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COMPLUSORY SEATS BELTS FOR ALL!
RE customers and readers are reminded that all occupants of passenger vehicles registered on and after 1995 are required to wear the seat belts when on Malaysian roads. Those vehicles which have yet to be fitted with rear seat belts are advised to do so immediately to avoid problems with the authorities. If your vehicle manufacturer promised to fit the rear seat belts at a later date, get the promise in letter form to show the enforcement officers.
If you are looking for after market seat belts, do not go for the cheapest. Buy from the authorised service outlets or established auto accessories shops. Ideally, the rear seat belts for passenger cars should be the three-point type with inertia reel for the side passengers and a simple lap belt for the centre occupant.
In large MPVs, lap belts will do due to the installation technicalities. Do not attempt to fix the seat belts yourself, especially if you are not technically trained as a poor fitting can be no better than not installing a seat belt at all.
Encourage Use Of Rear Seat Belts
Seat belts save lives and reduce injuries in motor vehicle accidents. This is proven by statistics released worldwide.
In Malaysia, the use of rear seats belts is being encouraged by the authorities until it becomes mandatory soon.
Meanwhile, it is a good idea to promote its use among your family members, friends and colleagues. When the rear passengers belt up properly, the benefits are:
- Very much reduced chances of fatality and serious injuries.
- Reduced risk of being sued.
- Keep hyper-active youngsters seated properly to avoid distracting the driver, Instill a sense of responsibility and law abiding.
- Driver can make sudden and sharp collision avoidance actions without fear of injuring the rear passengers.
Modern cars usually have three seats belts fitted for use by the rear passengers. The two side seat belts are usually inertia reel 3-point type, that is, retractable when not in use while the centre seat belt is just a 2-point static lap belt. (The 2- or 3-point refers to the number of anchor points for the belt. Usually the more mounting points, the more effective the belt is.
When you teach the young to start using rear seat belts, they would grow up to put on their seat belts automatically. Make the use of rear seat belts becomes a habit – just like washing hands before consuming food. They would feel comfortable even when they see others not using rear seat belts.
If you are using a MPV that carries seven or more people, it becomes your responsibility to ensure all the passengers wear seat belts as so many lives are in your hands.
How to Improve Fuel Consumption
Reduce the impact of increased fuel prices.
It is not likely for the recently increase in price of fuel to be reduced but you can reduce the impact by increasing the fuel economy of your vehicle. Here are some tips:
The Vehicle
- Have the engine tuned to its optimum performance by ensuring every part is working in tiptop condition.
- Use a thinner monograde (from HD40 to HD30) or multi-grade (0W-30) engine oil.
- Use a good quality air filter and clean it every month. If it is paper element type, blow the dust out from the inside with high-pressure hose or knock gently on a cement floor to get the dust out every month.
- Increase the tyre pressures by 10 percent above the factory recommended to reduce tyre rolling resistance.
- Check the wheel alignment and balance.
- Avoid straight through and sports type exhaust system as a strong backflow of exhaust gas helps reduce fuel consumption and increase low end torque.
- Avoid using broad and low profile tyres as they generally increase road rolling resistance.
- Ensure that the brakes are not binding when not in use.
- Keep vehicle weight to a minimum by throwing out unnecessary stuff in the boot and not filling more than half tank of fuel unless travelling out station.
- Use the air condition sparingly and turn the temperature to allow the compressor to cut off more often.
- Dismantle aerodynamic resisting fittings such as roof racks and luggage boxes.
Driving
- Use minimal throttle during journeys so that minimal fuel is used.
- Use minimal braking as braking converts kinetic (moving) energy into heat energy and thus wasting the fuel used to move the vehicle in the first place.
- Avoid roads that are frequently jammed.
- Start and stop the vehicle gently.
- Cruise in top gear at low speed to keep the engine revs low for less fuel used but always ensure that you are not blocking traffic flow.
- Change to a higher gear as soon as possible to keep the engine revs low.
- Drive off as soon as the engine is started and avoid unnecessary idling.
- Extreme actions like free gear during down hills and switching off the engine at traffic lights are NOT recommended for the sake of safety.
- Park the vehicle in shaded or cool places during the day to reduce evaporation of fuel.
- Anticipate the traffic ahead and release the accelerator as soon as there is a need to stop and let the vehicle coast to a stop, not jamming the brakes at the last minute
Fuel saving devices
There is a number of fuel saving devices. They come in the forms of liquids, tablets and solids dropped into the fuel tank while some are attached to the fuel line. Always check out the claims and buy those with written guarantee that the stuff works. Ask friends and fellow motorists who have used them or check them out on the internet forums.
At the end of the day, common sense prevails. Drive carefully, sensibly and never in the racing style.
MAZDA BT-50
Not to be outdone, Mazda enters the double-cab pick-up market with its BT-50. The new utility vehicle comes with a 2-litre direct injection diesel engine with Variable Geometry Turbocharger (VGT), DOHC and 16 valves to generate a maximum power of 141bhp. It is also mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission while the 5-speed manual is a standard fitting. This combination is claimed to provide the best in terms of performance and fuel economy.
The BT-50 also has a fully lined cargo bed for added protection against corrosion and damage while enabling easy cleaning. It was launched in Kota Kinabalu on Nov 20, 2007.Prices on the road with insurance are RM87,713.01 for the manual version and RM92,379.19 for the automatic version.
First Fish Spa Inside A Mall
In Turkey, the “Doctor Fish” (Garra Rufa) nibbles away dead skin from a person as a very effective relief for skin diseases. This treatment is now available right in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Dr Jimi Tan, the founder of Kenko Reflexology and Spa has opened a modern spa on Level 5 of the Pavilion.
One section of the cosy spa is a giant tank with thousands of Garra Rufa fish the size of Ikan Bilis that nibbles away the dead skin of your feet. It is an experience you should not miss and not that expensive – RM38 per half hour introductory rate.
Of course, the other specialities of Kenko are foot, neck and shoulder massages where experienced masseurs rub away your stress, leaving you refreshed at the end of the session.
According to Dr Tan, his masseurs are taught to use gentle but effective massage techniques on the nerve points and do not use brute strength or elbows that often leave bruise marks.
There are special value for money packages on offer since its official opening on 20th November 2007.
MORE THAN JUST MOTOR INSURANCE
We offer a wide range of insurance plans for you.
At Renew Express, we offer insurance coverage for a variety of applications. You can have Personal Accident Insurance with a variety of options to suit your exacting needs. Once insured, you have absolute peace of mind for your medical expenses are covered. More so nowadays when the chances of being injured while on the road, for example, are increasing as the volume of vehicles and the reckless drivers increases.
When you renew your motor insurance, think of your loved ones inside the vehicle should an accident occur. Take up a Driver and Passengers Personal Accident Insurance (compulsory should you drive into Singapore) for additional peace of mind when on the road anywhere in the country.
The cost of hospitalisation and surgical operations is also in the increase. Modern hectic lifestyle and fast foods with less opportunity for exercise are said to have increased the unhealthy aspect of urbanites. Protect yourself and your loved ones against high hospitalisation charges from as low a RM1 a day. As a recognised policy holder, you get to be admitted with less fuss – an important factor when an emergency occurs and every soonest minute of medical attention matters. You can extend these facilities to members of your family for just a little bit more.
If you operate a business, we can offer a comprehensive insurance plan that protects your business against all possible risks. With it, you can concentrate on expanding your business.
We have other insurance plans that can be tailored just for you. Contact us. Best rates and service assured.
PRETTY LADIES TACKLE ASEAN FORESTS
Donnavventura, Italian for “Adventurous Ladies”, is a highly rated Italian travel reality TV show with a cast of six young and adventurous Italian ladies, carefully selected from over 40,000 applicants. The show details the life of six pre-selected Italian women who are set to embark on a 100-day overland expedition across foreign lands as they pursue to be travel journalists.
Out to take South East Asia by a storm beginning with Malaysia in September2007, Donnavventura has successfully travelled to six other fascinating countries in four Mitsubishi Triton, namely, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei and Singapore as they explore the heritage, the beauty and the charm of each country visited.
Donnavventura finally ended their challenging excursion on 20th October 2007 in Malaysia!
Six pretty European ladies selected for the Donnavventura.
Tough going but behind the wheel are ladies.
Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0GT
The Mitsubishi Lancer, once a very popular car in Malaysia, is making a comeback. This time, the Lancer returns with vengeance and excitement. In the form of a 2.0GT, the new Lancer made its debut in Malaysia on August 7, 2007. According to Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia Sdn Bhd, this launch is a world debut and even the Japan market get theirs end of the year.
Based on its rally successes and awesome EVOLUTION series, the Lancer 2.0GT is a street version without the expensive and complicated rally equipment.
On the outside, prominent front and rear spoilers with side skirts and the sporty 18-inch alloy wheels shod with ultra-low profile 45-series Yokohama Advan tyres are enough to lure motor sports enthusiasts to the showrooms.
Matching the attractive exterior is the equally attractive interior. Highlights are the Nappa silky smooth leather seats and sporty leather rimmed steering wheel. The interior is finished in all-black colour only.
To keep up the GT image, a 155PS 2-litre engine packs enough power and torque for an exhilarating performance. It is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with INVECS-III (Intelligent and Innovative Vehicle Electronic Control System) which allows the driver to actuate the manual shift paddles located on each side of the steering wheel when the manual mode is activated.
Best attraction of all is that the Mitsubishi Lancer 2.0GT is fully imported from Japan and retails at a mere RM112,806.10 without insurance for private registration.
Inokom Santa Fe CRDi
Malaysian SUV lovers now have the choice of the 2.7-litre V6 petrol engine Inokom Santa Fe or the 2.2-litre CRDi diesel. Launched on August 17, 2007, the Santa Fe is a 7-seater SUV polled by Strategic Vision as the best in Total Quality Index (TQI) for the small SUV sector in North America.
The Santa Fe is an all-new design by the world’s sixth largest auto maker – Hyundai Motor Company. It has a more round body shape for good aerodynamics but without sacrificing the interior space and off-road ground clearance.
The interior is also said to have been developed to have a luxurious car-like ambience with emphasis on safety and quietness.
Heart of the Inokom Santa Fe is a choice of the all-aluminium alloy V6 engine featuring four overhead camshafts with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) or the 4-cylinder diesel engine with common rail direct injection and Variable Geometry Turbocharge (VGT) systems. The VGT is an electronically actuated system that varies the vane angles of the turbocharger according to engine speed to ensure an almost constant delivery of high power and torque at all engine speeds.
Price of the Inokom Santa Fe 2.7-litre V6 is RM158,827.60 OTR without insurance for private ownership and RM160,979.00 for the CRDi variant.
Proton Persona
Among the dealers which unveiled the Proton Persona on August 15, 2007 was Edaran Otomobil Nasional Berhad (EON). The afternoon event was after the official launch by DYMM Sri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin at Proton’s Centre of Excellence
The Proton Persona comes in three variants – the Base Line (from RM44,999.00 upwards), the Medium Line (from RM49,800.00 upwards) and the High Line (RM55,800.00 and automatic transmission only).
Based on the Gen2 platform, the Persona has an extended boot and the powerful CAMPRO engine. It comes in seven colours and the High Line has a full specification list that includes all-round disc brakes, dual front airbags and anti-lock braking system (ABS) with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD).
EON has so far collected 1,000 bookings and expects to sell more than 10,000 units till the end of this year. The Medium Line seems to be the most popular, occupying 45% of the total bookings. Another attraction is the 5 year or 175,000km (whichever comes first) extended warranty.
Hyundai 3S Centre
Hyundai and Inokom owners in the Klang Valley can now send their vehicles to the new Hyundai 3S Centre opened on August 15, 2007. Renovated at a total expense of some RM2.7 million, the showroom cum workshop is located at No.1, Jalan Pelukis U1/46, Temasya Industrial Park, Shah Alam.
The workshop has a 10-bay facility manned by a staff of 45 well trained and experienced personnel. Among the facilities provided is the Express Service for quick oil and oil filter change and the wheel alignment/balancing.
