if you remove about 150kg worth of stuff from the forte (say, the spare wheel, tools, the backseat) you will probably get the same fc as the vios...........

i must be the last to get..........car already here last week, but it took them a long time to verify full payment and send all document for puspakom and registration.........too late today, so it will have to be monday.......it's a long 4 1/2 months..........

the transmission issue is a gearbox one, nothing to do with the engine......

specifically, it's how the ecu is programmed......

all cars have a lag when you shift down a gear.......some short, like 0.2s.......some longer, maybe even 1s, like the perdana 'fuzzy logic' ecu.........generally, the more electronics wizardry, the slower it is......the perdana fuzzy logic ecu ponders for a while, sensing your speed, the incline, how hard you are stepping on the paddle, and the rpm, before deciding to do something........

i am used to delays in gear shift already........after 14 years of fuzzy logic........

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Added on April 25, 2010, 9:13 pmthat is a fact, the car isn't really designed for a 1.6l engine, it's pretty heavy at 1.2 tonne.......

it's meant to be powered by a 2l engine for the standard version, and a 2.4l engine for those who wants more power......and this is the product range in countries like us, canada, oz........

however, for some asian markets, to lower taxes and hence pricing, they plong in a 1.6l engine.........and that indeed is the most popular model........it's a marketing decision based on pricing, not on what is mechanically the ideal........

This post has been edited by limeuu: Apr 25 2010, 09:26 PM

by all indications, the fc for the 2 differ minimally, as expected, as the 2.0 is only marginally heavier, and underpowered cars if pushed hard, actually has high fc.......

there are lots of 2.0 already on the road, since end march........i hope to get mine tomorrow, i must be the last to get it from the original bookers back in nov/dec last year.......

okay with me.......

but forte will always loose out in terms of brand recognition and 'prestige'........

for mid and high range cars, the trend is that they are all auto tranny, that's the market demand.........so most car importers/assemblers scrap the manual as the volume is not enough for them to stock........

however, i think there may be a market for the ex to come with manual and knock a few k off the price some more........if naza wants.....but it probably does little to their bottom line, so not worth their while.........

finally.........

going to collect my car now...........

got the 2.0 titanium silver......wheels which i noted veering to the left on test drive have been realigned, and tyres deflated to 32.......i note the tyres were made in the 5th week of 2010, so the car is likely made in feb........

alignment okay, just a tad of veer to the left, which may actually be the road.......no abnormal sounds so far......went to pump up, sa already put in 1/2 tank, so another rm50 to the brim........checked tyres, it was at 205, so top it up to 220........ride much better than the original overinflated tyres when the car arrived........

all electrical bits works fine.......got the ipod cable, and the k1 form without even asking.......the declared price, you wouldn't believe........ .....it that is true, even after the enormous tax, which is 1.5x the cost of the car, naza is still making a handsome profit..........

engine sound and road noise is muted......an interesting indication.........try honk while in the car, very soft within the cabin.......try the same with other cars......

so far so good.........

so who's who in the pix?.......besides shy kfc.........

for those with minor faults like sounds, door problem, these defects are quite common for all new cars, no matter what brand.......remember it is a mechanical thing, and it is the sum total of the parts, put together by machines and humans, so some defect is to be expected in some of the cars.....

i guess it is your luck, if you get a 'perfect' car, or one with some minor defects, or heaven forbid, the probervial lemon..........

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Added on April 27, 2010, 3:02 pmthat is absolute rubbish........

compressors seldom fail........

the most common failure is gas leak, usually from the cooling unit inside the car cabin......it happens usually after about 5 years..........but my record is my old perdana, where it failed only after 11 years!!!

This post has been edited by limeuu: Apr 27 2010, 03:02 PM

actually, i find it no worse than cars with thicker tyres, in the intensity of the sound.........just the pitch difference........the 17" rims makes a metalic grooooong cound........my 14" and 15" cars with thicker tyres makes a groooooug sound.......just as loud..........

update after 1st day of use.......

still no added sounds.....thank god.........

alignment i think is still slightly off to the left, but very minimal, so i will accept that......

i now know why some people complain a temporary loss of power before taking off when accelerating out of a corner at mid speed (ie about 40kph).......the ecu is programmed to shift up to higher gears early.......in normal city traffic driving with a light foot, gear shifts occurs early, at 1600-1800rpm........it's pretty low torque at that range......so if you attempt to accelerate strongly out of the corner, it takes a while for the auto tranny to shift down a gear to find enough torque.........you will definitely not get enough power at 1600rpm in 4th gear .......

this is fine for me, normal driving for me, it accelerates slowly and steadily our of a turn without fuss of need to downshift........and the low rpm will translate to lower fc........

i think the reason why the ecu is programmed that way is, it's tuned for leisurely drive, with the assumption that if one needs power, one will use the shifttronic..........

note this if for 2.0..........the 1.6 will have a different ecu programming, as there is less power available across the range of rpm.........

msian version does not come with auto window closure.........but it is available in the us version......

naza is gorging their clients again.......with exorbitant parts prices.......

and the other downside is, it's not easy to find alternative parts, unlike for more popular marques........

i have given my review a few months ago.......the 1.6l IS slightly underpowered, and yes there is a lag when pressing the accelerator.......but it really depends on your reference point..........mine was perdana, so of course a 1.6l engine pulling 1.2 tonne will feel underpowered..........

search my posts in this current thread, and you will find my comments on my 2.0...........

nvh is excellent so far, better than my perdana, but then, that is a 14 year old car.........

fc, so far on 100% city driving, it's 10.2l/100km on the computer..........and i calculate based on usage so far, it's going to be about the same as for the perdana........haven't finished even 1/2 a tank yet........

remember, this car is 'cbu' and has an aircon which is designed for temperate climate, and hence have both cooling and heating function.....

even if you do not turn on the aircon, when you change the set temperature, the computer will automatically determine which blower to activate........the default is, for cool air (ie set temperature lower than ambient temperature in summer) the front blower will activate, and for hot air (set temperature higher than ambient temperature in winter) the foot blower will activate..........and BOTH will activate if the two temperatures are about the same.........

it's designed like this........

btw, the term 'air condition' refers to adjustment of temperatures in both directions, depending on the season, and includes warming........it's only in the tropics (like msia) that since there is no need for warming aircon, all our aircons are cooling only..........and hence we have the mistaken believe that aircon is only cooling..........

what do you attach it with, to the surface?............superglue?

there is a small round grilled opening between the start button and the radio.........anyone knows what that is?.........

best value for money, no waste of money......to me is the real v-kool.......

best ir (heat) repulsion.......the effect really can be felt........

jpj compliant........70% light transmission........no need to strip off next time you sell the car before puspakom inspection.........

5 years guarantee........any problem (eg bubbles etc) they will replace, no questions asked........

BUT, be ready to pay double your budget.........good thing not cheap lah.........