Genesis

Bros...would appreciate hearing where you like to drive across the boarder into Malaysia....Sepang notwithstanding...any comments welcome (for speed, enjoyment, anything)...thanks.

errant

just remember one thing- rural malaysia has very few places which stock 18" tyres- especially after hours. The spare tyre kit aint much use if youre awhile back from singapore as well. Needless to say, for all those on 19"..i would carry a spare before venturing in! towing the car back to singapore ..rm1k+ and a huge inconvenience...

Genesis

Ok, good points, but assuming 8 breakdown in MY, can get towing back to Sing ya? Well, that's what my SE said MM(s) can provide anyway...truth?

davester

Haven't taken my 8 across the causeway yet...but previously have taken my previous 34gtt up the north-south highway..the scenary gets better on the stretch up from KL to Penang and its a nice drive.

I've heard that the highway up the east coast to kuantan and trengganu is really senic. the roads are not as developed as the north-south highway butits much better than before..

There's also a highway linking the west and east and its nice cause it cuts across the highlands running in between the east and west.

There are actually lots of nice drives in malaysia...problem is saftey and support.

Changing tyres is indeed a big problem.

I was in KL city itself and I busted my rear tyre 255R18...there were absolutely no major shops open on sunday that could change the tyre...one alternative to carrying a spare tyre I've heard is to really carry lots of air canisters for reinflation...that is if the problem is just a leak and not somethin more serious..

Perhaps the safest way to have a drive is oranising one of those convoys then there are less worries...

DAVESTER

cuscorex

towin bk fr m'sia is X,no doubt.but i suppose u heard of STAR rite?gt dn tere,register s a member(free),pay tat $50 for the 'roamin' in m'sia.
i gt mine towed bk fr sepang last year @ tat price,but they'l tow ur car to star @ portsdn rd lar.

errant

my star membership expired 3 months earlier! knnZ! so had to suffer the trauma of $$ fly away..and difficulty going up the flat bed cos was damn afraid that the bodykit would be smashed when going up the ramp..
argh!
my tyre couldnt be repaired with inflation kit because at 170kmh its not long after getting a puncture that the sidewalls get major holes in them..

sgrenesis

so can you register with them just to tow the car?

Genesis

Sounds like best to carry a fully inflated spare when going to MY, just in case. Not much room will be left in the boot tho, but if just two people then bags go in the back seat

Manwe

Note...tire repair kit in the 8 cannot be used if you are thinking of repairing the tire. It is only for emergency and you are dunking the tires later. It would be good to keep spare tire or repair kit near accessible place. Not nice to unload your entire boot just to grab those stuff. If you are carrying pax, maybe you might wanna add abt 20-30psi on your rear wheels so that the ride is more comfortable and you wear out your tire less. Get some RM50$ ready in case you meet any blocks. Regardless of your speed, they will charge you for speeding if you happen to be singaporean and especially if you are driving sports car. Check if you have outstanding fines before entering. Bring along some water, extra oil(could be important esp for 8) just in case. Travel at night is better cos it is cooler. Have enough sleep. Remember to lock your car even if you are gone for only a short while.

Manwe

Oh yea....forgot, make sure that if you are up for maintenance, do it b4 your trip. Not nice to have a spark plug failing on you etc etc....

errant

nope, u cant register with Star on the spot if you're stuck in msia and need towing. tried that!

regarding "extra toll", best these days is to just take the fine. whether you wanna pay it or not later, different story.. but if you give them rm50 on the spot, many instances they still submit your car number later.

oh yes, good idea to get Touch n Go if you dont want a whole lotta "sen" filling up your coin compartment when paying your regular toll!

sqflyer

Don't mean to sound all doom and gloom... but do you guys worry about parking your 8s in Malaysia? Afterall, heard quite a few stories about robberies, hi-jacks/hostage, vandalism, car break-in, car thefts, etc. Any comments?

Manwe

Keep your car within sight. Only park it at car parks with security. Vandalism is quite unheard of. But smashed windows and missing cars would sound rather scary even though there are only a few cases(each one is one too many).

sqflyer

Can't keep it within sight ALL the time... like if you go shopping or stay overnight in a hotel how? I don't think there are many car parks with security and even if there is, the car park will still have that cover-all disclaimer that says "park at your own risk" and "we are not responsible for any damage or loss". Which reminds me, better check if insurance covers West Malaysia. Do all comprehensive insurance for private cars cover W.M'sia?

Regarding missing cars, I think chances are a bit lower (but not improbable) that our 8s will be targeted since there isn't a big enough market in M'sia for scrap parts, but maybe they can still export the whole car? *shrug* Car break-ins or vandalism/robbery traps would be more common I guess.

Manwe

Most insurance covers m'sia i think. Better check with your insurance co. just in case. Break in can be common.

sgrenesis

at the moment car theft is quite high in M. chances are they will export the car to the other border.

relative just got car stolen just last month after grocery shopping.

worse still my auntie's friend dove up there to play golf and got car stolen on highway. the person just stands in the middle of the road and take action when about to stop. actually with 4 people in the car they overpowered the gang of 4 but in the end one of the gang members flashed out a gun and hey, you dont want to argue with that.
it looks more like a syndicate to me.

Manwe

Don't think they would export They just sell it to some ulu villages for a cheap price or they use it to commit more crimes. But either way, not good for us. Wow... gun robbery....sound quite scary. Don't stop for anyone on the road. Lock your car. Hmmm.... well....the best is rent a car to drive up

sqflyer

I miss my Ramli burger, cheap shopping and seafood leh... I don't know if it's all just propaganda or rumours. I really wish it was so, but can't afford to take the risk. The problem is most rental car companies' insurance do not cover W.M'sia and those that do charge more. I guess if really wanna go, no choice but to rent a car... anyone got good rental car lobang?

Manwe

I dunno...but a lot of my friends rent car to go up. I can ask for you. Good thing abt car rental. Speed up and dun need worry about speed cameras. Hahaha.... Use own car ahem... next time go in jialat jialat

Genesis

hmmm, dunno guys, but think you're overdoing it a bit. I like the advice on spare tyres, advance towing arrangements, what supplies to bring, servicing before going, etc.....but hey, if we worried so much about theft, break-in's, gun-point robbery and other acts of "god", we'd just leave our 8's at home! I say take the risk, have fun with your 8 in MY, be smart about it and if **** happens then it happens. Besides, what I've described as the bad things could just have happened anywhere....ever driven in NY?

Reminds me of a quote I once read...."Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid-in-sideways, totally worn out,
shouting.."holy ****.... what a ride!" Same applies to the 8

Peace

Manwe

Cool attitude!

But I rather not arrive at the grave so soon though... yea...take the risk is good....but depends on where you go also...to the more major city should be fine as i said earlier but if i am going to some ulu place i will think twice... anyway, think the car also need some stretch.... never run too much may cos stamina to go down(FC to go up correspondingly).

Genesis

hehe...ya...dun think anyone wants to hit the grave too early, certainly not me! It's all about enjoying the time in front of you, giving it all you've got and accepting the bumps and bruises that are an inevitable by-product of living to the fullest

sqflyer

Genesis, I can certainly understand your reasoning. I certainly agree with living life to the fullest, but only calculated risks are worth taking. Are you fully aware of the risks of driving into M'sia in a flashy new 8? Although not completely related, but I know someone who totalled his car and now has to pay over $30K because the insurance's "prevailing market price" is not enough to repay the amount still owed to the finance company. Can you imagine if your 8 is stolen in M'sia? Not only would you not have a car to drive, you still have to pay off the amount owed. I think a lot of Singaporeans take the safety and security here for granted. It's like if you drive a nice car in San Diego, would you necessarily want to drive it into Tijuana?

Genesis

For some hot tamales? You bet! :D

Seriously tho, good points flyer, not to be taken lightly. I'll be sure to check the fine print on my insurance policy to understand what's at risk before crossing the boarder....thanks.