Remembering my first vehicle - the Dating-mobile

I call it vehicle, as a Perodua Kancil is not what I’d usually call a car. Like you know…when you watch Baywatch and not consider it soft porn.

(Pause)

Well ok, bad metaphor. Anyway, my first ride was a Kancil, and as any man in his right mind will tell you, it’s far from being as charming as the Mini.

My ownership was more a case of “I didn’t have a choice” rather than “It was my choice”. Then again, it could’ve been worse. Yet then again, what could be worse than the snail of automobiles?

If you think speed is not one of Kancil’s virtues, you haven’t confirmed your opinion with a 660cc engine and automatic gearbox yet. The only other car I ever managed to overtake was either a non-moving one, or another 660 Auto Kancil driven by an old lady. To those who think that speed kills, think again. I almost got hit head on by oncoming traffic for failing to get back in line during an overtaking maneuver.

I don’t want to slam the Kancil so much, though. It did serve its purpose. It did transport me from point A to point B. Eventually.

But I’d like to reminisce the rolling good times I had with it.

Interior space was cramped. Surprise, surprise. It was more like having a bucket cockpit rather than a bucket seat. And “cock-pit” had never been so aptly termed. The steering wheel was so big, I could literally steer it with my knees.

And the seat, it was so flat and slippery that, if I took a sharp right hand bend at high speed (relatively speaking), I would end up sitting on the handbrake. And if I took an even sharper right hand bend at even higher speed (speed relative to first example above), I would end up on my passenger’s lap. Which would be OK if it was Carmen Electra. Not so if it was my mom-in-law!

Grip was never in the Kancil’s book of handling, interior or exterior. Never had I taken a corner without the front tyres squealing for mercy. I finally changed the 12” wheels to 13” and put on wider rubber to improve grip. Cornering was then much better, but I wasn’t sure whether the bigger, wider and heavier wheels actually enhanced grip or simply slowed me down to a non-screeching level.

But, it was a joy. A perfect dating mobile. The tailgate opened upwards in a 90 degree position to make a great “moon-roof” tent. This will sound like a cliché, but parking was a breeze, side or reverse.

YOU can’t write about your car with so much passion, can you? Oh well, drive safe guys. Remember, speed doesn’t kill. Lack of it does!