EPIC DRIVE: Bukit Putus
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2015
The last time where an A6 was pitted against a Cayman and a Tiguan on the stretch of Klawang, it was in the hottest summers where the grip of tarmac was assured. In this venture of taking on the legendary Bukit Putus, we went through sunshine, rain then the sun once more to find out what’s what. The year is now nearing the end where downpours are frequent, the VW has been swapped for a Carrera S in the equation which led to an outcome that couldn’t have been more different.
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Bukit Putus is located in the lush greenery of Negeri Sembilan, provides a stunning retreat for both nature enthusiasts and adventurers. Famous for its demanding hiking trails and awe-inspiring vistas, this destination is ideal for those wanting to delve into Malaysia's natural splendour.
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The name Bukit Putus, meaning "Broken Hill" comes from a significant landslide that historically divided the hill into two. This natural wonder has since become a beloved destination for hikers and outdoor lovers, eager to uncover its rich history and beautiful trails.
The Cayman was fuelled with no other than juice rhyming with hell derived from the prancing horse’s formula one team. Scissor-ed out the roof liner that decided to come off on this day instead of any other day. Had its Bridgestones overly inflated to 31 and 33 PSI respectively to the front and back to keep understeer at bay based on little to no scientific research. Taking advantage of every little detail will be needed for this exciting road trip that was about to take off.
Launching at about 4,000 rpm would get you off just about fine in the 987, any more would add seconds to your run. There were dry leaves lingering along BP which made our cars struggle for traction. There was a deadly turn entered at speeds higher than anyone should have and a crash is almost inevitable. Fortunately, my stars were aligned to make the greatest save of the year by directing the steering to the right and at the same time applying throttle to regain traction.
The A6 is just so far out of its comfort zone on such roads suffering from body roll and buckets of understeer although being in dynamic mode. On narrow strips of Bukit Putus, the A6 had to use up both lanes to iron out kinks in the corners. Having the traction control tuned to its mildest setting, tackling this route requires more effort over the two breeds of cars due to having a larger steering ratio which requires more turning behind the wheel. Despite that, it had more traction in situations of such (being front driven) does help keeping up with the Cayman more easily.
While at BP, another thing to be aware of or let’s not be aware of is monkeys. There are a total of four good spots for photography littered throughout the hill climb. Since Putus wasn't a long run, we punched the address to one of our favourite routes, N32. To our surprise, it isn't faraway so we headed in its direction for some comparison. As it turns out, Kuala Klawang was every bit as good as we remembered but Bukit Putus presented us with terrifying surprises which is also no bad thing.
As for the Carrera, life was easy with no drama in order to keep up with the other two cars. To my surprise, there were neither tyre squeals nor a hint of oversteer throughout the chase play. I’m sure it has quite the chassis and together with a clever locking differential to do the job but most of us find that the car was doing it all which robs the driving experience. Despite that, we cannot deny the fact that the other two could only dream of breaking away from the 991 in those conditions.
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Bukit Putus is more than a road, it's a rite of passage for mountain road lovers. Its challenging routes and stunning scenery offer an unforgettable driving experience. Whether you’re a veteran of the touge or a curious newcomer, Bukit Putus promises a journey that will test your skills and stir your soul. Embrace the challenge, respect the road, and savour every twist and turn.
We found that Bukit Putus was a tight, technical run but for us, Kuala Klawang, still is king. The presence of such exhilarating roads fuels our quest to discover even more driving gems. By the end of the day, I couldn't help but wish I was behind the wheel of an S model for its added power and roar or perhaps a 997 for the full Porsche experience. Then again, owning a Carrera would inevitably leave you craving a GT3 and eventually, an RS model.
Bukit Putus (Route 361)
Length: 6.5 kilometers
Address: 70400 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
GPS: 2.728697, 102.063100