Could You Compromise On Such An Issue?
Recently I met two old friends of mine somewhere in Desa Sri Hartamas for a late night mug of teh tarik. One of them was an owner of a Toyota Celica VVTL-i Auto, the other a Proton Satria Neo 1.6. The guy who owned the Satria was a motoring journalist and had only owned the car for about a month. We basically talked about his car quite a bit as it was about to be transformed by Subi of the Promote bodykits fame. The car already had a suede alcantra dashboard as well as a suede alcantra wrapped steering wheel, 17inch rims and BMW-like angel eye projectors. It looked pretty good one might say, but none of the flaws inherited from the basic Satria Neo had been ironed out. Like my previous posting on this car, it had seats perched too high and a rubbish steering wheel and driving position.
Now this friend got some ridicule from me due to the fact that he was an automotive journalist and bought such a flawed car. His argument was that at the price range the Satria Neo was (circa RM55,000.00) nothing could touch its handling. I suppose he is right on that point as journalists don鈥檛 actually make much even though they get to try out (or in his case, trash out) new cars but yet would still want to own a reasonable handling car. But the next remark he made was that he is already looking at the latest range of seats OMP have brought into Malaysia to alleviate the seating issue that the Satria Neo has. Could you compromise on such an issue? I compromised when I bought the Proton Wira in 1998. However, even the Wira at the time didn鈥檛 have such glaring flaws. But, the main issue that I shall bring today is on something I noticed just as the two of them were driving off from the parking lot and out to the main street along Desa Sri Hartamas. I suppose it鈥檚 also about design. The Celica is a low slung sports coupe, and that alone helps. The Satria Neo my other friend drives will have the full treatment of big rims and tires, a stonking body kit and lots of upscale trimming. But all in all, spending RM20,000.00 on a Satria Neo still makes it a Satria Neo, which is the actual problem that cannot be addressed. Yes, yes those who own Satria Neos or Honda Civics will say I am biased or so forth. Would it be better for someone to save the money and just buy a more expensive car? Would it be better just to sort out the performance aspect of the car like I did? The answer is subjective. But what does my journalist friend think?
The engine range is comprehensive, and Vauxhall's latest raft of efficient diesel engines are impressive. The Astra has the substance to back up the style, meaning it well and truly deserves its place in our best hatchbacks list. The fourth generation Renault Megane, which arrived in 2016, is a serious contender in the hatchback class. It blends practicality, space, efficiency and comfort in a quality package. The car boasts a selection of familiar petrol and diesel engines, a wide range of trim levels and looks good, with the brand鈥檚 distinctive diamond logo flanked by a pair of headlamps and the now-recognisable C-shaped LED running lights. The rear has eye-catching LED tail-lamps running almost the whole width of the bootlid. Inside, the dash is modern and clutter free, while the 8.7-inch R-Link 2 Infotainment screen (an optional extra) groups together the sat-nav, driving modes and stereo controls in one clear display. It鈥檚 behind the wheel where the Megane is most attractive though as even a short drive is enough to know the Renault engineers have focused on comfort and refinement.
The car rides well, noise levels are low and the range of engines offer impressive power delivery - although lower-powered models can feel a little lethargic at lower revs. All in all the Megane is an impressive addition to this list and definitely worth considering. The Honda Civic has a history as long as the VW Golf, and over that time it has grown from a supermini to a full-size hatch. The latest model is the tenth generation, and it features arguably the most radical looks yet, and that's saying something after the space age Mk8. There's almost a coupe-like profile to the car, while the angular panels mean the Civic still stands alone in the hatch class with its unique looks. While the looks are a step on from the last model, interior space is just as good. Honda's patented Magic Seats are no more, but the boot still has plenty of room, and passenger space is good, too. Even better is the way the Civic drives.
