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Bila kita bayar flight ticket, contohnya untuk ke Jepun ke ape ke, bila kita sampai di sana, kita digelar “tourist” kan?  Untuk bergelar tourist, kita kena ada requirements yg tertentu seperti kena ada passport, visa, duit, hotel dan lain2. So, our government pays to Russian to fly our first “Astronaut“, isn’t it called a “tourist” too?

Astronaut or Cosmonaut adalah gelaran kepada mereka yg bekerja keras selama bertahun-tahun sebelum naik ke angkasa. Mereka mempunyai kepakaran masing-masing dalam pelbagai bidang yang diceburi yang boleh membawa kepada kemajuan pembangunan teknologi angkasa. Mereka bukan hanya membawa yoyo atau rendang untuk diuji di sana kerana sudah ramai angkasawan lain yang sudah buat lebih daripada itu.

Apa yang ditunjukkan di TV sepanjang coverage angkasawan negara itu bagi saya hanya memperbodohkan negara kita sebenarnya. Kita mungkin berbangga dan tak dinafikan yang saya juga berbangga kerana ada orang kita dapat naik ke angkasa. Tapi apa yang ditunjukkan di TV itu hanya memalukan negara sahaja. Dan juga berita-berita yang disiarkan di media massa hanya memperbodohkan negara dan orang kita. Mungkin rakyat kita rasa best dan bangga. Tapi pandangan negara lain macam mana? Mungkin anda dah baca penulis dari Australia menulis di akhbar tentang situasi ini. Malaysia not “boleh” but “stupid”. Apa yg ditulisnya ada kebenarannya. Sampai bila kita nak buat camtu?

The conclusion is, Astronaut or Cosmonaut is the person who get paid or volunteer for Space Mission, NOT by paying for a Space Mission.

The all new Toyota Vios officially launched on Friday, 19th October 2007. I was one of the car enthusiasts came to see it live at Shah Alam’s Toyota showroom on that launch date. My father kept on saying that I should buy this car as for loyalty to my company which is UMW Corporation, the parent company of UMW Toyota Motors Sdn Bhd. Well, I could get staff price and minimal car loan interest rate for any Toyota & Perodua cars. So I say, lets try it out.

When I first entered the showroom, I feel that the car is much more attractive when seeing it live in front of my eyes. I saw three Toyota Vios models which is 1.5E, 1.5G & 1.5S where the 1.5E is the standard lowest spec, 1.5G is the standard spec and the 1.5S is the sporty high spec. I quickly go for the 1.5S as it attracted my eyes. For me, the new Toyota Vios has great design especially the front design. I guess it has no flaws for its exterior design. The interior cabin has been improved slightly and has much bigger space than the previous Toyota Vios.

Actually, before I came to test the new Toyota Vios, I was skeptical for its interior dashboard cabin. Most people told me that the dashboard is made of cheap plastic. At first I assumed it to be true. But then, I came there and to see it live. I guess those people were wrong. The interior dashboard is fine. It does not look cheap as they mentioned and it does not look luxurious either. Looks fine to me. With the centered metel panel which I does not fancy me very well, I guess the interior is OK for me. Not so great and not so ugly either. But what I don’t like is the dashboard integrated audio system. The LCD screen looks very cheap indeed. Just like my uncle’s Modenas Elegan LCD speedometer screen quality. This somehow can create some negative comments on this car’s audio system.

As for the cabin space, I guess it is true that this new Toyota Vios has slightly bigger space than before. I sat at the back passenger’s seat and I think it is fine. Not too small and not too spacious either. But I guess it is much more comfortable with only 4 people inside this car at one time. However, it can easily accommodate family of 2 adults & 3 small kids with no problem.

The 1.5 litre engine is still the same as it predecessor. It is 1.5 litre VVTi DOHC. It is enough for the car but the engine sound is kinda irritating. It does not sound like a smooth engine. Although the car has good pick up acceleration but the sound of the engine is like an “over work” engine. Maybe it is because this Toyota Vios is still using the old 4 gear automatic transmission with their Super ECT technology.

It has good suspension setup though. New Toyota Vios has a very comfortable ride. It is much comfortable than the previous Toyota Vios. I must say this is one of the good points of this car. However, people who likes to take sharp corners and driving aggresively will find that this car doesn’t suit their driving style.

Well, I’m not a professional car review writer but what I can say about this car is this new Toyota Vios may be attractive for its exterior design, but it is still lack of quality and new technology efforts. To compare with its rival, Honda City 1.5 Vtec, I guess Honda City still won in many aspects although the exterior design is a bit ugly for certain car enthusiasts. Honda City does have the 7 speed mode CVT transmission with its shifting gear button at steering. Not only that, Honda City still has bigger and spacious interior cabin that makes it much more comfortable ride for family of five. The boot is bigger and wider than the new Toyota Vios.

What I do not like most about this new Toyota Vios is that when I sat at the driver’s cockpit, it feels cheap. It’s not because that I drive Honda City 1.5 Vtec to my office everyday or it’s not because of I like Honda. It’s because of it does feels cheap. Okay, maybe for Proton or Perodua owners that want to shift to this new Toyota Vios, they will feel great about the car as they haven’t experienced or own other than national car. But I do think that some of them also will feel like, “I feel like I’m driving a Proton Waja or Wira”. Or maybe they feel it doesn’t make any difference by shifting from Proton to Toyota. Well, I won’t be surprise. Maybe this will make people start to think that local Toyota’s quality is just like a Proton.

It is quite frustrating when a big giant Japanese car maker like Toyota built a car that feels cheap with some low quality stuffs inside the car. I love the old Toyota that has great quality and great build up. But since these few years, I guess the local company or the Thai plant which assembles Toyota cars wants to maximize profit by cutting down the cost that resulting the low quality build up car. I won’t be surprise for that also.

My conclusion is that if you are driving a Honda or Nissan, forget about this new Toyota Vios. Look for something else unless you want it as a second car or for your daughter or son or your wife. Honda & Nissan never failed me as I feel very “luxury” or “expensive” whenever I’m in the driver’s cockpit. Honda & Nissan did put their customer’s satisfaction as their main priority by building great quality with new technology cars over the years. If you don’t believe me, try to test drive the new Toyota Vios today and then try its rival, the Honda City 1.5 Vtec or even the new Nissan Latio along. You will understand of what I’m trying to say here.

For now, with the new Toyota Vios 1.5G standard spec going for RM84,800 and Honda City 1.5 Vtec going for RM85,800, I guess the Honda is so much worthy with every penny that you will spend. Besides, Honda City is much more fuel saver car.

I truly love the new Toyota Vios exterior design but that doesn’t mean that the car is good. So, come on Toyota. Give your customers some satisfaction with new technology such as 5 speed automatic transmission(this can save much more petrol by running the engine smoother) or even a paddle shift on steering to start compete with your rivals.

More info on this new Toyota Vios specification & prices at http://www.toyota.com.my

Last Day of Ramadhan : Bought a new Hari Raya watch, Guess Collection (Gc). The price? No need to know. See it here. Nice eh?

First Day : Duduk kat rumah je. Sedara mara datang. Sampai ke malam.

Second Day : Beraya ke rumah sedara kat Selayang. Then gi Sg Wang & Lowyat Plaza. Bought DVI cable for my new HP LCD monitor.

Third Day : Watched ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ at GSC, Midvalley Megamall alone. Having lunch with family at Chili’s. Shopping at the newly shopping heaven at Midvalley, The Gardens. Bought a Dockers shirt & belts.

Fourth Day : Just sit at home watching TV.

Fifth Day : Back to work! Boring!

Well, that’s the life of KL boy since childhood days and that is my Hari Raya. Hehehe…Cheers!

### - Above picture is my cat, Tiger, during the 1st day of Syawal. He likes chicken!

Sempena bulan Syawal yang hampir tiba, saya ingin mengucapkan Selamat Menyambut Hari Raya Aidilfitri kepada semua yang mengenali saya dan seluruh umat Islam di seluruh dunia. Maaf Zahir dan Batin. Maafkan saya sekiranya ada salah dan silap dari segi tutur kata mahupun tingkah laku. Semoga bulan Syawal ini akan membawa seribu erti buat kita semua. Dan juga semoga anda semua bergembira berhari raya di samping keluarga dan sanak-saudara yang tersayang.

Salam Aidilfitri!