Nissan Sylphy's twin brother, the Renault Fluence

If you love the boring Nissan Sylphy, then naturally the Renault Fluence could be your second lover.  Tan Chong decided to bring in the 3-year-old Fluence to Malaysia, under their CKD program, hoping this could be the mass market Renault model for everyone.  But before you think this is a fantastic move, this Fluence is not the latest facelifted model available, and it uses the old Nissan Sylphy powertrain, which is a 2.0-litre with 143hp/195Nm of juice mated to the Nissan's X-Tronic CVT gearbox.  So, who would want to buy a new, yet old generation car?  Tan Chong could be making a big mistake here, but with its OTR price of RM118k for this C-segment, it could be the cheapest continental make.  The Renault Fluence will go head-on with the emerging market Peugeot 408, especially it has a proven and reliable engine.  So when a French meets a Japanese, it is like a seductive girl with an old lady heart, and when this meet our local distributor, the end result is this boring Fluence.

Taking a deeper look at the engine bay, one could notice Nissan word is printed on most of the parts.  Renault does not need to hide this partnership as it know the family man that want a Fluence in his garage would be happy that the heart is a Japanese, and it shall not stall like others while driving!

The interior is very Renault in the making though, and nothing here emulate the Japanese.  It is simple, with nothing fancy, and the in-built 7" R-Link infotainment touchscreen include navigation feature.  Some could feel a touchscreen is not as intuitive when the location is not ergonomically suited to the driver and is a distraction to lean your hand to the top of the dashboard, and could be a distraction while driving.  In this setup, a menu driven from a steering wheel mounted control could be the best solution.  Renault love digital speedometer, and this Fluence has a huge central speedo, with the fuel and temperature gauges.  The worst of this design is the brightly lid blue-white background, which immediately lower the luxury feel of the car.  However, the southward pointing RPM meter is nice here, but the overall cluster is too toy-ish!  

As a continental car, the Fluence has no lacking in the safety and features department, which include full round of 6-airbag, ABS (front and rear disc), EBA, ESP, ASR, cruise control, auto headlight and wipers, rear view camera, bluetooth, follow-me-home lighting, and a huge boot to fit at least 4 golfbags.  To make the Fluence stand out from the Sylphy, Tan Chong is throwing in 5-Years Unlimited Mileage warranty, 2 Years Free Maintenance and will pick up your Fluence to the service centre and vice versa, providing a more personal touch in the customer service.  Renault is not a mass market car here, with very limited service centres, thus the service is like throwing candy at the customer, attempting to increase the sales.  

If I were you, I would not give the Fluence any chance to my garage.  Go get a Nissan Sylphy instead!  Both are as boring anyhow!

The incredible VW Golf R for the senseless!

OK, here you are, the VW Golf R is incredible by it's heritage...but does it make any sense for one to dig hard into their bank for what it is asking for...a whooping RM287k for the fully-loaded unit...and the Golf is still one of the ugliest looking hatchback that has no sense of sportiness no matter which angle you look at it.  As a matter of fact, the standard Golf is the commoner car back in its home ground.  Thus, if you wanted a sport car...or a hot hatch that turns heads, which the handsome and beauty would WOW on it, forget about the Golf R.  Unless you already have at least a Porsche in your garage, and you wanted the R as your daily sport car, which could ferry your family at 250km/h, and chances of attracting the handsome and beauty is not in your night out schedule, the boring look of the VW Golf R fits in just right...Did I mention by now, you should be addressed as Uncle or Auntie!

Anyway, the 3-door lower accessorized version is also priced senseless at RM247k.  If i were you, I would settle for the Renault Megane, though having slightly lower horsepower and torque than this R, which produces 276hp/380Nm while mated to the problematic 6-speed DSG transmission!

So what make up for the hefty price tag?  It is not the blue needle in the instrument cluster, nor the "R" emblem on the steering wheel.  It is the brilliant 4Motion all-wheel-drive system that distinguish this Golf R!  Of course, with the Dynamic Chassis Control which allow the driver to select Comfort, Normal and Race modes, which has different profiles on the suspension damping, throttle and steering response.  In Race mode, even the exhaust sound is amplified!  This is cool!

Carbon fiber finishing in a sport car is always a welcome detail, as long as it is not being used everywhere and the insert on the gear stalk is nice.  However, VW really need to rethink their rim design, where the GTi has been using the same for ages, and the R's Cadiz rim is no exception in the ugly department.  The 19" wheel in the Tech Pack version is huge, with such powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, both the front and rear wheels are fitted with the same size of brake to ensure sufficient stopping power.

The rear of the Golf R only two things different from the ordinary unit.  One is the R emblem on the hatch door, second is the quad tail pipes which make the look a bit of "Ah Beng".  I strongly think twin tail pipes would look better, or even a twin trapezoidal pipe could be interesting.  On the safety department, the R has everything it should have, with a total of 7 airbags, including a driver side's kneebag.  The Discover Pro 8" touch sensitive navigation included infotainment unit is a big improvement, but again, only in the Tech Pack unit!

For those who really like the Golf...is it the VW brand, or is it really that good.  If just for the brand, go get the Polo, which has a smarter look!  If one is really looking at the R for track driving, hey, consider the Subaru and Renault as well, which might make more sense with a manual transmission!

Diesel turbocharged Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, sure or not?!

First question...a Direct Turbo Injection Diesel engine for our Euro-2M compliant fuel?  Even without the particulate filter, owner could be taking a big bet on how reliable this engine could be over the years of usage on our road.  Honestly, I will not put my RM190k on it although the "Technospace" MPV looks incredibly nice and tune for the Star War's movie.  With limited units, first batch buyers could be the guinea pigs on this 2.0-litre e-HDi powerplant.  I doubt it has been extensively tested with our diesel, and might not even be tuned for it.  It is good news that it uses the standard torque converter 6-speed transmission, instead of the EGS (with automated clutch) tranny.  With this combination, the Grand C4 Picasso produces 148hp and 370Nm at a mere 2000rpm.  That is a lot of torque to pull the fully loaded MPV!  Of course, diesel is usually selected in other country as towing a caravan at the rear is common, but not here in Malaysia.

Second question...is this Grand C4 Picasso any better than the Peugeot 5008, which is price at RM30k lower, with the popular 1.6-litre turbocharged Prince engine?  Putting the look aside, the 5008 could be a better choice that allow one to have RM30k to spare to maintain the car, though Peugeot and Citroen would not provide any good residue value.  My 2003 Citroen C3 that could now fetch only about RM8k-10k, which is worse than a similar year Kancil, could really be a deterrent to own another Citroen.  I would think the Grand C4 Picasso, once with a name registered on it, will have its value drop to RM120k immediately! Anyway, a Citroen owner should not care about residue value, we simply love the double chevron, and the ability of it turning heads, even with an uncle driving this MPV!

Third question...are those electronics item in this Grand C4 Picasso reliable?  Citroen is known to be in the forefront of adopting the latest technology, and this MPV is no exception.  Everything in it is electronics, with a 12-inch display replacing the analog cluster, and a 7-inch touch display for other controls, which include navigation system!  As usual, the steering wheel is full of buttons and dials for all your settings and configurations.  It is also equipped with a paddle shift that allow one to drive like a F1-driver.  I would think this could be omitted, as the diesel engine is good enough to pull the car along without much issue, as compare to the Peugeot 5008 petrol unit.  The dash mounted transmission stick is unique, yet flimsy.  It is so thin and could be knock off easily.  The leather like beige dash interior lighten the MPV even more, especially it already has a panoramic roof and large A-pillar windows and weirdo Nappa leather seats that are partly black and amber.

Fourth question...is the Grand C4 Picasso a full size MPV?  Yes and no.  It is a 7-seater, though the third-row seat is only meant for small size children.  The good thing is when all 5 back seats are folded flat, it becomes a mini "lorry" for all you stuff...especially good to make your trip to Ikea.  All seats are individual adjustable, thus this MPV could really be an enjoyable ride for 5 adults.  Did I mention massage function for the front seats?!

Fifth question...and the last, is the Grand C4 Picasso worth RM190k?  This really depend on how you see it, some will think paying additional for the extraordinary look is on top of their criteria, while some think getting the most gadgets in the car is their priority.  The MPV definitely has its handsome futuristic look, and it has all kind of safety features that enable it to score 5-star Euro NCAP rating.  Besides those common all round 6-airbag, ABS, traction and dynamic stability control, it is also equipped with Park Assist that auto park the car, blind spot monitoring system, lane departure warning system that vibrate the seat belt when it detect the crossing of road lines, auto dipping headlight, auto dipping wing mirror in reverse.  Apa lagi u mau!  Eh...more affordable pricing...and petrol version...please!

This Grand C4 Picasso is wearing 18" wheels, which could be overkill for its economy, but when it runs on diesel, it provides 4.6-litres of consumption per 100km in combined cycle, thus larger wheel size is all fine here.  The "python" rim remind me of those exhaust fan in our public toilet instead, though this looks higher class!  So if you saw what you like here, head toward the dealer and book one, limited units are available for fast delivery now.  Let's further discuss the reliability of it later when some owners start throwing disgusting view on other forums.  Good luck, Citroen, we still want some affordable model like the C3, C1, Berlingo, and maybe the C3 Picasso.

The little squarish...nerdy...Nissan Cube

The Nissan Cube is really for the squarish...the nerdy type...that want attention in a different way!  The previous generation was brought in by Mitsuoka under the MPV model, with 3 rows of seats in a "Kei-car".  That model, sharing the same Nissan March 1.4-litre engine, looks incredibly cute to some, yet some might call it the "coffin-car".  For those that do note like it, wait till you see the asymmetric back door design, that make the Cube stand out from the crowd!

Oh...Oh...Oh...the "backside" is so unique, and with a tiny size, it even make the car lovable by many.  But, for those that do not like it, will never love it.  Nerds in this world has been dropping in numbers, thus causing the Cube a big drop in sales in some countries that it "was" sold.  A great example from the UK where Nissan pulled this model out from their offering merely after a few years, due to struggling numbers.  Thus, back in the European world, rounded chubby hatchbacks are still the choice for most!

The Cube uses Nissan's 1.5-litre HR engine similar to the one in the Almera, and some of them are mated to a 4-speed auto or a CVT gearbox.  The engine produces a pathetic 99hp/139Nm of power, which when driven, could be liked a snail on fire, which is agitating to the driver, as it is not good enough to pull this car out of the corner at a decent pace.  Anyway, just keep telling yourself, the Cube is a "kei-car", thus it is even good if it has only 660-litre engine in it.  So what's is the price tag of RM108k for a 5-year-old reconditioned unit?  Honestly, I will not pay anything more than RM60k for this car, no matter how much I like it.  It has all the lousy stuff, except the look.  Remember the Proton Juara...a big failure!  Though Nissan still carry a brand with reliability in its account!

The Cube's interior is an inheritance from the March.  Even the digital aircon control is similar to what you get in the Almera.  One cool thing though, when you push the start button, the car fires up with the RPM and speedometer doing a full swing from left to right.  And yes, this could cost you that additional RM10k which you don't get from the Almera!  Gear stalk is mounted on the steering column, freeing up space in the center.  The driver or passenger can just lean to one side, without anything in the middle.  Parking brake is activated using a foot pedal as well.  Full spec version even get a moonroof, allowing our hot sun to penetrate if you wish to open the cover.  It is not an operable roof, just a half-panoramic glass which could be a redundant in our weather.

Though the Cube has some sort of MPV look, it is still a "kei-car", thus don't expect it to haul your family luggage well in it.  The engine could be a struggle if you load the car up with 5 adults and luggages.  The boot space here is tiny, but golf bag could be fitted in its vertical position due to ample height.

If you really like the car, do shop around, as parallel importers have brought in quite a few variants. Some with basic spec where the aircon control is all manual dials.  There are 2 different interior colours, beige and black.  With the high price tag of this re-conditioned car, not too sure it could ever get popular as one could get a brand new C-segment car here, with full warranty, and at least another 5 years of hassle free motoring.  One thing to note though, the pre-facelift version that was brought in by Mitsuoka is still asking for about RM70k (brand new about RM82k), for an unit that is almost 10-year-old.  Worth it or not, you decide, nerd!

 

RON97 is now @ RM2.85/litre

This is weird, a check on the world Crude oil price, it is still slightly higher than March, yet we now get RON97 readjusted @ RM0.05 lower.  The last increase is in March, for comparison, click here.

Anyway, it could be the festive season is near, and time to spread "joy" to the people...Hey, what about the majority citizens who pump RON95 instead!

What's with 0W-20 synthentic lubricant and will it last?

It has been common for service center to recommend 5000km for mineral oil, 8000km for Semi-Synthetic blend, and 10000km for the expensive Fully-Synthetic lubricant.  Then all of sudden in recent years, more SC will recommend the 0W-20 grade of fully-synthetic oil, which claim to provide better fuel consumption.  More manufacturers join the bandwagon and stating this as the recommended lubricant.  What trigger the lighter viscosity of this blend is the overall increase in the worldwide crude oil, and those more stringent mileage claim that manufacturers report to the authority.  In fact, for light footed user, this could be the best choice, which could provide maybe a 1-2% petrol consumption in overall.

Looking at what Honda has published for their 0W-20 lubricant, do however note that comparing to the standard 5W-40, has a lower heat resistance and anti-wear rating.  Honda's SC selling the 0W-20 4-litre bottle for only about RM150, which is much lower than the normal 5W-40 blend, and only recommend a usage of 8000km.  I have tried it and the could not feel the fuel saving benefit, and stretch it to 10000km since it is fully-synthetic.  Look at what I get from some mix driving of city and highway speed.  It was completely "dark and black".

I have now switch back to the standard 5W-40, which Honda has better rating and a lot more expensive at about RM265 for 4-litre bottle.  Let's come back 10000km later to see how this actually work out. 

However, in short, oil change is the cheapest car insurance one could get over long term ownership.  Thus recommend to change it as often and if one could smell burning smell from the dipstick, you could have a bad engine.  When it turns "dark, black and dirty", get it change soon, do not wait till the recommended mileage.