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Just struggled through a test of the Superb - I say struggled because somewhere halfway thru the, er, twisties, this g8 decides to pull out of a junction without stopping and, to make things worse, maintain a steady 25km/h before pulling the same no-stop stunt at the end of the road. I hope they don't notice the marks my fingernails left on the steering wheel out of sheer frustration - maybe I should have used the Superb's bulk to run her off the road or something.... Anyway, here's my impressions of the occasion - stepping into the car reeked of familiarity. The tactile feel of the dash, switches, grab handles, door handle....even fiddling around with the seat to find a comfortable driving position felt second nature. The overall cabin felt pretty well put together albeit a tad drab (must be a VAG calling card) although some effort to give a sportier feel on the dials worked out pretty well. Being a non-wood (kayu ? ) person, I'd trade the wood inserts for aluminium in a heartbeat, which IMHO goes better with the overall ambience of the cabin, and get rid of that unsightly Sony head unit..... On the feel-good toys front - in addition to the digitally-controlled air-conditioning for the passengers and driver, both the glovebox AND the armrest get the fridge treatment, too, tho' I don't know anyone who'd want to freeze their CD's. There's the usual trip computer tho', sadly, they left out the cruise control on the Classic. An additional $20-odd grand gets you additional toys like a fridge in the rear armrest, sunroof and some other doodats which, honestly, most of us can live without - I'd personally save that extra for additional useful things. Like mods - upsized rims and tyres, chipping...the list goes on..... Funnily enough, the rear seat does not fold at all, but makes do with a ski-hatch which I'd find less useful during my next IKEA trip when I need to add another Benno CD rack to my living room. But, of course, there's the legroom - ah, yes, that - I guess everyone's familiar with that one already so all I'll say is it's HUGE! How much legroom can one have before it's too much ? Drive - for a car its size, I found its ride pleasantly firm with body roll surprisingly well controlled (even in stock form, riding on 16"ers). Understeer (as far as I could tell till my fun was prematurely terminated ) being the order of the day, the Tiptronic is definitely a welcome on the twisties for hard cornering - the auto-box just doesn't seem to cut it under such situations. Brakes, typically soggy and could do with more feeedback - half the time mere tapping didn't seem to provide a whole lot of feedback. With the ubiquitous 1.8T mated to its 5-speed tiptronic found elsewhere in the VAG empire, pick up was decently progressive rather than explosive (pity... )but quite without drama. Strictly from a feel standpoint, its (1.8T unkitted) Passat brethren felt significantly faster. Somehow. For its bulk, I can understand why they don't offer one with the 2.0 like they do with the Passat. But that said, for a car its size, it definitely is tons more fun than many other similarly-classed cars I've driven in recent time, particularly the one I drove down under. So...do I like it? Yes, it's definitely well built, drives well and yes, it's got tons of space. Being a self-confessed VAG-bigot (you know what they're like), driving the Superb quite like what it really was - a bigger VAG. I enjoyed the drive, loved the pace and space and revelled in the familiarity of it all. The only thing niggle for me at this point is, somehow, as thrilling as it was, I didn't feel stirred, like there was some inexplicable spark of excitement that wasn't there. Could this be, for me, a case of being in tounch with something all too familiar ? But that said, can't think of many others in its category offering the same combination of comfort and thrills. Wonder what 18"ers and a chip would do to its ride and handling..... watch this space

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/a..._us/crash_tests Something to think about guys Kia Spectra Gets Worst Crash Test Rating 31 minutes ago http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/addtomy/*..._us/crash_tests By DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON - The Kia Spectra is the first vehicle since 2001 to get the insurance industry's worst safety rating in a frontal crash test, according to results released Sunday. Kia Spectra Gets Worst Rating in Crash Tests (AP Video) The Spectra, a small, four-door sedan that starts at $13,240, got the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (news - web sites)'s lowest rating of poor after a crash test dummy's head, chest and legs were injured in the 40 mph crash test. The last car to get that rating was the Chevrolet Cavalier in 2001. "Most manufacturers have figured out how to design vehicles to do a good job protecting people in frontal crashes," said Adrian Lund, the institute's chief operating officer. "Kia lags behind its competitors." Kia Motors America Inc. said it has met with institute officials to determine how to improve the vehicle's performance. The company also said it was comfortable with the level of safety the Spectra provides. "Occupant safety is a priority for Kia," the company said in a statement. "In the development of this product the Spectra has undergone a battery of tests, and we continue to have a high degree of confidence in the real-world protection offered by this vehicle." Only two small cars

Hi all, try this ... http://adverts.freeloader.com/zurich/ Quite addictive. My high score to date is only 376

Happen to pass by Chevrolet sales office and test drove the Optra. Standard version selling $62K. Quite car with little engine or road noise. Steering feels lively and interior furnishing also not too bad. No cheap plastic and etc. Roomy interior with continental styled controls. Only thing didn't like abt it is the pick up. Guess you got to trade off this with a heavy car. Test drove Kia Cerato, Mazda 323 , 98 Lancer so far. Gotta say that the Optra impresses me the most. Go try it...its quite fun. somemore no need to queue kekeke Any one who owns a Optra ? Whats the fuel consumption like? In betw, i'll be scrapping my Swift b4 the road tax expire May 05 ... so shopping around for cars at the moment.

taken from vagsg.. BMW

Hi folks, Just for general knowledge. Recently there was a silver van caught speeding way above 100km/hr along AYE and was caught on a speed camera. Despite numerous attempts by TP to pull over his vehicle, the driver - a free lance photographer - refused to do so. (More than one TP vehicle was involved in the chase) In the process of the chase, the silver van beat 3 red lights in addition. Finally when they forced the van into a halt, the driver refused to alight from his vehicle. He not only reversed his van and hit into the TP motorcycle parked behind his van, injuring the officer who was riding the motorcycle. When another TP officer attempted to open his vehicle's door, he elbowed the TP officer. Eventually he was arrested and will be charged on the following; 1. Reckless driving 2. Assault of Public Servants Folks, don't even think of testing the system ... you will only find yourself in a mess bigger than just speeding itself. Cheerz, Ed

Hi everyone, New here. Looking for an affordable car preferably with some space for occasional lugging of goods. Test drive the Cerato HB Auto last weekend. Quite impressed with the build quality, spaciousness and engine response. However the engine noise and vibration is quite shocking, could feel the vibration very clearly on the foot pedal. Tried the Mit Lancer Auto, everything so so, cannot get used to the CVT gearbox, very rubbery. Tried Matrix. Like the space layout and many thoughtful compartment. Engine and handling not bad but internal build quality ??? Can spot a few uneven plastic joints. Also worry abt high FC. Quite like the Liana HB Auto. Look more solidly built and also higher quality material. Engine power & handling seem adequate for normal driving plus almost as spacious as Matrix. Did not try the Vios, too long waiting plus ??? on service. Sunny is no no for me. Just personal preference, no offence to Sunny owners. Appreciate any user feedback on the above-mentioned model. Thks!

Anyone wanna share on their experiences with it ? coz i just kenna it yesterday... was really drinking and driving .... but dunno how i passed it how does the machine works? green light = pass , red light = fail ? mine was blinking green and red all the time ... lOlx. wonder if it's faulty.

yesterday's cna's 'auto und sport tv' program had a comparison test between 407, passat, c-class n vectra, all diesel ver. d ranking was: 1) vectra 2) c-class 3) passat 4) 407 :)

http://www.channel4.com/4car/road-tests/B/...504-/m504-.html

no sure if this was posted before, so enjoy: http://www.exvitermini.com/mvarious.htm http://www.exvitermini.com/mvarious.htm

Check link below: http://www.nsxsc.com/nsexcitement/waxtest.html I was curious about Zymol as I have seen those bottles of it with the pale blue stuff inside. Doesn't have a high carnauba wax content though. Check the ingredients below:

Does anyone know where a dyno test can be done at an affordable price in Singapore besides the 2 mentioned in the resources page. - thought of getting it done to prove the use of aftermarket stuffs.

Link: http://www.autocarmag.com/FirstDrive_Summary.asp?RT=209098 BMW 120i Sport 5dr Test Date 15 June 2004 Price when new

Been looking forward to this for some time now. Partly because the S60R was such a revelation, and partly due to the fact that the new baby Volvo shares a lot under its skin with the Focus MkII. Looks-wise, the S40 is handsome enough, with very strong (new) Volvo cues, a slightly upright glasshouse and an even more pronounced boat-like rear end. Sadly, this comes at the price of boot space, which at 404 litres is simply not competitive. [inline S40new_1_wp_ex_800_1.jpg] Inside, the blackness of the seats and trim seem a little sombre, but the cushions themselves are massively comfortable, as expected. The hyped 'floating' centre console seems like a neat trick and makes good use of what's usually wasted space, but i can't help wondering about how ICE lovers will deal with al thi non-customizable equipment. [inline S40new_6_wp_in_800.jpg] At 2640mm, the S40's wheelbase is generous enough for an FWD premium compact (whatever that is). The 'roominess index' SM Motors quotes in its large showroom billboard puts it ahead of both the 3-Series and A4, and I'll believe that. There's ample legroom both front and rear for normal people, though, rear headroom is curiously tight. Blame the 'coupe-like' profile (SE's word's not mine), it can euphemistically be described as cosy... [inline S40new_5_wp_in_800.jpg] A further pity is the fact that the 220hp T5 is only available as an auto, albeit with Geartronic manual overide. The (female) SE couldn't see why we would want anything else, but said that if we really really really really wanted a manual they could indent one, at a premium, of course... Anyways, I figure 320Nm of torque (yep, all the way from 1500-4800rpm) kind of offsets the power loss of a slushmatic. The gearbox isn't half bad either, though reaction to fast throttle inputs isn't quite up to keeping with its sporty credentials. The brakes could do with more feel too. In fact, the steering could do with lots more feel - it's light, which isn't a bad thing in itself, but hardly weighs up at speed, and there's only a vague hint as to what those 205/50-17 rubbers are up to. Nik akined the feeling with driving a Stream, not the greatest of compliments, I can tell you. One thing I can't really fault is the delivery of the engine. Being an LPT, it's very linear, but boy can it still bungee you into the horizon! And beside the 5-cylinder noise, there's hardly anything to inform your senses of your progress, until you watch the speedo. Really, 120kmh felt like 100, and I usually have a good gauge as to how soon I'm losing my license. Wind and tyre noise are noticeably absent, as we reached dodge'em velocities. Boy, that's addictive! And so we come to my biggest complaint of the day: the roads. Yes, you read right - we were driving on the wrong roads. Or rather, the SE only allowed us the straight route, no twisties. So I can't report on how it copes in the bends, which is usually the entire point of a car like this. I suspect it's still a bit on the soft side, but regretably, I'll have to reserve judgement until we find out what it's really capable of. The good news is that the S40's estate sister , the V50 will be launched this weekend. It too will come with a T5 version, plus more room (50mm wheelbase increase, anyone?). I'll be back, and this time I'll make sure they throw in the curves!

Aveo vs Accent vs Echo vs Forenza (Optra to us) http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2324.shtml The Americans like the Forenza (Optra) which is marketted under Suzuki. Chevrolet only has the Aveo 1.6 and don't seem to push it much. So those with Optras looking for performance upgrades and stuff, better search for Forenza in eBay. The Forenza engine is bigger and better. 2.0L 16V churning out 119HP. If searching for parts for Aveo, can search for it as Suzuki Swift+ . Bloody GM and their chapalang names for cars!

Test drove a car today. The SE seem very interested in my business. Buy got no intention of buy, feeling a bit guilty now. So trying to see if you people make me feel more guilty or more at peace

TV test on M3 CSL (unfortunately in German): http://www.bmwccn.no/vestfold/images/M3%20csl.wmv Notice the results indicate that EVO VII still kicks its ass in one of its tests!

Hi bros out there, Anyone have test drive this car. Actually last week was a good buy for TC dropped the price to S$68K for a 1.6Ex saloon. Managed to squeeze leather seats, reverse sensor, central locking, 15" sport rims too.u guys think is a good bargain compared with Corolla Altis with is abt S$74k which is thai made? Test drive experience, well quite satisfied. Noticed the feel is heavier, more steady in terms of handling. Even managed to run over the road humps without stopping to test the suspension. But then i heard feedback about its under powered specifications? Is it true? any test drive experience to share? What abt the new CVTC engine with E-throttle? any idea it help in fuel economy, and what is the km/l? Does fuel magnet helps? or the ground cable?

went to test drive tis Chevrolet Optra just now - S$72,999 conclusions: 1. good road holding stick to the road at 80-90km/h on s curve along the way to paya lebar airbase. (due to the solid suspension) 2. solid feel - heavy body (sound from the closing door is ) unlike Mazda 3.sound insulation is 4. engine sound sweet (rev it or not) 5.disc brake on both front and back 6. interior is very spacious. the SE (JOJO) very helpful even after she found out that i won't buy the car, she still let me test drive. Value for $$$.

Take a look at this. Not sure if its true or not. Fuel-Saving Gadgets Put To The Test Taken from http://www.kirotv.com/consumer/2220354/detail.html KIROTV.com Fuel-Saving Gadgets Put To The Test Gizmos Tested On Fleet Of AAA Trucks POSTED: 5:27 p.m. PDT May 21, 2003 Wayne Havrelly KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Consumer Investigator It's here at last: Secret fuel saving technology! Sound familiar? Every time gas prices rise, so do claims about gadgets that are supposed to dramatically improve your car's fuel economy. Some of these claims are amazing, like a product that claims it will increase your mileage by 27 percent! We installed several different gas-saving gizmos on a fleet of trucks so we could put these amazing claims to the test -- from air-spinning devices in your car's air intake to powerful magnets designed to make the fuel in your car burn more efficiently. We tested several of these claims that promise to save you big money at the pump by improving your car's fuel economy. With the help of American Automobile Association's fleet of service trucks, we put all these devices through a month of extensive testing. "We actually monitor the fuel mileage of these vehicles constantly, so we already had a very established base line to what they are getting," said Don Beyer of AAA. The "Fuel Saver Pro" is a $65 dollar magnetic gadget that snaps over the fuel line. It's supposed to increase mileage up to 27% by magnetizing fuel and making it more efficient. A $74 whirling air device called "The Tornado" spins inside the air intake hose. According to a television infomercial, it improves the air fuel mixture which increases mileage. We paid $90 for the "Super Fuel Max," which turned out to be identical to the first magnetic device we bought -- except it costs about 25 dollars more. For fun, we slapped some duct tape on a fourth truck. "We contend that this fuel saving device probably works as well as the others," said Don Beyer. As the trucks went through tank after tank of fuel, the mileage was closely monitored every time. So in the end, which gas saver saved the most? The mileage actually got worse three percent on the truck with the Fuel Saver Pro magnet. The Super Fuel Max magnet performed even worse, decreasing mileage by nearly five percent. After 15,00 miles of driving, the Tornado air swirling device increased mileage 5.3 percent. So how did our duct tape perform? "The KIRO fuel-saving device actually finished in first place

On a lark, a few of us (E46, Renegade and myself) headed down to Premium Automobiles to look at the Audi TT. Unfortunately for us, the 225hp, Quattro with manual transmission was not available for test - never will be for some strange reason - so we had to 'make do' with its less-endowed brother - less power, two fewer driven wheels, auto transmission... But hey, who am I to reject the chance to play with 180horses? On with the report! Pluses: Still IMO the best cabin in a production car - everything that looks like metal actually is metal, and the quality is top-notch; immediate response from the turbo four, with a lovely plateau on the torque curve all the way from 1,950-5,000rpm - while it doesn't sing like a V6, the roar is pleasingly-sporting enough for me; seamless shifts from the 6-speed Tiptronic gearbox so that I never knew nor cared what gear I was really in (yes I have a thing against autos but this is one of those that might tempt me over to the dark side...) Minuses: A chassis that was strangely prone to understeer, given its sporting pretentions - nothing like the almost snappy (and also FWD) Civic Type R; rear seat packaging that can best be described as optimistic, and which turn the terms 'headroom' and 'legroom' into oxymorons; irritating steering wheel that managed to be positioned too low for my liking while at the same time obscured the gear selection display on the instrument cluster - you might call that a minor gripe, but to me an important interface like the steering wheel not being in a comfortable position and blocking crucial information is an ergonomic failure. So, crunch time: Is the 180hp, FWD Tiptronic TT worth $215,000? Despite the SE's protests, I believe Nissan's 350Z can be directly compared with the Audi, and with more power on tap for less (280hp for about $180k), it might even be considered a bargain. The letdown for me there is the unnecessary skimping on cabin materials (not an excuse at this level), while the driving experience is reportedly better than the TT. This we'll have to see, won't we?

r we allowed to test drive cars frm PIs?

Quote:- Get out there and look good in the all-New Fiesta. Take a test drive and see what you're missing. There's a whole world out there waiting to be discovered and we want to take you there with the all-New Fiesta. The small car that has got it all. Class-leading space and style at prices that everybody can afford. There's never been a better time to get out more... Style with substance Looking good need not mean compromise. Indeed, looking this good your friends will want to come with you. With three or five doors there's space for all, though why should you have all the fun driving it?

To All Singapore Hyundai Owners As advertised in the main papers today, we are all entitled to a FREE diagnostic test at Komoco HQ, Alexandra Rd. Please call 6476 6639 for appointment. The free diagnostic test will be done from 25 Nov - 4 Dec 2002.