Mpv, Suv & 4X4 Buyer's Guide
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NEW SUNDAY TIMES AUGUST 29, 2010 MPV, SUV & 4X4 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 03-2056 9298 BUYER’S GUIDE Sms: 012-300 6655 The ride gets better HIRTY years ago, Malaysians had to resort with archaic suspension that were also found prowess without compromising on its car-like to converted commercial vans to move on trucks of that time. comforts; and the Crossovers are neither here Tthe brood, the in-laws and the visiting Today it is a different story for automotive nor there but offer what the in-between wants. aunt. technology has so evolved that the motorist is While you have a front-wheel drive SUV and It was a most uncomfortable ride for these spoilt for choice, with a variety of MPVs (Multi there is also the five-seater MPV, the ultimate goods carriers were never designed to carry Purpose Vehicles), SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) is the seven-seater SUV. people in comfort. and the in-between Crossovers to be had. This week we feature some of the latest It was the same for those who needed to The MPV offers space for seven or more, offerings in the market, and also feature tread the unpaved roads. The 4x4 vehicles while retaining the handling and comforts of a owners who share their experience in order then functioned only as offroad machines, car; the Sport Utility Vehicles provides offroad to guide the new buyers. RECOMMENDED ENGINE OIL SPECIFICATIONS Own your dream car with Malaysia’s No. 1 Car Financier I I MPV, SUV & 4X4 BUYER’S GUIDE NEW SUNDAY TIMES AUGUST 29, 2010 Better late than never By Chai Jiali and stability wll be affected. A longer distance is needed to ULTI-PURPOSE Vehicles brake a heavier vehicle and in an are built as solidly and event of an accident, the impact Mas safely as modern on a heavily loaded vehicle will premium manufacturers can do it be greater. and so it was not a relevation to While generally Malaysian learn that this was not the cause highways and trunk roads are of deaths involving these vehicles safe, there are several unsafe in road accidents in 2008. stretches and these are usually It was not because the highlighted when fatalites occur, MPVs had overturned or that An ISOFIX system gets the babyseat anchored firmly to the car. especially during the festive they couldn’t take a corner at season when the roads are reasonable speed or for other But that doesn’t mean SUV and are tired, pull up at any of the crowded and drivers are in a mechanical malfunctions or MPV drivers are the angels that numerous rest stops along the hurry. defects, they are portrayed to be or their highway or find a safe spot to “We are always upgrading According to 2008 figures passengers, who also make up park along the federal roads. the accident prone stretches,” obtained from the Malaysian the casualty figures in accidents, It can never be tiring to repeat said Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan, the Institute of Road Safety Research are blameless. that it’s better late than never. director general of Miros. (Miros), most of the 96 fatal There are many SUVs and Seatbelts must be fastened It’s not just accident-prone casualties in MPV accidents were MPVs that are tinted to the at all times for there is a bigger stretches. For instance, guardrails from head-on collisions that were extent that it obscures the space of movement in MPVs and to prevent vehicles from the result of driver errors. driver’s visibility. Besides heavy SUVs. plunging into ravines or off And it was not necessarily tinting is illegal. It’s not only the driver who the road and into ditches are the fault of the MPV driver in all All drivers, including the boys has to be belted up at all times one level below international these collisions. behind the driving wheels of to reduce the impact in an standards; guardrails on Granted the MPV or the SUV the big SUVs and MPVs, must be accident. Each and everyone in Malaysian roads are unable to (Sports Utility Vehicle) are built rested and refreshed when they all the seven seats, both children effectively stop heavy and high bigger than an average car but start on their journey, especially and adults, has to fasten the riding vehicles. the owner who has paid more during the coming “Balik safety belt when the MPV or SUV The road transport authorities than RM100,000 for his vehicle is Kampung” drive for Hari Raya. moves. should be proactive at making likely to be a careful driver who Throw macho and ego out It is usually a full load when road safer. There are only a few will pay careful attention when of the window as you start your travelling during the festive Malaysian roads that are built to he is on the road “Balik Kampung” journey. If you season and this means braking international standards. Have Gophers will travel Story and Pictures the way. As such, I now have a each other and smile. Realising by Grace Chen new motto: Answer the call of that no one knew the name, adventure only if you have a The Sultan proclaimed that it be IT is one thing to feel the GPS or suffer from the stress of named Gunung Senyum. freedom of being able to get being lost in Nowhere Land and The true course of our into a car and drive all the being left at the mercy of road destination was Sungai Lembing, way to China if you wish. It is vultures. with the coordinates given at another to end up going in Admittedly, I am smitten 3° 55’ 0” N, 103° 2” 0’ E. circles because you not know with the Gophers Visi-O, the A former mining town, this Powermap-driven device with a quaint hamlet is famed for super big 5.0” flush fitting touch three things. One is the Sungai screen and driven by the latest Lembing Museum, which was SirfAtlas IV GPS receiver. formerly the residence of the On a recent trip to the East general managers that worked Coast, the planning was made for Pahang Consolidated Limited with great enthusiasm and to Company. Editor get there we got the help of The company managed Yamin A. Vong Gophers Visi-O. the once tin-rich village’s News Editor Our first stop was Gua Senyum underground mine from 1906 Hezeri Samsuri and the coordinates were given until 1986. The exhibits are Assistant News Editor at 3°41’50.2”N 102°25’58.2”E. a reminder of its tin mining “We will not get lost. My GPS system will take us there,” promised the enigmatic Chong (inset). Thomas Huong According to the Pahang heritage. Production Editor Trekker website, there are two Another is Bukit Panorama, be rewarded by an awesome familiarity guarantees safety. and for this, Gophers has a Anthony Raj popular folk tales as to how this which is a popular place to morning view (and a cool river Also remember to leave your restaurant in Beserah Seafood Contributors 400million year old limestone watch the sunrise and the dip) as this place is located just shoes at the door, even if it’s to at 3° 52’40.3” N 103° 21’ 57.6” E. Chia Jiali, Salihin Abd Rahim outcrop got its name. Gunung Tapis Nature Park, about beside the banks of Sungai enter a hotel as this is the village Ideally, this should be Researcher One tells of a duel of two 16 kilometres from the village Lembing. custom. accompanied by a dip at the SJ Ganapathy Malay warriors which ended in where you can camp, fish, and Hoh also recommended a The next destination was Gua Batu Hitam Beach which is just Advertising the vanquished dying with a shoot the rapids. popular breakfast of tofu which Charas, Panching, at coordinates at the back of the restaurant. Joseph Raj smile on his face. The second For a place to stay for the is made with mountain water at at 3°54’39.9”N 103°8’50.5”E. Mind that the place is closed 012-300 4343 allegedly took place in the late night, the Gophers Visi-O came the market place. This place is Standing majestically at 150m on Sunday so be prepared to [email protected] 19th century when the Sultan up with the directions for also known for ketchup noodles this limestone rock is home to a look for alternatives. If it is the Cars, Bikes and Trucks of Pahang was en route to Kuala Lembing Riverview Resort at 3° and coconut biscuits. sleeping Buddha housed within beach you love and not so Tel: 03-2282 1841 Krau, Temerloh. 54’ 44.6” N 103° 1’ 43.3” E. It is run Folks are friendly here and no its longest cave which is about much the food, then look out for sms: 012-300 6655 When asked the name of by Hoh Yoon Sin, 53. Though, one bothers to lock their front 30m in length. this small stall called Black Stone Email: [email protected] the mountain the members of we had to pass a Chinese doors. In a place where the To return without a good which serves simple Malay Website: www.cbt.com.my entourage could only look at cemetery to get here, we would population numbers only 5,000, seafood meal would be wasted mixed rice and kuih. I I I NEW SUNDAY TIMES AUGUST 29, 2010 MPV, SUV & 4X4 BUYER’S GUIDE How they rate THE Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment French affection Programme) is the most notable car safety rating in the world today.