Racing with the Proton Saga -

Hello. Today I have decided to showcase our venerable and not so good to drive 1st Malaysian car on CarThrottle.com. I somehow believe that if I write stuff like this and the previous piece on the time attack at Sepang people elsewhere will find out more about us in this part of the world. Click here to read about it.

C'était un Rendez-vous ("It Was A Date")

A minor masterpiece in my opinion. And again in my opinion would never be repeated. We let the Wikipedia explanation of the short film tell you guys a bit about it. I think such a movie would and could never again be shot in any city street like the way it was shot. No stunt doubles, just pure madness (up to a level that is). Click here to view the film.

"The film shows an eight-minute drive through Paris in the early hours of the morning (05:30hrs), accompanied by sounds of a high-reving engine, gear changes and squealing tires. It starts in a tunnel of the Paris Périphérique at Porte Dauphine, with an onboard view from an unseen car exiting up on a ramp (and from there following this route) to Avenue Foch. Well-known landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra Garnier, and Place de la Concorde with its obelisk are passed, as well as the Champs-Élysées. Pedestrians are passed, pigeons sitting on the streets are scattered, red lights are ignored, one-way streets are driven up the wrong way, center lines are crossed, the car drives on the sidewalk to avoid a garbage truck. The car is never seen as the camera seems to be attached below the front bumper (judging from the relative positions of other cars, the visible headlight beam and the final shot when the car is parked in front of a curb on Montmartre, with the famous Sacré Cœur Basilica behind, and out of shot). Here, the driver gets out and embraces a young blonde woman as bells ring in the background, with the famous backdrop of Paris. Shot in a single take, it is an example of cinéma-vérité. The length of the film was limited by the short capacity of the 1000 foot 35mm film reel, and filmed from a (supposedly) gyro-stabilised camera mounted on the bumper of a Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9. A photo has surfaced that seems to reveal an Eclair cam-flex 35mm camera with a wide angle lens, and a typical "speed rail" hard mount - no gyros - on a Mercedes. This model, which could reach a top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph), was only available with a 3-speed automatic transmission. Yet, one can hear gear changes up into 5th, as well as heel-and-toe down-shifting with a high-revving engine indicating speeds of well over 200 km/h. Calculations made by several independent groups showed that the car never exceeded 140 km/h (85 mph). Lelouch himself claimed that the top speed achieved was over 200 km/h, somewhere between 230 km/h and 240 km/h. It is suggested that the soundtrack was dubbed with the sound of Lelouch's Ferrari 275GTB, which has a corresponding number of gears and a V-12 sound that is quite distinct from that of any V8, including the 6.9 liter V8 of the alleged Mercedes camera car.

A making-of-the-rendezvous documentary indicates that Lelouch himself was the driver, that the car driven was the Mercedes, although the sound track is from a Ferrari. One observer was posted, with a walkie talkie, close to the Louvre palace at the only blind junction (archway) to assist the driver, however Lelouch has revealed that the radios failed, and if the assistant had tried to warn him of a pedestrian the message would not have been received.

In 2002 Spirit Level Film and Lelouch restored and re-mastered Rendezvous from the original 35 mm negative and released it on DVD.

Comments attributed to Lelouch indicate that he acknowledges the moral outrage over his method of shooting this film as valid. He also states that he was prepared to take the risks in making the film, but that he however was also ready to drop it if he came across any unexpected risk (pedestrian, hurdle, etc.)."

Anyway it was 1976, long ago...but it was bloody marvelous!

Old vs. New Part II: 1990 Mercedes Benz 200E W124

Hello again and welcome to Part II of the Old versus New article. Previously I wrote about the newly facelifted Proton Persona SE Elegance. It is an affordable Malaysian made car which I think is a good car to drive. Albeit with a compromised driving position. The car I drove was fresh out of Proton's car lot and was quite a decent drive. Surprisingly it also felt well screwed together. Cheap, but well put together.This car is something that I would recommend to a person who wants a sprightly drive yet is still looking for this at the lower end of the car buying spectrum.

Two Families in Malaysia Are Using The Most Pathetic Mini MPV in the World!!!!

Remember me writing about the Chana Era CV6? I never thought I'd see people actually buying the darn thing and driving it on Malaysian roads. Why would they even buy this abomination is beyond me, and beyond most of you readers out there too.

I managed to capture one of them in the photo above sometime last month. Look how obscenely narrow it is. I apologize for not taking a photo up close as I was actually amazed someone actually bought one and forgot to whip out my camera phone.

 I forgot about it, but then sometime last week I saw another one on the North South Highway somewhere near Pedas-Linggi. A man was driving it with his wife. He didn't have a paper bag over his head as I would have if I were driving it.

I then remembered about the photo I took, and I remembered that the car in the photo was driven by a lady. And it had curtains in it. It looked like some love and TLC had been put into that car. The question is why ever for?

It is sooooooo narrow that it does not look one bit proportioned. It looks like one of those reef fishes....like the one pictured below. Tall and narrow, able to squeeze between coral. The Chana? Tall and Narrow, easier to topple over when taking evasive action.

-The Chana CV8 MPV ...Really.

I suppose it is cheap at RM40K or thereabouts. You get a 1.3liter MPV with twin sliding doors, extremely hard plastic everywhere, signal and wiper stalks from a 1970s Bedford truck and the added bonus of being extremely fishy looking. Anyway, I am unpleased to report to you guys that there are two registered Chana CV8s prowling the streets of Malaysia. Oh, the Horror. The Horror.

If you spot one, do take out your cameraphone and send me a copy of this 'mini Alphard' *cough*cough*bleargh!!!!*. I'd love to print it out and burn it.

First Drive: The People's Car Model Golf GTI Mark VI

Yes. I have driven a recently produced People's Car and the article is posted on Carthrottle.com. Click on the title above or here.

Old vs New: Part I - The Proton Persona SE...oooops Persona Elegance

So its now time for me to start writing another one of my 'unbiased' points of view on a certain car or cars. The past six months have been pretty good to me in terms of motoring as I started to write for myautoblog.org and then for www.carthrottle.com. I have to thank a very old pal of mine, Chan Lee Meng of uglychickens.blogspot.com who pointed me to the direction where I should be paid for what I write as he thinks that some of my articles are pretty decent. I suppose he was right, and I therefore owe him one. Big time.

Something about the current B8 Audi A4 1.8TFSI

Click the title above or here for an opinion on the Audi A4 reliance to electronics and sensors.Written by yours truly and published on www.carthrottle.com.

A Very Car Related Saturday For Me: Two Different Rides in a Day

 

I had a chance to drive the newly facelifted Proton Persona on Saturday. It was the full spec RM59,500 Automatic SE version and I will write up something about it soon. No it isn't a supersports car or anything like that. BUT, it is actually relevant to most Malaysians looking to buy an affordable decent handling car. I drove it through the roads around Batu Tiga in Shah Alam, through the NKVE (Shah Alam to Damansara) and then towards Mont Kiara/Segambut Dalam via SPRINT - Bukit Kiara. Quite interesting.

It is 100% better to drive fast than any stock Perodua Myvi SE which sells for RM52,000. It is also better than actually spending an extra RM13,000+ on a basic Toyota Vios J with an auto box. Don't mention the Saga. That is just a form of transport slightly better than buying a Datsun Sunny.

It is the best handling extremely affordable 4 door sedan on the market. There are some issues of course. Wait for a full write up soon.

But, while testing a brand new car (the Persona was two weeks old) , I thoroughly enjoyed hustling this 20 year old car around.

Of course this wasn't the first time I've had the opportunity to do so in this car but this time, I was driving it for most of the day (swapping driving duties with the owner) as we scouted for parts shops, number plates, paint shops for the car and food for us throughout Klang Valley. I also really pushed it hard through a few corners, like the Jalan Semantan left hander down into Jalan Duta at around 80km/h.........and it was....something worth writing in detail about.

After driving a two week old car and a twenty year old car in the same day the conclusion is utterly surprising. I will also be writing about this and the cornering experience in both cars soon!

Time Attack At Sepang With The LMY 'SNAILZ'

-Y.C Foo's STI

This happened last Sunday. It was an event worth watching, even if it was really wet. I wore traditional moccasin style loafers which had their soles stitched to the insole. The water wicked through the threads causing feet to be really damp throughout the whole event. But it was worth it. Read and enjoy by clicking on the title above or here.

-Andy having a breather after a wet session

- Jun's front end

A big shout out to LMY Automobile & Services Sdn Bhd (SS13 Subang Jaya), the proprietor of LMY cum car tuner extraordinaire Mr Andy Lee, Mr Foo, Mr. Jun and all the Snailz boys who attended the event and made this article happen.

- a 430 Scud and LMY's S204

-An Exige belting it out in the wet

- A Impreza TS belonging to a friend of mine at the HPC track session before the time attack. Another LMY track 'kaki'

Thanks to Mr Baharudin Ide of Sharptone Photographic for the excellent pictures. Those not so excellent ones are by yours truly.