Accent Spotted

Spotted a nice white accent in SS2 today. The bodykit looks superb. Sorry for the blurry pic (nokia E65 cam).

Weekend report

This weekend, NO MODS on the x20. A first for me. Didn't even wash the car... :(

So, I'm gonna start a wish list for the x20:

1. Door visors (2 designs from Sg, normal vs. Mugen styled)
2. Rear mudguard, but if install this, may be affected when put in bodykit 8)
3. Bodykit
4. Courtesy lights (for the doors)
5. Interior blue lighting (foot lighting)
6. Scuff plate
7. Singapore font (embossed) number plate
8. Smoke headlights with Angle eyes
9. HID fog lamp
10. Automatic retractable mirrors with signal lamp (or)
11. Signal lamps for either side mirror or side markers

More to come... gtg sleep now...

Blog counter (2)

The statcounter that i'm using is so cool. I used geocities for my webpage a long long time ago. It had a basic counter, but this statcounter is amazing. Here's the visitor graph that it provides, and its just a summary.



On Sunday, there were 43 page views and 29 unique visitors! I started this blog with the intention of keeping track of my car journeys and mods. However, it seems to be catching ppls attention. I get hits from google singapore, m'sia and other countries too. I'm humbled.

There are alot more other important data I can view and even drill-down. Other stuff are like google keyword searches, entry & exit pages, came from page, etc. Kewl!



Check it out at www.statcounter.com

By promoting their site, maybe I might get a free upgraded account... hehe... in my dreams.

Blog counter

Just added a blog counter today. Come visit!

Antenna Change

The new antenna is finally here. When I got my car (in March), they mentioned that the antenna will arrive in April. April came and gone, with May.

Anyway, its here and installed.

How many people does it take to install a Hyundai Microantenna on a x20?



I counted 5.

Hows the performance? Bad. Period.

I've also asked around for the motorised antenna. There are 2 types:
a) made-in-china, less than 3 feet in length is around RM 50 only.
b) made-in-?, same length as original antenna is around RM 120.

Price excluding installation.

:(

Sightings (Saphire Silver X20)

This X20 was at the Kah Bintang 223 service center on Wednesday. Secretly snapped a photo of this uncle who was also changing his antenna to the micro antenna.




A friend spotted this SS X20 at Puncak Seri Kelana yesterday.



It has the ELANTRA emblem at the rear. Hmmm...

0 - 100 km/h again... and again...

Airport road. Two runs. With 2 other people (young ladies) in the car. We went to McDs for supper, cos the McDelivery refused to send over to our apartment due to the riders don't have insurance, and its late, blah blah blah... anyway... thats another story and complaint in the making.

1) Anti-climax
First run clocked 13.25 seconds. It felt like a sluggish 1.6 engine. I believe its cos I just started the car 2 minutes ago, and maybe the engine was not 'warmed up' yet.

2) Redemption
Second run was done on the way back. Before the run, was revving the car and I found that when revved till redline in 'N', the engine will shudder (only tried once). The acceleration in the 2nd run felt much better. Anyway, clocked 11.25 seconds, not bad, considering the additional weight in the car.

Both runs were done in 'D' and flooring the accelerator. I'm thinking how I would fare:
- with a K&N filter
- without the ladies (don't ask for their weight pls)
- with a bolt on...

:-)

Also found this info on Wikipedia:

# 2.0L DOHC engine 138 hp (132 hp in PZEV configuration) 0-62 mph: 8.3 sec., top speed: 131 mph (211 km/h) MT.
# 2.0L DOHC engine 138 hp (132 hp in PZEV configuration) 0-62 mph: 10.1 sec., top speed: 127 mph (204 km/h) AT.

* 62 mph is almost 100kmh.

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_Elantra

Lookup PZEV here.

Elantra TT - TeamHyundaiMalaysia

cK is back from the-land-of-Mods (Singapore) since the last weekend. So its only appropriate to have a meet up.

Date : 17 May 2008
Time : 8.30 pm
At : Burger King, Mutiara D'sara

mtuc brought some new 'poison', more lights (see to believe...), pivot v-capa and spark earth, Hayden ATF cooler and auto retractable antenna. cK with his blue Avante scuff plates, led signal lights on mirror, spoiler, pivot mega raizin, bolt-on turbo and intercooler (just kidding)...

Anyway, pics:



mtuc's eye lids... i'm thinking of getting some too!




mtuc's advante door visor... i'm tempted, but looking for another design. Theres another set that is mugen styled.




Eric brought alot of fresh bird poo on his car.




The ghost of cK (right) as he was running across while I'm taking a 1.2 second shutter speed shot. I overheard ppl (strangers) comments saying:
- hmm... the new elantra looks nice la...
- wah, what cars are these?




left-to-right: kkng, mtuc, me, ck, mohamed eric


Where were you?

17 May 2008 - ICE Shopping (2)

The brands that I looked at were:

i. Sony XAV-W1
- 7" screen with 5.1 channel output
- 4v preouts
- wired remote

ii. Kenwood DDX 5032, DDX 7039, DDX 7032 (more info below)

iii. Panasonic CQ-VD6505W
- 6.5" screen with 5.1 channel Dolby Digital/DTS decoders with Dolby Pro Logic
- Nice EQ setup
- 5v preouts
- DivX NOT supported
- NOT nice design (looks OLD)

iv. JVC (can't recall the model)
- But the picture quality (resolution) sucks... so, didn't consider

v. Alpine
- too expensive... forget it.

---------------------------------------

Summary:

1. For video display, it looks like the Sony wins (sharpest), followed by Kenwood and then Panasonic. JVC is horrible.

2. For audio, alpine takes the first place, but the rest are not much of a difference.

3. For pricing, Kenwood and JVC. But Kenwood has more value for money.

4. For usability and features, I only went through the Kenwood and Panasonic extensively, and the panasonic seems to have more features. However the Kenwood seems "smarter". But the kenwood has an irritating 'target' on the screen, everytime you touch on the screen. Yucks.

5. Design (looks) wise, the Sony is most simple & sleek. Panasonic too old school. Kenwood and JVC are OK.

By the looks of it, I should go for the sony, but I hate sony (due to past bad experiences with the brand). My conclusion is that I'll probably get a Kenwood player, one of the following models:-

(a) DDX 5032



- 6.1" screen :( with volume dial :)
- Wired remote :(
- 2 preouts only :(
- Cheapest of the lot (sub RM 2k)

(b) DDX 7039



- If I'm not wrong, this is a 2007 model, where the buttons are straightforward.
- 7" (or is it 6.95") display with 3 preouts (2v)

(c) DDX 7032



- This 2008 model replaces the above 7039.
- Didn't get to try it out, but it looks the best designed player so far.
- Too bad its almost RM 3k.

The Kenwood website (M'sia) has a smart feature called 'Compare'. You can click on the models that interest you, and click 'Compare', and they list it out systematically. So clever:

http://my.kenwood.com/Compare/?Models=DDX7032,DDX7039,DDX5032




Anyway after an adventurous and eventful weekend, it doesn't matter. I'm not going to buy any, due to:

- M'sia crime rate. You'll never know when it will go missing, and you need to get a new window (not to mention 'v-kool elite' tinting again). Maybe this is a sign to move to the states... read on...

- its so much cheaper on US ebay. I feel ripped off. Just compare the Kenwood prices, and u'll see. Somemore Kenwood HUs are MADE-IN-MALAYSIA~!

- wiring and warranty issues with the new car. Its always a risk to mess around with a new car's wiring. Wise words I've heard recently, from someones dad... "if u wanna do/play, make sure you do properly... go all the way and get the BEST!... and bufferize your boot!" (hahaha... off topic...) What i'm trying to say is,

- ICE is a never ending journey. I don't want to regret spending thousands on my car ICE... AGAIN. I've spent a total of more than 8k in my last ride (ofcoz I sold off some stuff and got back about 3k+)

- the wife will fry my beans for breakfast, if I spend another (unnecessary) cent on my car. But i will debate the meaning of 'necessary'...

:-)

17 May 2008 - ICE Shopping (1)

I love Saturdays. This Saturday was spent visiting car accessories/ICE shops in PJ. The shops I visited:
- Brothers Kelana Jaya (huge selection, able to test equipment, benchmark prices)
- Elegance Auto KJ (good workmanship & customer service, high confidence)
- HT Auto (Kg. Tunku primary school)
- Some accessories shop in Jalan 222 (opposite Kah Bintang 223)
- Brother Peter, DU
- CV Auto/Audio, DU
- KKLau, DU

Objective: Look for ICE upgrades. I was drooling for a double-din DVD touch-screen player and Mae was considering tinting and single-din CD/MP3 (with USB?) and Honda City console box.

...to be continued (product review).

Its the weekend!

Some await the weekends to party, some to rest. Some for family time, some for religious duties. For me, its x20 bonding time.

Driving dreams...

Yesterday I was working evening shift. I left office in KL and drove home via some highways. The x20 is a lovely car to drive. I don't normally drive fast, but yesterday, I felt the eagerness of the car to just go a little faster.

My previous ride was a Kenari, and I drive the Kancil around alot. The x20 is a totally different car to handle. Pros and Cons:

Pros:
- It feels so stable and quiet at high speeds. I feel safe in this car. (* however, read cons below on cornering)
- Its not underpowered, i feel the eagerness of the x20 to move! Get OUT of the way civics :)
- Steering is effortless, with really strong centering (** centering here means the force to return the steering wheel to its center position after turning)

Cons:
- The springs are soft though. Gotta be careful on the corners.
- Being a compact sedan, the response (force felt) in cornering is delayed. I'm not sure how to explain this, but cornering in the Kenari/Kancil is totally different. I guess this is caused by the heavy rear end of a compact sedan.
- I'm more "careful" and worried, especially looking out for potholes, scared my rims bengkok or scratching the car.

In conclusion, be safe on the road and follow the speed limit. Hehe...

Sightings

EDIT: No. plate removed :)

Spotted a sapphire silver x20 on saturday morning, on the way to Lionel & Christine's wedding. The driver was making the same u-turn into Uptown D'sara as me. I tailed him all the way, and overtook him from the left lane. He slowed down to peek over before I swerved away back to LDP.

X20 Wish List

If I had extra money to burn, without any considerations and responsibilities in life, I would get the following:

1. Super cool and menacing eye lids. They look solid:




2. Headlight black bezel with LED signal lights. Combined with number (1) above, mean, meaner, meanest!








3. Incus front bodykit with grill. DROOOOOLLLL!




4. Incus rear bodykit. Love the spoiler (with LED). Missing the chrome square tail pipes though.




5. Another INCUS bodykit in black and blue. Souper Sporty!




6. Rear INCUS bodykit, with chrome tail pipes.




7. A cool safety feature:




8. Mud guards. But will only get if it matches the bodykit design.

Dreaming on...

Been away...

Haven't been blogging last week. Was busy at work and just came back from church camp at PD. Drove down in x20, convoy with Honda City and Toyota Altis (old). The car is now in Genting with the wife. She gets to take it to the hills before I do. I'm worried coz she'll be making at least 2 trips to Genting (Sat and Sun).

Come monday, it'll be time for a nice, long, car wash.