Unlike some other brands, the difference between a VW Group car from another is....

a heck of a lot........

This staid lookimg sedan drives better than.......

Over the years I have driven a fair number of cars from various makes or manufacturers. What makes me want to try car after car is the fact that every one offers a different driving experience from one another. In some cars the interaction between man and machine is so satisfying that this car would be the one to drive. Some cars are so clinical they feel like an operating theater on wheels. Some give you that five star hotel feel on wheels. Some would feel like you're driving in the LeMans. Whilst this is quite true, it could be otherwise as most car companies have become predictable in how their cars drive. Or handle.

News and a Rumour: The Perodua Axia and a supposed Proton Persona

Perodua
Perodua is launching the Perodua VIVA replacement called the Perodua Axia soon. Tentative price lists on all variants are out and prices start atRM24,900 for a solid coloured Axia up to RM44,900 for a full specced Axia AV automatic.

TEST DRIVE: 2014 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4TSI CKD - The wolf in sheepskin

A Volkswagen Jetta is simply the iconic Volkswagen Golf with a boot. But it actually isn't as straight forward as that in the first place because Volkswagen does not simply slap on a boot onto the Golf. Take for example the current CKD (locally assembled) Jetta 1.4TSI that I tested here, it is actually based on the previous generation Volkswagen Golf Mk6 chassis with a longer wheelbase and totally different body panels. The Jetta also does not drive like the Mk6 Golf 1.4TSI nor does it feel like a Mk7 Golf 1.4TSI. But I'll get to that in a bit.

Interesting cars around town: Classic Mercedes Benz 220se cabriolet

This was spotted by a friend over in Shah Alam recently. A nice Mercedes Benz 220se cabriolet from the 1960s. It sports a new number plate and I believe it is a recent import using a classic car status AP. There are two or so importers specializing in these sort of cars and I am glad there is a market for it.

Would love bringing in an Audi Quattro, a Lancia Delta HF turbo  (versions from 1985 should qualify) or the Integrale (first versions may qualify)  or even a Mercedes 190e Cossie from the 1980s if I had the dough.

Some thoughts on the all new 2014 Honda Jazz

Had a look at this mid spec Honda Jazz. Its big. Very practical but me thinks that it desperately needs a Honda Modulo body kit to hide its length (yes it look like a stretched previous model with a funky front end) and make it look more hunkered down. Interior plastics nothing to shout about but it is well fitted together.

Would I buy it for RM77800? Maybe if I wanted its practicality I would but I dont. I would either buy a VW Polo 1.6 hatch (better built and drives well) or even the Proton Suprima S (a larger, more performance oriented car that could be cheaper with discounts) over this.

Note- this was posted earlier on motoring-malaysia.blogspot.com's Facebook page. Do follow us over there folks. We discuss stuff occasionally.

Spotted for Sale: A 'unique' Honda Civic 2nd Gen for sale

I am flabergasted. I actually own a second generation Honda Civic and used to drive it in the 1990s. But never did I imagine the ingenuity of  my fellow Malaysians when it comes to car modification. Ignore the turbo stickers as according to the original posting, found on a Facebook Honda group, the car has a B18cr engine. Must be the 1.8liter Type-R engine from the DC2 Integra Type R.

What's in a name: The Bluebirds - Cardiff City and the Nissan Bluebird

This recent Eid Ul Fitr or Hari Raya to most Malaysians, I had a few friends over. In between the  constant eating of nasi minyak, lemang, lontong and ketupat, we ended up talking about Nissan and a football team over in the UK. I thought I'd share with you folks out there what transpired.

Most of us are aware that Malaysian tycoons have started making themselves known in football (or soccer as the Americans call it). We have Tan Sri David Tony Fenandez owning the Magpies, or Newcastle United and Tan Sri Vincent Tan owning Cardiff City, also nicknamed the Bluebirds. I for one am not a football fan and whilst it is good Malaysia has a foothold in a sport that most Malaysians love to watch, but are terrible on the pitch - look at most of the football games played in the Malaysian league these days, I think that a third division English league team played against any of them, they'd come up league champions if they tried. Cardiff City would be like Manchester United, FC Barcelona or even Ajax Amsterdam.

JD POWER Asia Pacific's Mass Market Brand Dealer Service Customer Satisfaction Survey Malaysia 2014 - Toyota comes up top

Welcome back folks. This is the first article after a short hiatus due to the recent fasting month. Let's get things started.

Toyota has come up tops in J.D Power's Asia Pacific Customer Satisfaction with Dealer Service among mass market brands in Malaysia for 2014. Note that this means that you will not see Lexus, Infiniti, Mercedes Benz, BMW, Audi and those that are obscenely priced. And dear readers note that Volkswagen IS a mass market brand under this survey - I told you earlier that it seems that Malaysians think too highly of the brand.

Sunday Car Porn: The Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera coach building company

It's another Sunday. Today I thought that I'd give you folks a history lesson on one of the best in Italian Coachbuilding. Most of you would be familiar with them designing and constructing the Aston Martin DB5 (below)  styling (oh, you know, the James Bond car)

Formula 1 tests 18 inch wheel and tyre combo - Bye Bye 13 inch balloons?

When I was avidly following Formula 1 (F1) in the early 2000s I always wondered why the heck they keep using 13inch wheels with balloon-like tyres especially when road tyre technology has evolved into rubber band thin tyres running at least 18 inches those days (these days cars run even larger sizes). Then we also had the DTM and BTCC which ran 18 inch wheels and tyres. Also slimmer than the donuts used in F1. But now, F1 together with official tyre supplier Pirelli has decided to test the use of 18inch wheels on the cars. If all goes well, we may soon see F1 cars having more realistic looking rubber bands instead of the donuts used nowadays.

On the marketing of automotive products, the Peugeot 2008 Dakar Buggy and something Spotted on Sale with Ralliart on it.

You know automotive marketing has come a long way. These days manufacturers have motorsport divisions that promote their products through racing and this in turn sells their cars to the general public. It has now spilled over to a complete lifestyle thingy nowadays. You see a manufacturer promoting their latest SUVs with either a bicycle or a surfboard strapped on it. You also see rally cars parked beside their normal road versions.

News: Subaru BRZ will have a second generation says Fuji Heavy Industries' boss

The Subaru BRZ will not be a one hit wonder. In response to the earlier report, the President of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd has stated in Automotive News that Subaru plans to have another generation of the BRZ. Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, president of Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. also added that the current arrangement with Toyota will continue even though Toyota have another joint-venture arrangement with BMW to come up with a hybrid coupe.

Toyota still has a place in the BRZ story due to the fact that Subaru needs the volume that Toyota can sell (the BRZ's Toyota twin is the GT 86) in order for the BRZ to be viable in the first place. Whatever it is, it looks like this pure, normally aspirated rear wheel drive coupe is here to stay. For now that is.

BMW M4 on the 'Ultimate Racetrack'

Here we have the BMW M4 on an aircraft carrier with a racetrack on it. Yes it is a mash-up of actual driving and CGI of a racetrack on an aircraft carrier. Marketing at its best. But, so's the driving in the vid too!

Volkswagen Jetta Customer Test Drive Gone Wrong

This has been trending around local social app sites very recently. I received pictures via my Whatapp and also via my news feed on Facebook. It would seem that a customer test drive had gone a wee bit wrong over at the Volkswagen dealer in Sungai Petani, Kedah.

New Large Mini Cars - 2015 Countryman and 2015 Paceman

The New Large Mini cars are in. Let me type that again. LARGE MINI. Could there be an oxymoron that can beat that in the car industry? Maybe one could if they had a car called Ginormous and then is sized like a Perodua Viva. Anyway, Mini, the brand, has launched the all new Mini Countryman and Mini Paceman for 2015.

Sunday Car Porn: More Kahn Design - Porsche Panamera 3.0 Diesel V6 – Super Sport Wide Track

This Kahn Design Porsche Panamera 3.0 Diesel V6 is actually up for sale over in the UK for £59,875.00. If diesel does not rock your boat (especially since diesel quality is crap in Malaysia) you can head over to the UK and get them to commission a petrol based one for you!

Spotted for sale: Classic VW Beetle that WANTS to be a Porsche and a BMW at the same time

In line with Motoring-Malaysia's unofficial VW Day today let's carry on with a VW you'd never thought was possible, but is very much in existence. I present to you, one which is on sale. It is a vintage Volkswagen Beetle that wants to be a Porsche 911 Turbo on the outside with its whaletail. This is quite acceptable as there are a lot of Porsche style mods around but then it gets steered around with a steering wheel from a BMW. You get BMW, Porsche and Volkswagen for RM18,000. So what more could you want ? Actually a lot more if its going to cost RM18,000!!!!!

TECH TALK: Volkswagen engine and DSG related issues. How to try avoid them (UPDATED)

There has been a fair bit of Volkswagen related news this week and I thought I'd continue with something technical related. Over the last few months I have been driving a slew of Volkswagen cars. From the basic Volkswagen Polo 1.6 hatchback to the latest locally assembled Volkswagen Jetta 1.4TSI. All are decent cars to drive around and some, like the Polo GTI brought a smile to my face because it was simply satisfying to drive fast in a tiny car over a nice mountainside road. The latest Mk7 Golf  1.4 TSI was also remarkable in that after a few days you realise why this car has been the benchmark in family hatchbacks over the years. A tad soulless, but a feat in packaging and also overall vehicle performance. And oh, nothing broke, nor did any issues creep up as regards to them.

THE VOLKSWAGEN MARATHON SERIES 2014: DRIVEN BY VOLKSWAGEN

This is a bit of news for those who like to run for fun or for fitness or for competition. I'd rather drive. But those who would rather run, do take note. Langkawi in August, Hulu Langat in early September 2014.

PRESS RELEASE

THE VOLKSWAGEN MARATHON SERIES 2014: DRIVEN BY VOLKSWAGEN

2015 Volkswagen Passat previewed - It looks much better than ever

The All-New 2015 Volkswgen Passat B9 is 2mm shorter than the outgoing one at 4767mm (wheelbase is an impressive 79mm longer at 2791mm), 12mm wider at 1832mm and 6mm lower at 1456mm. Like most new cars these days it is no longer heavier than the outgoing model but up to 85kg lighter with the base models coming in at 1312kg which is very impressive for a full sized sedan.