Friday, January 29, 2010

Car Loans. Old Story, Same Attitude


I have to admit that i am super pissed when i see someone that is interested to buy a used car and asking the owner of the car about car loans and sometimes arranging car loans for the new buyer.

What the F is wrong with these buyers? Are they blind, dumb and deaf?

If you want to buy the car, YOU go to your top 3 choices of banks and ask them if they can provide loans. Banks will usually do valuation of the car and also your credit records. As simple as that.

If you fail getting a car loan, you can try personal loans. Higher interest rates.

If you still fail getting loans from banks, ask your daddy or mommy to loan you with 0% interest rate. Worst case scenario you have to obey them within 3-12 years or longer. Daddy and mommy can even burn your car if they dont like your attitude. Family rules, not banks.

Stop asking stupid questions and do your part as a buyer.


TAS 2010



There are plenty of photos online. Just google them.

This panda caught my attention.

Mitsubishi Cyborg-R Restoration?


I saw this online. If i'd tell you the price, u would say "It's shit crazy". But then again , i believe Cyborg-R owners would love to have them for restoration purposes and keep the car for the next 10 years or more to come.

Rare? This is super-duper rare like a siberian mammoth.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

TE-37

You Have Forgotten About It

"Today, man, I’m sad to say…it’s just not the same anymore. People don’t build cars for themselves anymore, they don’t build it for fun. It’s become so competitive that people don’t even spend time to sit back and enjoy their cars anymore." - The Chronices

When i read that, i felt sad with the scene around here too. FUN is the last thing on their mind at the moment. MODS is the 1st ritual. It is already a trend that to make FUN, you have to MOD. Funny thing, i didnt know when you buy a car it does not come with an engine and also no wheels? No?

People these days are so religiously into mods that the only FUN time is when they think they have reached the limit of nearly-blowing the car or almost-about-to-sell the car. I have seen a family sedan car with just a CAI and the owner had FUN. I have seen a 450whp turbocharged car that is prowling the streets everyday, few oil leaks once in a while, but the owner had FUN.

These days, even before you buy a car, you already started to think about the re-sale value and the depreciation of it. I suggest you buy few houses and take the public transport.

There is no such thing by making your mods and build-up "complete" then only you can have FUN. I think its more of a personal temptation and sometimes it evenly turn out to be greed.

Go out and have FUN.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

ECU or EMS?

"I am using a rechipped ECU". Haha.

Wear & Tear : The Real Hidden Cost?

You do know about it. OR

You do not want to know about it. OR

You know it but purposely delay the fix. OR

You know it but prefer to let it break for self satisfaction.

"If it aint broken, dont fix". A common phrase you use to hear and sometimes hold to yourself when it comes to your own car(s).

The last few months, i heard a story about a chap complaining about his stock family car wear and tear issues. I also heard story about another friend complaining after installing performance parts but did not perform to what he expected. I also heard about another story where this car owner did not service the car for a year, but just topping up the engine oil.

As an owner of a car which is more than 10 years old, i spent a lot of money on wear and tear parts. On top of the regular service datelines, there are definitely some little things which needs to be fixed. Being a daily driven car, the responsibility does not allow you to skip this process. Sometimes i wished i had a spare car or use the public transport to commute to work. To those that has a spare car, company car's, mommy's car or even a bike, u can reduce the wear and tear issues if you drive less.

Regardless what car you have and the age of the car, regular service is mandatory. It does not take so much of your time, this is the time you will know what to prepare if something is about to break when your mechanic checks your car.

Wear and tear issues are higher in Malaysia. Why is that? :
  1. You travel long distance to go back to your hometown or outstation for work. Anything more than 100km one way is far. Due to the smooth highways, u forgot about the number of hours your engine runs under the sun. (Increase mileage on engine)
  2. You feel so comfortable on the uneven and bumpy city roads that you forgotten that your shock absobers and springs are screaming in agony. (Dying bushes, shocks leaks, worn tyres)
  3. The significant of traffic jams in the town areas due to the number of cars puts pressure to your left leg and right leg. (Worn out clutch system, dying brake pads)
  4. Expansion and contraction from heat and rain thanks to green house climate issues. (Harden seals and gaskets, dying gearboxes, cracked extractors)
  5. Driving attitude. (If you dont step on it, ure not driving?)

To do the math, typically if you have a car which is still under bank repayments, is a must routine transaction every month for the next many years (unless its fully paid). On top of that, living in a big city with big highways, there is no way you can escape driving long distances and pushing your engine's health that results to wear and tear issues. Modification budget is another story.

Wear and tear hinders your car's performance. Before bolting new parts or even aftermarket products, think about the entire system and see if anything else is dying or breaking soon. If you service your car regularly and maintain to use genuine quality parts, i believe it will survive in the next 10 more years.

Modding your engine increases wear and tear?. When engine gets stronger and louder, you have more vibration, more heat and definitely more work for your engine. When you force things to go more than its standard operation level, the tolerance level starts to get thinner. The thinner it gets, the higher your engine wears out. Simple theory, the more you drive, the faster your tyres wear off. The more you brake, the more rubber it needs to bite the tarmac.

Dont get upset for nothing, take note of the things you have not changed or serviced lately. It can be anything from car battery to air-condition system or even your old audio system. Last but not least, your driving style is also a factor to the wear and tear issues.

It has never been a hidden cost to your personal budget. It is always hidden in your mind.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Going Back Oldschool : Sandblasted Valve Covers





I recently sent both of my valve covers for sandblasting process. These are the results for VTEC and MIVEC valve covers. As you can see the greyish colour looks fatigue and worn out. The surface area is smooth if you are wondering.

It does not shine nor look fancy under the hood. The complete process will take some time. Having a spare valve cover would be ideal to complete the job.

I am very happy with the results. This process is good when you dont rush them.

When i flipped my Hyper-Rev reference books, it looks like the old days of TopFuel valve covers.

I should be getting a trunk call anytime soon, ha ha.