Site Update and the Perodua Nautica - Did You Know Perodua Only Sold 200of These in Malaysia?

I'm back. I was basically hit with a very bad case of influenza right after the KL International Motor Show 2018 and was basically sick as heck. A round of antibiotics and a lot io rest was needed for me to recover. Furthermore, it is the end of the year. I think I deserve a break after running my business affairs, this blog and making videos for the blog without a break throughout 2018.

I also somehow managed to take Motoring Malaysia to heights higher than before. It has been placed in two overseas top auto blog lists which is a feat for a usually one man outfit like this. So I honestly think that I deserve some R&R... Hopefully you folks out there understand this shirt sabbatical from writing.

Anyway, I was at Perodua last Saturday and the photo you see on top is of a Perodua Nautica. This was the replacement for the popular Perodua Kembara which sold from 1998 to around 2006-2007. The Nautica was sold between 2008-2009 only and did not catch the eye of the Malaysian public. Mainly because it cost over RM80,000 and no one could stomach a RM80k Perodua even if it was s fully imported, rebadged Daihatsu Terios or Toyota Rush.

Essentially it is a Daihatsu or Toyota. But as stated above, the price was too high at that point if time so unsurprisingly, it sold in small numbers. How small numbers you ask? Well, I was one of the few that heard from the chaps at Perodua that only 200 Nautica were sold in Malaysia. This actually makes the compact SUV quite a rare beast.

If you search the used car sites you will see that it goes for around RM25k these days. Quite good value for a nice looking compact. The Nautica is based on the short Rush/Terios platform and not in the longer 7seater variant. This makes it a nice looking compact SUV to drive. Nimbler than the 7 seater Toyota Rush sold here. Much better looking too.

At the second hand price asked, it is a unique buy with that rarity factor and decent looks too. The only worry is external body parts. There may not be original bumpers or lights on sale if you ding it. You may have to resort to using a Rush front end if you crash it head-on.

Anyway, this is a small price to pay for owning a rare car in Malaysia. Heck...there could be more BMW E90 coupes in Malaysia.

Now I suppose this topic makes sense with the upcoming launch of Perodua's new SUV sometine soon. Most of you would be aware that there have been industry gossip that Perodua will be launching their version of the upcoming Toyota Rush- which is actually contract assembled by Perodua to Toyota standards. We will soon see how Perodua's take on the Rush is once its launched. Expect it to be based in the Daihatsu Terios rather than the Rush . Go look at Daihatsu Indonesia's website for clues. Only very Slightly different from the Rush actually.

This will be interesting, especially since it will look very similar but there will be price differences of course. Now add the fact that Proton is launching their first SUV later today, an event I will be attending, 2019 is shaping up to be an interesting year ahead.

So do stay tuned folks...