1218 - Attainable Dream Car

You may have noticed that I've been blogging more about a Honda Jazz (or Toyota Echo Verso) than one of my other attainable dream cars, the classic VW Beetle or Super Beetle. Let's just say I've sort of "given up" on the Beetle dream., and there are a few good reasons for this.

Safety. My other attainable dream cars are both newer and relatively safer than the Beetle. Better suspension, stock disc brakes, and other safety features are available stock to my Japanese dream cars versus the Beetle. Plus I'm guessing the newer cars have crumple zones and airbags.

Comfort. The Jazz and Echo Verso have better suspension for a more comfortable ride, maximize space better, and are four-door meaning it would be easier for passengers to get in and out of the car. They also have air conditioning and a bigger space on the dashboard for better in-car entertainment. Heck you can even install the 2DIN sized Android Auto/Apple Car Play ready units. I can even say having an automatic transmission (at least for the Honda Jazz, maaaaaybe for the Echo Verso if you can do a transmission swap easily) is a big factor in comfort because you don't have to be sweating so hard to drive in stop-and-go Metro Manila traffic.

Reliability, and fuel efficiency. Let's be honest, the Jazz and Echo Verso are both relatively newer cars so parts availability should be easier. Plus both cars are fuel injected and offer good-to-great fuel economy. It might be easier to find reliable and trustworthy mechanics to work on cars that are around 20-years old versus cars that are 40 or so years old.

So yeah, while I still dream of owning a Super Beetle, I do think the more sensible dream car of choice is either the Honda Jazz or Toyota Echo Verso. As long as I can restomod them.

Out.

1217 - EVs

My curiosity about EVs is growing day by day. It's not necessarily just EVs sold here, but the other EVs I've been reading and seeing on social media. These are the EVs I'm interested in.

• Renault Twingo - There's something about small EVs that are mainly for daily driving in the city that I find very interesting, and the Twingo combines the practicality of an EV, the small size of a practical daily driver, and the looks of the Twingo.
• Dacia Hipster - I think the Hipster is still a prototype, and I much rather prefer the new Twingo because of the more spacious trunk. Still, the Hipster seems like a small, decent sized daily driver.
• Kia PV5 - Now this is very interesting. It's cheaper than the VW ID Buzz and maybe more spacious? The PV5 seems like my ideal family vehicle, except for the fact that as far as I know, it's only a 5-seater.

I just hope the time when EV batteries and replacement parts are more affordable, and hopefully more EV options are available here in the Philippines. I honestly wish I could eventually get to drive, or own, one.

Out.

1216 Two-Car Garage February 2026

I have no idea what came over me but now I'm liking these two for my "ideal two-car garage." It would be the Toyota Yaris Cross 1.5 SE HEV and the Toyota Zenix 2.0Q Hybrid CVT Platinum White Pearl Mica.

For practicality's sake I'd probably still default to the Wigo and Avanza/Veloz I blogged about before, but indulge me here. The Yaris Cross may be bigger than the Wigo, but the size is still (at least for me) small enough to be a daily driver. The Zenix would be a good people hauler. Both can handle road trips. And best of all, both are hybrids so they both give fuel savings and coding exempt (at least until 2028 or something).

The biggest con I can think of would be maintenance costs. Being higher end vehicles (and hybrids) I'm guessing labor and parts will be way more expensive than the Wigo's costs. And I already find the Wigo's maintenance a bit pricey, but still bang for the buck.

Anyway that's it. Still one 5-seater and one 5-to-7 seater as an ideal pairing for a two-car garage.

Out.

1215 - Dream Cars

Instagram reels have reminded me of yet another relatively attainable dream car I have. The Toyota Echo Verso (aka the Yaris Verso). I knew someone who used to own one and I was very impressed with the size, roominess, and practicality of the car.

The biggest issue I'd have of owning a locally (emphasis on locally) sold Echo Verso is that they were all sold in manual transmission. Now if I were younger, more patient, or "braver" this would not be an issue. But with traffic and stress and other factors I'd rather have one less thing to think of. Are transmission swaps a thing? Even if it were, I don't know how to legally change the registration of the Echo Verso to do a transmission swap.

Curious idea though, would it be possible to swap the CVT of the third generation Toyota Vios to the stock motor of the Echo Verso? I'm not sure about programming and power numbers if they would work but that would hopefully make a nice, fuel efficient car.

Anyway, this Echo Verso would probably fall right behind the Honda Jazz as my attainable dream car. They're both practical, fuel efficient, small, and locally available. The Jazz just edges out the Echo Verso because of the automatic transmission and that the Jazz is also a great car to drive.

Out.

1214 - Car Free Sundays at Ayala Avenue

Yesterday I went with my wife to check out the car free Sunday section of Ayala Avenue. My wife technically needed to do an ocular for a school event they'll be holding during one of these car free Sundays.

For quick context, the Car Free Sunday in Ayala Avenue, Makati, is from the Courtyard Drive (the road between Glorietta 5 and Rustan's) until HV dela Costa (the section where Ayala North and RCBC Plaza are).

Anyway there was an event there yesterday, tACbo 2026, which would mean the area would only be open to the public at 7:30am. So I decided to do my Sunday jog here because I wasn't sure I'd be able to jog when the sun is out.

We get there a little past 8am and there are plenty of people already. Instead of just looking I decided to ask my wife to join me for a walk around the entire closed off section of Ayala Avenue. All-in-all we did about 3 km or so doing a round trip loop of the area.

There were plenty of people, ranging from joggers, walkers, dog walkers, cyclists, roller skaters, etc. The place was pretty organized and people did an excellent job of getting out of each others' ways. I also noticed portions of the roads around Ayala Triangle may have been closed, maybe for the event? Most people jogging took detours around Ayala Triangle.

Would I go back? Maybe. It does cost a lot since we have to go early, park in paid parking places, and most likely eat after. But I do think it would be nice to see how far I can go around the place.

Out.