Archive for Test Drive Reviews

The Honda Accord was recently facelifted for the 2006 model earlier this year, with subtle changes in front and something more radical at the back, but if you want details on what’s changed, I’ll have to point you to my previous post on the launch. Here, I’ll be providing an account of my experience driving the car around the roads of Langkawi for 1 day, as well as 3 days in the KL city. I tested the 2.4 liter model.

Test drive report after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Honda Accord 2.4 VTi-L Facelift Test Drive

After a nice experience with the Audi A4 2.0 TFSI, I had a short encounter with the new Audi A4 1.8T which was launched just recently by Euromobil Sdn Bhd, slotted between the Audi A4 2.0 and the Audi A4 2.0 TFSI. Check out my report after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Audi A4 1.8T Short Test Drive Review

Just last month contributor Dr. S.P. Long tested the Brabus K4, somewhat of an uncle-car which just so happens to have the ability to go faster than the average E200K.

Since the tuned Mercedes-Benz E200K report drew so much of flak of still being an old mans car, Dr. S.P. Long has decided to visit this ‘old chaps garage and check out his other boring and conservative ride.

Enter the smart roadster, a small two-seater, rear engined, rear wheel drive roadster by the same people who brought you the E200K. Let’s have a look at how the smart roadster performs in an uncle’s hands.

Click here to read the rest of smart roadster Test Drive Report

Alfa Romeo drivers, who call themselves the Alfisti are very passionate about their cars. Oops, pardon me of the sacrilege I just committed calling Alfas mere cars, as the Alfisti refer to their Italian beasts as their Bellas, which is basically Italian for something curvy and sexy that you’d like to spend the whole night with, awake.

Which isn’t exactly untrue – I was dead tired after a long day which stretched to 4am, and I should have really gone back to get some shut eye – but I still wanted to take the Alfa Romeo 147 on a few spins around the empty roads of my neighbourhood. And that’s exactly what I did. The sound of the TwinSpark engine roaring in the silence of the night – you really have to experience it for yourself.

Here’s my take on the Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 Twinspark Selespeed. [UPDATED!]

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The Brabus K4 is essentially a kitted up model W211 Mercedes Benz E-Class powered by the M271 4-cylinder 1.8 liter Kompresser engine tuned to 193hp and 260Nm of torque. This would put it on par with a tuned up version of the same engine in the E’s younger brother, the Mercedes Benz C230K, though the Brabus has slightly more power. paultan.org contributor Dr. S.P. Long shares with us his valuable views on the Brabus K4 from a “standard” W211 Mercedes Benz E200K owner’s perspective.

Click here to read the rest of Brabus K4 Short Test Drive

BMW had their Brunch at BMW session over the weekend, with Saturday as a private affair for selected people and Sunday as an event open to the public. They also had test drives for the public. A myriad of cars were available for selection, 3-series, 5-series, 7-series, and MINI Coopers. I decided to go check the place out and grab photos for you guys who didn’t manage to make it there, at least you’ll be able to enjoy the event virtually here. Click each photo for a larger version.

Click here to read the rest of Brunch @ BMW Photo Gallery and Experience

In a perfect world, I would own an Audi A4 2.0T Multitronic and it would be sitting in my parking lot everyday, just like the picture above. But the world is not perfect, but a good compromise would be a test drive so I can bring to you my thoughts on the latest B7 Audi A4 2.0T Multitronic, powered by the 2.0 liter TFSI engine of the Volkswagen Golf GTI fame. I managed to do quite a comprehensive test drive, covering traffic jams, parking lots, dry straights, dry bends, wet straights, wet windy roads, day and night. Check out the test drive report after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Audi A4 2.0T FSI Multitronic Test Drive Review

To turbo or not to turbo? Apparently, this is a pertinent question resonating in the heads of decision makers and auto engineers alike at headquarters of some of the top German luxury car makers in recent times. Recent advancements in turbo technology as well as the push for fuel efficiency (for a given level of performance) by motorists – in these times of spiraling fuel prices – has brought back popularity of this age-old but much updated way of forced induction. Dr. Long S.P. guest writes for this blog today sharing with us his short test drive experience with the Mercedes Benz B200 Turbo.

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BMW’s latest 3-series coupe, the E92 was chosen as a platform for BMW to introduce to us their latest engine, the award-winning twin-turbocharged N54 3.0 liter straight-six. Although I have not test driven the car yet, Jeremy Mahadevan shares with us his experience driving the new BMW 335i Coupe in Austria. I will be writing this post based on his experiences.

Click here to read the rest of BMW 335i Driving Experience

I had the opportunity to test drive the 2006 Honda Civic 1.8S and the 2006 Honda Civic 2.0S on a nice Saturday morning thanks to Jeremy and Shannon from the New Straits Times lifestyle section. This is part three of a three part series. Click here to read part 1 and here to read part 2.

Click here to read the rest of 2006 Honda Civic Test Drive – Part 3