Temporary Ride

It is known from one of my previous post that my Celica has been sent for repairs and because the mechanic is a friend of mine, I got a great deal. When I sent my car to his workshop I would be without a ride home and the work needed to be done will take at least 3 days. So, in exchange my friend loan me his Celica while mine is at his workshop. Actually this Celica of his is of no stranger to this blog because it has been featured here before but it is a little bit different now. What has change is the removal of the powerful Blitz Supercharger kit, all the cool gauges and its super computer, the Power FC. So now, it is just a regular manual Celica with super loud exhaust muffler. Now since the accident, I have not been driving the Celica and have not had any exciting drives and knowing I could have a manual Celica really got my blood pumping fast again.

Familiar 4 Pot Brake

It has been over 2 weeks and still my Celica could not be diagnosed. I am getting worried but at the same time, I have been enjoying the manual one. Firstly, I will talk about what is familiar about this Celica that I find close to my own Celica. On the outside, there is not one part that is similar with a different bumper, different spoiler, different lights and different rim. When you venture inside, the seats, the interior lights on the dash and interior color tone is different especially the exciting manual shift lever. Since my Celica is a facelift model, only the name, shape and design are the same. However, there are some small bits that reminds me of my own Celica. On the outside, there is only the 4 pot brakes that I myself have upgraded. The inside there is the facelift cluster meter, auto transmission paddle shift buttons, the passenger seats, metal pedals and the door sills. Sure brings back memory just by sitting in the cockpit and instantly you get that racing feeling.

This is not the first manual NA Celica that I have driven. So, I am familiar with the difference in performance with manual and auto transmission. The manual car will just keep going and the torque is great. It is so nice that even the 20 kg brakes feel normal here compared to the heavy weight I felt on my auto. This car has a slightly hard clutch and the pedal is not easy to engage especially when you need to start the car. Since I drive it daily, I have been introduced to traffic jams, slopes, bumps and some instant when you can't get the gear in and this is a good learning experience for me. I find out that stock clutches are the easiest to drive but this hard to handle clutch gave me more confidence in driving a manual car. The brakes are great and I am used to it but the handling needs work. It has the same aftermarket suspension that I had and is a Superstrut suspension. However, the car is on a much stiffer setting than my already stiff setting and maybe because of the large spacer it uses, the car is not steady and balance. It feels like it will jump around even at small and low speed corners which is surprising given its stiff setting.

Favourite Part of It

The worst part is that horrible exhaust muffler. It is so deafening especially in the Celica which has almost no sound proofing done. The sound comes immediately after 2,000 rpm which is quite instantly since the close ratio gearbox revs quickly, forcing me to shift up really quickly and in a minute I am already at 4th gear just to avoid the sound. So, I have been cruising on 6th gear most of the time and the worst is when you are in a housing area or when I am back home during midnight. It is a hassle to drive while trying to keep it quiet. Luckily with 2 weeks of practice, I manage to control the sound to a minimal. Sometimes it results in jerks when on 1st gear. It makes me wonder how could all its owners stand that bloody noise and how people like loud exhaust sounds. It causes headache sometimes especially after work and it consumes petrols a lot too. Do not get me wrong when I complain because it has been a joy to drive a manual Celica. It is like a dream come true and the power is addictive like how a high rev NA with instant respond feels like. However, I think it is time to get my Celica back. 

The annoying loud exhaust muffler

P.S. All the photos show parts that are familiar except manual shifter and exhaust muffler.

Comparison Part 2

2013 MAZDA 6 VS 2005 TOYOTA CELICA

Brakes

It is no surprise when I notice the Mazda 6 have a single pot (piston) brake caliper in the front because this is the current spec of majority cars on the road from big cars to small compact cars. So, what differs from a big car's brake and compact car's is the size of the rotors. The larger the rotor the more likely the larger the piston is but I am surprised at the size of the rotors for the Mazda 6. Being a large sedan with high weight and quite high power, it has small brakes that sometimes I feel it is difficult to brake at high speed and the car might sway a bit. At low to medium speed it works just fine. In the Celica, the original brakes have larger rotors than the Mazda 6 however, it has what I call "for slowing down" brakes instead of a "for stopping brakes" that most car have. So, it takes a longer time to slow down to the extend that I usually could not stop well unless I down shift or hit the pedal to the metal. That was the reason why I upgraded the brakes to a 4 pot caliper with huge rotors. If compared with stock brakes the Mazda wins hands down but compare to the performance brakes, there is no surprise there. Still I would prefer larger brake rotors for the Mazda 6.

Interior

The interior design is definitely on the classy and luxurious side with leather seats, leather steering wheel and black not so cheap looking plastic. The seats and interior have red stitching that gives it a hint of sportiness to it. The 2013 model comes with GPS and many high tech buttons for its gadgets. The steering wheel come with buttons that comes in handy when your hand is on the wheel. There is even a rear aircond vent. Definitely something that I am not used to but can get accustomed to and after a while you could not help but wonder where are the buttons for other older cars. The Celica is part of a JDM concept of functional but low cost interior. You will only get all the basics. No GPS, no buttons on steering wheel and no gadgets. Just a steering wheel, a cluster meter, a gear knob, seats, aircond and huge amount of cheap plastic. Since I grew up in JDMs, I quite enjoy the plastics as long as it is black in color. Basically when you drive a JDM sports car, speed and performance is all ask for.

Luxurious VS Functional Dash

Comfort

A D-segment sedan must definitely be comfortable due to the target buyers. The Mazda 6 is very comfortable to the point that I could feel sleepy anytime I drive it. Car height is appropriate and suspensions is on the soft side. The rear seats are very comfortable and wheelbase is quite long making the car very acceptable by its passengers. The seats are leather, giving it a very luxurious feeling and very soft. The front seats have a premium design with full leather but also provide supports to minimize body roll with bigger side cushion to hug you all the way. Even with a sedan of similar size, the whole interior feels very large. However it seems with its side mirror design, the wind sound is very strong. Meanwhile, sports car always have a bad image where it have a harsh ride thanks to lower ride with stiffer suspensions. Take my father for instance will never ever imagine himself driving a sports car as a daily drive because he thinks the ride will be so bumpy that his spine will not be able to take it. In his case, his opinion have been influence by his friends about their ride and the fact that my Celica takes a lot to get used to. My Celica has stiff suspension and sits really low. It makes the car bumpy and the seat is quite small because of its support for sporty driving but still comfortable seats once you get used to it.

Fuel Efficiency

Mazda made it their selling point to have good fuel efficiency with its new Skyactiv engine series. The result is a 520 km from 53L of petrol and I achieved a highest mileage of 580 km. Many consumer are stuck with the idea where bigger displacement engine usually are more thirsty but Mazda's Skyactiv engines prove its worthiness. Most of the people's reaction when I told them the mileage I get is huge because with a 2.5L engine, they expect a lower mileage. However, there is a catch. It needs to be driven smoothly and a high mixture of highway driving to achieve such mileage. That happen to me in the first few weeks of getting the car but now from time to time my hard, fast driving side comes out and now I can only get 480 km. The gearbox driving mode that I use also affects the mileage. When engaging in manual tiptronic shift mode, the engine becomes more thirsty and the best compromise is the direct manual mode where is is drive mode but with paddle shift. Shifts as you like but still good mileage. Being a sports car, the Celica gets around 420 km from 50L of petrol and that is a quite decent figure given its performance. This is a mileage I usually get even with driving at great speed in manual mode as how a sports car should be driven. However, being a sports car low fuel efficiency is a norm. The Mazda 6 is definitely more fuel efficient against its rivals that are much heavier and uses a conventional engine.

Left - Celica with 50L petrol highest mileage
Right - Mazda 6 with 53L petrol highest mileage

Conclusion

I happen to watched a web episode of a local car review show that features the Mazda 6 and its rivals in the local scene. The Mazda 6 came in second after the local Honda Accord, losing in terms of less tech gadgets and smaller room space. I take it that besides those two features, the Mazda 6 is superior than of the Accord. I will have to say the Mazda 6 is really good looking on the outside. It is fierce and sporty with the giant grill and sharp headlights but still have the executive and elegant feel to it. On the inside, it might not have the same rear legroom as the Accord but for someone my age and friends from the same age group, the Mazda 6 is already like a king's chair in the rear. In addition, the only gadget that I find the Accord wins is its dual screens but is that necessary. Thus, my conclusion is the Mazda 6 is very spacious, comfortable with a hint of sportiness. Most importantly, giving it is a D-Segment sedan, it is the most driver oriented car in the segment. Just what someone that is after performance and spec rather than comfort like me would choose.

Comparison Part 1

2013 MAZDA 6 VS 2005 TOYOTA CELICA

Engine

Mazda came up with a new engine of its own known as the Skyactiv series that is said to have high power but with good fuel efficiency. This is made possible by mainly increasing the compression ratio of the engine. My Mazda 6 comes with the Skyactiv 2.5L, 4 piston NA engine that produces 185 hp and 250 Nm of torque. It also have one the highest compression ratio of 13:1 for mass produced cars. When you drive the car, the acceleration is quite decent for a D-segment sedan but with its weight it does feel a bit sluggish especially when you are stuck in a traffic jam and want to change lanes. Besides the weight, it could be the result of using a drive-by-wire throttle body like most modern cars that usually have lower response. In my opinion, the engine shines most when you hit the right rpm before you change gear (around 3,200 rpm) and at top speed. I remember cruising down a highway at 160 km/h and with a step to the pedal, the car easily accelerates to 180 km/h with ease. It gives the idea that it could still run all the way. In comparison, the Celica has a smaller but slightly more powerful engine. Overall, I would say the Celica beats the Mazda 6 in the lower rpm range because it uses a more traditional drive-by-cable throttle body that gives quick response as soon as you touch the pedal. In addition, the Celica is 400 kg lighter and has a lower stance making it more aerodynamic and better acceleration. However, at high speed such as 160 km/h it feels like it has given everything and takes more to reach higher speed.

Gearbox

Fitting with the Skyactiv engines, Mazda also develops its own Skyactiv Drive Auto Transmission. According to Mazda, the Skyactiv Drive combines all the advantages of other auto transmission such as CVTs, Dual Clutches and Step Auto. Hearing that, I can't help but feel impressed and look forward to what this Skyactiv Drive could do. In my opinion, the proper gearbox would be a gearbox that comes with 6 speeds and I am definitely glad that the Mazda 6 has 6 speeds. I feel the Skyactiv Drive is tailored made for the engine because of how well it works together. The gear change is smooth and feels natural whether in D mode or manually changing in manual mode with the gear stalk or paddle shifters. However having said that, the gear ratio is not exactly close and even throughout the 6 gears. Some gears are nearer some are far apart but then again this is a close ratio sports car gearbox. It does give a sense that its main purpose is to save fuel so it feels a little reluctant to speed up especially at low rpm. The Celica on the other hand uses a traditional auto gearbox with only 4 speeds that is definitely not enough for a sports car, leaving me wanting more gears when I race the car and also manual shifting on the gear lever. However because it is for a sports car, the gear change is very smooth and despite the lack of gears it does its job really well especially in manual mode that gives you the sportiness you need.

Manual Shifting possible with Mazda 6

Handling

Having a sports car that is not exactly really quick as a daily drive, handling becomes a key point. I once driven in a race track with other faster sports car and super cars and in the straights I could only see their exhaust fumes but when come to a corner, I was right behind them. That is when I started to appreciate good handling cars. So whenever I test drive a car, I will surely test its handling. The Mazda 6 is known to have a slightly stiffer suspension in the D-segment car range. This is an advantage against its rival for me. Other D-segment cars including the Mercedes E Class focus very much on comfort and thus have very soft suspension which is not to my liking. What the Mazda 6 provides is a comfortable ride but with a hint of sportiness. At some point, I am always reminded of how lucky that the Mazda 6 is not completely on the soft side. One of the reason I chose and could live with the Mazda 6.  Definitely a sporty sedan and just what I would want if I am at that executive age. My Celica is a good handling street car and cornering is one of its best feature. The stiff suspension, low stance and thicker anti roll bar really make the car sticks to the ground and I can maneuver through most corners easily. Thus, making me want more out of the Mazda 6 but quickly remind myself that it is not a sports car. We must also not forget about the steering wheel as it also affects the handling. Usually a light and small steering wheel means better response. The Mazda 6 has a smaller and lighter steering comparing to the Celica. So, it feels much better to maneuver the car. In this aspect the Mazda 6 wins but if you add in weight and suspension stiffness, the Celica is still better.

Test Run

Since I have not take the Celica out for a drive, I suddenly had the urge to do so. So even with my feet just healing from a sprain, I decided to take the car keys and bring the Celica out for a spin. The car actually feels a little unfamiliar to me although I have been driving it everyday for the past 3 years. It is all because of the missing mods especially the Recaro SR-6 seat. It is the first time I sit on the original seats since I removed the Recaro and I am not loving it. Apart from the lack of hugging from the seat, the car seat is positioned too high for me. I could not get comfortable with the position and the drive. I experienced back pain after a drive home from work and it is a first after 3 years of driving the Celica, which is unbelievable. The only good thing about the higher seating is I could pay toll or take parking tickets easier.

There are 2 things that is crucial for me to test. One is the handling because it suffered from the accident and second is the engine performance technically the lift system. Since it was repaired until now, I have yet properly test the lift system that usually boost the power from 6,200 rpm to 7,800 rpm. However with its stock E.C.U., I will have have to reach optimum temperature before the lift can take place. It seems to me that it takes longer than usual. I suspect something might be wrong with the thermostat.
While waiting for the temperature to rise, I went to test the handling on a road that kind of remind me of a mountain pass road, perfect for testing a car's handling ability.

When driving I was feeling the weight of the steering wheel and without the thicker anti roll bar and the front tower plate, I felt it is too light. It could also be due to the new steering rack (could be faulty).  It feels wobbly even with the stiff suspension and the difference from not responsiveness and oversteer is just a turn away. After removing the 4 pot calipers, the front wheel is now inside the fender and that reduces the stability of the car. I also get reminded why I modified the brakes with the 4 pot caliper and bigger disc. The stock single caliper brakes are really not responsive and I always have to step it all. It even made me jump a bump. I remember I have to downshift in manual mode to properly stop the car. The only solution I found is to use my heels. Dangerous indeed.

Finally when the temperature is right, I hit the pedal to the metal. You have to remember that the Celica have a high revving engine and I do need quite a stretch to reach 6000 rpm even in first gear. I did struggle but had 3 times where I reach the lift zone. I was really anticipating the lift because one, it is addictive and two, I have not had a lift experience for a long long time. I could not say I am surprised when something went wrong. The lift came around 6200 rpm but when it reaches 7000 rpm the engine starts to jerk and would not go faster until I upshift. Then, it runs normally until another lift. I called my friend and he said it could be a sensor going haywire caused by lack of driving. I will have to send it to be fixed.

For Illustration purpose (photoshopped)

KLIMS 2013

Just a week ago, Malaysia had its annual motor show, the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show (KLIMS) and I went on the last day of the 2 weeks event. As a frequent visitor to car news related websites, I already had bits of the participants and the cars that would be there in the motor show. This show mainly displays new and current available models that are on sale. Sometimes there are models that are coming soon and the occasional concept cars. My interest this year is non other than the exclusive and rare fully carbon fiber made, Lexus LFA. In my opinion, it is a once in a lifetime chance to be able to see this car in the flesh and I would be hard on myself if I miss this opportunity. This is the first car I saw when I enter the exhibition hall and my god it captivates me. This 4.8L V10 supercar with 555 hp looks fast and aerodynamic even when it is not moving and in my eyes a much more beautiful car than any Lamborghini, Ferrari or even the popular Nissan R35 GT-R. Simply, a masterpiece. 

 After leaving the LFA, I moved on to look for other JDM machines and I found the car that I would definitely like to get my hands on one when I can afford it. It is the 2013 Subaru WRX STI sedan. I have been a fan of the Subaru Impreza since the Version 8 and especially loved the S204 based on the Version 9. Besides dropping the Impreza name, the 2013 models differ from the previous generations with the increase of power and adapting a more luxurious look rather than its rally look. It definitely looks like it is worth its price tag now. This is however, not my first time laying my eyes on this beauty but it is my first time in its seat. Next to the WRX STI, is the new RWD coupe, the Subaru BRZ. Of course, the BRZ is less famous than its sister the Toyota 86 because it was launched later. All the attention were stolen by the Toyota Marketing Campaign. Although a Subaru, I could not say I feel the same about it like how I feel about the WRX STI. Simply, I just like the fact it is a coupe. It has no turbo and no AWD that Subaru is famous for. Lastly, the Subaru booth showcase a transparent shell showing chrome parts of a car.Pretty nice touch.

Besides the LFA, I was also looking forward to take a look at the Ford booth for the Mustang Shelby GT500. The Mustang only available for left hand drive had 1 or 2 that reached our shores and I have only seen the ads but not the actual car on the road.The one they had during the motor show is the modified Shelby GT500. This is the only time a non JDM brand attracted me just because it is a rare sight that I am glad to be able to see it. There have been rumors that the right hand drive model would be sold here around next year but I got a feeling it would not be much of a sale because the engine displacement will be very big and the price tag will be high. Ford also brought in other new models such as the Fiesta ST but the Ford Focus Sport + Graphite Edition caught my eyes. The only car available in the market with an original fitted carbon hood, Recaro full bucket seat, 19 inch wheels and performance suspensions.

Back to the JDM scene, I could not say I am excited about the Honda booth but luckily for me there are somethings to check out while I was there. The Honda CR-Z is very popular since its launching worldwide and I even wrote 2 post (Hybrid Trend, CR-Z Mugen RZ) regarding it and Honda kept developing more limited edition or concept with it. What we have here is the CR-Z RR concept mainly a CR-Z equipped with a wide range of dry carbon body kits. I do love the metallic orange, oversized brakes and large wheels. From the digital spec sheet, the interior is fillef with orange theme and carbon parts too. Have to love the orange and black Recaro seats. Also captured my attention is the full concept, the EV concept. Not much is known about this EV concept but it certainly fit the term concept. The interior looks like a board filled with computer designs stuck on and the brakes are just a photo. 

Making its debut here in Malaysia, Nissan brought in their EV car (Electric Vehicle), the Nissan Leaf. A fully electric car with a huge battery replacing an engine that has no exhaust or waste. Truly the next level of clean, environmental friendly vehicle of the future. Much better green car than a hybrid car because when there is no engine there is no CO2 emission. Cons of this car though is the heavy price and short mileage. I guess it won't sell like hot cakes.

Being a car mod enthusiast, I have been looking for some modded car. I found this Toyota 86 promoting Toyo Tires and the funny thing is it bears the Scion emblem and FR-S emblem on the back making people think it is a Scion. However, with the 86 piston emblem on the fender tell me that it is a Toyota 86 instead of the Scion FR-S. Plus Scion only sells car in the United States. I also manage to spot the Jackie Chan designed Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Pretty ugly for me but nevertheless a one of a kind model.

This sums up what is interesting to me during the motor show. It is kind of sad that only these few cars out of the many cars on display are deemed interesting to me. Like I said in the beginning, the KLIMS usually have little to offer but I am happy to be able to see the Lexus LFA and Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. I wonder what can I see next year.