I'm Back! Again..... And the Reasons for more of my absence as well as some rantings!

 Well, I'm still around folks! Lazier than ever which is why things don't get updated. No, the Malaysian automotive industry is technically doing fine without me and it's just that ever since the recent pandemic and the many Movement Control Orders (Three to be exact) has made me change the priorities in my life. These days, its more about me, me, me and me. 

But that isn't new with me actually. It's just that I have enjoyed doing what I like to do the most and since the automotive scene isn't all that great since you are restricted in doing outdoorsy stuff and lotsa masks, protocols, it has been boring. Add the fact that these days I only see cars having their infotainment systems upgraded as the biggest upgrade to a vehicle model ever and that they basically still drive the same as before, car launches can be extremely boring too. 

I mean, cars these days all mostly drive well and don't actually want to kill you. Even crappy small cars drive well and a filled with safety features whether you want them or not. Ten years ago you could buy a crappy looking car with tiny tyres and it would handle terribly (I'm lookin' at you, previous gen Nissan Almera - the current one is a good looking B segment car and drives well too), but these days, even the ugliest looking B segment Hatchback on sale today - I'm lookin' at you Honda City Hatchback drives decently well, is extremely well equipped does not have any handling issues to complain or bitch about. Except that it's ugly. Or uglier in real life. Photos actually do it justice. MAYBE its the choen camera angles. 

Why oh why, aside from ensuring that maximum profitability to the company will you stop selling the outgoing, nicer looking, as practical, as fast, as well equipped good looking Honda Jazz/Fit for the City Hatchback? Look at the current Japan market Honda City and compare to what we Malaysians are getting. The City Hatchback looks so conservatively bland or like some budget family car from te 1950s rather than something modern and truly savvy from its external styling. In terms of equipment, of course we still get the usual stuff, but looks and style wise.....nope. Look at the Jazz/Fit below...modern chic.

The 2020 Honda City (Which Isn't Sold Here Yet) Gets a 5 Star ASEAN NCAP Safety Rating

The New Car Assessment Programme for Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN NCAP) recently crash tested the newly launched, in Thailand, latest (7th) generation Honda City. This is the third assessment that ASEAN NCAP performed on the model in which the first was conducted in 2012 whilst the second in 2014. But note these were the earlier generation models and ASEAN NCAP has new active safety categories added this time around.

PROTON Keeps On Climbing - Second in Terms of Total Vehicle Sales, July 2019....Honda Definitely Affected by the Lack of Totally New Models!

PROTON Cars is now second behind Perodua in terms of July 2019 sales figures. This means that Honda and Toyota are third and fourth respectively and it is after 40 months (or March 2016), that PROTON has returned to second in total sales for Malaysia’s automotive market. The brand sold 8,590 vehicles in July which is a 16.5% market share which was estimated at 51,960 units in total.

The Malaysia Autoshow 2019 is Now Ongoing Till 14th April - Showcasing 100 Car Models and the Latest in the Malaysian Automotive Industry

The Malaysia Autoshow 2019, organized by Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) was officially launched yesterday. Held at MAEPS, Serdang, it will be ongoing from now to the 14th April. The Autoshow was officially launched by the Prime Minister, Tun. Dr. Mahathir Mohamad where he visited and officiated the unveiling of the Limited Edition Perodua Bezza Autoshow edition and PROTON's preview of the facelifted Persona and Iriz. 

J.D. Power 2017 Malaysia Initial Quality Study SM (IQS) Finds Honda, Isuzu, Perodua & Toyota Tops For Initial Quality in Its New Cars

Been a bit busy to actually type a whole lot if stuff as I am on a well deserved holiday. Well deserved according to me, that is. Anyway, down below is the J.D. Power 2017 Malaysia Initial Quality Study SM (IQS)

MALAYSIA CAR OF THE YEAR (COTY) 2017 WINNERS ANNOUNCED - GET TO SEE THEM AT THE UPCOMING MALAYSIA AUTOSHOW 2017 IN MAEPS, THIS 9th TO 12th NOVEMBER

The newly launched (in Malaysia) Honda Jazz Hybrid has been awarded the overall Car of the Year title at this year's Malaysia Car of the Year (COTY) 2017 Awards. Honda and Mercedes-Benz were the big winners as each of them garnered five awards each. Aside from that, Dato’ Dr Zahari Husin, Managing Director of Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd was named Automotive Man of the Year 2017. This is the prelude to the upcoming Malaysia Autoshow 2017 which will be held on 9-12 November 2017 in MAEPS, Serdang.

2017 PUTRA BRAND AWARDS AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY WINNERS

The Putra Brand Awards is considered at the premier brand awards event in Malaysia. It is organized by the Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As) and endorsed by MATRADE with the support of the Branding Association of Malaysia, the Malaysian Advertisers Association and the Media Specialists Association. Lets show all the automotive industry winners who were chosen by Malaysian consumers themselves. 

Spotted For Sale: 1990 Honda NSX 3.0 (A)

Last year many private car importers brought in the R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R into Malaysia. All of these were brought in because they were now older than 25 years old and the import permit required fell under the classic car status. The classic car status import permits are actually easier to get approval with the only issue being the age of the car and the limited, more niche market it has compared to brand new cars. So now another one of these 25 year old classics have 'flooded' our shores - the Honda NSX - like this one from 1990.

J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Index for Mass Market Cars 2017 - Toyota is champion, Mitsubishi second and Mazda third, and Honda comes in last!

Okayyyyyyy.. J.D. Power, the well known impartial organisation that conduct customer satisfaction surveys have announced that Toyota is the best in customer service satisfaction for the second year running! This is followed by Mitsubishi and then Mazda with Honda, yes, Honda coming in last among the non-premium mass market passenger car makers in Malaysia. Congratulations is in order to all of the three for making their customers feel like the are very appreciated. Aside from that, let me just state again that Honda has come in last. Even Volkswagen is up by a whole lot from 2016. 

Honda's Official Statement on the recent death caused by faulty Takata Airbags

Here is the official statement by Honda Malaysia as regards the recent death of a Honda City driver. Note the following:

1. Honda Malaysia has inspected the vehicle involved.

Honda will cease production of the HONDA CRZ - Not gonna miss it much actually.

One of the most disappointing Honda cars in recent history has recently been confirmed to be discontinued. According to some the Honda CRZ was being discontinued with the launch of the CRZ Final Label in Japan. Then we received word that Honda was officially ceasing production of this small hybrid sports car. So the CRZ Final Label is indeed the end of this hybrid sports car. The news mentioned that the CR-Z will be discontinued at the end of the year to make room for the Accord Hybrid and Clarity Fuel Cell cars. 

Come to the MY AUTOFEST 2016 at Mines and you may get to see a new Honda you've been waiting for.

The MY AUTOFEST 2016 will take place this weekend - from the 20th to the 22nd of May 2016. It is a sales oriented auto show but as it is organised by the Malaysian Automotive Association most of the better known manufacturers are there. I also heard that Honda Malaysia have a surprise for us if all goes well.

Cars We Still Adore: The Honda Prelude, especially the third generation BA series

One car that I wish Honda would bring back is the Prelude. The Honda Prelude is a two door coupe that was produced by Honda from 1978 until 2001. The two-door coupe was developed from the Honda Accord and spanned five generations.

Spotted for Sale: 2012 Honda CR-Z 2.0 - It should have been like this all along

It's been a while since I did any 'Spotted for Sale' articles. I suppose it's because there haven't been anything truly interesting out there when I was checking out the want ads. This time we have a winner folks, a 2012 Honda CR-Z with a nice big fat VTEC inside. By nice I mean a 2.0liter with 2.4liter stroker kit Honda K20a Type R engine plonked into it instead of the standard lethargic 1.5liter with a tiny electric motor for assist. 

Toyota Ranks Highest in New–Vehicle Sales Satisfaction Among Mass Market Brands for a Third Consecutive Year

I just had the time to read up on JD Power's latest findings about the 2015 Malaysia Sales Satisfaction Index Study which was released at the end of October 2015. Toyota as usual has come in as number one. Not surprisingly of course. Now what is my opinion about this?

Note that this are mass market brands. This means no Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz or Rolls Royce. I also see an absence of Volkswagen in the report. Volkswagen is a mass market brand. It is not a premium brand. This could mean that Volkswagen has not participated this time around or JD Power has not got a fairly large response from customers of that brand. 

Spotted for Sale: 1984 Honda Civic 1.6(M) - The 'Wonder' Civic

The car that has been Spotted for Sale here today is the third generation Honda Civic. It was produced by Honda from 1983 to 1987. This 1984 model the three-door hatchback version and is one of the more collectible 3rd Gen Civics aside from the CRX that is also derived from this chassis.. Other not so interesting 3rd Gen Civics were a four-door sedan (also known as the Honda Ballade) and the five-door "Shuttle" station wagon - imagine this as something BMW would now make with its 3 series and then call it the 3 series GT, i.e unclecar variant of the 3 series. Honda was so ahead of its time.

Leaked photos of the 2016 USDM Honda Civic

Someone has leaked photos of the upcoming 2016 USDM model Honda Civic. USDM means United States Domestic Market. What we know is that the car is usually slightly different from global specced or JDM specced cars. Slightly different front and rear lights and bumpers too. 

Spotted for Sale: 1990 EF8 Honda CRX SiR - Unregistered! Malaysian JDM fans rejoice.

Now this would interest the local JDM fanboys. Someone has actually imported in a 1990 Honda CRX SiR from Japan as I have spotted on the local mudah.my website. As it is something from 1990, it is a good 25 years old and qualifies for classic car status as well as the classic car import status too. This is pure Honda VTEC folks. A holy grail aside from owning an NSX.

Honda S660 gossip - S660 Type R for Japan and S1000 for the global market

The Honda S660 is one of those Japan market only kei car coupes.Here it is pictured in Mugen form. It has about 64 hp from its VTEC 660cc engine. Small light and therefore nimble enough to feel like a proper MG Midget or Austin Sprite from the days gone by. But I think Honda are listening to global feedback with this car and is rumoured to have okayed  1000cc version of the car which will be sold globally. It will be called, get this, Honda S1000. Imagine calling it like the Honda S2000. Honda S1K. Cool eh?

Spotted for sale: 2013 Honda N-One - Honda's latest retro look Kei Car

There is a dearth of pretty interesting Honda as of late here in Malaysia. You see, now that Honda Malaysia cannot sell the Honda CRZ Hybrid coupe at a reasonable price due to the fact that the Malaysian government has decided to discontinue tax breaks for imported hybrid cars and only give such tax exempts for locally assembled cars. Aside from that slightly sedate, not that fast coupe, there are no interesting Hondas on sale today over here.