Driving Myvi

I'm driving my aunt's Perodua Myvi today. Although I'm very fond of this car, I can't say I'm trilled at the thought of me finally being able to drive one. I just don't feel too comfortable driving somebody else's car. I mean, I don't mind driving someone else's car and have no problems at being able to maneuver the car or anything but I just don't feel nice driving someone else's car if I had other options. In this case, I was doing her a favour by bringing her spanking new car for its first service.

My first impression about the inside of the car is how high the seats are and how low the handbrake and gear control are. I found it a bit difficult to shift gears as I had to make an extra effort to reach either the handbrake or gear control. Next was the radio. I just couldn't find the on/off switch. I must be blind or something since this car has HUGE labellings for its audio system. I decided to poke my finger around the controls and finally got the radio to work.

The air-conditioning is good but that's what you should expect from a new car, no? I like the display panel technology which is borrowed from Toyota, which is in collaboration with Perodua. Really adds that touch of class to it. I also like the auto-locking function of the doors the first time you step on the brakes after ignition and the auto-release function when you switch off the engine. I've always wanted that function in the cars I drive. Another thing I like about the car is the silent indication that your car is locked and the alarm is armed. I hate all those "tooit...tooit" sounds. Another touch of class here by Perodua although I know of some people who would rather hear some sound indicating their cars are already locked.

Driveability-wise, it still feels very much like driving a Perodua car, something like driving a Kenari or Kancil. I still prefer the driveability of larger sedan cars which gives you a better feel while driving. The suspension is not as good compared to the Gen-2 my mom drives but this could be due to air pressure since my aunt is not quite known for inflating her tyres to the appropriate range. The pedals are really tiny (same as the handbrake and gear control). I feel very uncomfortable driving a car this size with such small pedals. I can tolerate using such pedals on a Kancil but I expected larger and sturdier pedals for this car.

I still love the servicing done my Perodua. It's doesn't take forever like Proton. It took them less than an hour and the estimated time of completion given by them is very accurate. When I took my Kancil for servicing previously, it was also this fast and hassle-free. They even provide free ice-cream this time! I wished I knew of this offering earlier. I only found out after the car was ready. :(

Will I get myself a Myvi in the future? I do not know. It seems to be the most affordable and acceptable car to me at the moment. If I do get the Myvi, I would definitely get the automatic transmission instead. Maybe I'm just not used to driving this car yet but it seems that you have to put in some extra effort just to drive the car. I do admire the Toyota Vios and other more expensive marques a lot but I guess I just have to be reasonable. For now, I will still be driving my SLK. :P