.
Here is my take on the car itself. In terms of visual appeal the car does look decent from the outside and the proportions are good and properly balanced. From all angles the car look quite good. However with the interior it looks like it was designed by a 5 years old child with a ruler. It has no character, very bland and looks very cheap and tacky. The worst part is the instrument cluster. It looked like it was taken out from a parts bin that was left behind 20 years ago. I understand the point about sharing parts but this looks so cheap and ugly!
The car's ride and handling is good because of Lotus' input on suspension design. It can be said that it is European like ride. This is definitely a plus point however this alone will not sell a lot of cars in an open market. Performance wise, no one should expect much from the basic 1.6 litre engine. The 1.6 litre engine is the same as the engine used in the Persona model which was weak and lacked torque. The engine had to be thrashed hard to extract any real useable power. With the CVT models the car seemed smooth but the car's engine just didn't have enough power. The premium 1.6 Turbo model promised a lot but as expected it was far below my expectations. In comparison to the closest 1.6 turbo engine rival which is the Peugeot 308 turbo, the Preve fell very short in terms of power, torque and overall performance. The Preve's 1.6 Turbo being matched with a CVT was just wrong. The CVT may be smooth and economical but it just felt weird. The gear shift paddles at the steering seemed dumb at times and the gear box just didn't know what to do.
CVT gearboxes are not known for their durability and I won't be surprised if it starts to have problems a few years into ownership.
Proton promised a lot, boasted a lot about the Preve but it just failed to impress. If a new car buyer had RM72,000 to spend on a car I would suggest they buy a Toyota Vios. At least you know the car is reliable, easy to get parts and has good residual value.
Proton went on a big marketing campaign to promote the Preve and even spent a lot of money on teasers. At the launch Proton received good number of orders amounting to 4,000 bookings of which 70% went to the new 1.6 Turbo model which was naturally the premium model of the 3.
The real verdict of the car was still yet to be known as no journalist at that time had ever driven the car or seen the actual car in the flesh. Since then the car has started to hit the streets and several journalists managed to test drive the car. Journalists in Malaysia are usually discouraged from saying bad things or giving bad reviews about Proton cars which is a real travesty to the motoring publication industry. I always believe that the readers should always be given a chance to read the real news. Anyway, Proton openly allowed the public to test drive the Preve at all their showrooms across the country hoping to impress upon the potential buyer the numerous improvements made.
I for one have always been critical about Proton cars maybe because I have been annoyed with the poor quality cars they have produced and how they survive in Malaysia purely because of Malaysian government protection.
Here is my take on the car itself. In terms of visual appeal the car does look decent from the outside and the proportions are good and properly balanced. From all angles the car look quite good. However with the interior it looks like it was designed by a 5 years old child with a ruler. It has no character, very bland and looks very cheap and tacky. The worst part is the instrument cluster. It looked like it was taken out from a parts bin that was left behind 20 years ago. I understand the point about sharing parts but this looks so cheap and ugly!
The car's ride and handling is good because of Lotus' input on suspension design. It can be said that it is European like ride. This is definitely a plus point however this alone will not sell a lot of cars in an open market. Performance wise, no one should expect much from the basic 1.6 litre engine. The 1.6 litre engine is the same as the engine used in the Persona model which was weak and lacked torque. The engine had to be thrashed hard to extract any real useable power. With the CVT models the car seemed smooth but the car's engine just didn't have enough power. The premium 1.6 Turbo model promised a lot but as expected it was far below my expectations. In comparison to the closest 1.6 turbo engine rival which is the Peugeot 308 turbo, the Preve fell very short in terms of power, torque and overall performance. The Preve's 1.6 Turbo being matched with a CVT was just wrong. The CVT may be smooth and economical but it just felt weird. The gear shift paddles at the steering seemed dumb at times and the gear box just didn't know what to do.
CVT gearboxes are not known for their durability and I won't be surprised if it starts to have problems a few years into ownership.
Proton promised a lot, boasted a lot about the Preve but it just failed to impress. If a new car buyer had RM72,000 to spend on a car I would suggest they buy a Toyota Vios. At least you know the car is reliable, easy to get parts and has good residual value.
Sunday 6 May 2012
Crazy Singapore COE
I was recently in Singapore and spoke to a buddy who was in the automotive publication industry regarding buying cars in Singapore. He is shared his dilemma with me on buying a new car. The cost of COE (certificate of entitlement) has shot up to S$94,000. This is just a permit to allow you to buy a car. It does not include the cost of the car! Unofficially Singapore has the highest price for cars in the world. This scheme that was introduces decades ago by the Govt was mainly used to control the car population so that it wouldn't burden the public road system. Having seen the COE prices fluctuate from S$30,000 and to S$94,000, it is little wonder how anyone would want to buy a car in Singapore.
In Malaysia, the high import duties and excise duties are already high enough but it still equates to less than half the price of cars in Singapore. With S$94,000, a person living in the Australia could buy himself / herself a BMW 3 series, or a person living in US could buy a 5 series BMW or a Porsche Cayman!!
The cost of COE is not expected to drop any time soon, in fact it is expected to go beyond S$100,000. At this price only the truly rich will want to buy a car.
Even at S$94,000, a person could take a taxi every day twice for 8 years. They wouldn't have to worry about car maintenance, insurance, road registration renewal, buying new tyres, parking and running costs. Suddenly taking public transport just became appealing.
In Malaysia, the high import duties and excise duties are already high enough but it still equates to less than half the price of cars in Singapore. With S$94,000, a person living in the Australia could buy himself / herself a BMW 3 series, or a person living in US could buy a 5 series BMW or a Porsche Cayman!!
The cost of COE is not expected to drop any time soon, in fact it is expected to go beyond S$100,000. At this price only the truly rich will want to buy a car.
Even at S$94,000, a person could take a taxi every day twice for 8 years. They wouldn't have to worry about car maintenance, insurance, road registration renewal, buying new tyres, parking and running costs. Suddenly taking public transport just became appealing.
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