By Naveen Victor | Motor Trader Malaysia 
Buying an affordable econobox is always a sensible move but did you know for the same money you can get your hands on something a little more special?
So you've got RM90,000.00 to spend on a car but can't quite figure out what to get? Well, as of late, the Malaysian car market has seen an influx of decent performance cars as well as hassle-free econoboxes, it's difficult to make the right choice. Many consider going about picking the right car as a fool's errand. But if you plan ahead, stick to your budget and do extensive research on what you want, the dream of owning the perfect car may not seem that far fetched.
If you've got this much money to spend, and if you have an accountant's 'no-risk' mindset, putting your name down for a brand new Toyota may seem like a darn good idea, and though we won't disagree with you, we can't negate the fact that there are other alternatives out there.
Toyota Vios vs Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (Price point: Rm90,000.00)
The Toyota Vios is one of the most sensible cars to buy if you've just started a career or for a young couple looking for a daily driver. This third generation Vios doesn't have the latest and greatest Toyota has to offer and when compared with Korean offerings, feels a little dated. But there's a silver lining to this. The use of older internals mean that mechanical defects, reliability issues and system malfunctions, which are all too common with the latest 'revolutionary cars' these days are virtually non-existent with the Vios.
Though the Vios has inherited the powertrain and many other mechanical components from its predecessor, Toyota engineers have reworked them slightly and the sum of its parts are just that much more efficient than before. Most of the work that Toyota did was carried out on the exterior. The new Vios is far better looking than its dugong looking predecessor. Its angular contours put its design in line with the current Corolla Altis and upcoming Toyota Camry.
Having driven a few variants of the Vios, I can confidently report that the Vios is the kind of car that can take abuse like a true trooper. Though it may not offer much in terms of driving enjoyment, it will function like a reliable machine for however long you keep it. Servicing costs will be reasonably cheap, wear and tear issues will be minimal at best and resale value will be very reasonable.
If you are now convinced that it's the car for you, I'm here to throw a spanner into the works. You see, for that same money you can get something with far more power, head and shoulders better at tackling corners, and with the kind of looks that would strike fear into most econobox owners looking at one through their rear view mirror.
The car in question is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII. Based on the larger Lancer Cedia, the Evo 7 was a major departure from the designs of previous generation Evos. It is bigger, more powerful, has a reworked chassis, an active centre differential and a decent LSD or limited slip differential.
Back in the 1990s, Mitsubishi was a formidable opponent on the world rally stage and the Evo series from the I all the way to the current Evo 10 are road-going versions of their rally car siblings. As such owning an Evo is the closest the average Joe would ever get to owning an actual rally car.
Under the bonnet is a turbocharged 2.0-litre powerplant that is able to deliver 276bhp and 385Nm of torque. The dash to 100km/h from a standstill can be done in about 5.1 seconds, which isn't stellar by today's standards but is still lightning quick.
The Evo 7 features a clever four wheel drive system that supplies traction to the wheels that need it most, which means regardless of how much of a buffoon you are, it will be very difficult to loose control of the car. So good is the traction and power distribution system that around a tight narrow track, and Evo can keep up with a number of Ferraris and Porsches.
As of now, the car is about 11 years old but because it was ludicrously expensive when new, only the wealthy were able to afford one. So, finding one that has been well looked after won't be impossible but difficult. There is no doubt that many have been modified then used and abused, and as such, if you do see such examples its best to walk away. But you can still find one in good shape, you just need to know where to look.
So which do you choose? Well that depends on what you are using the car for. If all you need is a regular econobox, then the Vios is your best bet. But if it is speed, agility and street cred that you are after, you would be hard pressed to find another car that can offer such driving enjoyment at this price point like the Evo 7.
If you are interested in a Vios or an Evo, look through Motor Trader's vehicle classifieds section for the full list.
Source: AUTOCAR ASEAN
| Reply via web post | • | Reply to sender | • | Reply to group | • | Start a New Topic | • | Messages in this topic (1) |
" Anda masih mencari jodoh? Lawati http://www.myjodoh.net"
" Kertas Soalan Ramalan Matematik 2010 : http://maths-catch.com/exam"
" Kedai Maya : http://halawahenterprise.blogspot.com/"
" Blog Sahabat RG : http://azwandengkil.blogspot.com"
Terima kasih kerana sudi bersama kami. Untuk mendapatkan maklumat lanjut tentang ReSpeKs Group, sila ke : http://respeks-group.blogspot.com.
Segala email yang tersiar melalui Respeks Group adalah tanggungjawab penulis asal email. Owner atau moderator tidak bertanggungjawab ke atas setiap email yang disiarkan dan sebarang dakwa dakwi tiada kena mengena dengan moderator group.
No comments:
Post a Comment