Bridgestone Thailand, Michelin France, Pirelli Germany on Korean X20, in Malaysia

In my previous post, I mentioned that my front Bridgestone Potenza Adrenaline (RE001) tyres have been "eaten" on the inside VERY badly. I had to change those 2 tyres ASAP, however, the tyre dealer quoted Hyundai Svc Center RM 5++ per tyre, so I decided to try to look around first.

My Bridgstone tyres are 1 year 6 months old, with 27k mileage. Two tyres are still good, and have maybe 30-50% tyre thread left. I'm not gonna buy a full set of 4 new tyres just because 2 tyres need to be changed.

At the current prices, to buy 2 new 215/45/17 tyres would cost RM 800-1,000. Instead, I moved the pair of good condition Bridgestones to the front, and got 2nd hand tyres for the rear. Priced at RM 110 a piece, with 40% thread left, they're wider (225/45/17) and of different brands ("yin yong" in cantonese):

1. Michelin Pilot Sport - rear right








2. Pirelli P6000 Powergy - rear left








Hopefully they last me for at least another 1 year. Then will go for a more economical set of tyres.

Car service @ Hyundai Jln. Ipoh (Updated)

Dropped car off at 11:50pm at the Svc. Center after explaining to them:
- use own engine oil
- steering alignment check (GDS)
- rotate tyres, balancing & alignment
- petrol smell in cabin after refueling
- center console creaking
- don't change air filter

They have a cafeteria which serves Chinese food (not sure if its halal). Noticed that their lunch time is at 12-1pm, but there is another service shift from 1-2pm that's working on my car.

I changed the coolant and standard NGK spark plugs. Notice the coolant is for Honda cars!


When the car was lifted up, I noticed both my front tyres were "eaten" on the inside VERY badly. More about this in the next post.


Spotted some Incus stuff in the workshop area:


Spotted a black X20 here for service too. Mr. Shahril from Seremban, drove all the way to HQ to fix his trunk release button. Both the cabin button and remote cannot release the trunk. He's been using the spare key to open the trunk since he bought the car (1 year and 7 months ago). The service center in Seremban didn't know how to fix it, so he came all the way to Jln. Ipoh HQ. However, he left without getting it fixed, as HQ people also doesn't know what's wrong. If I were him, I'ld be FURIOUS!


He's got nice 17" rims on his ride:


At the service center, spotted 2 other X20s:
1. At the car park, most probably one of the staff working there:


2. I saw this black X20 when I was leaving, so I didn't manage to meet the Chinese driver:


On an unrelated note, I spotted a silver X20 at IKEA at night:

TT @ Aman Suria with THM and CH (Avante07)

Avante07 from Club Hyundai was coming to KL on 26th Sept for a visit. I was very sad, as I had made plans for a pot-luck on that night, and didn't think I could make it for the TT. However, it turned out that the pot-luck was in Aman Suria (Mutiara Oriental Condo) and I left by 9+pm =)

Its great to hang out with fella's that share the same passion as you. Many thanks to the THM forummers for making this a "meriah" TT.

The only red Avante in SG, the owner also wearing red:


The ride is lowered with TEIN adjustables. Only 1 finger spacing!


Why Avante 1.6 comes with engine cover and X20 doesn't? Grrr...


CHAN: Guess who's car is this?


So many X20 with Incus bodykit. *sniff* =(


A comparison with my ride, STOCK bodykit =((

Other Cars... and X20 sightings (no pics)

Work has been crazy. I finally have some free time to blog! :)

Sightings
I saw 2 X20s this week, but no time to take photo:
- Yesterday, on the way to work
- Today, in Selayang traffic lights

Other Cars
I love what this guy did to the black Neo bodykit. I'm not sure if this is stock, but the greyish-brownish bodykit looks awesome.




I saw this white BMW X6 on Jalan Tun Razak last week. Its so menacing and screams intimidation. So far, I've seen 3 on the road already. Btw, I think the X6 looks like the 3-series on top, with a huge A$$.


On an unrelated note, I dreamt that I crashed a Porsche Cayanne, by parking it on a high gradient slope, and it toppled over... *weird*

Finally a sighting!

I haven't been seeing X20's on the road since this post on 14th August '09. Finally, spotted 1 on the way to work yesterday morning:

The New Tucson and Sonata (ii)

More and more pics surface, affirming their good looks:

1. C-class, eat your heart out!


2. "The all-new four-door sedan embodies Hyundais so-called “fluidic” design language..."


3. The tail lights look like a stretched X20 lights :) NICE! Love the shark fin antenna too. At least Hyundai knows what works.


4. Simple and stylish. Is that an animation of a car taking a left bend in 1.6km?


Reported sites:
Motoring Sky
Hyundai-Blog 1
Hyundai-Blog 2
SGCarMart <- More pics here!

I can't upload the Tucson pics due to copy-write reasons, but you MUST go this website to view them:
http://www.slrclub.com/bbs/vx2.php?id=theme_gallery&no=1143784

Avante Facelift in SG (ii)

6. Metal foot pedals looks so sporty. Adds 1,000,000 cool factor points and +25 HP too :P


7. Metal gear shift, USB/IPOD input, a button that I suspect is for ECO/SPORT mode.


8. Engine Start button, and alarm with funny hook. Anyone know what is this? My guess is an immobilizer, but the funny hook?

[edit] Kumar confirmed my suspicion that its a hidden key in case the alarm fails to unlock, etc.



9. A reverse camera right above the number plate. Would be great to snap pics of idiots who tail gate for fun.


10. Enhanced rear-view mirror with reverse camera display.


11. Super Advanced rear-view mirror Light sensor, autodimmer, bluetooth, +60 HP :P


12. Darker looking interior.


13. A brighter picture shows a black and grey interior. Notice the chrome door handles, but using the old dashboard meters.

Car PC in X20!

In THM forums, we have our in-house DIY car PC, but installed in a Proton Waja.



However, this guy (freehand) from http://mp3car.com has got a :


Screen: CarTFT CTF700-SH - VGA 7" TFT
CPU: Dual-core 1.6Ghz Intel Atom
Motherboard: Intel D945GCLF2 Mini-ITX MB
PSU: Mini Box M4-ATX 250W 6Vto30V Power Supply
GPS: Globalsat BU-353 SiRF star III USB Mouse GPS Receiver
Memory: 1GB OCZ
Hard Drive: 3.5" 80GB SATA Western Digital
Other: Griffin Powermate

More pics, HERE!

* actually, the google website is powered from his laptop. The in-car PC was still being assembled, and proof whether it worked or not.

Avante Face Lift in SG

Posted by erykool from Club Hyundai (CH)Avante Forum (Link HERE!)

1. Outline smoked headlights. I wish the inner portion is also smoked, like in this post.


2. The rear lights fitted with 10 LED lights. Its perfect!


3. The new grill has got 3 vertical lines, instead of 5. I think it looks like the Merc C class grill. I like it, but incus/roadruns still win.


Original grill:


4. Signal lamps on the side mirror.


5. This is the biggest change, the dashboard. Most CH forummers like it, but I prefer the original design. There's something wrong about the new design. Its trying to look modern and traditional at the same time, and doesn't work for me. However the GEAR indicator is a good addition. Also note the "ECO" mode, which means there is a "SPORTS" mode somwhere :)


However, I prefer this dash below from the Elantra Touring. Its symmetrical, has a proper trip meter, shows you which door is not shut tight, looks cooler and more up to date, etc:


More pics from the Hyundai Korea Website:


Additional observation:
- Another view of the new grill
- 4 reverse sensors
- Chrome door handles
- Suspension looks lower

20% Touch & Go Rebate

Its 4:30am, and I can't sleep coz of a bloated stomach and caffeine overdose (tea and coke during dinner). I was reading Paul Tan's article on the touch&go rebates, and got inspired to rant. Read at your own risk.

<"rant">

M'sians and Singaporeans love sales and rebates. I don't deny that I do. My favourite 4-letter word is SALE. My favourite 2 words are "Warehouse SALE" and favourite number is 7 because always looking for 70% discount. Well, in fact, my favourite number is 7 coz of a few reasons, not to be elaborated here.

So an announcement of rebates will get us (chinese fellas) all worked up, informing our entire network of kiasu fellas to start lining up to redeem the rebate. "Better be the first to get the rebate, after the gomen change their mind, then how?"... "The early bird catches the worm." DISCLAIMER: This is a flawed sweeping statement that may contain inaccuracies as it is my own personal opinion based on personal observation and experience, and it may not apply to you, fellow chinese reader, if you don't fit into this category. (In case I get sued by a slighted chinese lawyer for sedition or inciting racial slurs. With great freedom (of speech) comes great responsibilities!)

Anyway, back to the T&G rebate. I think the whole system is silly. Read the excerpt below, blatantly copied from Paul Tan, for context:

"Claiming your rebate is not automatic. Each calendar month, you will have to bring your card to the Touch ‘n Go center at Faber Towers or KL Sentral, or selected highway sales centres. If you qualify for a rebate, the 20% rebate will be credited into your card on the spot. You can only start collecting your rebates beginning 5th October 2009."


1. I agree with Mr. Tan that the rebate should be based on total amount, and not the frequency of the amount. That would give customers more incentive to spend more. Now I'm thinking about all the available cheap tolls to get to work.


2. I definitely won't purposely drive to Faber tower or KL Sentral to get a RM 35.20 rebate. Parking, jam and wasted time (during office hours) will kill me. The toll booths that I may use (not on my daily route to work) are:
Jalan Duta
• Damansara - to go holidaying (maybe twice a year)
• Batu Tiga - when I visit my relatives (which is about twice a year)
• Subang - when I'm in a rush (maybe twice a year too)

Paying a RM2.00 toll + RM4.00 petrol + 20 minutes time to redeem RM 35.20 seems like a better deal than going to Faber Tower/KL Sentral.


3. On my way to work, I've calculated the the frequency & amount of toll CAN be at:
a) Max - 110 times, total of RM 176 monthly
b) Min - 44 times, total of RM 66 monthly *this is what I'm paying

I can save about 15-30 minutes a day by using Max tolls in (a). This is max 11 hours a month.

Therefore, factoring my rebates for Max tolls in (a), I should be paying RM 140.80 a month if I want to "redeem" T&G rebates.

So the final question is... should I pay RM 74.80 more, to save 11 hours in a month?

<"/rant">

3 Contributed Sightings

3 sightings from 1 contributor:

1. Spotted an Avante on North South Highway near Melaka:


2. Spotted at DJ area, outside the Dim Sum place (the posh one with aircond):


3. A blur shot, of a silver X20 at SS2:


Steven Chen's X20 also was spotted at Puncak Seri Kelana again... I assume for badminton... :)