Look at the positive side of modifying engines - (The Star)

[sonictheory]

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/2/24/focus/13471097&sec=focus

Look at the positive side of modifying engines

Recently there have been many complaints about youngsters modifying their cars into unrecognisable street monsters that terrorise other motorists and road users.
But don’t these complainants realise the huge amount of money these youngsters have actually invested in their cars?
A typical engine modification would probably cost about RM10,000. That’s RM10,000 worth of drugs kept off the streets.
A pack of cigarettes cost about RM9. Divide RM10,000 by that and you get 1,111 packs of cigarettes.
Multiply the result by 20 (the number of cigarettes in a pack) and you get 22,222 cigarettes kept out of the lungs of our youngsters, the hope of our country.
We do not need to totally ban car modifications. We do not need to condemn such acts. We only need to realise that this is merely a hobby.
All we need to do is to come up with regulations to keep this hobby on a leash and to promote it.
It keeps youngsters off everything else.
What is wrong if I convert my 1.3 litre engine to a 2.0 if I stick by Road Transport Department regulations?
The RTD could take cars with modified engines to Puspakom for inspection to ensure that regulations are observed.
All that the RTD has to do is to make sure such cars are safe on the roads. K.DHILLON,
Ipoh.

ermm...makes sense...

 

[sakuraguy]

That makes .. RTD's wake up!

 

[jeffblazed]

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/2/24/focus/13471097&sec=focus

Look at the positive side of modifying engines

Recently there have been many complaints about youngsters modifying their cars into unrecognisable street monsters that terrorise other motorists and road users.
But don’t these complainants realise the huge amount of money these youngsters have actually invested in their cars?
A typical engine modification would probably cost about RM10,000. That’s RM10,000 worth of drugs kept off the streets.
A pack of cigarettes cost about RM9. Divide RM10,000 by that and you get 1,111 packs of cigarettes.
Multiply the result by 20 (the number of cigarettes in a pack) and you get 22,222 cigarettes kept out of the lungs of our youngsters, the hope of our country.
We do not need to totally ban car modifications. We do not need to condemn such acts. We only need to realise that this is merely a hobby.
All we need to do is to come up with regulations to keep this hobby on a leash and to promote it.
It keeps youngsters off everything else.
What is wrong if I convert my 1.3 litre engine to a 2.0 if I stick by Road Transport Department regulations?
The RTD could take cars with modified engines to Puspakom for inspection to ensure that regulations are observed.
All that the RTD has to do is to make sure such cars are safe on the roads. K.DHILLON,
Ipoh.

ermm...makes sense...

wat if the guy modify his car wit 10k but still smokes............

 

[PocketRocket]

alot of youngsters mod cars n smoke while waiting for their ride to roll out with the new mods lolzzz

 

[infernaL]

well if u were to put it the other way round if one can afford 10k on mods itself imagine how much he can afford on fags instead ....

 

[acura]

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/2/24/focus/13471097&sec=focus

wat if the guy modify his car wit 10k but still smokes............

ya~! i was thinking about that tooo:shocked:

 

[cyclonite]

The RTD could take cars with modified engines to Puspakom for inspection to ensure that regulations are observed.

And ensure that no bribery is taken when approving the cars

 

[acbc]

I spend RM 20k on my car also I didn't smoke or drink or gamble or womanise. Same goes for my other car kakis. I think those who smoke n still modify made up a very small percentage.

 

[fritz]

Youngsters might be smoking while waiting for their car to be ready, but after paying the full amount, mayb he will smoke less. Mayb like 1 packet per day into 1 packet for 2-3 days?Coz mod until PK already ma..hehe! Tht's good also rite? Die slower ma..hehe!

 

[prodigy]

I very much agree that modifications are to be legalise but to a certain extent. The current ruling are very tight, its almost equivalent to not allowing any modifications. The authority should look into this matter. However, when they legalise modifications, they should also enforce it so that it doesn't get out of hand.

But i don't quite agree that modifications is an alternative to smoking. Its just not right. Anyone who has access to ciggarettes could smoke, just as long as you have money. To really wipe out smoking, the one and only way is to ban ciggies. I know there will still be smuggling but you get to cut down at least 90%

 

[acbc]

Ban ciggies? That won't work because Terengganu need the revenue!

The only way is to increase the price from RM 7 to RM 20.

 

[K_Takuya]

Im not sure if mod will be allowed. later all those who import cars wil bising2 thier car tak laku

yes, hike up the ciggie price kaw kaw!

 

[PocketRocket]

im gonna smoke n wait for my car to roll out of the tyre shop tomo..haha

 

[si|verfish]

Proper regulations and enforcement needs to be had. Both for car mods and ciggarettes. This would stop idiots doing stupid mods to their cars and giving the modding scene a bad image and stop me having to endure second hand smoke from assholes who have no consideration for others.

 

[rollakid]

aiya.. me also need to go wait for my car to roll out from my mech's house soon what.. no i won't shop, i'll squat outside his house eating nasi lemak.. cheaper.. nicer.. can fill up your empty stomach... you only get fat nia you won't get lung cancer.

 

[zephyr3d]

hmmm.... i see alot of modded car owners smokes.. some cigar somemore. hahaha.

 

[BlackSamurai]

someone from Seremban reply the letter today
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/2/27/focus/13503281&sec=focus


==========================

I REFER to the letter, “Look at the positive side of modifying engines” (The Star, Feb 24).

I think it is rather silly of K. Dhillon to come up with an unfounded hypothesis that “spending more money modifying cars will cut down drug usage.”

First of all, if a typical Ah Beng can afford to spend RM10,000 modifying a humble Kancil into a Batmobile look-alike, what makes you think he can't afford to spend a few ringgit more on cigarettes?

Car modification is not a hobby. In fact, being an engineer myself, I find it would be an insult to my profession to call it a hobby.

The reason car manufacturers like Toyota and Honda spend millions investing in R&D is to develop vehicles that are reliable, safe and roadworthy.

What makes you think that some backyard mechanics in Balakong have that sort of capability in modifying a car while ensuring it is still roadworthy?

From an engineering point of view, modifying certain parts of a vehicle will always carry certain effects to other parts.

For example, changing the whole engine may alter the natural frequency of the car, which in turn may cause serious vibrations and lead to metal fatigues.

Installing a rear spoiler to a Kancil not only makes the driver look like a complete idiot, it will create additional downward force, which in turn will wear out the tires much faster, and also adds unnecessary stress to the absorbers.

Bottom line is, without proper engineering consideration, these motorists are simply compromising on the safety of the vehicle, not to mention the risk they are putting on other road users as well.

In a nutshell, those who modify their cars for the fun of it are selfish people. They have no respect for other road users and laws.



W.Y. NG,
Seremban.

 

[zephyr3d]

wow.. somekind of debate here...

hmm.. why not a hobby? i like cooking.. cooking is a hobby during my free time, but do i need to be a professional chef fr shangriLa to cook?

sorhai engineer....

 

[fstr]

this seremban sohai dude need to get his brains smash up real good...

 

[GSRTurbo]

Some one should write a letter back to the star and bombard this farker...
Engineer my foot!!!!