Buying a continental car....

[bslee]

I'm quite amazed and thankful for the advances in motoring technology that we consumers benefit with petrol engines having a very healthy power output for a given capacity compared to 3 decades ago. In mid 80's a common 2lit engine would be at 70-80kw at best, with 1.3lit at somewhere 40-50kW. Today, a 2lit car (normally aspirated) can output 100Kw. The BMW engine of the 80's was among the very few that could achieve that with its 1st-2nd generation EFI and with 6 cylinders. Now the common NA engine at 1300cc armed with VVT, dual cams, full EFI, and what have you, can equal or surpass a 1800cc engine of the 80's and 90's, not to mention more efficient fuel consumption. I was quite surprised that some vital and traditional engine components can even be done away that would contribute to adding to power output. Two of those are the ignition distributor, (FULL electronic ignition) and power steering pump. I wonder what else the designers can omit... air con compressor I hope..
This is a very very good sign that the petrol engine have come of age. I wonder if in 2030, a normally aspirated 1300cc engine could output 100kW or we'd be realizing fully electric or hybrid engine technology for obvious reasons. However, I reckon more powerful gasoline engines will still be further developed and in production indefinitely because motor racing seems to be an everlasting sports event.

[jan tomaswaki]

Nowadays lots of conti cars around with affordable price but if you think of 5 yrs ahead in terms of maintenence between a jap and a conti car and the "flu" and "cold" these 2 cars get,most probably a conti comes first.2 months ago i sold my Vios of eights yrs vitually i paid ony RM500 for repairs 2 months before i sold my car. If your conti car of 8 yrs most probably you need RM10K. as i too own 2 conti cars before.If you are the boss of the company then you can put the repai bill to office expenses but if you are a blue collar office staff....bear in mind if the 5 yrs maintenence free,does it include the cost of changing timing belt,air con compressor,gear oil etc...i drive about 100km per day,.,..

[Rhiga]

Nowadays lots of conti cars around with affordable price but if you think of 5 yrs ahead in terms of maintenence between a jap and a conti car and the "flu" and "cold" these 2 cars get,most probably a conti comes first.2 months ago i sold my Vios of eights yrs vitually i paid ony RM500 for repairs 2 months before i sold my car. If your conti car of 8 yrs most probably you need RM10K. as i too own 2 conti cars before.If you are the boss of the company then you can put the repai bill to office expenses but if you are a blue collar office staff....bear in mind if the 5 yrs maintenence free,does it include the cost of changing timing belt,air con compressor,gear oil etc...i drive about 100km per day,.,..

Jan, don’t spoil the fun lah…

Most conti car owners know the maintenance cost is a pain and yet why there are still people buying the car ??

Just like mooncake. It is blardy expensive…RM40-50 per box with 4 little moooooncakes. However, still selling like hoooooot cake...!!

Imo, those who own a conti car are either 1) can “withstand” the pain or 2) tighten their belt to do something they like..

And btw, 10k maintenance for 8 years… You think is a lot ??

Jan, the value of $ is a very relative lah..

Cheers

[Rhiga]

Polo would reach that power at 1500rpm whereas Altis would only reach it at 4000rpm. Polo would be long gone, before you try to catch it. But on a top speed altis has a better edge.

I have no problem to accept a turbocharged car delivers higher power output at relatively low rev compare to a NA engine. This is why the turbo is for.

But I need you to convince me – assuming the turbo starts at 1500rpm as you mentioned, can the turbo deliver the max rated power (77kw) at 1500 rpm??

If not, than you can’t say the Polo is long gone ahead of the Altis because at the identical 1500 rpm for both car – the turbocharged Polo may only running at 70-80% of the max power whereas a NA Altis engine may just run at 40-50% of the rated max power…

Can the Polo beat the Altis flat with the marginal advantage of power which is needed for the transmission to convert to the required speed ??

[eddychan]

Imo, those who own a conti car are either 1) can “withstand” the pain or 2) tighten their belt to do something they like..

3) love their children more than they love money

When my kids were young, I bought a "very safe" continental car because we had to do a lot of travelling. Those days, the highways were still in a state of infancy, and driving on trunk roads were something like playing russian roulette (or in this case, malaysian roulette). Even though it gave 12 m.p.g., I never regretted the operation costs. At times, I even got careless, but other cars seem to miraculously give way, swerving outside their intended paths as they see this "tank" thunder towards them..!

[Rhiga]

Anyway, it is totally diff segment. I am just referring to the speed.
Passat TSI is even more powerful. You can accelerate from 0 to 200km/h without much hesitation. The feeling from these VW is so diff compared to Jap. Thanks to the current pricing, finally owning a German car is possible without bleeding too badly.

Yup, Passat is a nice car to drive and for the price tag, I would say is “value-for-money”.

Just a little complaint from me – the interior styling and features of the car still have a gap with a premium car.. :

[Rhiga]

3) love their children more than they love money

When my kids were young, I bought a "very safe" continental car because we had to do a lot of travelling. Those days, the highways were still in a state of infancy, and driving on trunk roads were something like playing russian roulette (or in this case, malaysian roulette). Even though it gave 12 m.p.g., I never regretted the operation costs. At times, I even got careless, but other cars seem to miraculously give way, swerving outside their intended paths as they see this "tank" thunder towards them..!

Yup.. exactly the same reason with mine..

In case any untoward incident caused by those assholes on the road… hopeful the extra $$ paid for the car can help to give a little life-saving edge..

[jimmyay]

Last time we call the VW-Beetle as "Wu Kui" (turtle car). Now with the new engine, this turtle going to outrun the rabbit.
Somemore, the outlook is ever lasting. Launching this Sept, check it out...yeah.

[VeeJay]

sob sob...even Thai is getting Diesel Euro4 cars
http://paultan.org/2012/08/28/mini-diesel-euro4/

Msia, bila?! no concrete date yet

[mick123]

sob sob...even Thai is getting Diesel Euro4 cars
http://paultan.org/2012/08/28/mini-diesel-euro4/

Msia, bila?! no concrete date yet

well, supposed to be this year but gmen give extension to 2014.......waiting, waiting, waiting..........

[mick123]

3) love their children more than they love money

same reason here. bought an 8 yr old conti for the price that can't even get a new vios it comes with 10 airbags too although the maintenance cost is a pain, averaging about 1k per month just on wear and tear items

[VeeJay]

well, supposed to be this year but gmen give extension to 2014.......waiting, waiting, waiting..........

Yeah...but knowing our gomen, I will just take that with a pinch of salt.

whereas down south, gomen is reducing tax for Euro5
http://paultan.org/2012/02/20/singap...v-diesel-cars/

while I was in SOuth Africa last year, test drove few of my friends car over there, most of them drive eithe rVW or audi diesel engine. Full tank would give around 800-1200km!...damn!

[cskok8]

sob sob...even Thai is getting Diesel Euro4 cars
http://paultan.org/2012/08/28/mini-diesel-euro4/

Msia, bila?! no concrete date yet

Have to get Euro4 diesel first before can get the car

[Henry T]

I've own two European cars in the recent past, a Ford Focus 2.0 and a Peugeot 308 Turbo.

The Ford is very reliable and needed only replacement of wear and tear parts. Sold it after five years. The Pug is troublesome and I have to sell it after slightly more than two years. Both are very nice cars to drive.

[jan tomaswaki]

I've own two European cars in the recent past, a Ford Focus 2.0 and a Peugeot 308 Turbo.

The Ford is very reliable and needed only replacement of wear and tear parts. Sold it after five years. The Pug is troublesome and I have to sell it after slightly more than two years. Both are very nice cars to drive.

Glad you have drive those 2 cars,how much do you sell back and why the Pug after 2 yrs?