A Deafening Experience~

Work was overly boring today due to the public holiday.. So, after work decided to do some test on the sound system fitted into the Gen2 (and also due to the fact that a colleague of mine showed off his 'upgraded' sound system on his ride). The factory fitted Blaupunkt built in CD player with radio connected to 4 Blaupunkt surround speakers (2 at the rear of the car while 1 each at the front doors, no tweeters here). The entire set-up is said to be acoustically tuned for the GEN-2 interior space offering a tailored In-Car Communication & Entertainment (ICE) system. It plays songs from the usual CD and also mp3s from CD-R and CD-RW. If that is not enough, a 6 CD changer add on is also available so is an AUX in cable.



But my car is having just the stock set up (can't afford any add ons yet), and so far it has pleased my need for music. A minor complaint here is that because the player it is connected to a small 'bee sting' antennae, the reception isn't that good especially when there are hills and/or buildings nearby. But when it is capable to receive the radio reception fully, the sounds just what I need. It has a function called Radio Data System or RDS. Basically what it does is it enables the radio stations to transmit information to the display on the player, like radio station name, song title and programme information.



It also have the usual functions but sadly it lacks front AUX input, USB connectivity, and also bluetooth handsfree. Well, atleast it plays mp3s on CD-RWs. It's not easy to 'upgrade' it either since it is built into the dashboard but as a plus point, it's also just as hard to steal. So, there's some basic intro to the factory fitted head unit from Proton. Nothing much to shout about and just enough to satisfy most people's music needs.

On to today.. At first, I just turned up the volume on normal radio. But since the reception in the area isn't so good, there's just too much static making it terrible. Settings were trebble +3, bass +5, volume 20. Fealt that that didn't do the car justice, I slide in a CD-RW containing my mp3s. Takes a while to load the contents, since there's like 100 songs in it. :P Once loaded, selected the mix (shuffle) function to browse around.

First song was Daughtry - No Surprise, then Taylor Swift - Love Story, and finally Linkin Park - New Divide. Songs were very clear. Bass wasn't enough, the dub dub feeling was there but not enough, maybe a high bass setting was required. Mirrors were 'dancing' to the beat. And there was nothing else that you can hear! I can't even hear myself sing! :D Can't hear engine rev, can't hear signal lights, can't hear stone hitting windscreen (st*p*d lorry!), can't hear any road noise, can't even hear myself honking! Just every lyric after lyric, beat after beat of pure music pleasure! It was that loud, I'm not joking! Not sure what it's like outside though, was driving so never bothered to get down from car.

Best thing is that there was no plastic bit shaking sound. Not bad fit quality for a Proton. Don't know whether I did any damage to the car, hopefully not but definitely done some damage to my ear drums. And just FYI, the volume can go up to 40! Who in their sane mind will turn up the volume to that level remains my guess. I dare not try, but anyone out there that does, do let me know how it goes..ok? :D

Headlamp's here~

As previously mentioned, both my Gen2's headlamps have watermarks..strangely in the inside of the headlamp. Just pointed it out during maintenance and surprisingly, Proton offered to change the whole headlamp, both of it! I thought it would be just a simple taking off the lense and wiping it then replace it and add those bonding stuff so it remains water resistant, how silly of me~ :P

So, this afternoon..around 1.45pm, got a call from the friendly Ms Nurul of Proton CoSE to inform me that both headlights are already ready for installation. She then asked me when I will be able to go and get the replacement done. Then I remembered that 'they' still owe me a leather seat. When I questioned Ms Nurul, she said she was not aware and need to check on that.

So, since she needs to check (should take about a month or two..:D) I decided that I would go get my headlamps swapped on my next service (20, 000KM) and asked to see whether they can keep it safe for me til then. Ms Nurul said 'Ok', and so that's it. Hope they will keep the new headlights safe and 'new' until I get there probably next month. :D

Sparkling~

After getting 'heartbroken' because of this and this, finally got enough "spare cash" to do something about it. No, no, no..I'm not getting Gen2 resprayed! It's still a brand new car, meaning brand new coat of paint, so why waste the cash to do something unnecessary? :P But still, something needs to be done, and the answer came when I was browsing forums as usual.

The place is known as Detailing Tech. (M) Sdn Bhd, saw the advert here. A lil description of the company:

We are a new detailing shop located in kota kemuning, shah alam.
We use Meguiar's products in all our detailing services.

We also have Karcher cushion cleaner machine for cushion cleaning and steam cleaning to kill those germs/bacteria etc.
Many car owners clean their vehicle exterior regularly but the interior is often neglected.
At best, the interior is only vacummed and the dashboard wipe.
We can clean your car interior for you at a reasonable price, removing those stains, dust, sand and smells.
We also offer individual seat cleaning, when you just want a particular seat to be clean (because your son vormit on it) or just to try us out.

Having a clean interior is important, after all, you spend most of your time INSIDE the car.

Website is updated. Please check for more detailis

www.autodetailingtech.com

Or call me at: 603 - 5124 8018 or 012-6100300 for more details.
Or visit us at Kota Kemuning for a free consultation.

So, from the description..it sounds like a very good place to send your car to for some detailing. He quoted me RM176 for:
1) Wash with Meguiar's Hyper Wash Shampoo
2) Clay with Meguiar's Clay Bar
3) Paint Cleaner with Meguiar's M83
4) Polish with Meguiar's polish M80
5) Wax with Meguiar's M21
and, some cleaning of the interior (normal wiping with Meguiar's products).



Since I was working through the night before, got there extremely early. Shop opens at 9.30am, but I was already at their doorsteps at 8.30am! :P Wanted to go for breakfast, but was simply too lazy at the moment. So waited and waited, finally a gold Honda City pulls up and there he is, the owner of the place, Mr Yong. Mr Yong quickly open up his shop and then came to 'inspect' my car. So, as usual informed him regarding the scratches and how dirty my car is:



So, Mr Yong then drove the car into the shop to start making it happen:

(1st wash and vacuum the carpets)

(Then wrinse it using high pressure water)

(Soap it...)

(...and scrub the rims)

(give it a rinse and then clay it and then rinse and clean it with Meguiar's M83, Paint Cleaner)..

So, wash it 3 times in total just to prepare it for polish (no wonder I never get my car 100% clean before.. :P).

Since I kinda dislike the fact that if I don't op for the engine cleaning as well, then I would end up with a clean car on the outside, but the inside's still very much dirty! So, next up:

(Engine cleaning with some kind of Meguiar's degreaser)

(And then some steam action!)

I never imagined a car compartment being steam cleaned! Especially in the engine bay, I never thought people can pamper cars to this extent! :P

So once everything's done and the exterior has been dried, comes the hard work!;

(Get all the tools and tape up the car's more delicate parts)

(then polish away~~)

(2 person will speed things up)

So, after a long painstaking wait of 9 hours (yes, you read correctly). The car's finally ready. Actually, Mr Yong's daughter was sick and was at the hospital when all this was going on. So, he had to make and answer calls along the process, and that too caused some of the delay but mostly the delay was due to short of staff.

Here are the results:

(swirl mark free bonnet)

(Shiny engine bay)

(spotless spoiler = better performance? :P)

(No more watermarks here as well)

(Can't remember this being silver, thought it was black all the while!)

And to make things even clearer, some before (left) and after (right) shots;

(Shiny! Less water stains >.<)

(Sadly this is still there)

(This has been drastically reduced)

(No more scratch by *d*ot black V*os driver!)

(best of all, deep scratch disappeared!)

However, due to the problems faced by Mr Yong, there are still imperfections like the dirt's still on parts of the rims, the remnants of the polish material and wax still there between gaps, the chrome finishing on the bonnet wasn't cleaned properly, the rear bumper near the number plate wasn't cleaned/polished/waxed!, and that since the engine bay was done up before the polishing, all the debris are stuck in the engine bay!



So all in all is a total 'damage' of RM224 with 1 year of membership for future discounts. Happy with some of the results, disappointed with some. So, for the price I definitely think it's worth it and I think with more help and less personal issues, the result would have been much better than this.

Battle scars

Yesterday (26/09/2009) was the first road accident that Gen2 was involved in. It's not his first body "art" though, but this is the first where it involved the authorities. My dear took Gen2 for a stroll while I went to work in the morning. 30 mins later, got a sms regarding that issue.

According to her, she was turning from Jalan PJS 11/7 into Spectrum Apartment when a pak cik on a motorcycle bang into the left rear side of Gen2. There was police officers around to help out. But being 1 MALAYsians, the police asked my dear to settle with the pak cik. Being her first accident, she was more worried about the pak cik and forgot on the compensation issue. So, we're left with;

3cm paint 'scrapped' off~ >.<

Long scratches along left rear door

Scratches on door handle

Deep scratch on upper part of door

Minor scratch on rear panel

All but the first looks as if they're minor scratches which can be polished off. Luckily there's no dent or damage to Gen2's structure. Well, driving in KL is like going into the battle field everyday. Even if you're careful enough, there will still be nutshells out there who will eventually come looking~ So, drive safe everyone..and Selamat Hari Raya~ ^^

Away from the city~

Port Dickson, 2009..

Been sick and tired of the hustle and bustle of city. So, when the opportunity came for a break to PD decided to take it straight away. Journey begins right after work. Left PJ at 5.15pm, again jam here jam there to Subang until finally hit the clear roads in Puchong. By then it was already 6.30pm. Thus, the official start time was 6.30pm. Took the LDP which joins to the Lebuhraya Lembah Klang Selatan which eventually ends up in Lebuhraya Utara - Selatan.

Too fast?

Throughout the journey south, maintained at 100KM/h..using the autocruise feature again which is very handy indeed as both legs are free of their usual duty (but of course attention need to be on a high as the brakes are still manually controlled).

Green light means less strain~

The 100KM/h cruise can be achieved because:

the road's clear! Not that many cars travelling since it's not a holiday season. And you get to see those who will take the opportunity to push their car to it's limits;



I did too. Will not write down the speed, but CPS is definitely engaged using high valve lift + short runner VIM and the sound it makes..ooo la la~ ^^ After the adrenalin rush along the Lebuhraya Seremban - Port Dickson, finally got to PD @ 8pm~



In the morning, the was a light drizzle but that didn't dampen the mood~



After the morning activities, hang out at this chinese shop for lunch.

manage to pose under some coconut trees.

And we're on the way back again to KL.



Clear roads is a welcoming sight:



On the way back, I didn't drive..hand the car over to my 'tame' co-driver. Since she's a car addict as well as a speed freak, gave her the chance to satisfy her hunger on the wide open roads of Lebuhraya Seremban - Port Dickson .







Since the road was very clear, did some 'racing' with more seasoned drivers with their 'bigger' cars! First up was Dad in his Hilux. No intercooler turbo there, so it wasn't difficult to pass..also Dad wasn't in the racing mood that day~



Then it was the Camry 2.2 of my Uncle EFC. That's a big steady car, but the driver was a cautious driver who rarely have the need for speed. :P



Next was the Hyundai Elantra 1.8 of my Uncle GS. Caught him by surprise I guess, since we manage to pass him easily.



But after that he fought back. All the way to the toll to Lebuhraya Utara - Selatan. And, my Gen2 CPS, was no match for both the Camry and Elantra (car's still new, need to manja a lil) since fuel's not cheap and we're no pro, but we still manage to leave the Hilux far far away eating our dust! :D

So, it was another enjoying ride in the Gen2 for long distance. Again it's a quiet and comfortable ride with great driving dynamics. It's still very composed at illegal speeds, where the driver must be confident of himself controlling the car more than worry the car can't do it~ At these speeds, the exhaust note is very addicting..VERY indeed. Words can't describe it, and sorry we didn't manage to record it for all to hear. >.< Best of all, it's also very fuel efficient! Only one quarter of the tank used to travel to and fro Port Dickson from KL. And here's the rpm @ 110KM/h;



Quite high I'll say, I wonder if there's anyway of lowering it.. .. ...