Take the tint discount out as most discounts arent actually discounts. More like top up the initial amount and then offer a discount on this so it entices the customer.

So your actual rabate is about RM9,000 which is quite alright. But u need to be a bit careful here. Will this 9K rebate be given for only 2012 manufactured models or will a smaller discount still be offered to 2013 manufactured models later on? As far as i know, Nasim will still offer a discount for even 2013 models to boost sales. Yes it wont be anywhere close to 9k but i would think 3-4k might still be possible. So in actual fact, ure only getting about 6-7K extra discount for a 2012 model.

Most ppl try to convince themselves into getting a car now by the same 'i intend to use the car long term' line. But you need to remember that the point is not if the car will last that long but how much would the cost of maintenance be after say 5 yrs. Conti's arent cheap cars to maintain and Peugeots arent an exception. You may not have much issues during the first 2 years or so but trust me, once you pass the 3rd mark, ull see a increase in maintenance costs for sure. Take it from someone who's had 3 Peugeots in the family.

On a more general note, Peugeot, Kia and Hyundai are known for their more expensive parts as compared to Jap brands. Part of the reason behind it is demand. When sales are low, part availability is more difficult and more expensive simply because of the economics of scale. Right now, Peugeot sales in some countries are alright but in most countries, sales are still very much average as compared to other conti's. Slightly different scenario with the Koreans whereby worldwide sales have increased. In the KPMG Global Automotive Survey 2012, Hyundai Kia is expected to increase its global market by 63% by 2016. This would be the 2nd highest increase after VW. PSA however is expected to increase its market share by only 32% by 2016. You need to realise that these projected increases are based on current market share in which Hyundai Kia is almost double that of PSA. But the giants like Toyota, GM are still up there as well.

So with projected future sales not that exciting, you will continue to see high prices for spares which in turn would mean higher operating costs for owners. This is a problem even for the Korean makes but on a lower level compared to PSA i guess. So in short, although you may have grand plans for long term usage, those plans might be cut short by rising maintenance costs. Plus, every year more n more new models are being churned out. So cars that we drive today would easily become 'outdated' both in terms of looks and tech within less than 5 yrs.

As for me, ive set a modest target of 4 years of ownership. But im quite sure my next car wont be a Korean or Jap. Probably a premium conti.

This post has been edited by cybermaster98: Dec 8 2012, 01:24 PM

If there are many complaints bout rattling sounds, it doesnt look good at all especially since the cars are very new. If its only a few cases, then quite acceptable but if widespread then Nasim should look into it seriously.

42kmph is at what gear la? 4th? How to measure FC at such slow speeds?

may cars including the K5 has this. Nothing great. I wasnt asking what is 42kmph but im asking how could u use that to calculate FC? Average speed is best used for highway driving not in city driving with stop go traffic where the majority of your high FC comes from dead stop acceleration and low gear cruising.

Yes the Optima has this as well.

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Added on December 13, 2012, 9:54 amBro, im really confused. Something is not right about your calculation for sure. 42L to travel 1000km? Even the super fuel efficient Honda City cant achieve that.

This post has been edited by cybermaster98: Dec 13 2012, 10:00 AM

But KL to Penang is only about 340km one way rite? I know Damansara tol to Juru tol is 325km.

Well said. I agree completely!

Nasim is 3+2 right?

First of all, the 408T is NOT designed for RON97. If the mechanic actually told u this then he too doesnt know much about the car. Even if u use Ron95, there shouldnt be any engine check light appearing whether its first time or otherwise.

Secondly, rusty brake disks are normal especially for cars that have been left in the open long. So you get a rough idea that your car wasnt all that new. Anyway it aint a problem. Juddering while braking is an indication of either wrongly positioned brake pads or warped disks. If its a quick fix, then it was probably the pads. But if u continue to experience juddering while braking, then get the disks replaced.

How could under inflated tyres cause brake juddering?

There is no connection between tyre inflation and juddering. Juddering problems are either related to the brakes themselves or the disks.

This post has been edited by cybermaster98: Dec 25 2012, 06:41 PM

Breaking in a car is not whether u drive fast or not. You can drive fast (but surely not at speeds exceeding 150kmph for the first 1,000km at least). But whats important is to avoid rapid acceleration and sudden stops. Gradually build up speed and gradually brake when required. Its the high sudden revs which harm the engine. Yes modern engines dot really require a breaking in period compared to older models, but fluctuating sudden high-low revs are surely not recommended for any car. Break in the car well the right way for the first 1,000km and you will have really good engine response for the longer term.

As for warming up the engine, well that actually does more harm than good.

This post has been edited by cybermaster98: Dec 26 2012, 11:34 AM

An interesting article about the new Camry:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-20/t...crash-test.html

Oh yes i am. Its just another safety award for the Optima. Did u know that the Optima got higher ratings than even the mighty BMW 5 Series in the American NHTSA safety analysis?

http://toyotasucksbigtime.blogspot.com/

I find it funny how ppl actually love to compare against other luxurious makes using acceleration at traffic lights, etc to gauge their own car's performance. How do u even know that the driver's of those cars were actually pushing their cars hard in the first place? They could merely be cruising while you are throttling hard to keep up. Even i could sometimes overtake much bigger cars with my Vios on a straight sprint but does that put my car on par with them? Surely not.

The Passat CC would easily thrash the 408 NA with its extra 50Nm torque which is why its 0-100kmph sprint is almost 4 secs faster. What does that tell u? And how is it that being able to keep up with a car while travelling at a constant 150-160kmph any indication of performance? Even a Myvi can maintain that speed easily enough.

In short, all im saying is that while i agree that the 408 is a good car we should refrain from using such yardsticks to measure performance.

And what am i missing out on i wonder? Your claim that the 408 NA can keep up with a VW Passat CC despite the Passat driver clearly not pushing his car? I think Skyjack has clearly told you that both those VW's can easily tapau even his 408T. I know ure excited about your new ride and yes its a good car but its also alright to admit you made a mistake in your earlier comparison u know? Cheers!

Btw, you mentioned that your RPM at 140kmph is 3,600. Is this correct? If im not mistaken, the Optima K5 RPM at 160kmph is 3,250 only. At 200kmph its 4,250. So how did you get 3,600 RPM at 140kmph on your 408 NA?

This post has been edited by cybermaster98: Dec 29 2012, 11:32 AM

Thanks for pointing that out Jessy. My mistake. I didnt know. I thought 6 speeders was pretty normal these days for European makes. OK that explains the higher RPM.

Whats the RPM readings for the 408T?

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Added on December 30, 2012, 12:50 pmU fully agree with her and yet she is talking about gearbox while u are talking about engines?

And is it also kindergarten knowledge that when a car judders while braking, that means there is a tyre defect as you claimed before? Not sure which kindergarten u went to but i think the general knowledge is that when u have juddering during braking then its obviously due to something thats coming into contact with the brake pads. The tyres themselves dont come into contact with the brake pads rite? Or did your kindergarten teach u this as well?

Im glad u turned down the offer to represent the 408 owners here. Nasim would have walked all over you guys with you as a leader and your limited knowledge. If u want a good leader with decent knowledge about cars (even though he isnt driving a 408), then ask Sleepy. He drives a 508 but still should be a much better choice. Even EnergyAnalyst seems a decent enough guy to represent your group.

Leaders for such groups should not just be ppl with time on their hands. But most importantly must be ppl with strong technical knowledge about cars in general. Check out the K5 Facebook Fan Club page. The group of guys there know almost A-Z about the K5 even to the wiring details. They are even able to provide possible solutions to Naza Kia mechanics on problems. Many of them there are from professional backgrounds and some are quite senior as well. You need charisma, strong commitment, sound technical knowledge and the ability to argue technically and maturedly to deal with organisations like Naza, Nasim, etc or else ure just gonna get blown away.

Even as i speak, a group of them are on the way to Red Cube PJ to help a member whos K5 is stuck there with some poor repairs done. 1 of those members actually drove down from Penang solely for this purpose.

This post has been edited by cybermaster98: Dec 30 2012, 01:02 PM

I dont need to be bothered in order to comment and i will comment as i see fit.

Meaning?

I dont think the potato chips brand would have minded losing 1 buyer the same way Kia wouldnt mind losing 1 potential customer. Btw, its Liverpool who are arch rivals for MU not Arsenal.