Scenes of flash flood !

Is it zombie apocalypse? Abandoned cities, cars scattered around the freeway while zombies running around desperately looking for the livings. Okay, minus the zombies. Above is actually a scene of Puchong's stretch of LDP dated few months ago. Cars were stucked on the highway because flash flood conquered a stretch of the highway. What causes flash flooded? Any action taken to reduce flash flood?

 Flash flooded normally caused by sudden heavy thunderstorm, but might be worsen by development of the affected areas if the drainage system is not done properly. SMART Tunnel is built to smoothen the traffic as well as to solve the problem of flash flood. However, it doesn't seems to be very effective in handling flash flood in KL area as places like Bukit Bintang and Jalan Tun Razak are prone to flash flood.

Pity the driver of this Mercedes-Benz! Hope the owner of the car bought insurance which covers damage from flood.

 Somewhere around Wisma UOA on 10/4/2013. More 'casualties'.

 Wastes/materials that are not handled properly might clog the drain and thus, affecting the performance of drains to flow the water smmothly. 

Jalan Tun Razak long time ago. It's already seriously congested during rush hour and the flash flood worsen it. *shake head*

There's nothing you can do other than to move to higher ground during a heavy thunderstorm to avoid such unfortunate incidents. Feel sorry to those who are trapped in a traffic jam when a flash flood happened.

P.S.: Credits to pictures all over the Internet

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Driving in Singapore !

Getting a chance to drive in a foreign country is an eye-opener experience, especially in Singapore, a country where almost every driver obey strictly to the laws of the road. Once you arrive in Singapore, the first thing you'll notice is how smooth the road is. I'm talking about the surface of the road, not the traffic condition. After driving in Singapore for 3 days, I failed..... Failed to locate a pothole, which is. Even the bridge joint and sewage holes on the road are flush to the road surfaces. Moreover, the road surfaces are smooth and intrude lesser road noise into the car's cabin. Frankly I have to say that the eleven years old car I drove into Singapore felt like brand new on Singapore roads!

There are plenty of luxury and sports cars around but no one is speeding, not even at midnight from what I've observed! This is because there are traffic cameras around (with sufficient signboard warning of the camera ahead, something like Malaysia's AES) and the drivers are educated to adhere to the law greatly.

If you are used to driving in Malaysia, one thing to be noted is drivers have to allow pedestrians to cross the road in Singapore first before cars can proceed. Even if you are at a traffic light junction where you are about the make a turn when the light is green, you'll still have to give way to the pedestrians (where their road crossing light is also green) to cross the road first before you proceed. If a car hit a pedestrian, it's the car's fault!

If it's your first time driving into Singapore, make sure you buy an Autopass at Singapore's custom. Autopass is used to pay for shopping car park and ERP (highway toll which only opeartes on certain time of a day, free on Sunday). Next would be a cashcard, which can be bought in 7-Eleven. Based on my experience, some shopping mall's car park require Autopass while some require Cashcard, which can be a little confusing for first timer like me. Parking coupon is also needed for daytime and overnight car park at public place, or else prepare to receive a fine. 

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2013 Suzuki Swift @ Setia Gemilang Auto Sdn. Bhd. !

If you happen to pass by Jalan Sungai Buloh, you'll notice a huge Suzuki showroom next to the road with plenty of parking space (about 20 lots) for its customers. The Suzuki showroom, which also has a service centre at the back, belongs to Setia Gemilang Auto Sdn. Bhd., and Setia Gemilang Auto had garnered the award of National Top Sales Achiever in the year 2011 and 2012!

It's the biggest Suzuki 4S (sales, service, spare parts, body & paint) premier centre in Malaysia. Servicing cars, insurance claim, windscreen repairation, repainting the bodywork etc. can be done in this one-stop centre. Even tinting service is offered too! The service centre has 8 service bays and able to accomodate up to 60 cars for normal service per day. Due to sufficient manpower, a normal car service can be done within 45 minutes!

There is a drop off key facility where customers can drop off their cars during working hours and collect their cars back when the car is ready for pick up.

For the customers who prefer to wait around the centre would glad that the centre comes with plenty of facilities that the customers can spend their time with. A premier customer lounge with TV is prepared for customers who want to have a rest, and customers who come with kids can enjoy a TV programme there.

Free wi-fi and also computers are available for customers to surf the Internet or work while waiting for their cars to be ready.

Many customers are happy with the service! Thumbs up! Where else should you go other than Setia Gemilang Auto, the ideal one??!!

Setia Gemilang Auto is currently having a promotion where discount on labour and parts are up to 10% and free 23 points inspection check. Interest rate promotion from Affin Bank as low as 2.05% for Suzuki Alto, 1.19% for Suzuki SX4, 0.83% for Suzuki Grand Vitara and 0.52% for Suzuki Kizashi!


The all-new Suzuki Swift was launched few days ago and I had a chance to check it out (as well as test driving it, where a comprehensive review will be done in the next blogpost). The fourth generation of Suzuki Swift, where its predecessor is famous for its nippy character and good handling, was greeted by lion dance!

Cute yet sporty on the outside! It's a fully imported CBU unit from Thailand and comes with standard features such as keyless entry and push-start button! Swift uses a 1.4 litres engine opposed to 1.5 litre engine found in its predecessor, but Suzuki promises the 1.4 litre engine has better performance and fuel economy!

More upmarket looking cabin than the old one!

The previous gen Suzuki Swift club also had their gathering at Setia Gemilang Auto to welcome their new baby (but bigger in size) brother Swift! Time to upgrade perhaps? XD

Operating hour for sales:-

9am-8pm on weekdays

10am-6pm on weekends and public holidays

PERSON IN CHARGE – MR JAMES – 012-299 7662

Operating hour for service:-

8.30am – 6pm on weekdays

Sunday & public holiday – CLOSED

Sales no: 03- 7845 6888

Service no: 03-7842 1999

Service fax: 03-7832 2929

Location:

Lot 7959, JALAN SUNGAI BULOH, OFF KAMPUNG MELAYU SUBANG, SEKSYEN U6, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor

View Larger Map

Official website :www.suzukiselangor.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SuzukiSetiaGemilangAuto

(Customers are able to check out Setia Gemilang Auto's latest promotion here)

*Check out my review on the Suzuki Swift!

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FIRST IMPRESSION: Chevrolet Sonic

 Chevrolet Sonic, the replacement model of Chevrolet's compact hatchback, Aveo, has arrived in Malaysia in the end of last year. This time around, Chevrolet Sonic the Hedgehog is available in two forms - sedan and hatchback, and both are well prepared to enter the competitive B-segment market in Malaysia.

Chevrolet was having a roadshow in Mid Valley Megamall and among the models displayed were the latest Sonic Sedan and Orlando MPV. As for the Sonic, it has youthful styling which appeals to the younger generation (and of course to the young-at-hearts too). The sedan, although is built based on the hatchback, doesn't have awkward styling, in fact it is one of the best looking hatchback-based sedans available in the Malaysia.

 Exposed and protruding headlamps are cool! But cleaning it might be a tough chore!

Well executed design and attractive taillights.

Cabin design has an upmarket outlook with very stylish design that is rare in its class. The instrument panel is one of its kind and is said to be inspired by motorcycle's. Everything felt well built but the plastic used is uninspiring. Also, the vertical storage spaces on the dashboard are awkwardly shaped, not sure a phone or a Touch N Go card can fit well inside or not.

 Awkwardly shaped storage compartment on the dashboard.

 Good news, with a wheelbase of 2525mm, the rear cabin space is adequate for me to sit comfortably with the front seats adjusted for my longish legs. However, the cabin might be a tad narrow for 3 adults to sit comfortably. 466 litres of boot space, well sized for weekend shopping spree or balik kampung trips!

 Both Sonic Sedan and Hatchback are powered by a 1.4 litre Ecotec engine which produces 100bhp and 130Nm of torque at 4000rpm, mated to a 6-speed transmission for both automatic and manual. Not sure about Sonic's performance but the figure looks adequate for a car of its size. Safety wise, the Sonic comes standard with ABS, EBD, Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) and dual airbags. Pricing starts from RM77,508 for the sedan to RM79,508 for the hatch, both without insurance. The Sonic is a contender and will continue the legacy of Aveo.

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Back Seat Passenger: Mercedes S-Class

Telling people you have a Mercedes S-Class is like telling people that you bought a luxury bungalow, owns a renowned football club or simply to imply that you are rich and able to afford Mercedes' flagship sedan. It's a symbol of power, status and prestige; it's a car which (mostly) CEOs or bosses are chauffered around town; it's a car which everyone hopes to own one.

Being most likely to be replaced very soon, the pre-facelift S300 still looks elegant and upmarket on the outside. The exterior design of the S300 has nothing to shout about, but bold curves and sharp lines at certain parts of the exterior prevents the S300 from being dull to look at. However, the best world of a S-Class is not on the outside, but is on the inside......

Forgive me to amendment my previous sentence. The best world should be at the back seats, where passengers are pampered with techs and comfort creatures. Digital climate control is available for each of the back passenger, where there are air-cond outlets at the centre and also one on each B-pillar.

There are also electric-powered leather seats with multiple configuration, electric window blind and illuminated vanity mirror for the rear left and right passenger. Now, the only thing that is lack of in this S300 is a headrest-attached LCD screen. Perhaps it is made available in the higher spec S-Class.

There are acres of space for the rear passengers too. You can dance Oppa Gangnam Style stretch your legs out to the max in the back seats without worrying the front seat is blocking you. Headroom is ample too, good for young CEO (or young-at-heart) with spiky hair. The cabin is impossible to be cramped for you, unless you are as tall as Yao Ming or as big-sized as a club's bouncer.

Pardon me for being underdressed...

Comfort is a priority when the S-Class is designed. Plush seats and great refinement where the engine, wind and road noise are greatly suppressed. Eventhough the suspension soaked up the undulations very well, but it's not the magic carpet ride-like that I imagined. There are some stiffness in the suspension setup that make the S300 feels planted on every corner with minimum body roll.

Visited Raub's gold mine's entrance.

Although the S-Class doesn't come cheap, most of the people who can afford one will have it in the buying list. The Mercedes S-Class not only has '3-pointed star' badge recognition, but the name is already a different (good) story of itself.

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Volkswagen Das Auto KL 2012 @ Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre !

The icon is back by debuting in the Volkswagen Das Auto KL 2012 event! The icon refers to the all-new Volkswagen Beetle, also known as The Beetle. However, I will be focusing on the event instead of The Beetle in this post (for more info on The Beetle, click here). One of the improvement this year compared to the same event held last year is the changes in the registration system. Visitors have to register online for their free ticket according to the session they want, thus it reduces the waiting time and helped the show to run smoothly.

The main character of this year's event is of course The Beetle. Parts of the older generation Beetle were displayed outside of the hall for your viewing pleasure while waiting for your showtime.

Once we are allowed to enter the hall, we were filled with documentaries of the older Beetle which shows how tough the Beetles were made while waiting for the show to start (and it started on time). The older Beetle is so well-built that it can wade through flood and is literally air tight as mentioned by the person in the video!

There were interviews with some Beetle owners who told us some of their fondest memories with their Beetle:

After a series of performances and singing, five Beetles in different colours gathered on the stage. Boy, they are gorgeous! I'm sure the design can stand the test of time very well :)

You doesn't need me to note how stunning looking the yellow 2.0 TSI Beetle is! 2.0 TSI is unavailable in Malaysia for the time being and will be launched in the future.

Daytime running LED light for the 2.0 TSI.

1.2 TSI engine with 105PS at 6000rpm and 175Nm from 1550-4100rpm.

Inspired by older Beetle - body coloured dashboard. One-of-a-kind design!

The 310 litres boot doesn't look small to me! Rear seats can be folded in case if you need to fit in something bigger.

Other than The Beetle, Volkswagen also showcased some of their latest clean technology like this Polo.

 Here are the mockup of the famous DSG gearbox and 1.2 TSI engine.

 Volkswagen also showcased some of the existing products such as the Volkswagen CC, Polo Sedan and Sharan. Volkswagen allowed the members of the public to enter the display cars this year, it proves that Volkswagen listened to the feedback from the public!

Other than the exisiting product lineup, there were also some models on display which are not selling in Malaysia right now. They were the Touareg Hybrid, Amarok pickup truck and Multivan.

Huge cabin space in the Multivan!

Das Auto KL 2012 has more interaction with the visitors compared to last year too. Children can have fun by joining the 'Little Bugsters' area for colouring activities with the guidance of the friendly staffs.

Families can also take their family portraits in the photo booth, where there were few templates to be chosen from. Check out the happy kid with his dad 'in' the Volkswagen Beetle!

Volkswagen 'fan' were aplenty for visitors to take one home. I can see that Volkswagen invested a lot in the event. Well, no disbursement, no profit, right?

All in all, the event is a great success in debuting The Beetle to the public. Hope the Volkswagen Das Auto KL event will be back in next year!

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