Way To SaveFuel Costs Intelligently

Here's My thought about saving fuel tips

If you have been looking for ways to optimize your fuel spending then you are not alone. Infact, whether you are reading this as a family man, individual or a fleet manager or a fuel card company, chances are that you are always looking for ways to save fuel costs and add to operational excellence. And if you are one of the fuel cards suppliers then you can testify to all these facts.

Now, you may be wondering as to how can fuel costs contribute to operational excellence. Well, they are interlinked. You save the fuel costs and optimize the cost of operating your vehicle or fleet and the result will be additions to the bottomline from unexpected quarters.

How can we save fuel costs by altering our habits?

Here are the 5 things that may help you optimize the fuel spending and control fuel pilferage and loss:

1. Running the vehicle at optimum speed - Each vehicle is designed to run at optimum speed. If your make of car or truck is designed to run at maximum fuel efficiency at 70 mpH, then try to run it at 70 mpH rather than going over at 90 mpH or so. This can translate into a fuel cost conservation of up to 10%.

2. Running with right tyre pressure - All vehicle manufacturers vouch and specify the right tyre pressure that must be present in the tyres for efficienct fuel consumption. Rad the manuals and you will realize that having right pressure in the tyres and maintaining the optimum pressure without fail can increase fuel conservation by up to 20%.

3. Rolling the Windows - If you drive with open windows then you are causing stress on the vehicle and it will require more fuel to beat the force of wind that tends to bog the vehicle down. Roll up the windows and you will ensure that your vehicle zips and drives merrily.

4. Limiting Aircon Use - It may be difficult to control the aircon usage; however an effort to make use of the vents rather than the aircon over small distances will translate into fuel savings.

5. Switch Off the engine - At intersections where you expect the stoppage time to be in excess of a minute, it will be wise to turn off the idling engine. This will decrease the fuel consumption at intersections and contribute to overall fuel conservation.

If you follow these 5 strategies for a month, you can expect to save 10-20% of your overall fuel bill. In essence, all that you need to do is to become a smart vehicle owner or fleet manager. Let the folks know that such small alteration in their daily habits can translate into better fuel efficiency and an optimized fuel spending that is a win win situation for all.

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The Myvi - Viva Comparisons

Maybe some of you who are thinking of buying the Perodua Myvi are now considering buying the top of the range Perodua Viva 1000cc Premium instead. So better do a little comparison here.


Power

Interestingly, it seems that the same 1.0 liter DVVT EJ-VE engine in the Perodua Viva makes more torque than the Perodua Myvi’s 1.0 liter DVVT EJ-VE engine. The Viva claims to make 90Nm of torque at 3,600rpm, while the Myvi 1.0 liter only makes 88Nm at 3,600rpm – that’s a minor difference of only 2Nm though.

Since the Perodua Viva 1.0 liter would clearly beat the Myvi 1.0 in terms of power to weight ratio, so let’s compare the Myvi 1.3 to the Viva 1.0 Premium instead. The Myvi 1.3 weighs 955kg and puts out 86 horsepower. That’s a power to weight ratio of 0.09 horsepower per kg. As for the Perodua Viva 1000cc Premium, it weighs 800kg and puts out 60 horsepower – that gives it a power to weight ratio of 0.075 horsepower per kg.

So we can conclude that in a drag race, the Viva won’t be able to smoke it’s larger sibling in stock form. That doesn’t mean the Viva is terribly slow – in a previous supermini shootout done together with folks at NST Life & Times, I found that the Myvi effortlessly smoked other superminis with larger 1.5 liter engines.

Another thing to point out is the Perodua Myvi 1.3 liter uses a 4-cylinder engine, and 4-cylinder engines are alot smoother than 3-cylinder engines like the one found in the Perodua Viva. 3-cylinders have more vibration, which might end up being felt by you in the steering wheel and other points in the chassis.

Fuel Economy

According to Perodua’s own charts, the Perodua Viva 1000cc Premium can travel 17.5km per liter of petrol on a combined cycle which I suspect involves alot of light footed driving and highway cruising. This is for the manual transmission. The Myvi 1.3 manual is rated at 17.1km per liter of petrol. Very similar fuel consumption, however the people on the streets who actually own the Myvi 1.3 manual reports actual mileage of about 13 to 14 km per liter if driven frugally.

As for the auto transmission, Perodua says the Myvi 1.3 Auto can get 13.5 km per liter, however the average man on the street usually gets about 10 to 11 km per liter. Comparing it to the Viva 1.0 liter automatic, Perodua says it can get 15.1km per liter, so expect about 12km per liter in reality.

Thus we can assume the Viva automatic should be a little more frugal than the Perodua Myvi automatic, but for the manual transmission models actual fuel economy should prove to be about the same.

Space

The Perodua Viva is actually longer in the interior than the Perodua Myvi at 1845mm compared to the Perodua Myvis 1835mm, but a great margin narrower. Having a long interior is important, it ensures the rear passenger legroom is at comfortable levels, just like the Perodua Myvi’s. However, being narrower the downside is you can’t really fit 3 people in the rear bench comfortably, making the Perodua Viva more of a 4-seater than a 5-seater. The Viva’s boot is only 149 liters with the rear bench upright compared to the Myvi’s 255 liters, significantly smaller, however you can extend this size by dropping the rear passenger bench to create a 449 liter space.

Ride and Handling

Nothing much can be said about the Perodua Myvi’s handling abilities other than the fact that it’ll probably get you to work and back safely. From what I’ve heard from some journalists who’ve driven the car, I think I shouldn’t expect much of the Viva’s either. Which is a shame as the Kelisa was a somewhat fun drive. Many will miss the Kelisa’s zippy DNA which is reportedly missing in the new Viva. If you want a driver’s small car, go get the Proton Savvy.

Equipment levels

One thing I am concerned about is the lack of an integrated CD player head unit in the Perodua Viva, which means Viva owners will have to be careful about where they park their cars lest their mirrors get smashed and their head units stolen. However, this means the CD player can be easily swapped.

The equipment level of the Perodua Viva 1.0 liter standard is disappointing to be honest, not even proper alloy wheels are supplied, instead you are given steel wheels. This means a difference of roughly RM4k on average gets you airbags, ABS, proper alloy wheels, wing mirrors with signal lamps, roof spoiler, and etc. I’m really not sure if it’s worth it or not – I’ll leave it up to you.

The Perodua Myvi on the other hand has just about everything you need in the baseline 1.3 liter model. It also feels more premium because of an interior design that looks abit more higher grade, as well as Optitron-style meters which are self illuminating, unlike the backlit meter clusters of the Perodua Viva.

Safety

Both the Viva Premium and Myvi Premium have dual airbags, antilock brakes – the usual stuff. The Perodua Myvi’s Japanese cousin the 2005 Daihatsu Sirion scored a 4 star score in the Euro NCAP crash test for adult protection, while crash test results of the previous gen Daihatsu Mira that the Perodua Viva is based managed a 3 star rating.

Price

Perodua Viva 1000cc MT Solid: RM36,800
Perodua Viva 1000cc MT Metallic: RM37,200
Perodua Viva 1000cc AT Solid: RM39,800
Perodua Viva 1000cc AT Metallic: RM40,200
Perodua Viva 1000cc Premium MT Solid: RM40,800
Perodua Viva 1000cc Premium MT Metallic: RM41,200
Perodua Viva 1000cc Premium AT Solid: RM43,800
Perodua Viva 1000cc Premium AT Metallic: RM44,200


Perodua Myvi 1300cc MT Solid: RM43,007.60
Perodua Myvi 1300cc MT Metallic: RM43,530.80
Perodua Myvi 1300cc AT Solid: RM45,912.60
Perodua Myvi 1300cc AT Metallic: RM46,435.80
Perodua Myvi 1300cc Premium MT Solid: RM45,912.60
Perodua Myvi 1300cc Premium MT Metallic: RM46,435.80
Perodua Myvi 1300cc Premium AT Solid: RM48,792.60
Perodua Myvi 1300cc Premium AT Metallic: RM49,315.80

The differences between the non-Premium and Premium versions of the Perodua Viva is roughly about RM4,000, while in the Myvi it is only about RM2,900 or so.

So yeah, Perodua Viva 1000cc Premium Auto Metallic at RM44,200 or the Perodua Myvi 1300cc Premium AT Metallic at RM49,315.80? That’s a difference of about RM5,000 there for a bigger engine, slightly more performance, a minor decrease in fuel consumption frugalness, a wider interior space, and a bigger boot.

The boot space doesn’t matter to me – both boots are too small for serious usage unless you put the rear bench seats down.

Is that extra RM5,000 to go from A-segment to B-segment worth it, or would you rather save the money?

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How to Handle an Auto Accident

 

Auto Accidents are unexpected and stressful. Even the most careful drivers may be involved.

 

WHAT TO DO AFTER A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT:

1. Try and remain calm.
2. Check for injuries. Vehicles and property can be replaced; lives can not.
3. If the accident is minor and there aren’t any serious injuries, move to a safe place, out of the main stream of traffic - to avoid involving more vehicles.
4. Turn on hazard lights and/or use other safety equipment (like flares, etc.) if they are needed and available.

 

1. Write a list of damages to all of the vehicles or property.
2. Get the names, addresses and license numbers of persons involved in the accident; and write down a description of the vehicles.
3. Always call the police, even if it is a minor accident. Get a copy of the police report, or get the police report number, so you can get a copy.
4. If possible, get the names and addresses of any witnesses; this can help if there is a disagreement as to how the accident happened.
5. Notify your insurance agent about the accident immediately.

 

1. DO NOT sign any document unless it is for the police or your own insurance company.
2. Make immediate notes about any other details regarding the accident: people involved, who was driving or a passenger, damages, etc.
3. Be polite, NEVER admit fault, but don't accuse the other driver either. Discuss the accident only with the police or your insurance representative, and limit your information to facts. Be truthful. Obtain the insurance carrier information from the other vehicles involved in the accident.
4. Take pictures. It’s wise to keep an inexpensive disposable flash camera in your car. Or, use a camera phone if you have one.
5. If possible, remain at the scene until the police and other driver(s) have left.
6. Finally, remember that the accident investigation should be left to the police and the insurance companies.

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Fuel Efficiency

The Fuel Efficiency Info That Might Be Useful To You

Compact City Cars

Hyundai i10 - 5.0litre/100km
Proton Savvy - 5.7litre/100km
Kia Picanto - 5.8litre/100km

Compact Premium Cars

Mini Cooper - 5.8litre/100km
Honda Jazz - 6.4litre/100km
Alfa Mito - 6.5litre/100km

Small Family Cars

Toyota Vios ‘J’ - 6.1litre/100km
Proton Persona - 6.75litre/100km
Honda City - 6.8litre/100km

Luxury Family Cars

Nissan Slyphy - 7.8litre/100km
Hyundai Elantra - 7.9litre/100km
Peugeot 407 - 8.1litre/100km

Premium Family Cars

Mercedes Benz B180 - 7.2litre/100km
Volvo S40 - 7.9litre/100km
Toyota Camry - 8.8litre/100km

Executive Cars

BMW 320i - 6.1litre/100km
Audi A4 - 7.4litre/100km
Mercedes C-Class 200K - 8.0litre/100km

Premium Executive Cars

Citroen C5 - 8.9litre/100km
BMW 525i - 9.4litre/100km)
Mercedes E-Class E200K - 9.6litre/100km

Super Saloons

Audi A8 - 9.9litre/100km
Mercedes Benz S-Class S350 - 10.0litre/100km
Lexus LS460 - 11.1litre/100km

Super Sport Cars

Lotus Exige - 9.1litre/100km
Porsche 911 PDK - 10.3litre/100km
Nissan 370Z - 10.5litre/100km

Super Sport Convertibles

SLK 200K - 8.1litre/100km

Volkswagen TFSi - 8.2litre/100km
Porsche Boxster - 9.4litre/100km

Performance Cars

Peugeot 308 GT - 6.8litre/100km
Mini Cooper S JCW - 6.9litre/100km
VW Scirocco TFSi - 7.6litre/100km

Pickup Trucks

Isuzu D-Max Hi-DEF Diesel - 7.6litre/100km
Ssangyong Actyon Sports Diesel - 8.0litre/100km
Nissan Navara Diesel - 8.2litre/100km

Compact MPV’s

Renault Kangoo 1.5 - 5.5litre/100km
Honda Stream 1.8 - 6.7litre/100km
Nissan Grand Livina - 7.6litre/100km

Luxury MPV’s

Mazda5 - 8.2litre/100km
Hyundai Starex Diesel - 9.6litre/100km
Ssangyong Stavic Diesel - 9.7litre/100km

Compact SUV’s

Ssangyong Actyon Sports Diesel - 8.0litre/100km
Honda CRV 8- 8.2 litre/100km
Audi Q5 TFSi - 8.4litre/100km

Luxury SUV’s

Volvo XC90 D5 Diesel - 8.5 litre/100km
BMW X5 3.0 Diesel - 8.7litre/100km
Audi Q7 3.0 Diesel - 9.9litre/100km

Hybrids
Toyota Prius Hybrid - 3.9litre/100km
Honda Civic Hybrid - 4.6litre/100km

Looks like the perodua car is not in the list.

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Fuel Comsumption

General Fuel Comsumption For Compact Cars

660cc
1) Kancil 660 100% city 20km/l
2) Kancil 660 (M) 1999 city 16km/l
3) Kancil 660 (M) 1996 90% highway 18km/L

850cc
1) Kancil 850 (M) 90% highway 17km/l
2) Kancil 850 1997 (A) 100% city + jam 15km/l
3) Kancil 850 1998 MT) 50% city 50% Hway 12km/l
4) Kancil 850 2006 (M) 100% city 15km/l
5) Kelisa 850 2005 (M) 50% city 50% h/way 20.km/l

1000cc
1) Daihatsu Charade CX 1985 City 100% 14km/l Highway 120km/h
avg, 22 km/l
(waynechin)
2) Kelisa (M) 2003, 70% City, 16.2-17.9km/l (jasonwsl)
3) Kelisa (A) 2002, 80% City: 14-15km/l, 20% City: 17-18km/l
4) Kelisa (A) 2005, mixed driving 15.7 km/L
4) Kenari (A) 2004, 100% city (puchong to PBD via OKR), 13-
15km/l
5) Perodua Myvi (M) 2005, 50% City, 15.6km/l
6) Kenari (M) 2002 80% city/urban 13-14 km/L
7) Kenari (A) 2003, mixed driving 13 km/L
Cool Kelisa (A) 2003, city driving 14km/L
9) Kelisa (A) 2001 100% city 12.8Km/L; 100% highway 17Km/L

1100cc
1) Tiara 1997 100% city 14km/l
2) Tiara 2000, 100% KV, 18.2km/l
3) Proton Savvy 2005, 50%city 50%highway, 16km/l
4) kia Picanto 05 mixed 50:50 12.2km/l

1200cc
1) Fiat Punto Speedgear CVT, 2001, 1242cc, Urban=13-15km/l,
Hway=19-
21km/l (Driver + 1 passenger + no load)
2) Proton Savvy, M, 2005, 100%city, 18km/l
3) Proton Savvy AMT 2006, 40%city 60% highway, 17km/l

1300cc
1) Hyundai Getz 1.3(A) 2003, 100% city, the best is 10.50km/l
(very
sedate driving, RPM never above 3000rpm, mostly 2000rpm when
cruising),
90% highway, 10% city, 14km/l
2) Nissan Sunny 130Y, short drive-11km/L ,city drive-12.3KM/l,
Hway
14.03KM/L (ShiftXtrem)
3) Proton Saga LMST A/B M @ 100% city - 13km/l.
4) Proton Satria (M) 1997, CT = 12km/l, HW = 14km/l (zx4948)
5) Proton Iswara A/B M 2002, 10% city, 90% HWay, avg 20km/l (w
perf
plugs+cyclone + BP)
6) Proton Iswara A/B 2000, varies from 14.9km/l-17.8km/l
7) Perodua Kembara, A, 2002, 100%city, 11km/l
Cool Perodua Kembara, M, 2004, 100%city, 14km/l
9) Proton Wira A/B, M, 2000, 30%city 70% HWay, 17km/l
10) Proton Wira A/B, M, 2001, avg from 80kkm: 13.5km/l, 100%
highway,
17km/l
11) Proton Wira A/B 1998 (Avg FC since bought) 13.9 km/l
12) Proton Iswara A/B 2001, short distance drive 11.5km/l
13) Toyota Avanza (A) 2006, city driving 10.75km/L
14) Toyota Avanza (M) 2005, 50/50 City/HWay 11.5km/L
15) Proton Iswara A/B, M, 2000, 60%CT 40%HW 9.8km/l
16) Perodua Kembara, M, 2005, 100%city, 13.5km/l
17) Proton Saga LMST (M) 2005, 100%city 11km/l, 80%highway 20%
city 15km/l
18) Toyota Corolla (M)GLi 1997, 50/50 City/HWay 16km/L
19) Proton Wira A/B, M, 2003, 50% city, 50% h/hway, 13.5km/l
20) Perodua Myvi (A) 2006, 80% hway 20% city - mainly 80kmh
LDP&Federal,
15.0km/L

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Perodua Alza : Car and yet MPV!

IT sells some 7,000 units every month, is relatively cheap and has ample room for five passengers. It has a preppy engine and looks smart. It?s not expensive to maintain and retains its resale value. It?s not surprising therefore that the Perodua Myvi is the best-selling car in the country.

But what the Myvi lacks is decent rear boot space ? which is particularly felt during the balik kampung ride during the festive season, or as the kids in the family grow bigger and bigger.

The Perodua Alza can take up to seven passengers without too much of a squeeze.

Would making a bigger Myvi be a step in the right direction?

Absolutely, say the people at Perodua, who feel they have a found winning formula in the Alza, a multi-purpose vehicle launched on Monday.

Looking much like a stretched, raised and pumped up Myvi, the new MPV has three rows of seats and can seat seven ? its key attraction.

Alza, which is Spanish for ?rise?, is also synonymous with ?amplify, enhance and heighten?. The vehicle is slightly higher than the Myvi and has been stretched by 455mm, Its wheelbase is also longer by 310mm; in fact, it is close to the Toyota Camry ? a good indication of its interior space.

Perodua managing director Datuk Syed Hafiz Syed Abu Bakar says the Alza, with its flexible seating configuration, can be turned into a car with a big boot when you don?t need the extra back seats for seven passengers.

?It?s like Superman. It becomes that when you need it,? Syed Hafiz said at a media preview of the MPV in Putrajaya earlier this month.

The introduction of the Alza is part of the second national carmaker?s dynamic move to offer vehicles that meet current motoring trends.

With the average size of most Malaysian families shrinking to four from six, Syed Hafiz says the majority of its potential customers don?t actually need a huge MPV.

?It just has to be a vehicle with the right amount of interior space. A size that is too large will also make the MPV clumsy and difficult to drive on narrow roads,? he says.

The Alza shares its underpinnings with the Daihatsu Boon Luminas and Toyota Passo Sette seven-seaters. Under the bonnet is a twin camshaft with dynamic variable valve timing (DVVT) 1.5-litre engine code named 3SZ-VE, similar to the type in the Toyota Avanza and Perodua Nautica.

The nifty utility box behind the steering wheel for storing
small items.

Tuned for fuel economy, the Azla?s power is rated at 104bhp at 6,000rpm or five horses short of the Avanza and Nautica?s 109bhp. However, its maximum torque of 136Nm is the same as that of theirs.

?As the Alza is not too heavy at 1.1 tonne, its power-to-weight ratio with a 1.5-litre engine is pretty good,? says Syed Hafiz.

Transmission options are the four-speed automatic and five-speed manual while trim levels are the Standard and Premium. Front and rear brake set-ups are discs and drums, respectively, on both grades.

Front suspension is the MacPherson type while the rear uses the torsion beam with stabiliser bar.

Inside, the Alza comes in grey and light grey, with a centrally located instrument cluster that features a trip computer with readouts of average fuel consumption and how far you can go before the tank empties.

The temperature gauge is missing but the fuel gauge, speedometer and tachometer are still there.

With its higher roofline, the Alza gets more headroom for an airier feel.

The gearshift for the automatic is console-mounted, while that for the manual is located on the floor between the driver and front passenger. This arrangement allows the automatic variant to come with bench-type front seats with a 60:40 split, a feature rarely found in locally available MPVs.

In essence, the front passenger can slide over to the driver?s seat without having to get out of the MPV ? useful when taking over the wheel after dropping someone off.

In our opinion, the third row seats are more suitable for children although adults can squeeze in there.

Sleek, streamlined and downright trendy!

The second row seats are fitted on rails and can slide forward by 150mm to provide more legroom for third row passengers.

What?s more, the three rows of seats can be folded for a flat configuration.

Cup and bottle holders are scattered around the MPV, on the door pockets and armrests.

Although not equipped with air-conditioner vents for the second and third row seats, Perodua claims that the Alza has a more powerful cooling coil and blower fan than the Myvi.

?We have conducted tests and can say that third-row passengers will have enough cool air, even on hot days,? says Perodua Sales Sdn Bhd operation director Ahmad Suhaimi Mohd Anuar.

In addition, the Alza gets all-round ultraviolet protected glass that cuts down UV rays by 91%.

At the media preview, we get to try out both automatic and manual variants at Putrajaya. With four persons on board, performance on an uphill slope is still adequate but one has to remember that this is an MPV, and the engine needs to be revved a bit more.

Once speed has built up, however, little effort is needed to keep the vehicle on the move. The five-speed manual gives us a gutsier performance since the better spaced gear ratios allow for better use of the engine powerband.

The clutch pedal is not heavy and we reckon it won?t tire out our left foot when inching through a traffic jam.

According to Perodua, the Alza with automatic transmission promises a low fuel consumption of 12.7km per litre of petrol or roughly 14 sen per km on RON95 fuel. The manual variant is even more frugal ? 15.5km per litre of fuel.

Available features across the Standard and Premium grades are headlights with projector elements, grille with chrome garnishing, LED tail lights and 185/55/R15 tyres.

The Premium variant has additional features like dual front air bags, anti-lock braking system with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, fog lights, tail spoiler, audio system with Bluetooth/USB support and leather steering wheel with audio controls.

The trunk comes with a luggage lamp, an item that is sorely lacking in Myvis.

Available colours are solid Ivory White and metallic Medallion Grey, Glittering Silver, Ebony Black and Pearl White. The Premium variant gets the additional metallic Classy Purple.

Prices on the road start at RM56,000 for the Standard manual to RM64,000 for the Premium automatic.

The Advanced variant ? delivery of which starts in March ? will cost RM6,000 over the Premium version and will feature additional goodies such as body kits, leather seats, tinted windows, a satellite navigation system and reverse camera.

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Perodua Alza Sportier Version

 

The highest specification level of the Perodua Alza is actually a model called the Perodua Alza Advanced Version, which is basically based on the Alza 1.5 Automatic Premium and Manual Premium but with a few additional specifications. You can book this now but delivery will only start in March 2010.
You basically get a new bodykit which consists of front, rear and side skirts and a different rear spoiler. On the inside, you get leather seat covers for all the seats, but the leather treatment does not continue onto the door trim. Also provided is a 5 inch touchscreen LCD which has a Windows CE-based GPS navigation system with a SiRF Atlas IV chipset and 500MHz CPU. The LCD also displays a feed from a 150 degree lense reverse camera.
Finally, there is tinted film for all the glass in the Alza which Perodua claims is GPS and SmartTAG friendly. Perodua states the specifications as following: 95% IR rejection, 99% UV rejection, 70% light for the front windscreen and about over 50% light for the rest of the glass. This tint has a 5 year warranty against peeling, oxidisation, cracking, discoloration and fading. I assume that as an OEM option this tint is also JPJ-approved.
The Alza Advanced Version manual goes for RM66,490 for solid and RM66,990 for metallic, while the Alza Advanced Version automatic goes for RM69,490 for solid and RM69,990 for metallic. The S. Metallic option is missing because the Alza Advanced Version only comes in three colours – Ivory White, Ebony Black and Classy Purple, while the only special metallic colour is Pearl White.
I reckon you could probably get a good Garmin nuvi for under RM1,000 and add on a very good set of tint for about RM2,000 to RM3,000 or so maximum. If you don’t want the leather seat covers and bodykit you’re better off adding your own tint and GPS. Not sure about the cost of the reverse camera though.

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