The classic Ford Mustangs

Can't get enough of the Ford Mustang...here are more...all classics, usually starting price about RM200,000.  If you have a big house and garage to keep one...

Want one now...contact Rainbird Classic...the could help you with your needs.

The 4th Generation Honda City, launched in India

If you were about to put your order for a new Vios, wait till Honda Malaysia bring in the latest Honda City, which was just launched in India.  Honda will need this to pump up their sales figure, so expect the arrival in 1st or 2nd quarter of 2014, hopefully!  Remember, even the existing version City has better specifications compare to the Vios...you have another choice!

The All American Muscle Sport Car...Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

The Ford Mustang is a classic, with the very first that rolled off the Ford plant in 1964.  It will be almost 50 years of celebration for this all American sport car!  With the latest incarnation of the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, powered by a 5.8L supercharged V8 engine, with 662hp/855Nm, it really can react as fast as a Cobra attack.  Put on wings on both side, it should be able to fly too!  For the past 10-year, Ford has been keeping the Mustang classic look, which is a huge success comparing to some older model with modern car look.  This car is sexier than the lady!  With such power, Brembo brake is standard, as well as the Tremec 6-speed manual transmisson.  And if you want an automatic, go get a chic sport car, not this American muscle car.

The Mustang, will never make it to our soil, though a few units have been spotted being brought in by some parallel importers, and mostly are left-hand-drive unit, as this pony has just been made available to UK not too long ago.

Back in the USA, this car selling price starting at an almost USD55,000.  Thus, even before our incredible tax structure, it is almost RM200,000.  To a lot of American, with brand new cars starting from USD8,000, that's a lot of money.  If it ever reach us, this could easily cost half a million ringgit brand new!  So the American has a nice dream sport car, we Malaysia, always have a choice, and the choice is a Proton Satria R3!

And of course, if you want a basic Mustang, starting price is at USD22,000.  And yes, before tax, at about RM80,000, you could have the most basic unit with a 3.7-litre V6-engine, that still could churn out 305hp.  Now, throw away your necktie and longsleeve...put on your pair of worn jeans, a GAP T-shirt, and the Ray-Ban you already have, it is time to start dreaming!  RM80,000 here could barely get you a Japanese-made car that could make about 120hp, but surely could get you a full selection of Perodua and Proton!

The One-Eye W212 Mercedes E-Class

 

If you love the E-Class, but hated the "big-small-eye" headlamp design that make it an uncle, the facelifted E-Class is for you now.  This time, Mercedes finally combined them to make it a One-Eye style, that looks much more elegant.

However, the rear looks very Japanese.  With it categorized as a D-segment, it is indeed difficult to have a nice blend-in design that is elegant and sporty, thus the large common-looked rear light.  Overall, it is a Mercedes, and it is mean for the successful businessman above 45, and this suit right in.

The Union Jack MINI

MINI has always been my dream car, especially with some creativity, one could dress it up to be the unique one.  Just like this Union Jack MINI on display at Starhill.

.

Only last month, MINI dealership is offering some discount on new pre-registered cars, by as much RM20k off for a Cooper S.

The latest model should make it world debut very soon now, which is this month, on November 18, marching onto its third generation since BMW took over the brand.  It is always unique, and sell at a luxury price for such a small car.  Love to have a MINI one day!

The emerging market Peugeot, the 408

You have been to Europe, but could not spot a single Peugeot 408 on the road.  The 408 is actually designed for the emerging market, first launched in China, followed by Malaysia.  It is based on the 308 chassis, but in the sedan outfit.  It has nothing in similar to the previous 407 generation, though share the same series number.

For the 408, it is available in 2 model, one with the popular 1.6-litre turbo Prince engine, producing 163HP/240Nm power, mated to the same 6-speed torque converter transmission used in the 308. This turbo model is the high end unit, providing all the safety features, with 6-airbag, anti-skid regulation, electronic stability program and some luxurious items such as leather seat and auto dimming rear view mirror.  As for the 2.0-litre unit, it uses the old 145hp/200Nm engine, mated to the old AL4 4-speed gearbox, and with a lot less features, and almost RM20k cheaper at RM109,888.  The turbo unit is asking for RM128,888, competing directly with other C-segment cars.  at this price, a lot will still go for Japanese made Honda and Toyota.

The interior is a direct inheritance from the 308, with no surprise and dated.  The 408 has just been launched for less than 2 years. Looking at the rear, its style fit right into the C-segment space, no extravagant design and not sexy, just simple yet functional.

Walking around the car, one could feel the fitting is not as good as other European-designed Peugeot.  It is noticeable at the C-pillar window chrome trim, which does not snap well and could be a finger cutting hazard. But if you want a fully loaded C-segment car, the 408 is still a good choice, though with no NCAP rating, it could not be worse than its competitor.  However, skip the 2.0-litre unit, the technology is for the previous decade!

The new 3 series coupe, BMW 4 series

The new BMW 4 series coupe looks stunning, though without much difference from the 3 series coupe that it inherited from.  With this new model, it is the end of the 2-door coupe for the 3 series, which now will focus on the sedan space.

 

The 428i Coupe is available in Sport Line or M Sport specifications, and you knew that with the M, you get the tuning from the M division of BMW.  However, whichever specifications you choose, the cars are equipped with the standard BMW TwinPower Turbo, combines with twin-scroll turbocharger with Valvetronic, Double VANOS 2-litre engine (what a long description for the engine) which produces 245hp/530Nm power, with a 8-speed transmission.  The 8-speeder is now common throughout the BMW models.

At about RM360k, you would expect to get everything and all the jargon that a car could offer, thus need not elaborate here.  The amber meter cluster looks fine, but with the lack of sportiness that a coupe should have.  It is too plain and standard, except the red stripe lining the yet standard BMW dashboard that make one feel kind of sporty.

Taking a closer look, when you close the door, an automatic arm pushes the seat belt out for easy reach.  What a nice thought, with additional motor to fail or create unnecessary noise when it jams one day.  Reminded me those old days automatic shoulder belt that was available in some Hondas and others.

BMW always has its luxury market targeted at the rich, no matter how all previous owners had complaint on its reliability and repairing cost, the fans will keep buying them. Well, there is not much choice out there if you wanted a good looking luxury coupe or sedan as the Mercedes-look is for the old people, the Audi is picking up, but the design is too plain to be called sporty, the Volvo is only for the middle upper income group, which is not consider a luxury brand yet, the Infiniti, looks gorgeous, but the conservative dealer is lousy in selling it, and the Lexus is just too common nowadays with its CT200h, tarnishing its luxury feel.  So even with BMW standard 2-year warranty, which is the least among all, the rich does not care...as long as it is a BMW!

The Forte replacement, Kia Cerato

 

The Kia Forte is still a nice looking car, fully loaded with all the goodies a car buyer would like, except the Korean reputation. Recently, with the replacement model, the Cerato beats all the C-segment car again, with all the goodies, which include traction control and 6-airbag, with a price of RM99,888 for the 1.6-litre Gamma engine and RM118,888 for the 2.0-litre Nu engine.  The Kia Cerato comes with the latest incarnation of Peter Schreyer, with the signature tiger nose. The look is fantastic!

Kia's design is good, but looks like the sales volume just could not pick up the momentum.  After few months from the launched date, one could hardly see any Cerato on the road.  Is it the price? Is it the design? Is it the equipment? Is it the reputation? We very well knew Korean car second hand market is terrible, and the support service from the local distributor is questionable with a lot of disgruntled customers!

The 1.6-litre Gamma engine is the same unit in the sister Elantra, producing about 130hp/157Nm of power, with a 6-speed transmission.  It is RM1,000 more expensive than the Hyundai, but you get a fully equipped car with the Kia.  As for the 2.0-litre Nu unit, it could produce 161hp/194Nm, which is much better than the 1.8-litre unit in the Elantra, and only for a mere RM4,000 more.  At least the leather seat is much better than the "does not feel like Nappa", Nappa from the Elantra.

The interior looks integrated, solid and well designed.  Dual zone auto aircon, with rear vents, bluetooth connectivity, cruise control, start-stop button, paddle shift and even driver seat position memory for two!

In fact, the Kia Cerato is the best for value C-segment in the competitive space, directly hitting at the boring Corolla Altis, not so handsome Civic, and its own brother Elantra.  We really need to figure out how to make the Korean made worth its value in the second hand market, to make it a real success!