Sonyman's 2009 Car Awards

So Car Bikes and Trucks (www.CBT.com.my)has announced the Peugeot 308 is the Overall car of 2009
I also would like to give my view about the cars this year that i have come across. Well of course mine has no physical awards to be given away, but for the fun of it lets have a view of what cars are available in Malaysia.

So what do you think is the best selling car of 2008? well the answer is very simple. Honda City, or Toyota Vios, both were winners, because both had great fuel efficiency, both were within RM 80k. Which most Malaysian would spend the money on. Why, probably that most Malaysian's buying price point. Malaysian Buy cars based on the price. Never on segment but always on the price. Sad Sad.
The most anticipated Car of 2009
Well the new city has a nice look unlike the old one, which was kind of weird. But anyhow it had oversell most cars in the market due to its, super efficient fuel features and great space. The nearest competitor was Vios, head to head, if you didnt buy the City, you would have bought the Vios, because you dont have a choice. If you hate both cars, prepare to spend more, or buy a P1.
When the new Vios came in, it was a little akward, due to the irregular design, the VIOS was called the Dugong. While everyone who hated the design, waited for the upcoming CITY. The Vios had improved the from the previous design, which was space, it had power, it was fast, and it was for the sales people the debate of which saved more fuel kept on. The old Vios lack the space, but it had the power, where the City Idsi model fail to deliever. Most op for VTEC engine.
Nissan too launch a mid segment model called the Latio, which had some nice toys packed into it. The Latio had the space, the luxury feeling but on the specification part, it lacks the upper limit BHP. meaning no power when you go untill certain speed. The lower torque had nice numbers. The Latio is responsive, and had nice interior. Nissan had shift their selling point into interior part of the car. If you buy the Latio, you didnt buy the looks but the luxury in the car.


So the latio as an option with a different taste. Next best option was Hyundai Elantra which was also fighting within price. You get a 2.0L with only RM93000, unfortunately, it didnt sell well. Notoriously Korean cars are not very much better than P1. So most Malaysian kept their money away from Korean made cars. Kia Spectra was not a good selling car as well, Kia kept a low profile. Till then the Malaysian roads were conquered by Vios and City.

Things start to change when the Kia forte made its appearance in America, It had a whole new look and packed with new engines. Very promising, and best of all it is in our shores, I personally loved this design, with its wonderful toys packed into it, plus the price point, at RM93800 that is a 2.0l engine, with all the features you expect in a car. The Kia Forte i forsee will be on the roads in increasing numbers by next year. Although the numbers will never beat the figures of Toyota and Honda, Malaysian are giving the Koreans a new hope in the price less than RM 100k segment. We cannot discuss on segment, as i was discussing just now, we discuss on price point, The perfect looking Forte had its first launch not took long ago and the booking numbers are rising every day, but of course it takes time for the car to prove itself how well made was it, It passed the first stage to impressed those who have felt the car and seen it, it had wowed me, and i have great respect for its designer. Peter Schreyer fomer audi designer. Good job Kia, keep the great design coming. Korean cars are notoriously famous for is poor engine, low quality plastics used, bad noise insulation. And espensive service and poor technical service from NAZA.
Hopefully the forte and NAZA reputation will improve proving that the Koreans too can help us Malaysian to enjoy our RIDE!!! hehe, i like the word.

New looks for Altis, somehow todays new design has the head light jutting out, Like the Camry, the Altis share the same kind of design, Frankly speaking, there isnt anything new between the new Altis and the old one. Almost the same in specifications, same old engine, and same old specifications, toyota just put a new body into the current Altis, thats why you dont see as many as the previous model. The New Altis has add on sequential gears, well like triptronic, still a 4 cyclinder engine with 4 gear auto, the City iVTEC has 5 gears.
Civic has no change since it launched, Only minor things like face lift, but it is still a great looking car untill today. Malaysian are still buying CIVIC because of its looks. Power and fuel efficiency. At least you get a 5 gear auto and a option of 2.0l if you are looking at this range. Within so many cars the Civic still rule the road, the Altis is just next to it.
Not forgetting Nissan with the Sylphy 2.0l Again with its price range at RM106,000. The Altis is at RM120,300 and you get a 1.8L engine but a bit more things packed into the car. Again Nissan had made the interior of the Sylphy very nice, spacious and nice toning colour, This impresses those who are looking at alternative. The Design, Sylphy share the same problem with the Latio. What is the problem with Nissan? Why the design of the cars are so weird. Come on Nissan, you can do better than that.

For the mid size most sexy looking car on the road, I give the awards to VOLVO S40 and the
Peugeot 407, European segment. The New VOLVO S40 has new improved lower specification engine. From a 2.4i engine now fitted with a 2.0L but with new Powershift as its new feature, the engine improves fuel efficiency, power shift is a twinclutch system. You dont loose power during gear shifting. the engine can be found on Mazda 3 and Ford Focus. As a parent company of VOLVO the new s 40 will share a lot of technology from the Focus. Design wise it is perfect for executive that just love nice sexy looking car. Especially this white one.

Peugeot 407 is also very very sexy. nothing much to update. but this car i was loving it a long time ago.
On the high range car segment. RM 150k and above. There is not much of a choice to choose. Accord, Camry and Mazda 6. Although there are some more cars in the market. but these 3 is what you see most on the road.


It is kind of hard to decide which is sexier. Of course the Mazda come with better quality because the car is CBU, fully imported. No Mazda is locally assemble. So i presume the quality of Mazda 6 is far better than Camry and Accord. The new Accord does look sexy, smart and elegant. The Camry on the other hand looks powerful, mascular, and meaty. The Mazda 6, is more like all the 2 cars, but very sleek and smooth, Zoom Zoom feeling. Of course which car would you choose. Depends on which fan are you, are you a Mazda Fan, Honda Hard core fan or a Camry fan, If you are neither, look somewhere else. You will find somthing. But if you still wanna go for the Jap's get the Mazda. 2.5l version.

New S80 SexyWhat Can i say, VOLVO again The new S80 does impressive things. Although Merc and BMW has it all, But Lets give VOLVO a chance to win something. It is not common on our Roads. You will see one or 2 on and off KL roads. When i do see one, i just keep staring at it. It is just so sexy.

This car debute in Iron Man

Well the Audi R8 i had the chance to Molest it externaly in NAZA world, It is a super car, in line with Porches and Ferari's also Lambogini's I just love Audi design and the R8 is just one super car that really makes a person get orgasm. Meaning having a ultimate feeling when looking and touching it. Well if thats satisfaction, what is coitus with your wife or lover? Hehe , man and their weird feelings towards cars and hifi. Churning out at 414BHP for the V8 version, the Audi R8 is sure a super fast car, at RM 799,999 in NAZA show room it is sure a great car to buy. But if you are really looking into this super car. Prepare to get deaf with the sound of the engine roaring at the back of you. On the other hand the Porsche Panamera i think is probably a more comfortable car to drive and ride in, Still the same BHP at 400 BHP but costing at about 1mil. This Panamera is a real family super car. Imagine you got 3 friends would wanna enjoy the ride in your Porsche. You can bring them along, its so nice, but if it were a 911 or a R8 you can only bring one.


SEXY SUV segment
On the SUV that is on the road, the most fantastic futuristic design is the VOLVO XC 60. With its most anticipated wait, this XC or cross country. New toys like the Auto city Braking. City speed detection. This feature will make sure you dont bang the person infront of you.


The Mazda CX9 is also one SUV that deserves the respect of a luxury SUV, at its price tag of 300k. It just feel very luxury seating inside the CX9, even the BMW X5 looses out on its luxury feel, Same goes with the Audi Q7. i wonder why you should pay so much for the SUV when you can get a CX9 at less then 300k. Sadly for companies like SAAB, this is one company that will be long gone. No more in existance. If no one aqquire the company soon. If GM cant find a buyer, they will scrap this company. So sad. I just wonder why companies do this. What will happen to the future models. This is a great car, but sadly, if no one takes it. it will be in the history books.
So what car i like

Well, the most sexy of all cars for my eyes would have to be the Audi A4 B8 model, the one with the LED lights. Is is just nice size, comes with selectable drive features. Very modern design. Packed with nice toys. Adaptive Cruise control, sensor for this and that. it seems kind of all in one package. Even the B7 model is so sexy. For this car i would aim at getting it in 5 years. By then cars will be different , more newer models will replace this one, but at least i get to drive the car i like and love so much.

What can i say this Audi A4 is breathless, and of course if i can i will drive one of these in the future.