If got problem like my thermostat issue last time, sure too late already if wait until red. Or if got small blockage at radiator also can't detect because temperature won't reach red so early. Until it reaches red, probably very badly jammed inside.
Din't know your Forester NA engine have cover. Thought it is like XV, no cover, showing the intake manifolds directly. I know the XT turbo had a cover.
So far, I don't feel like there is anything wrong with the handbrake efficiency. I guess it is still fine.
No point explaining these to people who are not into it. I remember you said you drive an old Proton Saga right? To some people, they might even think that your Saga and probably my Wira are just some old junk cars that is inferior to every new car out there no matter how good the condition is on our old cars.
Funny when people and tell me "oh, to me, car is just a vehicle for me to travel from point A to B, that's all." Then later when want to choose for car, this car don't want, that car don't want. Ugly, not nice, I want a tall car not low car, engine looks underpowered, bla bla. Underpowered? Some of them don't even know what is hp and torque...
Honda B series engine is also made out of aluminum block... If overheat, good bye then...
I don't think new cars will be cheap to maintain if anything happens. Now I heard that engine oil viscosity for new Perodua cars can be as thin as 0W-20? Not suitable to use 10W-40 I think.
KPGC10 is gold of course... Probably no 2nd generation GT-R (R32,R33,R34) can match the price of this... Unless you are talking about limited versions like 400R, Z-tune...
Speaking of installments, I really got frightened by how much a yearly cost can go for a new car... Checked the new Proton Saga 1.3 manual base spec financing sheet.... I calculated and it looks far more expensive than maintaining my own Wira. Yes, including all the repairs that I have gone through so far. I'll list out the rough calculation here.
Price : RM36k
Installment : RM488 (7 years)
Downpayment : RM3600
Insurance :RM1200
So, what I have calculated is a year of installment = RM5856
Yearly installment + insurance = RM7056
After 7 years without insurance = RM40992
After 7 years with insurance =RM49392
Haven't add in the downpayment cost... If so, RM44592 (without insurance), RM52992 (with insurance)
Just a base spec Proton Saga will probably cost you RM50k for 7 years... From what I know, my Wira's insurance is at around RM380 a year... All the repair costs that came up so far during my 3 years of usage only came up to around RM4k. Including 4 new tyres change as well...
At this rate, I rather just drive my Wira and repair or perhaps mod something instead of buying a new car... Unless my salary is very high... If fresh grad salary around RM2k plus and pay for Saga installment, every month I'm going to be drained very dry... Might as well save up the extra money for some weekend car next time or probably save up for other things for future...