Good write up

You may want to visit this blog.

E-Manage

G-Reddy E-Manage has been fitted to my Ipsum by Mutiara Motors.

I have no idea how the Ipsum performed prior to the installation.

First Service

My Ipsum went to its 1st service (with me as the owner) last week after slightly above 5,000 km. The charges were RM88.20 (after 10% discount) for labour and oil filter. When we first receive the car, we were given a free M7 Semi-Synthetic Engine Oil (4 litres). Naturally, we used them during this service.

This is full synthetic

Other lubricants are still in good shape because they were changed prior to the 1st handing over.

I did complained about the noisy brakes and seems like the noise had disappeared but I was not charged anything.

We sent the Ipsum to Mutiara Motors, Johor Bahru.


Our Ipsum now feel a lot smoother than prior to the service.

DVD Voice Navigation

I have been searching for map data download from the Internet, featuring Malaysian and Singapore maps for quite sometime. I was hoping that the map download can then be burned into a DVD-ROM to replace this original DVD-ROM which came with the car.


Hopefully, the 6.5" LCD screen would then be able to display Malaysian map.

I tried to browse the contents of the DVD-ROM, but no hope for any links. I have also browsed Pioneer Corporation Webpages (their name is on the DVD-ROM), but no news about GPS Navigation so far.

On top of the DVD-ROM stated -

Aisin AW Co Ltd
Pioneer
Toyota Mapmaster Inc
Zenrin Co Ltd
Shobunsha Publ. Inc.
Made in Japan (c) 2002

2003 Australia Best People Mover

I found this webpage sometime back but did not managed to blog it. I found it again today.

Avensis Verso (2 litre model) similar to Ipsum was Australian Best People Mover Year 2002 & 2003. After that, the newly introduced Odyssey took over and still at the reign.

It might be said that assessing the people movers in this year's awards was going to be somewhat of a no-brainer, given that there had been virtually no activity in this segment since last year.

Nevertheless, the nine judges applied the usual testing rigour to the three final contestants.

We climbed in them, around them, stacked them full of burly blokes, pulled the seats up and down, drove them on all sorts of terrain and generally re-checked the vehicles and our scores to see if we had missed anything old or new.

Despite little fundamental change to any of the contenders, the judges knew they had to have the discussion (and a little argument) all over again. But even with revised criteria for innovation, the results come up unchanged from 2002: another successive Best People Mover gong to Toyota's Avensis Verso GLX, ahead of Zafira and Odyssey.

As with the winners in most categories, it is consistency that does the trick for Avensis. It is easily shaded by the Zafira in a couple of Value For Money criteria but outpoints the Holden in most of the critically weighted Design and Function areas.

A few of the Toyota's people-mover competitors manage better overall scores in the 'On The Road' section (performance, ride, handling, braking and smoothness) but the Toyota scores at least threes and fours and, importantly, outscores Zafira.

Top 5

Toyota Avensis Verso GLX, Holden Zafira, Honda Odyssey 2.3 Auto, Mitsubishi Nimbus, Honda Odyssey 3.0 Auto

Previous Results
2006 - Honda Odyssey Luxury
2005 - Honda Odyssey Luxury
2004 - Honda Odyssey Luxury
2003 - Toyota Avensis Verso GLX
2002 - Toyota Avensis Verso GLX
2001 - Mitsubishi Nimbus
2000 - Mitsubishi Nimbus

Tyres Replacement 2

Nearly 2 weeks, and I'm still waiting for my tyres. Apparently, 2008 made for 205/60/16 is still in its way.

Fortunately, I got very good price for the tyres. Other shops are asking RM60 / RM70 more per tyres.

Meanwhile, the Goodyear still serves me good, I think. The grip on the wet really amazed me. My confident level is as good as when I was on Bridgestone GIII (on my sedan). I can still manage 110 km/h on a really wet PLUS highway.

Tyres Replacement

Last week I realized that all tyres on my Ipsum are not that roundish in shape. Tyreshop told me that this is normal because the cause are the joining of the rubber.

Not wanting to take any risk, I look for replacement.

205/60/16 is not a common size to many. So far, only Peugeot 407 uses them. Price is different at about RM100. Good 15" usually priced below RM300. For my Ipsum's 16", price is between RM300 (fair quality) to RM600 (imported).

Few tyres were considered.

Goodyear NCT5 - I have not read any good review about this tyre (from Forum). So, this is not an option.

Toyo Teo Plus - according to some review I read, this is a good tyre for entry level. For RM380, I think it is overpriced.

Yokohama C-Drive - not a comfort or performance tyre, it is in between the two. RM285 is cheap but Philippine's made. Heard that this tyre does not last long, so I avoided them.

Bridgestone GR80 - RM450 per piece is not cheap. But I think it should be worth it. But a friend who used them and shift to Michelin XM1 told me that XM1 is surprisingly good in the wet. So, I think I should use Michelin as well.

Now I'm waiting for the arrival of my MXV8. I insisted for 2008 made tyres.

I have also considered Continental. I would love to have those in my Ipsum but the locally made does not cater the size and the other models (imported one) is just not within my budget nor I think it is suitable for an Ipsum, an MPV / people mover.

Falken? Vredestein? Maxxis? Dunlop? Sime? Silverstone? Pirelli? Would love to consider these if I have the time.

Wear and tear 1

Found these today. Thank you, Emas.

1. Steering rack bush RM80/pcs x 4 = RM320
2. Power steering oil RM44/L
3. Tie -Rack end RM380/pcs x 2 = RM760
4. Labour charge RM100
5 Wheel alignment RM40