1231: Restomod

I think if I do get an opportunity to buy a used, old car I would most likely restomod it no matter what car it is. It could be a VW Super Beetle, a Honda Jazz, or a Toyota Echo Verso. Or something else. I would love to restomod it to my liking.

Everything starts with making sure the car is safe and reliable, so making sure the engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, and electrical are in great condition. Replace the things that need replacing, fix the things that need fixing, and refresh the things that may need eventual fixing or replacing. This would most likely be the restoration part.

Once this is done then bodywork should be next. Fix all rust spots, dings and dents, and then needed then repaint the whole car. This will make it look almost as good as new.

The interior is the last in the restoration part. Refresh the seats, replace or upgrade the foam as needed, and if some interior parts and switches need replacing and you can find the replacements, replace them. Specially the dashboard clear plastic and maybe the dashboard lights.

The modify part is also relatively simple. First and most important is installing a front and rear facing dashcam that hopefully also has a cabin camera. Have this professionally installed so that it hopefully won't drain the battery but will still run as needed.

Second modification is the sound system. It all begins with installing a modern head unit that has Apple Car Play and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth. This would of course connect to a decent amplifier and at least four co-axial speakers to make sure the car has good audio.

The third modification would be for sound and heat insulation. There are products out there that you can apply to certain parts of the car to help improve sound and heat insulation. So I guess you should apply this to the roof area, the engine firewall, and maybe the floor of the car. Aside from this, some quality window tint would be a great modification as well. I prefer the tint that is almost clear but prevents UV rays and heat from entering the car's cabin.

Fourth modification would be to add decals to the car's exterior. Not crazy or extreme, just some nice stripes that I like. After this you ceramic coat the car to protect the paint and decals.

And that's it.

Out.

1230: I Changed My Mind

So I decided to watch some youtube videos of local motoring youtube channels I trust and one of the reviews I re-watched was about the Toyota Zenix Hybrid. And boy did I change my mind.

The Toyota Zenix Hybrid is back on the top of my list of hybrid vehicle I wish I could own. And here are the reasons why it's back up over the BYD eMax 9.

• Bang for the buck. The most expensive Zenix is a wee bit over PhP2M and only because of this special white paint. I do prefer white for excellent visibility so this is my choice. It's probably PhP600k to PhP900k or so cheaper than the eMax 9, which gives me more money for mods and upgrades.
• Practicality. The Zenix may have smaller overall dimensions and less cargo space, but it also makes it relatively easier to park in different parking areas. It also has a higher ground clearance so it will make this more capable of traveling different types of road conditions in Metro Manila and the Philippines.
• Brand and brand history. The Zenix is a Toyota. In terms of trust and re-sale value I'll still go for a brand I trust more than a new brand, even if that brand is surging globally. Aside from this, there are a lot of Toyota dealers and service centers around the Philippines, most likely more than BYD service centers. Even if it's only at this moment. So we shall see. Toyota's been here longer, and we don't know what will happen to BYD in a few years since the brand is being handled here by AC Mobility (I think). Look how they handled Volkswagen.

Now I did mention mods and upgrades, and I guess now is as good a time as any to write about them. I'm only thinking simple mods like ceramic coating for protection, maybe old school Toyota decals along the sides, and a roof cargo system for extra storage. Aside from these, maybe speaker upgrades if they're needed, and maybe a horn upgrade as well if needed.

And that's it. Back to practicality. Back to Toyota.

Out.

1229: BYD eMax 9 DM-i

I honestly have no idea why I'm so curious about BYD's eMax 9 DM-i. I honestly doubt I can afford one, and for the size it would be in my huge category. It's bigger than Toyota's Alphard, and both vehicles are hybrids.

I guess the biggest reason why I'm drawn to the eMax 9 is because of the bang for the buck. It's about PhP1.5M or so cheaper than the Alphard, but it is slightly bigger. Would I drive it around the city? It depends if there's parking and where we're going. Would I drive it out of town? Same considerations.

So why this car and not the Zenix? The Zenix is cheaper and it's a hybrid too. Plus it's a Toyota. The smaller size might make it less spacious both for cargo and for passengers. This is something that can be solved by adding a cargo roof system and buying a small step ladder though.

I guess if you're travelling far with a full load of people the eMax9 might be the better choice.

Out.

1228: Fuel Prices

A bit of a relief is supposed to happen this coming Tuesday, April 14. Prices for diesel, gasoline, and kerosene are going down. This comes at a great time since gasoline is now at PhP100/L and diesel is steadily climbing at PhP150/L.

A few weeks ago diesel was less than PhP60/L and so was gasoline. So prices have doubled and tripled, and now I hope that prices can eventually go back to the normal. Unfortunately the pessimist in me is bracing for some surprise "normalization" of gasoline prices that are way above what normal was before the war in Iran.

Hopefully I'm wrong but seeing what country I live in and how greedy and corrupt some in the government and some corporations are here, I won't be surprised if I'm right.

Out.

1227: April Rollercoaster

Something is really up with April. It's been ups-and-downs, so I guess it's up to me how to react to these events and try to make sure that the highs and lows aren't that high and that low when I react to them.

Yesterday it was work related, nothing major. Just weird stuff going on with my github desktop app and issues creating new branches off of my fork. Let's just say new branches created off main aren't synced with the latest updates. I have no idea how to address this problem.

On the other hand, something I had to finish was done and working with no issues, so good on that.

Out.