Are cars mere modes of transportation or are they something which resonate deep within our souls? Of course, there are many who argue that it is the former & whilst me makes nay bones about that being the primary function but to wholeheartedly agree would mean sucking the artistry & unique qualities out of almost everything. Or as Simon Cowell would say, that its missing the "X factor".Reducing everything to its bare functionality would mean there'd be nay place fer artistic whims or fancy. The Bauhaus school of thought may work fer some but only if there were alternatives to ensure our roads are not reduced to an endless procession of Kancil & Vios-type blandness.
Just to make it a little clearer fer the ladies who are greatly culpable of reducing our car market to a homogeny of the aforementioned brands (in no other transmission but AUTO), imagine a world without designer shoes, handbags, clothes & knick knacks coz all they do is LOOK & FEEL NICE. Start wearing a gunny sack me says . . . No?
Me is nay snob but in me quest fer something with a little character, me has been bombarded with all sorts of "advice" from so-called experts. A great example would be the mother in law who seems to think that the holy triumvirate of MyVi, Vios & Swift are the greatest thing since sliced bread. Why? "Coz my friend's daughter bought one so it must be a good car . . ."
But the worse offenders were some fellow MX5 owners who thought me should plonk fer a "practical mommy mobile". Coming from them made it quite unpalatable since me thought being owners of two-seater convertibles, they would have something more constructive to offer.
Like how music & film is being reduced to generic formulaic crap, same is happening in the automotive industry. Do yer bit to stop everything being homogenised. Ye can start by buying an old banger of a car that screams "I've got FOOKING CHARACTER" even if its broken down by the side of the road . . .
17 comments:
AD: Hahahaha... i like your analogy about women and their shoes. Its sooooo true.
Anyway what car you getting-lah. B
For me, car must:-
1) look good (you should be proud to say thats my fooking ride)
2) have substance (meaning engine power and speed)
3)added bonus is the rarity factor...
Of course everyone says affordability as well... but thats just generally true for everything else in life as well...so its a given.
For all 3 reasons above me chose me Mazda 6. Hope this helps.
achilles: The logo on this posting should give ye a clue.
Just to make it a little clearer fer the ladies who are greatly culpable of reducing our car market to a homogeny of the aforementioned brands (in no other transmission but AUTO), imagine a world without designer shoes, handbags, clothes & knick knacks coz all they do is LOOK & FEEL NICE. Start wearing a gunny sack me says . . . No?
this is pure genius.we are on the same channel! u know, i do that to Mr Teh.. he will only understand girls' language when said in car terms. LOL
and yes.... never defeat character and individuality just cause u r a mom/dad/old now..
senorita: Precisely! Never lose yer character!
Wot would ye buy if ye had a budget of around RM80k?
Like i said.... Miata! or MR2
and definitely not Vios lar.
prolly new car wise, Neo (overbudget a bit lar)
Good choice on the MX5, senorita.
FYI, there are a few good specimens fer sale at the mx5 forum (pls click pix of mx5 on me blog).
Neo fer new car? Why?
Better to buy a used 147 or even an older punto cabriolet. Much more fun.
This is something that I have been bitching about in front of me mates, ask senorita!
I must admit that I am no fan of Euro car makers, the last one me remember loving was the....er....way too long ago, even the E46 M3 without the GTR is a fooking car which geeks will say, great technology great technology. What the fook happened to the ultimate driving machine? They are suppose to build one of the best cars. Oh, but at least they don't disappoint me with their E30, which was manufactured when? The new Z4 makes me drool but no 6 speed manual transmission in Malaysia other than the grey importers? C'mon!
Okay, nothing good can be said to Japanese car makers as well. Subarus and Evos were one of those cars where they test the driver's ability to the max, but slowly, they add on, ABS, ok fine, I can live with it, no biggie. Traction control, ok..... but I can still deactivate it. 4WD control? I don't understand one bit.... but okay still got manual transmission with LSD....wait....WTF!!!! The Evo Xs are mostly in SST (AKA Twin Clutch, a better Auto Gear Box with no torque converter)....
I have never been a big fan of Hondas but I must give a big kudos to Honda for maintaining the Type R at the very least even though they have discontinued the S2000s and the NSXs. Not many cars come close to the Honda Civic Type R these days, a real driver's car with no traction control and no auto gear box, only an ABS which I at times find it useful due to all the idiotic drivers around Malaysia.
VW Golf GTI? Not a car for me, DSG gearbox is good but you will miss out on all the heel and toes, handbrake turns, etc. Oh ya, the computer box too heavy.
But yet, it's the market, the market demand doesn't appeal to me, so....should I ride a bike from now on?
i think i must specify that it's my own opinion....no offense to the readers here as each of us share different thoughts at times
TTH: Auto auto auto = Malaysian market.
To me great disappointment, the malaysian market mazda2 is only available in . . . yup, ye guessed it , AUTO!
hi guys, care to share your two cents?
http://theworldaccordingtomine.blogspot.com/
=)
what to do? Even the new MX5 is only available in AT, from Bermaz la.
Okay, one more thing, apparently Ferraris are no longer planning to come out with a proper manual transmission in their future cars. Give la a proper sequential gearbox at least, don't want heavy twin clutch gear box. Ferrari owners can afford to fix the sequential gearbox la.
AD, when wanna come out again? Wanna check out your MX5 again, need a closer look. I miss my NB!
TTH: Siapa suruh jual? Bodoh . . .
chief,
a very well-written piece. succint nails punched into holes..marked at proper intervals.
especially liked..
"...Reducing everything to its bare functionality would mean there'd be nay place fer artistic whims or fancy. The Bauhaus school of thought may work fer some but only if there were alternatives to ensure our roads are not reduced to an endless procession of Kancil & Vios-type blandness.."
loved the "bauhaus" effect. mwahhahhaha. nice touch. prisms the comparative effect into a whole new spectrum. the thought would have never stoked ma mind to apply / incorporate into the facade of a car.:)
and of course
"...Just to make it a little clearer fer the ladies who are greatly culpable of reducing our car market to a homogeny of the aforementioned brands (in no other transmission but AUTO), imagine a world without designer shoes, handbags, clothes & knick knacks coz all they do is LOOK & FEEL NICE. Start wearing a gunny sack me says ."
homegeny of brands...mwahhahahha. so true. i have a mate who refers to the BMW 5 series..as the one with the "tanduk" behind...mwahhahhahahahaa
give up wey...
good stuff chief.
yours appreciatively,
anand.
Mozzer: Thanks fer the kind words of encouragement.
So did the posting stir anything in ye?
Alfa 164 3.0 V6 perhaps?
if ye got like a spare 1K-2k left from the monthly pay check...bolehlah maintain kereta yang kita nak pandu tp kalau gaji mcm saya...
kenalah cari kereta yang bnyk orng pandu sebab sng cari spare part dan harganya pun murah, foreman bun bnk dan sbgnya...
but given the huge availability of recon Jepun car engines... i think may will look to the east than the west...
Anba: Me hears ye. Of course, ye live within yer means. Am not asking ye to go blow a hole in the bank account. Rather go fer something with a touch more class / fun / style / all of the above.
Lemme give ye an example. Me colleague was looking to change car a few years back. Got a friend who was a used car merchant who found her a PRISTINE Alfa 156 with just 40,000km on clock (nay bullshit).
It was a real beauty. Like new as it was a garaged specimen. Asking price - RM53k.
Me colleague says too mahal.
So wot does she buy? A vios @ Rm80+k.
A puny 1.5 engine with fook all character v 2.0 Italian beauty. Cheap fabrics v real leather. Shite toyota styling v Momo / Pinifarina-inspired lines etc etc.
WTF???!!!???
And ye mean to tell me if she had bought the alfa, would it have cost an additional RM30k in repairs the next 5 years? Me thinks not.
As fer yer own case, go check out the MX5 forum. Quite a few nice specimens around fer a mere RM40k.
It may be old but these cars don't give problemo. Take it from me, it'll never fail to put a smile on yer face when ye've got the roof down & crusing the highway.
Fer RM40k, used MX5 v new MyVi. I mean . . . seriously, should there be any consideration?
Tak de loan? Then plump fer a used Alfa 147. Sure maintainence is a little bit more but ye more than make up fer it with a purchase price that is less than a MyVi.
After all, ye spend so much time in yer car, nay reason why it shouldn't be something MORE than four wheels & cardboard disguised as an interior.
Another analogy that may be closer to yer heart. Original CD, nay, make that a box set of Bon Jovi or a scratchy worn out tape of Hellhammer fer entertainment?
Its all bout the making the right choice macha . . .
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