Mercedes Benz CLA200 - Due for an April Launch at an estimated RM235,888 CBU

Some news for those wanting a sleek looking 4 door coupe. The Mercedes Benz CLA 200 is due to be launched sometime in April with an estimated price of RM235,888 before any insurance. With this you get an entry level Mercedes Benz that looks helluva good, drives decently well and, looks helluva good. Better than in the photos I tell you. I mentioned that before haven't I?

Volkswagen Group Malaysia announces more measures to handle warranty issues

This is a short bit overhead directly from what was discussed between Volkswagen Group Malaysia and the group that voiced up grievances  - the Vw Dsg 7 Defects Community on Facebook. 

Firstly, VW Group Malaysia will now streamline the whole EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIMS PROCESS. The VW Extended warranty process is/was handled by Allianz Insurance and as stated earlier, it is a long an bearaucratic process in handling and approving a claim. People cannot wait too long as this is their only mode of transport etc. etc. And so, VW Group Malaysia will work hand in hand with the insurance provider and also with the service dealers to ensure quicker claims addressing as well as ensuring better customer service experience. In short, less paperwork, blurcase insurance adjusters and better service by service personnel at the service centers. Crack the whip, VW Malaysia. Things must change.

Mercedes Benz S63 AMG coupe previewed

 AMG twin-turbo V8 5.5-liter engine delivering 577 bhp (430 kW) and 900 Nm (664 lb-ft) of torque. RWD only in right hand drive markets. 4Matic option in left hand drive markets. Why do the people driving on the correct side of the road get left out?

Tun Mahathir: The Raw Hatred For Proton

There is a good write up about Proton by former Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Mahathir over at his blog (this is his mirror site link as the chedet.cc site seems to be down at the moment). He states that a heck of a lot of journalists seem to harp on and on about Proton, that it should be closed and that will reduce the price of foreign cars so that Malaysians can buy them.He also states that Proton has actually paid back all of its loans and Proton did even receive 3 billion Ringgit recently.

That article by Tun Mahathir needs to be read to those Proton bashers. I am not a Proton basher at the moment for the following reasons.

News pursuant to the recent hoo-haa made by some Volkswagen owners as regards warranty issues

Volkswagen Group Malaysia has decided to take more remedial action pursuant to the recent protest by a group of VW owners on the 13th of March 2014. Aside from the earlier announcement that service centers will be opened on Sunday, owners can now look forward to voicing out their EXTENDED WARRANTY grievances when ever they feel like it during 9am to 6pm on weekdays begining 17th of March 2014. 

In short, VGM has a call center so that you can inform them directly on how you are being treated by the service centers as regards the Extended Warranty or whether you have any other complaints to voice out. The hotline (which isn't so hot as it is only during office hours - but a good step) is 1-800-88-8947. Call them to try exorcise your haunted Volkswagen. Do not call a coconut holding shaman as he wouldn't know nuts about how to exorcise your faulty DSG transmission. This is the better way. 

Sunday Car Porn: Gestation of the Mercedes 'Baby Benz' W201 190E in pics.

Mercedes Benz took the end of the 1960s up till 1982 to finally come up with a Baby Benz, the Mercedes Benz 190E (W201 series). Being a very traditional brand who only built high end cars, it took its sweet time in coming up with an 'entry level' car. And that wasn't what really happened too. 

Since Mercedes Benz never built a small car in a long, long while, the 190E was over-engineered and was still priced at a premium compared to a similar sized Ford Escort or even a slightly larger Mazda 626 of its day. It had the same 'thunk' when you closed the doors. It brought along the first production multi-link suspension in a road going car as well as many features that you now see in cars today. It was so good that it stayed in production till 1993 with over 1.8million units built.

A group of VW owners meet up with Volkswagen Group Malaysia to voice out their concerns...and more.

.A large group comprising of various Volkswagen vehicle owners had gathered peacefully yesterday afternoon in front of the Volkswagen Group Malaysia headquarters in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.  The crowd was large, but well behaved and backed by other Volkswagen owners driving their cars honking their horns as the passed by the Volkswagen Headquarters. The purpose of the group was to voice our their lack of satisfaction towards various warranty, reliability and other grievances relating to their cars.

TOYOTA AND HONDA HAND OVER KLIMS13 VISITORS’ LUCKY DRAW GRAND PRIZES

Congratulations to the lucky winners - Mr Lee Min Foong from Perak who won a brand new Toyota Prius 1.8L Luxury and Mr Poopaladurai Selvadurai from Melaka who is now the very lucky owner of a brand new Honda CR-Z. 

On another note, about 302,700 people attended KLIMS 2013 over the 10 days it was open. Not too bad at all.

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Sunday Car Porn: Aston Martin Vantage N430

The limited edition Aston Martin Vantage N430. Recently launched at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show and built so that customers can buy into the heritage and pedigree of the Vantage's race history especially at the Nurburgring 24Hour race as well as the 2013 win of the Vantage GTE in the FIA World Endurance Championships.