Driving more conveniently with Baleno automatic
Driving more conveniently with Baleno automatic
In urban areas across the country, the main problem for most drivers is the traffic jam. The number of private cars has increased significantly and traffic jams have become a part of life during the peak periods, such as rush hour or even holiday weekends. In Jakarta, drivers even take the toll to avoid congested areas.
Most times, people have driven out of a traffic jam only to find that nothing caused it. In many cases, traffic congestion is caused by a lack of discipline by drivers of both private and public transportation, or by street vendors.
But generally, when a "real" cause for a traffic jam, such as an accident, stall or overcrowded toll entrance or exit, comes to an end, the mess does not disappear instantaneously. It takes time for the traffic flow to return to normal. This is no different from a line of cars at a red light, which does not dissipate immediately when the light turns green.
During rush hour, a traffic jam can take much longer to disperse than to build in the first place. Growing congestion moves over the freeway in the direction opposite to the flow of traffic, affecting it far from the location of the original cause. Sometimes the traffic slows to a complete stop and gets worse when there are heavy rains and floods.
In such conditions, good public transit is needed to ease the traffic jam. However, few people are interested in using the service as there are problems with convenience, reliability and safety.
People prefer to use their cars. A traffic jam is then inevitable and motorists experience it as a consequence. Driving, especially during the rush hour, becomes a nightmare. When driving a manual car, motorists will have an extra burden, as they will continuously need to use their gearshift.
A quick solution for motorists who desire convenient driving is the automatic transmission. Driving is much more convenient with automatic cars. The right foot is normally used to control the accelerator and brake. Because there is no clutch, the left foot is not used at all.
When the car starts off, the gears are shifted automatically and there is no need for the driver to use the gear stick.
The changing of the gears is regulated by the car's speed and the pressure applied on the accelerator.
The only thing to keep in mind when driving an automatic car is that the brakes have to be applied more often to avoid the tendency for it to pull forward.
Nonetheless, automatic cars enable drivers to concentrate on the more important things, such as planning ahead and steering. It makes driving more convenient, particularly during a traffic jam.
Debate
In developed nations, particularly in the United States, almost every car has an automatic transmission. But in Indonesia, the automatic car is still scarce. People prefer to drive manually as they think automatic cars are complicated and have costly maintenance.
The debate on whether a car with an automatic transmission is better than a manual version is actually simple. The manual transmission was far superior, but that was years ago. Today, the technology in an automatic transmission is so refined that many automatic automobiles are comparable if not better than manual ones in both performance and fuel consumption.
There might be a nagging concern faced by those who drive automatics that there is a lack of engine control when taking a turn at higher speed. Because of the gear ratio settings, the driver will accelerate only to brake hard during the maneuver. But in a manual car, the driver controls the gear ratio thus avoiding the use of brakes unnecessarily.
But it is all about practice. When people get used to driving automatic cars, they will find it more convenient. Automatic transmissions will be a need just like the air conditioner, which was once regarded as a luxury feature but is now considered a must.
A manually driven car may give the driver control over the car. It is this control that attracts buyers to choose manuals. Some people still fancy a manual transmission because they feel they can control the cars. There are also people who think that an automatic car is complicated and needs expensive maintenance, and that it can not be manually operated if the engine or battery suddenly dies.
Every car, whether it is manual or automatic, should be regularly maintained. The drivers or owners should check the battery and other components regularly. Therefore the cars will last longer.
Due to a lack of information, not too many people are aware that automatic cars are easy to drive. A driver just needs to start the car, select Drive (D) and is off. Motorists do not have to worry about changing gears thus enabling them to concentrate on the road. An automatic transmission is especially convenient to have when caught in a traffic crawl.
In the past, when people were asked whether they wanted to drive an automatic or a manual, the answer was almost always for the latter. Now, however, almost every car in the developed nations is an automatic.
In a city where a traffic jam is a regular occurrence, speed rarely exceeds 40 km per hour. Many drivers would likely prefer to have an automatic transmission as they would not have to shift gears repeatedly.
Baleno
Leading carmakers are shifting toward creating more automatic transmission cars than manuals. Consequently, they are now concentrating on creating better cars with automatic transmissions.
Automatic transmissions are the wave of the future, and nearly all of the latest cars are automatics.
Among the leading carmakers is Suzuki, which introduced its Baleno automatic late last year. Under local distributor PT Indomobil Niaga International, Baleno was first introduced to the public here in 1996.
Indomobil marketing manager Bebin Djuana said the automatic transmission was introduced to complement the Baleno line in Indonesia.
"Unlike in other nations, particularly the U.S., automatic cars in Indonesia are still unpopular. I believe, though, that people here will soon regard the automatic transmission as a must have," he said.
Bebin said the automatic transmission had come a long way and would continue to be a trend for the future. "With greater advancements in technology, automatics may one day be the only way to drive."
He said that maintaining automatic cars was actually not as complicated as what some people might think.
"The price of an automatic car is usually more expensive than a manual one, but consider the convenience you get. And, with careful maintenance, owning an automatic car will also have more benefits in the long run," he said.
The automatic Baleno is powered by a sporty 1.5-liter fuel- injected multivalve four-cylinder engine coupled with a five- speed manual gearbox. The car features include comfortable seats, stereo and CD player, air-conditioning, power steering, power windows, power mirrors, remote keyless entry, central locking and an engine immobilizer with alarm.
The maximum output of a Baleno is 105 ps/6,000 rpm. Its maximum torque is 13.1kg-m at 4,500 rpm transmission. The fuel distribution applies the electronic petrol injection (EPI) system which allows the Baleno to have a stable maximum power even when fully loaded.
The controls on the Baleno are easy to handle, with a particularly precise gearshift, and the overall balance of the car feels right on the road. The neatly geared steering makes it go anywhere it is supposed to go. Handling and cruising are fine on smooth roads, and good on rougher surfaces.
The Baleno is quite considerably different in looks and in feel to its rivals. The drivers seat is comfortable, and passenger seating is as good as it looks. With such specifications, it looks and feels like a serious contender in the choice of mid-sized passenger cars. The Baleno is a more than competent car in this particular class.
"Driving away a Baleno is outstanding value for money. It is designed to appeal to medium-car buyers looking for something out of the ordinary," Bebin said.
He said Suzuki was well-respected for its good products, both here and in the international market. In addition, Indomobil is also well-known for its after sales service throughout the country, he added.
"Suzuki is determined to expand its reputation beyond being the world's foremost carmaker, and we are quite optimistic that the Baleno will have a place in Indonesia," he said.
The Baleno comes in six colors: black, Bengali green pearl, thistle green metallic, mercury silver metallic, cobalt blue metallic and imperial red metallic. The new pricing for the Suzuki Baleno starts from Rp 138.5 million for the manual and Rp 147 million for the automatic.