advance automotive

Review of the Myvi Perodua, a Malaysian Car

Standing at 1.3 litres of engine capacity, the ‘Perodua Myvi’ remains the top choice when it comes to buying a car. Especially at entry level, most ‘Malaysians’ seem to lean towards this particular model. I, myself drive one. And I am about to tell you what it feels like driving one, after 3 months.

I think that it the price of RM40,000 (give and take) for a small car like this is a little overpriced. But, the plus points of the ‘Myvi’ is its spacious compartments inside. The interior can even cater to a giant 6 footer, I believe. Your head will never have to bump against the roof anymore.

Driving experience when on the ‘Myvi’ is like driving a ‘Mini Cooper’ (I have never driven one yet). Power steering makes it effective at turning, with its small dimension. Talking about car size, it is relatively very easy to park. Personally, I do not need to change gears from reverse to drive more than twice. That, I think is the biggest advantage a 1.3 litres capacity car can provide; the small size advantage (yet decent engine performance).

You will need to refuel every 350-400km for RM60 (give and take for ‘RON95′ petrol). Always diligently applying overdrive only when necessary, inflating tyre pressures to 220kPa, letting the ‘Myvi’ “roll” most of the time on road; these are some of the practices that make up the statistic for the RM60 fuel price tag. For the overdrive part, the car is driven from 0-60kph(overdrive off). Higher than that speed, I always turn the overdrive on. Long distances can make your ‘Myvi’ save a lot. Driving a great distance like 200km nonstop on a highway only takes up half of your fuel tank.

Acceleration for the ‘Myvi’ is rather “poor”. As it runs on automatic transmission, that might explain. But, in most cases, I find that switching to ‘OD off’ helps a ton. Then again, I do not rely on this for overtaking cars. Automatic cars are rather more suited for comfortable and highway and traffic jams driving. Note that I had been driving the 1.3 litres engine capacity cars with manual transmission, where acceleration is the major strength.

Overall, for its price, comfort, maneuverability and capacity, it is worth taking a test drive on the ‘Myvi’. It has its own reasons for one of the top national cars here in Malaysia. Although I will never understand its motto at the back that says “Building Cars People First”. Good luck.

By Alfred Chai Wei Liang

Frost Free Winter Wiper Blades

Naturally this will provide far more benefit to those living in the cooler climates than it will for those in the tropics, but maybe some will travel this year.

In many parts of the world we get faced with the unfortunate fact of no available garage and yet harshly cold winters and it’s sad to say that many a car will suffer badly through the coldest periods.

Obviously it’s difficult enough that you can get lashed with hail, storms, sleet and even snow through several of the cooler seasons but the poor old car gets a few issues that can be mainly prevented with a bit of effort, which in turn will certainly end up saving money anyway.

Naturally, anyone that lives in the cooler climates will be fairly well aware of how to protect their vehicles from the worst of the weathers, but there is one particularly insidious weather front that can be difficult to work against if there is no enclosed garage or outbuilding available. And that nasty is frost.

Obviously we look after the water cooling systems with an antifreeze additive and if the temperature in your area is particularly harsh then blankets, cardboard and other covers will be required to protect the paint, the oils, battery and even the car interior fittings.

However, there is an item that is particularly prone to frost as well as being where it must endure all sorts of wind-chill factors too, and that is the Windshield Wiper and washer systems.

While it cannot be recommended to mix any form of antifreeze with the windscreen washer water as that is actually capable of stripping your car paintwork, some of the proper detergent bases for this system will assist in keeping the water liquid within certain temperature ranges.

However, if sprayed onto the vehicle body or screen the total freeze due to wind-chill combined with the chill of the metal or glass, will tend to immediately cause a solid freezing of the wiper blades to the vehicle structure.

Naturally, if you continue to try to run the wipers then there will certainly be blade damage and also a great possibility of wiper-motor burn-out or perhaps other mishaps.

In this situation there is a little free assistance however, and that is actually through a common household product that can prevent this instant adhesion. That product is simple domestic white vinegar.

The best method of application is to dilute the household white vinegar with about 25% of water in a spray type bottle. (a three to one mix)

Then all that is required is a bit of a shake and a bit of a mist to be sprayed over all windows regardless as to if they are covered up at night or not. I say this because often the car covers can also become iced to the vehicle and this just isn’t good for the paintwork or trim parts.

Anyway, if a fine diluted vinegar mist is applied every couple of weeks or sooner if particularly harsh frosts are about, then your blades should not become stuck to your windscreen by frost at all. If however they are stuck then a simple spray should release them soon enough without tearing the rubbers.

If your blades are getting a bit soiled a wipe with the same solution will clean them up nicely and if you are really pushed to it, yes you can still spray your hot chips as well.

Keep an eye on your wiper blades weekly anyway and don’t forget that you really don’t need to continually purchase and struggle to fit new blades as despite what you might think, most wiper blades can be successfully refurbished in about 30 seconds if you have your hands on the right tool to deal with their exact profile.

You can see all this in action in the brief on site video provided.

Tom, as a professional engineer with over 35 years commercial experience, has owned several design-to-order manufacturing businesses. With extensive experience in problem resolution and creation of various improvement strategies he has some expertise developing methods to improve safety, reduce effort and establish cost savings. Watch this brief video to discover exactly how to Increase Your Driving Safety by Not Buying New Windshield Wiperblades. http://www.wiper-wizard.com

By Tom Lawson

Auto Extended Warranty Plans – 4 Tips to Help You Avoid the Most Common Mistakes

When you bought your car, one of the important features it came with was a vehicle warranty. If you bought a car new, it probably came with a 3 year or 36,000 miles warranty, whichever comes first. The dealer may have offered you a an extended warranty for your vehicle, up to as much as 10 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you did not buy the extended warranty at the time of your purchase, you should consider an auto extended warranty plan now. You want your car to be covered bumper to bumper, so you don’t have to worry about it.

Cut Out the Middle Man & Get the Best Deals Online

Online there are many options of auto warranty plans, and they all offer quotes for your specific vehicle and your personal preference for free. To see what it would cost to purchase an extended warranty plan, log on to the website of any one of the many companies which offer vehicle warranties and complete their questionnaire. At no cost to you, they will generate a quote tailored specifically to your needs, with a variety of discounts depending on your driver profile and other details. You can compare the quotes of a few companies, as well as some different options of plans within one company, and see which works best for you. Start by being very clear about what you want to cover under the warranty.

Decide How Much Coverage You Need

Among the questions you need to answer before you select a warranty plan, is whether you need all the coverage options they offer you. For example, some companies have offices and customer service nationwide. This is valuable to someone who drives long distances or lives near a state line, and needs coverage in two or more different states. Roadside assistance is commonly also included in many plans. If are not already a member of the Amercan Automobile Association, or if you do not have a local mechanic whom you trust and who can tow your vehicle in an emergency, you certainly should consider including roadside assistance and towing in your plan. This is also true if persons who could not, or would not be able to, change a tire drive the vehicle.

Get a Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty…You’ll Be Glad You Did

Many auto extended warranty plans offer what is called a bumper to bumper warranty, which includes even the minor repairs and replacements. Think carefully about the cost of minor replacements and repairs, and whether you may prefer to finance those yourself instead of filing a claim. Wear and tear protection is commonly offered for vehicles which are driven in complicated weather or on uneven roads which may cause damage to the undercarriage. None of this may pertain to you if you live and commute in a well paved, suburban environment, though.

Consider a Full Coverage Warranty as Another Option

The most complete coverage you can buy is a full coverage vehicle warranty, and this is said to cover your car, literally from bumper to bumper, known also as a wrap-around warranty. Although not every single repair or replacement is covered, because the definition of wear and other terms are a little tricky, your car deserves the best possible care. Let a good auto warranty plan allow you to spend more time living your life and less time worrying about your vehicle.

By Peejay Goodman