Alza - First Non Schedule Maintenance

Alza - First Non Schedule Maintenance

After 1 year 9 months, 30K of running without fail, come the first non schedule maintanence for my alza,  Battery KO,  no warning at all.

All a sudden when I wanted to go home from work,  the car refuse to start,  the starter did not even move,  Batteries now a days does not seem to last,  Well I suppose that 1 year 9 months is not bad,  have hear that some ppl have to change within 1 years, while some lasted longer then that.

Well its all part of owning a car,  RM220 for a dry maintenance battery,  Change to Nova Brand, Made in Korea as per my mechanic suggestion. 

Alza Fuel Consumption on Highway

Time for a update on my Alza,  Been a long time from the last Alza post, and from that time I have made a few long distance trip using the PLUS Highway with some town driving, and have compile the fuel consumption.

Trip 1
Pg to KL : Speed Avg 80 - 90kmph, 437km total, 5.3lt per 100km/18.86km per lt / 0.10sen per km
KL to Pg : Speed Avg 110kmph, 379km total, 6.8lt per 100km / 14.69km per lt / 0.13 sen per km

Trip 2
Ipoh - Jawi - Ipoh : Speed Avg 100km, 325km total, 6.1lt per km / 16.23km per lt / 0.12 sen per km
Ipoh to KL : Speed Avg 100kmph, 254km total, 6.1 lt per 100km / 16.36km per lt / 0.12 sen per km
KL to Pg + Local : Speed Avg 90kmph, 463km total, 6.3lt per 100km / 15.73km per lt / 0.12 sen

Fuel consumption is calculated out manually base upon KM reading and Full tank petrol, On Board Fuel computer give inaccurate reading of usually +- 0.5lt.

Conclusion? :
Best speed is at 80kmph Average - that can get you 5.3lt per 100km but then driving on the highway at 80kmph?
At 100kmph Average - the Alza will get around 6.1lt per 100km
At 110kmph Average - Fuel consumption will hit 6.8lt per 100km

Unfortunately the Alza is not fitted with a Auto Cruise to keep the speed steady, For me Driving a constant speed of 80kmph on the highway for 300 + km was impossible. A little bit of inattention will see the vehicle at 105KMPH or above, or even at 65kmph. So it became a unpleasing driving experience trying to keep at 80kmph.

The best consistent speed I manage is of 100KMph +- 10km. At this speed you will be keeping up with the traffic, and you can just cruise, it became a pleasurable driving experience,  The difference in Petrol is around RM7/- after all.  less then one nasi kandar meal.  

Driving to Cameron Highland in the Alza

Driving to Cameron Highland in the Alza

I recently drove my Alza up to Cameron Highland. My Journey there is from Jawi Toll – Tapah via North South highway, Tapah – Cameron Highland using the old road & Cameron Highland to Simpang Pulai using the new road, Ipoh back to Jawi Toll using the Highway at Night driving in rain.

Alza Fuel Consumption during the Drive

Average Fuel Consumption Meter (AFCM)was reading 7.2 lt /100km, when started from Jawi Toll on the North South Express way,I zero the trip meter but not the AFCM as I wanted to do a Manual calculation check as well

By the time I reach Cangkat Jering (77km in to my journey) the AFCM was at 6.1lt / 100km, just b4 the up climb, during the climb at the Tunnel it rose to 6.2, It then drop to 5.7lt/100 km when I exit Tapah toll (177km).

On the Old Road up Cameron Highland, from Tapah the AFCM steady rose to the maximum of 6.6km / 100km at Cameron Highland Kea Farm / Hotel Equatorial/ the High Point at 250km on the trip meter.

Going Down was via the Cameron Highland – Simpang Pulai Road. By the time I reach Simpang Pulai the AFCM was reading 6.1lt / 100km at 323km on the Trip Meter, I reach Ipoh using the old road with 6.2lt/100km, had dinner, drove to Jelapang entered the Highway and ended my Journey at Jawi toll with 6.0lt with a total 461km driven. I immediately Refill (RM62/ 32.6lt) and calculate manually div against 529km (from my last refill) which give me a reading of 6.17lt/100km, a slight error of 0.17lt/100km

For information I was driving around 80km – 100 km on the Highway, 60km on the Normal Roads in general as close to the optimum speed as possible.

Comment on the Car (Alza)

My Alza handed well, especially coming down the Cangkat Jering Tunnel – Ipoh, I put the AT on 3^rd gear and coasted down without touching the accelerator at all, speed was below the 80kmph. The Stock tyre also gripped well, going around the corners up and down the Cameron Road, at least at the speed I was going at. However it got noisy when going around corners in the not so well maintain Tapah – Cameron road. What I miss most in the Alza for this trip would be a Cruise Control option.

Comment on the Old Tapah – Ringlet Road

This is the old road up to Cameron Highlands. Being familiar with its Narrow, with Sharp and Blind Bends, I feel that this road is much more interesting, in term of sights to see along the side of the road, especially the Lata Iskandar waterfall, orang asli villages. Most drivers are more cautious using this road.

Comment on the New Simpang Pulai Road

This newly built road, is wide, much straighter without blind corners, thus you will end up driving much faster, especially when coming down. A few of the corners on the road there were standing water (due to recent the rainy weather). It will be advice able for Drivers to Keep an eye on the Vehicle speed, when driving on this road especially when reaching the bends. This road is less interesting, as there are no villages along the road. This is the road to take when you are in a hurry.

Conclusion

It was a challenging drive, despite having driven up to Cameron Highlands numerous times (but that was 14 years ago), and that we travel not during the peak period, but enjoyable. I finally manage to squeeze in a major trip outstation, testing out my Alza on the Highway and a good uphill climb. I do not find the Alza lacking in handling nor the power available. It manage the steeper Tapah – Cameron Highland road without any problems, with power on the tap waiting to be delivered when needed, and I believe economical. (I have no figures for other vehicles going up and down Cameron Highland though.)

Fuel Consumption of the Alza

It has bee 10 months, and thanks to the Power Booster Turbo Eco Extra, the fuel consumption for the last 10 full tanks is 7.15lt per 100km instead of the initial 7.4lt per 100km. (Manual calculation). Alza Auto.

Further am planning a Field Trip to Cameron Highland, Let see how it work out.

Solar Power Air Purifier

Solar Power Air Purifier

Cute device, place it on your dashboard (with out any wires) when the sun is up, it will produce Ozone O3 which deodorize your car. For those days without sun light there is a wire to your car cigg lighter (or when you drive around at night).

Note: Must have direct sunlight hitting the solar panel.

Power Booster Turbo Eco Extra

Power Booster Turbo Eco Extra

What a long name for a Product! Suppose to be a voltage optimizer, it plug in to your car cigarette point, and is suppose to save you some money in terms of Fuel saving and Boost power for your Car. Well I have this for some time now and after 10 refuelings (My usual Testing period), the result is in.

For the first 5000km, Normal Fuel. 10 refuel average : 7.4 lt per 100 km

Next 5000km, using a fuel additive. 10 refuel average : 7.3 lt per 100km

Next 5000km, using Power Booster, 10 refuel average: 7.15 lt per 100km

Marginal Savings for me, Must be my driving Style. But it is still savings!

Do note that many factors like but not limited to different car makes, models, different roads, driving style, driving conditions, will cause different result!

Automax NanoTech Fuel Enhancer 2nd Post

Well, I have tried using Automax NanoTech Fuel Enhancer for the past 3 month, and the result is not so good, It could be that My driving style does not suit this product.


After 10 Tank full, with the NanoTech. the best result was a 6.7lt per 100km, or 14.8km per lt of fuel use (around 13 cents per km), The worst was a 8.3lt per 100km, All this work out to a average of 7.3lt per 100km

Without the Nano Tech, The Alza average a 7.4lt, not much difference ....

AUTOMAX NanoTech Fuel Enhancer

The first tank full using AUTOMAX NanoTech Fuel Enhancer, the average fuel consumption for My Alza (auto - stock standard) is a encouraging 6.7lt per 100km.

It’s still very early for any proper result, (just one tankfull) however I would like to point out a few things first

• · Best Fuel Consumption Achieve so far was a 6.8lt per 100 km just for one tankfull, most of the time the Alza will give me around 7lt+ per 100km

• · Average Fuel Consumption is 7.4lt per 100 km (last 10 refueling)

So if base upon this, Fuel Consumption with the NanoTech as compared

• · Against best achieve using normal fuel, Savings of 1.5%

• · Against Average Fuel Consumption using normal fuel, Saving of 9.45%

So Lets see if this trend continue, the Average Fuel Consumption (using the NanoTech) after a few refueling.

Alza, Review of the Part time MPV

Alza, Review of the Part time MPV

After 4 months of Usage, My Likes and Dislikes

(Alza, Auto, Premium Model, 1.5lt Stock Standard without any modifications)

Disclaimer: Please Note, this are just my opinions base upon my taste and driving methods, results may differ from Person to Person, driving methods and the vehicles Specs

My Conclusion

• · Great if you occasionally required a Vehicle that can seat more then 5 but less then 8 or require “more” space for “extra” luggage, I predict we will see a lot of Alza at the Pasar Malams in the future.

• · Good drive, Smooth, will get you to your destination in good time but it is not for spirited driving

• · Economical “if you treat it right”

• · Value for money in the “current” Tax situation

• · Quite Up to Date Technology if you compare with similar vehicles

The Package

The Car Comes with

• · 3 time “Free Labour” for Service, 1K, 5K and 10K

• · Comes With Smart Assists Auto Emergency for one Year

Fuel Consumption

7.4lt per 100km Average

• · Auto Transmission

• · After 4 Month

• · 12 refills of Esso Ron 95

• · Country Side Driving 70%, Town 20%, Highway 10%

• · 80% Driver only

• · Speed 60 to 80 kmph, touching 110kmph on highway

In comparison

My 11 Year Old Wira (modified with various fuel savers) usually get me 8.0lt per 100km along the same routes and driving style

Driving

• · Driving Position Suite Me, “High, Up right” – May not suite some drivers

• · Smooth, Stately

• · So far on one uphill, while the car slow down, it did not struggle to “Climb” up

• · Spirited Driving will disappoint you with this car/mpv.

Things that we may want to know before Purchasing

Car Key

· There is a key number plate.

· If one key is lost, the spare key with the key number plate is required to make the new car key only at Perodua Service Center. That will cost you Below RM 500 currently

· Up to 4 key can be made for one Car

· If Making a normal spare key, (at the neighborhood key store) the key can only be use to open the door, it cannot start the engine.

CD Player – Premium Model

· Can support “folders” for usb unlike some reports

· Can Play Music Random within a Folder or All Folders within the USB

General

· This car does not have cigarette ash compartment.

· The Power Plug provided is not a cigarette lighter.

· The Car is equip with Front Personal Lights, bright enough to read maps.

· Your Spare Tyre is under the Car and it’s not a “full” size tyre, It’s just for you to change your puncture tyre and look for a tyre shop.

Likes

• · Good Fuel Economy “if you treat the car right”

• · SC have “upgrades” for your car, so you can upgrade when your pocket get too heavy.

• · Very bright lights “even without using the fog lamps” & does not shine in to oncoming drivers eyes.

• · Stately Drive – “suites me, may not suite others”

• · Feel well built in general, but at time when closing door may have a “hollow” sound.

• - Decent In Car Entertainment

·

Dislikes / Where I feel it can be improved

• · The remote – when press only visual indication, not audio, but you can purchase a buzzer at the SC

• · The engine release latch feel flimsy

• · The Luggage compartment hood brace, “looks” too thin

• · No luggage cover to “Hide” your barang barang

• · The “Smart Assists” Provided – Feel there is just too many terms and conditions attach in order to get service “may be more of a push our service type of membership”

Overall at the current moment I feel I have made a good "Buy" ! Now it just the Maintenance Cost that needs looking into.