secret manual repair

5 November 2006

This Sunday my wife and I took the dog for a walk up Table Mountain.
We decided on Plattekloof Gorge since it is stepped and would require no actual climbing (something dogs find hard to do for some reason ).

The guidebook says this route can be accomplished in 1hour by fit climbers and between 2 and 3 hours by the average joe. I reckoned I was going to do it in at least 5hours
After 15 minutes of climbing I was dying and thinking of going home. The previous evening was spent at Hein’s house in the company of Christof, Ernie and Irene. My head was pounding and I believed I could drink the entire ocean dry to get rid of the after-thirst.





Nevertheless I carried on, hoping the hangover would go away on its own somehow. My hopes of making it to the top was slightly dampened by the pained, grimacing faces of descending walkers passing us from the front.
...and I had to climb down the mountain as well because the cable car will not take pets and it was closed for the day due to strong wind anyway.



We carried water both for ourselves and the dog but every once in a while we would happen across a stream where we cou ld cool down.






When we reached the top we found a sheltered ledge out of the howling wind and had a picnic.









It was a sunny day but the strong wind kept the temperature down.






My City


Camps Bay

Even before we left my wife heard about a lesser known trail that crosses the sheer cliff face of the mountain. The route is not marked on any guidebook and no signs on the mountain lead you to it.

When we did finally find the start of the trail we were warned of by a sign proclaiming “Dangerous Trail. Enter at own risk!”
We shrugged it off and continued on. The trail is quite overgrown and obviously not used often. There certainly were no sign of human activity today.
After a while we saw more signs warning us of “Warning: Steep Descent” and â €œExperienced climbers only”



But what finally began to change my mind about continuing was this sign: “This is not an easy way down”
You mean there’s an easy way down!!?? Fark me. Why are we going this way then?



When we got a precipitous crag with a framed view of Camps Bay I began to have serious doubts. When we reached a narrow ledge and the wind began to push me ever closer to the edge I stopped and called it a day. It was just not worth the risk.



So we made our way back to Plattekloof Gorge and joined the throng of tourists on the highway down the mountain. Plattekloof Gorge is sometimes jokingly called Adderly street due to the high traffic volumes.

My scrawny white legs were quivering a bit as a gracelessly stumbled and jerked down the steep steps. I really need to get more exercise.
…but I take heart in the fact that our dog could barely walk at all last night. He just laid there on his mat and gave an occasional fart. This morning he looks even more stiff than I do.

I took the GPS along:

Time up the mountain: 1hour 25minutes
Time down the mountain: 1hour 5minutes
Max Elevation: 1074metres above mean sea level
Average speed: Between 1 and 2km/h (depending on terrain)

So that was my first time up the mountain by foot. Would I do it again? For sure, m uch more rewarding than the cable car.
Next time Ill try that trail accross the cliff face though...but without the dogged wind and the windy dog.

An step up from its taxi-cab image predecessor, the Rio looks more solid and stately than before. The 1.4 EX went first with the 1.2 LX followed a month later. Off-shoot variants with each engine were introduced later on including a model having the same specifications of the hatchback.

Before we leave 2012, The Ultimate Used Car Guide goes back to 12 months of new automotive releases and among the new cars available in the market, there are some that fled off car dealerships like wild while some remained glued and unloved. With some of my friends in Tropang TopGear Ph, we had listed the pops and flops of 2012.

In this case, only new releases in the form of a new nameplate, redesign, engine upgrade, or a new trim level are counted.

Many thanks to Dominic Sobreo, Mark Lester, and Carl Pacis for contributing!



THE HITS


Toyota 86 - We are used on seeing bread and butter vehicles from Toyota that are capable but boring. But June 2012 saw the arrival of the what could be the most exciting car that Toyota made in years. We all saw and cried when the Celica, MR2 Spyder, and Supra are hoisted in heaven; but things are changing and in fact, more sports cars from the oval brand with the T are coming.


Kia Rio - What used to be a favorite of cab drivers from Manila, Cebu, and Davao is now a desirable choice for sub-compact buyers. Cheap plastics may be abound but not that much, plus looking at it can shame some European sub-compacts. Good gamble by Kia.


Ford Mustang - The pony car wars in the country had the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger arrive first in the year when PNoy assumed presidency, but the two didnt sell well due to their stratospheric prices. Ford made a shocker in this years Manila International Auto Show that it displayed and much to the delight, introduced the Mustang. The good thing is that, it was priced at the P2M range, while the other Detroit compatriots are retailing for more than 3M.

THE MISSES


Mazda 3 - It has been three years since the second generation 3 was launched and they brought in this late? And overpriced?? (the Honda Civic and Ford Focus, all new, have justifiable prices) Not to forget under-speced; if it had the SkyActiv engine, the pr ice could have been spot on and justifiable. But with a new distributor, things might change for the better.


Suzuki Kizashi - Critically acclaimed by the press worldwide but not a sales success in the Philippines. Sure it may have an exciting drive plus a cheaper price (it under cuts the very affordable trim of the Sonata), but this failed to lure executives and gushed over the Camry, redesigned for 2012 and introduced last April. Being different has its own advantages and disadvantages.


Subaru Impreza - A great ve hicle in the somewhat crowded compact category but somewhat cheaper competitors had eaten its market share plus the arrival the of the XV didnt help either. We wish all the luck for Subaru to sell a decent number of them next year.

This compact executive is being replaced and Myk Belmonte discovers this gem.

2008-2012 Audi A4

History
Mention the word "compact executive" and the top two answers would be two German compatriots: the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class. Heck, the Lexus IS would also be mentioned at the same breath leaving some rivals such as the Audi A4 or the Volvo S60 out of the equation. Sure, the A4 doesnt have any faults but with rivals overshadowing over its popularity, this one deserves a keen look at the second hand market.

Released in September 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show for the sedan (with the Avant having its debut in March 2008), the B8 series A4 represented the fourth generation model of the vehicle line. This generation utilized a variant of the Audi Modular Longitudinal Platform which allowed the vehicle to utilize a longer wheelbase without growing in length which made improvements in its handling due to the redis tribution of the center of gravity.

Locally, it had its debut sometime in mid-2008 which competed with the fresh C Class, long-in-the-tooth S60 and class leader 3 Series. Both diesel and turbocharged gasoline models were made available to Filipino consumers.

Value and Costs
If you are not a fan of the bling-bling that a Benz or a Bimmer gives you, even on a second hand package, then the allure of an Audi may suit you. Prices for this Ingolstadt assembled vehicle ranges from P900,000 to P1,900,000, which may also include rivals from Europe and Japan given the range. Our advice for premium brands when going second hand is to go certified pre-owned, as such PGA Cars has a wide range of certified units available.

Between the two engines, wed pick the diesel due to the savings that can give you. Common problems for this vehicle include the EGR in diesel models and the headlights have the tendency to blacken out. Early release models hav e their MMI interface freeze, so make sure it works properly.

Exterior and Interior
As we said earlier, the redesign gave this vehicle more space without looking bulky and making it more longer than its two German rivals. Its styling is definitely timeless and can withstand the test of time without making this vehicle look outdated.

The interior is where Audi excels, and they succeed in this redesign with high quality materials abound this vehicle. Inside it may be bare but it was crafted perfectly. When placing in passengers, the rear is best left to two since the middle seat has the driveshaft tunnel (to make way to an all wheel drive system) passing through making the one sitting there uncomfortable.

Engine
If you prefer the quietness of a gasoline engine, the sole option would be the 1.8 turbocharged which puts out, depending on the year model, 158hp at 4,500-6,200rpm and 250Nm at 1,500-4,500rpm for 2008 to 2 011 models while later ones play at 170hp at 3,800-6,200rpm and 320Nm at 1,750-3,000rpm. Choosing the diesel will opt you for a 2.0 unit having 143hp at 4,200rpm and 320Nm at 1,750-2,500rpm. Both engines are impressive enough on their own intents, with the diesel masquerading for something as gasoline driven.

Driving Impressions
Having a suspension set-up for touring purposes, the ride will not beat you up and still bring your tired body home with ease. Steering is on the sharp side and ride quality is excellent.

Verdict
Sure, it may not have the badge of a Benz or the driving feel of a BMW, the Audi A4 makes an excellent proposition if you value economy and presence more without the flash.

The Good:

• Diesel power
• Interior quality is tops
• Refinement

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