SOMETHING TO MAKE US SMILE: Part II

Remember our Part 1? Here's another part.

PAK PANDIR BELI HANDPHONE

Pada suatu hari,ada seorang yang kaya raya tapi buta teknologi namanya Pak Pandir, datang ke Kuala Lumpur. Ia berasal dari sebuah daerah yang sangat terpencil jauh di dalam hutan. Ia datang ke sebuah kedai handphone.

"Saya mahu beli handphone yang paling baru, mahal dan canggih", katanya dengan nada sombong.
"Ini encik, handphone yang encik inginkan...tapi wang encik cukup ke?", tanya pemilik kedai tidak yakin.
"Ini duit tiga ribu", jawab Pak Pandir.
"Tapi handphonenya tak boleh hidup pun?" marah Pak Pandir.
"Oh, encik perlu beli sim card ... baru boleh guna".
"Saya beli sim cardnya" jawab Pak Pandir. Tak lama kemudian, urusan mereka pun selesai dan Pak Pandir kembali ke kampungnya.

Sesampai di kampung, handphonenya tak boleh digunakan, Pak Pandir rasa marah dan segera pergi ke Kuala Lumpur semula.

"Awak tipu saya ya!!!..Handphone saya tak boleh buat panggilan!!!!!!!!!!" marah Pak Pandir.
"Oooooo......mungkin kat sana tak ada signal encik".
"Saya beli signalnya sekali..Macamana la awak jual handphone boleh lupa jual signal??"

CIKGU DGN MAN

Waktu sekolah telah tamat.sebelum kel uar kelas, Che'gu Berahim telah bertanya kpd murid²nya.

Ch e'gu : Siapa nak pergi syurga?
Semua murid mengangkat tangan kecuali Man Dol lalu Che'gu Berahim pun bertanya,
Che'gu : Man, kenapa awak tak nak pergi syurga?
Man : Mak saya kata lepas habis sekolah, terus balik rumah.. jangan pergi mana-mana.


PART II

Che'gu Berahim sedang mengajar Bahasa Melayu dalam kelas 1 Mawar...

Che' gu : Man, boleh kamu buat ayat dengan menggunakan perkataan tepong?
Man : Itu senang saja cikgu.. ayatnya ialah.... emak sedang membuat kek di dapur.
Che'gu : Mana tepungnya??
Man : Tepong kan ke dalam kek tu....

MAKAN MALAM

Suatu pagi ketika seorang suami hendak berangkat ke tempat kerjanya..

Suami : "Ema.. abang pergi dulu ya"
Isteri : "Abang tak sarapan dulu?"
Suami : "Tidak.. abang nak cepat nie!"
Lalu sisuami mencium bibir isterinya dengan mesra dan berkata "inilah sarapan pagi abang"

Tengaharinya. . si suami pulang kerumah..

Isteri : " Ada apa abang balik kerumah tengahari ni?"
Suami : " Ada sesuatu yang tertinggal"
Isteri : Marilah makan tengahari dulu"
Suami : "Tak pe lah.. abang nak cepat nie"
Lalu dengan mesranya sisuami menghampiri isterinya dan mencium "dadanya" sambil berkata "inilah makan tengahari abang!"

Petangnya.. ketika si suami pulang dari kerja dia terkejut melihat sikap
isterinya yang duduk tanpa pakaian diatas periuk nasi yang panas membara..
lalu betanya..

Suami : "Awak sedang buat apa tu?"
Isteri : "Panaskan makan malam bang!"

kwang...kwang...kwangg


MALAM JUMAAT

Malam itu malam Jumaat. Kassim ingin beristirahat awal bersama isterinya, dia fikir dia akan dapat banyak ganjaran jika berbuat begini. Ganjaran paling nyata ialah hakikat dia kini sudah mempunyai lapan orang anak: empat daripada mereka masih kecil lagi. Yang bongsu masih lagi menyusu.

"Malam ini kita tidur awal. Malam jumaat" kata Kasim pada Ani, isterinnya yang sedang menyusu anak bongsu mereka. " Tak boleh bang. Sebab anak anak kita masih belum tidur, nanti saya tidur kan mereka dulu". " Baiklah awak uruskan mereka. Abang akan ke bilik sebelah membaca Al-quran" balas Kassim, sambil ke bilik air mengambil wudhuk, setelah mendapatkan songkok, Kitab al-quran dan meminum seteguk air sejuk Kassim bersedia untuk memulakan kerja ibadahnya.

"BISMILLAHHIRROHMANNIRROHIM"

" Bang!! Anak dah tidur" Terkejut Kassim mendengar suara Ani yang membawa khabar baik kepadannya dalam jangkamasa yang begitu singkat.

" SODAQALLAHULAZEEM "

Tu lah dahsyat nya malam Jumaat......

FLYING SAUCERS GO INTO PRODUCTION

While everyone else is stuck in traffic, you get to fly right over them. Here’s a vehicle to put you one step closer to making that a reality. So, get your spacesuit ready because aliens will not be the only ones who owns UFO. Not anymore.

The M200G Jetson designed and manufactured by Moller International, is engineered to take off and land vertically, and fly to a maximum altitude of 3 meters. The altitude has been restricted so drivers won’t need a pilot’s license. The vehicle is controlled by the fly-by-wire computer which responds to the driver’s input via a joystick. The maker claims operation is easy and takes little time to learn.

The altitude was also set to where it benefits from extra lift created by a cushion of air - known as ground effect. This allows the M200G to glide over terrain at 50mph, powered by eight of the Company's Rotapower rotary engines. Moller International has not arranged for training or licensing requirements to operate the vehicle. But it is prepared to offer demonstration sessions at its California base once the vehicle is ready for market.

The vehicle can be purchased only by way of an international auction that the company plans to conduct next year. Interested individuals can take part in the auction by proving that they can pay $150,000. Moller has been promising the world a flying car for over a decade, could it finally be making good on its pledge? Or a better question is, you already know the world is full of crazy drivers, do you really want to see them try to fly?

*source: Moller website

TECHART GT STREET RS based on the Porsche 997 GT2

TECHART Automobildesign GmbH presents its cutting-edge TECHART GTstreet RS, based on the Porsche 911 GT2 (997), with an impressive best time of 1.06:811 minutes on the short course of the Hockenheim circuit. Since 2001, TECHART GTstreet vehicles have been among the fastest and highest performance sports cars in the world. This high performance is reflected in the GTstreet RS’s statistics - 700 PS and 515 KW – with a maximum torque of 860 Nm. This power is achieved through the use of modified turbochargers, enlarged carbon inlet pipes, specially developed intercoolers, a sports flap exhaust combined with high-performance headers, modified pressure sensor and a sports air filter. The GTstreet model demonstrates a high level of performance in the wind tunnel: with a downforce of 10 kilos on the front and rear axles at a speed of 140 km/h.

GT RS front apron is fitted with a carbon splitter. A special air duct has been constructed to enable the cool air to pass directly behind the radiator and over the newly created air outlet thereby reducing the buoyant force on the front axle considerably. Side carbon flics support this effect in that they increase the downforce considerably by acting as a counterpart. All of the sporty basics are featured, creating a sporty appearance and fast model with its aero-bonnet, headlight shades, mirror shades, GT sill panels and carbon roof spoiler. The GT rear spoiler is particularly striking with its carbon winglets and gurney flaps. The GT RS rear apron with carbon diffuser, air outlet and carbon air wings complete the programme for this club sports car.

2009 HONDA OSM

Honda’s low-emission sportscar study model has been revealed at the British International Motor Show, at ExCel, London.The lightweight roadster design study displays one of Honda’s core engineering principles – to design stylish and exciting cars that are also environmentally responsible. Named the OSM (for Open Study Model), the two-seater joins the confirmed-for-production CR-Z sports hybrid and FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car on the Honda stand at the show. “We’re trying to show that low emission cars can be attractive,” says Andreas Sittel, Project Leader for OSM. “There is no reason why a car that’s more environmentally friendly can’t look great too – and be sporty and fun to drive.”

The concept for the project was ‘Clean and Dynamic’ – and this direction was followed for both the exterior and interior design, ensuring a joined-up, consistent ‘language’ between the two. One example of this can be seen at the rear of the car, where the body actually extends into the cabin between the seats. The exterior design is a balance of smooth, rounded curves and sharp lines to provide definition in key areas. The headlights are cleverly integrated into the front end, stretching from the nose to the top of the wheel arches to look more like a part of the original body.

Inside, this uninterrupted, fluid approach is continued, with long sweeping curves extending from both door panels to form a frame for the instrument display. The concept for the dashboard was to avoid creating the traditional block of ‘heavy’ color and material in front of the driver; in keeping with the clean and lightweight theme. For that reason, the dash is broken into sections, with the most important instruments in direct line-of-sight of the driver.

Key information is displayed in a rounded, enclosed central binnacle, with levels and figures in bright blue on a black background. This matches the trim inside the car, with the seats and door furniture trimmed in a new, gloss-effect blue leather, accompanied by white leather sections, in line with the exterior body color, a one-off paint called Mystic Pearl. The driver’s main controls and functions are distributed in an intuitive layout, close at hand on a panel that curves downwards to the right of the driver. A centrally-mounted semi-sequential gear-shift points towards a fun-to-drive transmission, along with paddle shifts either side of the steering wheel. Integrated into the gearshifter itself is a red ignition ‘start’ button, which reinforces the sporty direction of the car.

The Honda OSM was designed by Honda’s R&D facility in Offenbach, Germany. It’s the latest example of the young talent being developed within Honda’s design studios in Europe – following the Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept (Geneva 2007) and the Accord Tourer Concept (Frankfurt 2007). At present, the Honda OSM is a design study model, and there are no plans for it to enter production.

SECRET OF THEIR SUCCESS?

It appears as if McLaren’s new steering wheel could be behind the squad’s recent surge in form with Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen going from struggling to keep up with their rivals at Ferrari in France a month ago to winning back to back dominating victories at Silverstone and Hockenheim.

Although there is no doubt about Hamilton’s driving finesse, the domination we have seen in these recent races has left other teams scratching their heads, but if claims by the Telegraph are to be believed, the answer is quite simple.

It appears as if the MP4-23’s steering wheel is a little different from its rivals with four paddle levels instead of the regular two. Two being to change gears and the two additional levers used to adjust engine torque to suit the gear selected, helping to minimize wheel spin in slow corners but retaining speed for the fast ones. The rules indicate that drivers can not select gears and torque settings in one move, so the extra two levers must be used for the car to remain legal.

Just how long it will be before other teams use this technology, or the FIA bans it, is anyone’s guess, but if it is the reason for their upward turn in performance, you can bet it won’t take Ferrari too long to be right up there with them!

Backseat lovers survive plunge

Two lovers ended up in hospital - and one could be heading for divorce - after their car plunged 46m down a cliff as they had sex in the back seat.

Police said Lin Gu, 25, and lover Lee Shin, 29, suffered broken bones when their car tipped over the edge of the hill in XinDian, Taiwan. “They had parked up close to the edge of the mountain and had left the handbrake off,” a spokesman said . “When they started having sex the rocking motion started the car moving and it rolled off the hill. They were lucky they were not more seriously hurt.” Despite their injuries - and being covered with mud and grass - the couple managed to clamber back up to the road.

The woman headed to Chen Chenggang’s nearby house for help, begging him not to reveal how the accident happened as her husband “would definitely sue for divorce”.

i-Blue series unveiled by Hyundai

Hyundai has just launched in the UK a new range of cars – branded i-Blue - which will offer emissions below the crucial 120g/km barrier but which are priced at the highly competitive level buyers expect from Hyundai.

The first car in the range will be an i30 hatchback powered by the familiar and acclaimed 1.6-litre CRDi engine. With prices starting at £13,155, it is substantially better value than low emission rivals, including the offerings from Ford and Volkswagen.

The i30’s advanced engine design means there has been no need to resort to measures such as skinny tyres, expensive stop-start systems or lowered suspension to achieve the low CO2 figure. All that has been necessary to achieve the 6g/km drop over the existing model is a minor change to the gear ratios. As the revisions are so minor, the i30’s acclaimed roadholding, drivability, ride and equipment levels are unaffected.

The new model remains affordable too, with prices starting at £13,155 (approx. RM92,000) despite an enviable equipment list that includes ESP, air conditioning and alloy wheels as standard on all versions. As with all new Hyundai models, the i30 is also covered by a five year, unlimited mileage warranty (too bad it's only in the UK).

In addition the i-Blue badge will also be used on all i10 models which produce less than 120g/km. The introduction of the new 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine, available from September, means this will apply to every i10 with a manual transmission.

Even those Hyundai models which do not qualify for i-Blue status are still exceptionally efficient. For example, the Santa Fe is officially recognised as having the lowest CO2 in its class by the UK government’s Act on CO2website, beating even hybrid-powered rivals.

But the company is still striving to make all of its cars more efficient and future models wearing the i-Blue name could offer a variety of advanced fuel saving technology such as idle stop-start and hybrid powertrains in the short term with hydrogen fuel cell technology in the medium and long term.

More Kia Soul snapshots

Tips for the day

My friends asked me the other day on the best way to save fuel. Well, my logical answer to that (without asking him to read any of the internet resources or buying the overhyped fuel saving gadgets) : DRIVE SLOWLY BUT SENSIBLY. There’s no way you’re going to actually save fuel by going faster. You need more power to go faster but at the same time you demanded your car to save fuel. How illogical is that. It’s against the Energy Conservation Theory (or whatever they call it) and many other related laws (on physics, that is). But I’m not going to talk about that theories and I’m not and expert on fuel burning mechanism either.

If you want to practice hypermiling driving techniques or be and ecomodder, there’s a few tips before you even try to attempt few of them. These tips are purely based from my own experience, typically for Malaysian roads.

1. You have to be a very (i mean very) patient and tolerant person. Some motorist will honk you cause they just think you’re not fast enough to their likings or ‘makan angin’. Let those a**h**e pass. Plus many will try to jump of the queue in front of you, after noticing you seemed to get up to speed slower than their 'Wiralution 'or 'Wajalution'.

2. You must be able to resist any temptations to go faster than you should (which may make you suffer, seeing a standard Kancil driven by an auntie overtake your shiny 2.0 car effortlessly, after ‘cucuk’ing from behind few times since the last traffic light). This is very hard to do, i know.

3. As a start, try to practice during weekends cause the traffic is not that heavy compared to weekdays. If you attempt to do it while going to work, the usual traffic jams routines may be frustrating and you may end up getting more stressed. Not good.

4. Track Your Mileage in Real Time. Knowing what mileage you're getting in real time i.e being able to compare it to what you got yesterday or even 10 minutes ago—is the new way to drive these days. What you need to do is invest in a fuel-economy computer like the Pivot E-drive or Scangauge; and you're instantly instrumented. Either way, a conscious mind combined with instant feedback should get you that instant 10 percent.

5. Do not add any other ‘fuel saving’ gadgets. This is to proof that you yourself are the one who contributed to the hypermiling success, not the gadget.

6. Practice at your own risk and discretion. This will be my escape clause, heheh.

He pays for sex with $100 fuel card

Talking about taking fuel saving practices to the extreme.This one taken from nydailynews.com.

It's the newest way to pay for the oldest profession. A man has admitted exchanging a $100 fuel card for sex with a hooker.
Court records uncovered by The Smoking Gun Web site show Kenneth Nowak was busted after an undercover cop caught him having sex with the call girl last Friday at a Days Inn in Fort Wright, Ky.
The 50-year-old Indiana man told cops he paid for the action with a card good for fuel at Speedway gas stations, along with other unspecified "gifts."
"A local prosecutor noted that it was sad to see someone selling their body for fuel," the Web site reported.
Angela Eversole, 34, who sold her body for just 25 gallons of juice, was hit with a prostitution rap and also charged with doing business without an occupational license. Nowak was charged with promoting prostitution.

Lotus Eco Elise Project

Haven't heard a while from Lotus, just like we haven't heard anything from Proton either. The chaps from Hethel, the headquarter of Lotus in Norwich, UK have recently come out with an eco concept car based on the Elise. The Eco Elise project promotes a different perspective on "green". This holistic approach is in keeping with the progressive Lotus culture, driving Lotus to become the world's green automotive consultancy. The Proton owned British automaker is utilising solar power, among other green trickery on this Eco Elise. Specifically, a few roof-mounted solar cells will help efficiency by keeping the electrics charged up while some innovative and lightweight components have been added to the already lightweight chassis structure.

Interesting tidbits include a new hand-painted water-based finish which "saves energy and reduces emissions of solvents from the paint shop." The hardtop and rear spoiler have been made from a hemp composite, as have various interior pieces like the seats and some fabrics. The fabric used on the seats themselves is a certified eco-friendly wool and the carpets are sewn from sisal. Overall weight has been reduced by over seventy pounds. There are plenty more eco-facts floating in the press release. Check Lotus web, not Proton.

Picture of the day

New Chevrolet Beat

Mitsubishi i MiEV police car

Chevrolet Aveo Penny. Everyone wants one (not the car)

Berlingo? Who cares..Picasso's better!

Remember my earlier post on the Citroen Berlingo? Close your one eye on that post and open both eyes wide as with the C3 Picasso, Citroën is once again shaking up conventional automotive ideas, introducing an innovative concept that is sure to play a leading role in the mini MPV segment.

The C3 Picasso bears all the hallmark creativity of Citroën and stands out with its bold styling, innovative architecture and outstanding ingenuity. The high-set seating and onboard visibility will delight all passengers, while the vehicle’s complete and intuitive modular design will make their days. And the Picasso’s nimble roadholding will satisfy drivers looking for pleasure and involvement at the wheel.

C3 Picasso drivers get a whole new experience that sets the standard high in the segment.The car’s compact dimensions and tight turning circle make it impressively agile and able to tackle obstacles with ease. The C3 Picasso has a vehicle attitude of a saloon, bringing drivers complete peace of mind in all driving conditions.The C3 Picasso is also fitted with a range of high-performance, economical engines. It will ship with two new-generation petrol units – the VTi 95 and VTi 120 – and two diesels, the HDi 90 and HDi 110 DPFS, renowned for their driving pleasure and efficiency. C3 Picasso models fitted with HDi engines carry the Airdream® environmental signature that identifies the Citroën models with the best environmental credentials.

Kia Soul Confirmed For Production

For the last few months, many Kia fans are getting excited by the develoment news of the prototype Kia Soul and Kia Forte. But that time, it's still not clear wether the 2 models will actually make it to the production line. The Forte was confirmed first but what about the Soul? Well, here's some good news.

Kia Motors Corporation has confirmed that its all-new production model, the Kia Soul, will be marketed globally with a choice of three highly efficient engines when it goes on sale in early 2009. The most powerful engine will be a 2-litre gasoline unit. A smaller capacity 1.6-litre gasoline engine will be offered in most countries, alongside a 1.6-litre diesel engine featuring a VGT (variable geometry turbocharger). Both the 1.6-litre, four cylinder, 16-valve DOHC power units are based closely on engines fitted to the hugely successful, European-built, Kia cee’d.

Kia has also confirmed that the new model, which will be available exclusively as a five-door hatchback with front-wheel drive, will have an overall length of 4,105 mm, and a 2,550 mm wheelbase. Height will be 1,610 mm and width 1,785mm - excluding door mirrors.

Will the Soul, the Toyota Rush likely proposition ever come here? Well, at least not for the immediate future i reckon. Naza still hasn't bring the latest Carens, remember?

My First Ecomodder Resolutions

I've decided to become an ecomodder. What and why? Ecomodding is not just hypermiling practice. People are drawn to ecomodding for many reasons. The "eco" in ecomodder suggests concern for the environment & conservation;but "eco" also points to the economic factor - the desire to save money through reduced energy consumption.

In true gearhead fashion, ecomodder enjoy the considerable technical/mechanical challenge of improving a machine & its driver, and some revel in the sheer sport of it! Squeezing the greatest distance from the least amount of fuel is an ongoing game against ourselves and other like-minded efficiency enthusiasts. Of course, no two ecomodders are alike. People bring different combinations of interests & motivation.

Ecomodding is not the unquestioned adoption of dubious additives or magic bullet add-ons. Ecomodders value the experimental method, and are skeptical of those who make claims and draw conclusions from observations made in uncontrolled conditions

"Wrench smart - drive smarter - save fuel"

As a novice ecomodder, these are my resolutions:

1. Use the lowest recommended octane. The lower octane gas is cheaper (read my previous posting on using lower RON)

2. Stay away from newly refill tanks. If i know that a station has just been filled by tanker, steer clear of it for a day or two. When the tanker dumps its thousands of litres of fuel into the containers below the station, the sediment and old fuel get stirred up. This sediment and bad fuel gets sucked into the cars that fill up first, and can cause a decrease in fuel efficiency, as well as wear and corrosion of the spark plugs in my vehicle.

3. Fill the tank full. If I need to fill up, fill up all the way. The more money i try to save by adding RM50 today and then RM30 tomorrow will be wasted since each time i will have to travel to the station and wait for a pump. Instead, i do it all at once to save time and money.

4. Stop at first click and don't top off the tank. It is wasted money and bad for the environment since the extra gas evaporates in 10 minutes of driving.

5. Throw...err..clean out any unnecessary items in the car. If my car is lighter, it will use less fuel to get where I’m going (spare your passenger, ok?).

6. Avoid idling. While idling, my car gets exactly 0 km, while starting the car uses the same amount as idling for 6 seconds.

7. Reduce speed. Aerodynamic drag increases exponentially with speed. The most efficient speed is my car's minimum speed in it's highest gear, since this provides the best "speed per RPM" ratio.

8. Take off slowly from a full stop. This is one adjustment that will have dramatic effects on my gas mileage. (Refer to step 12 afterwards)

9. Stay away from shops where i will spend significantly more time idling and waiting for parkings, pedestrians and other vehicles to move.(e.g Tesco Ampang during weekends..hehe).

10. Increase tyre pressure from in the manual which are for comfort rather than fuel efficiency. Generally speaking, a slightly higher pressure will improve fuel mileage and handling, but too high will degrade traction and wear the tires rapidly, as well as being unsafe.

11. Listen to slower music. Leave the speed metal at home. Fast paced music can make me more impatient, more agressive and likely to speed. At the same time, slower paced music is more relaxing and tends to promote a more sensible driving style while also reducing stress.

12. Constant throttle position cruising. Once up to speed, pick a throttle position and hold it.

13. Make fuel economy a game/challenge. Competing against myself (or others) to get the best possible fuel economy can do wonders for increasing motivation to learn more, refine my skills, and try harder.

14. Adjust my automatic transmission practice:

• key off, then Park. Save a few drops of fuel by modifying shutdown procedure: when parking, turn off the key *before* shifting to Park and setting the parking brake.
• highest gear/lowest RPM for posted speed. When cruising, drive the the speed that allows the lowest RPM for the speed zone we are in.
  EG. if the posted speed is 60 kmh and your car shifts into 3rd at 65, you may be able to achieve the 3rd gear shift, then reduce and hold 60 without causing a downshift.
• torque converter (TC) lockup. Drive at the speed that allows the TC (torque converter) to lock up. This is often around 75-80 kmh. Speeds just above this typically return the higest cruising fuel economy.
• neutral when stopped. Shift automatic transmissions to neutral when stopped (assuming i'm going to leave the engine running). Remaining in drive wastes fuel as the engine continues to try to creep the car forward while being held back by the brakes.
• upshift coaxing. Some automatic transmissions can be coaxed to upshift sooner when accelerating by briefly releasing some throttle pressure, then re-applying to continue accelerating.
• use OD (overdrive). If my transmission has an "OD" (overdrive) button or position, leave it engaged to ensure the transmission will shift into its highest gear as soon as possible.
• use economy mode. If my automatic transmission has a "power/economy" button, leave it in economy mode. This usually results in earlier upshifts and later downshifts, saving fuel.
  
• to be continued...
  

Why I change to RON92

Most of us drive around with premium grade RON97 in their tank, right? It’s famously called as “baru” while the other grade, RON92 was called “lama” (thanks to Bangladeshi petrol kiosk workers who popularized the terms that time). RON is an abbreviation for Research Octane Number. Google it for more info. For your information, all fuel provided at petrol stations in Malaysia now are unleaded fuels, regardless of their grades. So no more “merah”, only “hijau” fuels are available nowadays. Ok, I’m confused already. We're not talking about traffic lights, are we? The now obsolete leaded fuel was famously called ‘merah’(thanks again to the Bangladeshi), remember?

I used to believe that the higher RON will give more power. What I didn’t know power is limited by the maximum amount of fuel-air mixture that can be feed into the combustion chamber. These are controlled by the car ECU which is factory-preset by the manufacturer. If my car owner's manual says minimum RON91 to be used, so it means the engine are already designed and tuned to run with RON91 ( i believe most Hyundai-Kia engines are using these setup?). So, RON92 is good enough for me to use. Putting premium RON97 or V Power is not going to give me any performance advantage and just wasting money. Unless i have a high-compression engine which could be prone to pinging, i have totally no need for RON97 or higher. The only thing that higher RON gives me is less likelihood of pinging. Even so, most cars nowadays have knock sensors which detect the vibration or shock caused by detonation of lower octane fuel and can signal the engine management system to change the ignition timing to reduce or eliminate the problem.

Many people think that RON92 are inferior in quality because they don’t have the same additives (which provide the same cleansing effect/performance) as in RON97. Well at least Caltex have confirmed that both their RON97 (gold) and RON92 (silver) carries the same Techron additives (yeah, I know, confuse about the colours again right?). And I’ve read somewhere that Mobil-Esso also have the same additive package for theirs. Not sure about Shell Regular or Petronas Prima though (it’s becoming rare nowadays to find stations that sells one, anyway). For a full tank of 55 liters, at least I can save RM4 per tank by using this grade. Not much but still can buy me a good teh tarik & nasi lemak ayam combo once a week, or buy 4 tabloids per week (non mainstream only). For the last few months, i've been using the Infiniti from BHPetrol. So far so good compared to other brand. Manage to clock approximately 564km (on par with when i'm using RON97 for the same volume of fuel usage and still improving).

The problem now is my other car that requires minimum RON97 (guess which manufacturer that is). Say i fill it with RON92 anyway, trying to save some money. My car will still work fine because the engine management system will be detecting knock and retarding the ignition timing to compensate. But by changing the ignition timing, i could be losing efficiency in the engine, which could translate into worse fuel mileage. I may save a little money, but it costs more in the long term because I’m going to be filling up more often to do the same mileage. Hmmmm…anybody have a calculator, please??

Picture of the day

Look at these pictures. Oopps, where's the kid's head? This kid must be an AC Milan fan judging from his attire. If not mistaken, the number 22 means he's wearing Kaka's number. The truth is, that's not the main concern here. But you wonder what the kid’s doing heh? Let's find out..

Standing in an awkward yet suspicious manner…

Let's close up a bit, shall we..there's the head

Mystery solved...

Classic case of 'sleep while you're standing'...many thanks to Ammar Haziq for providing the action.

Ubah gaya hidup: Part 1

Semalam, anaks (plural) nak minum cendol dan ABC combo (bunyi mcm gi KFC la pulak). So, aku pun pegi la beli. Tengok2 sekali harga dah naik daa. Tak tergezut aku (tapi aku buat2 tergezut la. Mana tau mamak tu silap letak harga). Average dah naik 30 sen semua variety (kosong, tambah jagung, kacang, pulut, etc..). Kat sebelah tu ada jual rojak…perggghhh..naik jugak…50 sen semua variety.

Walaupun kerajaan cakap harga minyak ikut pasaran, harga makanan lain pulak. Sekali dah naik, mana pulak nak turun. Contoh dulu harga ayam naik. Akibatnya harga nasi ayam pun naik dari RM3.00 ke RM3.50. Yg heran (kalu tak heran pun buat2 heran la ya) tu, bila harga ayam turun, nasi ayam tadi tak turun harga pulak ye. So lepas ni kalu harga minyak turun pun jangan harap la harga2 makanan ni nak turun.

Nampak gayanya kena ubah gaya hidup lagi….ubah dari cendol kacang kepada cendol kosong je. Pastu rojak telur ubah kepada rojak regular je. Sebelum ni keta wife aku dah switch fuel dari RON97 ke RON92. Jimat le 400 sen every full tank…(saja letak dlm sen supaya nampak banyak)..duit save tu boleh simpan, sikit2 lama2 jadi bukit..ehhh…taknak la duit jadi bukit.

Aku pun heran macamana kita nak ubah gaya hidup lagi ...bagi org2 kaya ( no offence) tak payah pun ubah gaya hidup. Sebabnya memang gaya hidup diaorang dah macam tu. Bagi yang kurang kaya ni, tak tau la apa lagi nak diubah. Bagi yg mmg dah sedia daif pulak, apa lagi yang nak diubah? Sebelum minyak naik pun mmg dah tak cukup makan. Mmg susah kita nak paham org susah kalau kita sendiri tak susah. Dalam masa rakyat bersusah payah, pemimpin masih ada ribuan ringgit utk elaun hiburan ?? (walaupun dipotong 10% cuma) Terhiburkah mereka melihat kemarahan dan kesusahan orang lain. Talk is cheap…

Latest Perodua MPV spotted!!

One of avid Star reader, Elton, managed to capture the latest Perodua MPV production vehicle, originally slated for released next year, in one of a private workshop in Rawang (obviously near the Perodua factory). The MPV was disguised using the MK 1 Kancil skin with 1.3 DVVT engine from the Kembara transplanted inside. Interior wise, the tall roof line produced an extra roomy interior, which can occupy 7 or more passenger (depending on their size and how you arranged them),together with bus-styled folding door for easy access. Selling price was not indicated but expect it to be within 50K-70K, depending on grade, acessories and finishings. Coming to Perodua dealers nationwide soon. Heard that there will be special discount for mobile ice blended or canteen operators.

Ok, I made that up…credit to Elton though for the great picture.

Surat utk Pak Lah

Again, extracted from my mailbox for us to share....

"Kepado pak lah... PM paling sey sayang...I lap u...

Namo sey ni KARIM...pengundi bedaftar DUN CHOMBUNG, PARLIMEN ROMBAU...alaaaa tompek si KERY yg abah'eh JAMALUDIN tuuu...tak kona'????menantu PAK LAH tu laaaaa....suko bona' sey ngan dio tu...ghaso nak buek menantu lak...sey nulih surat ni bukan apo...sajo yor nak ucap'an timo kasih kek pak lah sobab naik'an hargo minyak ari tu..lopeh ini bilo hargo minyak naik..hargo barang lain pun naik gak laaaa...banggo boto' sey ghaso...mcm duduk kek LAS VEGAS lak...HIDUP PAKLAH!!!!!!!

Sey janji ngan pak lah yg sey akan ubah tebiat sey dari makan ikan kombung yg dah merah menyalo mato'eh & pocah bedorai porut ikan tu pado ikan koring yor...sey sanggup bekoban untuk UMNO dan bn..anak sey yg 7 org tu yg dh buleh buek team futsal tu boleh la bekojo lopeh sekolah buek bantu mak ayah diorang ni haaa...kok tak bekojo pun buleh la jadi mat rompit kek SENAWANG tu...dapek gak la duit sesikit...buleh gak la menoruskan tradisi keluargo sey ni yg nyokong UMNO dan bn....

Ghaso2 sey ni nk ubahsuai bilik bilik yg ado kek ghumah sey...nk buek tompek bolo ikan & tanam sayur cagho hidroponik (apo binchek'eh ni???) sey tepakso tanam kek dalam bilik sobab sey tingga' kek umah flat...rebet yg pak lah bagi kek sey memang melampuh2 lobeh'eh dari keperluan sey..bilo sey congak2.. sey cumo guno 20 sen yor duit minyak moto sehari.. ado la untung 21 sen...bak kato si SAIDA AF6 "ok la tuuuu"

Sey tak pakai pon keto... sobab bilo minyak naik hargo.. sey kono jual datsun kotak mancis sey tu.. dapek gak la duit....tokih2 pun ado la hasil'eh..team futsal sey tu, sey nak suruh eksesais hari2 berjalan kaki tak pun naik beska' poie sekolah...ado la 5 km...dokek yor tuuuuu...

walaupon gaji sey ni rm 1000..sbona'eh terlobih cukup untuk keluargo sey...buek permulaan nak ngubah kehidupan sey..sey tak akan guno'an gulo bilo buek kopi... tak akan guno'an topung untuk buek kodok..sey nak ganti'an bogheh ngan ubi... tiap hari sey ngan keluargo akan berposo (kecuali pado hari hari yg dilarang beposo)..sey akan buek minyak masak sendiri..itu antaro caro sey ngubah caro hidup..ade banyak laie caro..semuo kerano UMNO dan bn...dan sey mintak bona' pak lah naik'an laie hargo minyak yg ado..bukan tu yorrr.. sey mintak bona' naik'an laie hargo tol sobab org sbolah rumah sey nih org pembangkang...dio slalu guno highway, biar padan muko dio...tu la...suko bona' nyokong pembangkang...PAKATAN RAKYAT konon.....

Nanti pak lah buleh la melawat sey dan sedokah pado sey solai kain pelikat bilo dah nak dokek2 pilihanraya nanti...insyaallah kain pelikat tu sey nak bubuh dlm frame dah tu gantung kek rumah...tapi jangan lupo lak.. pak lah sain otogeraf yor kek kain tu....jgn lupo pak lah.. naik'an laie hargo minyak..jgn la diturun'an gaji mentori2 tuuu..siannn diorang...kang apo lak anak bini'eh nak mentodarah....sey totap nyokong pak lah..akhir kato biar pak lah sonang, janji kami papo kedano.. hidup UMNO, hidup bn..sekian timo kasih..

ps/ sampai'an salam sey kek si KERY samo PATRICK BADAWI tu yor..tak lupo gak tuan punyo syarikat SCOMI...sapo tah namo'eh...lupo lak...pocah kaco, pocah golas,sudah baco, harap baleh.

*hasil nukilan Hamba Allah yg tidak dikenali

Who says Berlingos are ugly?

You might have encountered an odd looking, or to certain extent, ugly looking ( although looks are subjective) Citroen Berlingo or it's sibling the Renault Kangoo many times before, especially if you live in Klang Valley. In case you didn't notice, its the UK's most popular value MPV. Although the current version's front end deserved notable credits, the rear end was aninomously voted as..errrr...you know what i mean.

Well, the latest version of Berlingo Multispace may change your perception, mine at least. Ok, maybe a little . Based on the running gear of the multi award-winning C4 Picasso, a cleaner and more flowing lines visually transformed the MPV, especially the rear end into a whole lot better appearance than the current version. Lot better than the Juara or Suzuki APV, i reckon. With its EuroNCAP rating (4-stars for adult and child occupant protection and 2-stars for pedestrian), the new Multispace offers an advanced level of protection . A reinforced body and cabin structure, ABS with EBD & EBA and three Isofix anchor points all come as standard . Six airbags, ESP with Hill Start Assist, a tyre pressure monitor system and automatic door locks for when the vehicle is in motion, are also available.

The original Multispace’s design feature, the Modutop® roof, has also been restyled and updated, utilising the height of the Berlingo to maximise the overhead storage space. The Modutop® system consists of front and central overhead compartments, with built-in scented air-freshener, and a dual-opening boot-mounted storage box which can be accessed on the move. Alternatively, the Multispace can be fitted with internal roof bars for long items such as skis (if you happen to ski here in Malaysia) to be transported inside the car eliminating the risk of theft and not impacting on fuel efficiency.

Multispace will be available with a choice of five engines. There will be two petrol units available and three HDi diesel powerplants, with a new to the range, upmarket 110hp 1.6HDi engine for punchy performance and strong economy. Berlingo Multispace, please do come here and kill the overpriced and overhyped Avanza!!!

Check out http://www.newberlingo.citroen.com/ for more decent looking images from various angles.

Subaru unveils Plug-in STELLA Concept

Use to heard of plug-in electrical appliances only? Now we can all plug in our car! Subaru automobiles today announced the successful development of its Subaru Plug-in STELLA Concept model, a prototype electric vehicle (EV). Subaru will provide five units of the Plug-in STELLA Concept for use at the Hokkaido Toyako Summit to be held July 7 through 9, 2008. Four of the five will be used to transport government officials and other participants at the summit, while one vehicle will be displayed at the Environmental Showcase, an exhibition and demonstration area in the International Media Center, and it will also be available for a test drive.

Subaru has placed emphasis on its mission to pursue the perfect integration of a pleasant and reliable driving with environmental considerations. While seamlessly improving the power units design and introducing such cleaner engines as the Horizontally-Opposed diesel engine in Europe (available since March of this year), the company has positioned EVs as another viable solution for environmental preservation, and it plans to accelerate its EV development work.

These plug-in concept are gaining momentum right now as it makes more sense, from the current fuel pricing point of view. Volkswagen AG and Citroen are also developing their own EVs, as the case of Toyota and Honda with their hybrid-EV projects. I wonder if the Stella will ever reach our shores. Likely not, considering the G's unfavorable tax structure with no clear incentives for environmental friendly cars. Refer to the Honda Civic Hybrid price and you know what i mean.

Talking about Subaru, do take a look at the new 7 seater Subaru Exiga. One good review is available from Paul Tan's blog here . Top of the line 2.0GT version comes with 211hp turbocharged engine, Variable Torque Distribution (VTD) system and SI-Drive, which offers three different driving modes: Intelligent; Sport; and Sport Sharp. Yummy....

Fancy a drift, anyone?

Drifting requires a lot more skill and co-ordination and is a lot more complex than doing just one power slide. In a nutshell, it would be safe to say that drifting is a series of controlled power slides.

The foremost creator of drifting techniques would be Kuninitsu Takahashi back in the 70s. He would hit the apex of a turn at high speed, drift through the corner and exit, maintaining the same high speed. He won several championships and a legion of fans. One of which was, Keiichi Tsuchiya. Tsuchiya soon started practicing his drifting skills on the mountain roads of Japan and gained street-cred amongst the racing crowd. In 1988, he helped organize one of the first official drift competition in Japan. Since then, drifting has gained massive followers and even had movies (like Initial D and Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift) made about it.

There are different ways to engage your car in a drift. Techniques vary from beginner to advance. Let’s start with the basic and move on to the more difficult ones.
Note: These techniques apply to rear-wheel drive cars unless otherwise stated.

Hand- Brake Drift - Clutch in, handbrake up then once traction to rear wheels is lost, release clutch, accelerate and counter steer.

Powerslide - Done at corner exit with gas pedal down hard.

Shift Lock - Accelerate, quick downshift, let engine rev hard. Momentary wheel lock will occur.

Clutch Kick - Clutch in and out several times. This is will shock the powertrain and cause an imbalance to the car. Rear wheels will then slip. Apply “toe-heel” position for control.

Braking Drift - Hard brake into a corner, hard throttle off to exit. Driving wheels will lose traction. Steer accordingly. This method can be applied to front wheel drive cars as well.

Inertia Drift - Turn away from turn and then quickly turn back. This will cause the car’s weight to transfer from the inside of the turn to the outside of the turn causing the rear to swing into the desired drift line. Apply handbrake to lock rear wheels.

The techniques mentioned above are just some of the many methods used by today’s drifters. To drift your car with these techniques is not easy. A lot of practice is required for it to be done properly. Before you get any ideas about being your neighborhood’s local drifting hero, let me remind you that this article is meant to be informative and not act as your practice guide to drift techniques. Drifting is a sport and with any sport, risk is involved. It should only be done on the track and with proper safety precautions.

sources : Fandy of sgcarmart

I'm back

I'm back...too busy last week to write anything...so, Spain wins Euro 08, with Xavi winning the Best Player of the tournament and David Villa the top scorer...sapu bersih licin licau....so, you think the top story for this week is DSAI haa? Wait until you visit Kickdefella blog (links provided in my visited blog list, in case you didn't know)..Pheww...no comment