[907] Cars Yet Again

I've been doing some thinking since I wrote the previous post. While the fuel economy figures of the previous hatchbacks I blogged about are indeed great, I'm worried that they only did the fuel economy test with one adult and no other cargo.

What does this mean? Basically that fuel economy might not be that great if I use those hatchbacks to drive my wife and daughter to their respective places of work and study. I have no idea how much it will be affected by having two more people in the car along with the things they need to bring. I've tried doing casual research on google but so far I haven't found anything concrete about fuel performance.

That brings me to this, maybe I should aim for the slightly bigger cars with the bigger engines. I'm talking about the Toyota Yaris or Vios, the Kia Rio, or even the Hyundai Accent Hatchback. The smallest engine among those cars I mentioned would be on the Yaris and the Vios with a 1.3L engine. The Rio has a 1.4L engine and the Accent has a 1.6L diesel engine if I'm not mistaken.

I should also consider just how safe and stable those small hatchbacks are on the highway.

Out.

[885] My Current Top Three Attainable Dream Cars (As of Now)

You guessed it! It's time to start posting about cars yet again! I'm going to write about the top three attainable dream cars I want in order of practicality. So here we go.

1. Honda Jazz GE/Gen 2. It has four doors. It has an amazing interior that can fold flat and fit almost anything. It has an air conditioning system. It has airbags. So yes, this is the top choice I would love to own. Other generations of the Jazz are also welcome but the GD/Gen 1 had possible issues with the CVT and the newer ones are just too expensive. The most important mods I would add to this Jazz would be roof rails, a roof cargo basket, and roof mounted bike racks.
2. Honda Civic EG Hatchback. Another Honda? Yeah I really like this hatchback as well. Similar to the Jazz just add roof rails for extra cargo.
3. Volkswagen Super Beetle. This is the least practical of the three for plenty reasons. No aircon, lack of safety features, and possibly reliability issues. Still, I really, really love the classic VW Beetle. I'm picking the Super Beetle because the MacPherson suspension gives it a better ride plus with all the restomods I have planned it would just be better to work on a Super Beetle. And yes, roof rails, cargo basket, bike rack.
4. Classic Mini Cooper. This gets a special mention. I'm not talking about the modern looking ones. I'm looking for the ones that look like the classic Mini Cooper. With the roof cargo accessories as always. Also heavily retromodded.

As always in the event that I'm fortunate enough to own a car I will have a checklist off stuff I will do before I even start modifying it. Stuff like making sure it is reliable, rust free, and safe.

Out.

[884] Daydreaming of Cars

I've been reading a lot about cars again lately, not that I can afford one. I was looking at what kind of cars would be practical in our current situation and two cars come to mind. The Toyota Rush E A/T and the Kia Picanto EX A/T.

Let's explain why first. The Toyota Rush has decent ground clearance, can seat 5 to 7 people, and has decent cargo room. Sure some people might probably complain about it being underpowered, having only a 1.5L engine. To be honest the way my dad and I drive we don't really feel the need for speed anymore. We can just go with the flow. This car would be great not only for driving around Metro Manila but also for going to the province while bringing along a lot of stuff. Worst case scenario you can spend extra money, add roof rails and a roof cargo basket or roof cargo carrier for even more storage.

For the Picanto, it's small enough to be able to fit in most parking spaces in Metro Manila. The rear seats are 60/40 folding so you can still have 3 passengers and carry some luggage. Sure it has a relatively lower ground clearance versus the Rush, but then again you would be smart enough to consider your routes to avoid either big potholes or flood prone areas when you do drive around. Plus the engine is decent enough that you can still confidently bring this car on long distance road trips. Similar to my idea with the Rush, you can spend extra to add roof rails, and either roof storage or roof mounted bike racks.

What happened to the Suzuki Ertiga? I still like it because it is cheaper than the Rush and similarly sized. However it does have a slightly lower ground clearance and the Rush has more air bags compared to it. And if you regularly go on road trips then having more safety measures will always be the better option.

So what's my point in this post? Well my preferences for a two car garage have changed. It would be a Rush and a Picanto so you have a smaller car to use daily when just driving around Metro Manila and the Rush for coding days and when you need to transport more people. If it becomes a three car garage, then it would definitely be a Picanto, a Rush, and an Ertiga. So you still have two haulers and one city car.

Out.

[867] One Car Garage

I like to write about cars, that much is obvious. I also like to daydream about cars I wish I could own. So here we go again. A list of cars I would love to own if I had the money to buy them. I am basing all prices from Autodeals' website. They are my go-to local website for prices and specs of cars as well as online window shopping used cars. Because that's all I can do, look online.

My categories for my choices will be practicality and fit for the streets of Metro Manila. It should also be capable of going on roads trips, long and short, to visit other places in the Philippines. Finally, it should be available locally through a dealer. I'm listing down brand new cars, not second-hand ones. So here we go again with yet another list.

The attainable one. The Suzuki S-Presso. I could probably be able to afford this car with the price. And I really, really like the way this car is. It is exactly what I like in a car, practical and nice looking. It can seat around four to five people, and you can probably fix the space problem by installing roof rails and a roof basket / cargo carrier. Size is small enough that you won't have problems in parking spaces, ground clearance is tall enough that you won't scratch the bottom on tall humps and you'd probably be safe slowly driving over potholes that you can't avoid.

Less than PhP1 million. As far as I know all models of the Suzuki Ertiga still cost below one million. Decent size, can seat seven people if needed. With five people you have great cargo space. Again, you could probably add roof rails and a roof basket or cargo carrier if you want more storage. I think you just have to have it registered to carry cargo on the roof if they haven't changed the laws here.

Anything over PhP1 million. The Toyota Innova. The price range is so vast you can get some for a little over (or under?) one million to almost two million. So pick your variant, type of fuel, and transmission. The Innova has good ground clearance, is pretty practical, and can seat five to seven people. Again, an excellent practical choice.

So there you have it, my practical car choices. You'll notice I didn't include my personal favorite Honda Jazz in the list. It may also be practical, fun to drive, and nice to look at, but at the end of the day you can only fit five people there. Sure, there are only three of us in the family but I honestly believe the extra seating or storage space is better just in case you have other people riding with you or if you're going on a long road trip.

Out.

[837] Revised Two Car Garage 2020 Edition

So I've blogged a few times already about my ideal two car garage, and now I'm revising it yet again. This is probably the best mix of practicality and looks I can think of, and it will probably be surprising to some of you (if anyone is actually bothering to read my blog posts).

For my updated ideal two car garage lineup I've decided to go with the Suzuki Ertiga and the Honda BR-V. Yes, two rides with similar seating capacities and purpose.

I'm sticking with the Suzuki Ertiga because it's the cheapest among it's peers (Avanza, Rush, XPander, Mobilio, BR-V, APV) but I honestly feel it has the best bang-for-the-buck. Not that I've ever driven one, but then again, most of my car related posts are purely speculative. Anyway, the Ertiga is relatively cheap and spacious and that's why I picked that car.

The Honda BR-V also serves the same purpose as the Ertiga except it has a more powerful engine with better torque figures, as well as more features included in the car itself. I've read that there's a fuel pump issue with the BR-V as well as the Mobilio but I'm guessing that's a problem that is easily addressed. I hope.

Ideally one of the two cars would have a plate number ending in an odd number, and the other in an even number. Also better if one car has it's coding day on a Monday and the other on a Friday.

The Ertiga would be my main ride with the BR-V serving as the coding car, as well as probably the car my folks would always use when they go to and from the province. They usually go mid-week and come back on the weekend so ideally they'd be bringing the car that has coding on Fridays. Plus I'm guessing they'll need the more powerful engine for overtaking slower vehicles and a taller ride height for bad roads.

You may be wondering why I didn't choose other similar vehicles to the two. I'm automatically ignoring the Rush and XPander because I honestly feel they're just both overpriced rides people buy to look rich. The APV isn't an option since there's no automatic variant being sold anymore, which leaves us with the Toyota Avanza.

The only reason why I didn't pick the Avanza is because the 1.5L automatic is over PhP1 million, but the engine has similar output to the Ertiga. It has the smallest external dimensions but has the tallest ride height. Plus I've driven a 1.3L manual 1st generation Avanza and I did enjoy driving it. While the Honda BR-V is rouhgly PhP150k more expensive the features included in the package, at least for me, gives it more bang for the buck than the Avanza.

So why didn't I just pick the 1.3L automatic Avanza? Well, the engine really is underpowered, not that I drive like a maniac. I'd still like a powerplant that can carry something big and heavy without getting taxed too much. Not sure how great a 1.3L Avanza will go traveling to the province and back, but I'm guessing having a slightly more powerful engine will be more fuel efficient.

Out.

[836] Two Car Garage 2020 Alternatives Edition

Wow, it only took a day and I already have an alternative pair of cars I have in mind. Yes, I'm writing yet another blog post about what cars I would pick if I had a two car garage.

Don't worry, I'm still following the rules I set yesterday. The cars should still be available here through a local dealer, they should be practical, and they should not be the same brands. So here we go.

Suzuki Ertiga GL AT - Yup. I'm switching this alternative edition to something more practical. As of writing this Ertiga variant costs less than PhP900,000.00 and it can seat maybe seven or so adults, depending on their height. Powered by a 1.5L engine it may not have as much power and torque as the BR-V I chose yesterday, but with how I drive I don't think that will be too much of an issue.

Honda Jazz 1.5 V CVT - My practical dream car. This one also costs less than PhP920,000.00 according to their website as of writing. I've always wanted to own a Honda Jazz because of the fact that the seat configuration is just so damn practical and amazing. Folding the seats the right way can allow you to still have one passenger and maybe a load of cargo.

These two cars are the cheaper, and possibly more practical, alternative to yesterday's choices. Between the Ertiga and the BR-V you have nearly the same amount of seating and cargo capacity, with the latter only having higher ground clearance and better engine power and torque figures for roughly over PhP100,000.00 more.

As for the Jazz and the Jimny, the Jazz wins in cargo and seating capacity. The Jimny wins if I decide to go off-roading. Both are cars I want.

So why don't I just pick the Jazz and the Jimny for my two car garage? Why do I keep picking a 7-seater as one of the cars?

Practicality. While there are only three of us, I still consider having extra seating a key since there will be times we will be going out with my parents, or possibly go out with my wife's mom. Plus that huge cargo space with the rear-most seats folded will allow us more space to pack stuff should we decide to go on a road trip.

Anyway here are some other two car combinations in case you were wondering. I'd prefer all of them to have automatic transmission if possible.

• Honda Jazz and Suzuki Jimny. Two of the cars I've always wanted. Sacrifices cargo and people carrying capacity.
• Heavily retro-modded classic Beetle and a BMW E30 Touring. Two German cars. Two cars I've also always wanted to own, or in the E30's case, always wanted to own since 2014.
• Subaru Levorg 2.0GT-S EyeSight and Jeep Renegade. Too expensive, I have no idea how much it costs to maintain both, I have no idea how much they will both re-sell. Too uncommon that they will both stick out on the roads when I'd rather blend in.
• Toyota Innova Diesel and Subaru WRX. The Innova was too expensive to be the main choice but is still very practical. The WRX is just a practical sports car, not that I can unleash the beast except if I go on track days.

And those are some other car combinations I'd want for a two-car garage. Sure I can mix and match any of them but just to write down the reasons why I chose to pair them this way or that is a whole other post.

Out.

[835] Two Car Garage 2020 Edition

It's that time of the year again where I start daydreaming about what cars I'd like to own here in the Philippines.

As usual my categories for the two cars I'd love to own should be:

1. The car should be legally sold here. Meaning you have to buy it from a legit dealer here.
2. Practicality. I could say I'd love two own a Ferrari and a Lamborghini here, but both would be highly impractical. Bad roads, not enough passenger seating, cost of gas, cost of maintenance, size, etc also plays a factor.
3. The two cars can't be the same brand. Why? I read a few months ago one of the ideas to help ease traffic in Metro Manila would be to ban specific car brands during a specific day of the week. I don't think this will happen but you never know in this country.

And that's it I guess. Three things I considered. Surprisingly I chose two rides that cost a little over PhP 1 million. So without further ado, here are the two cars I'd love to have for my two car garage 2020 edition.

Honda BR-V 1.5 S CVT. Looks good, can seat seven (if needed, I'm guessing it can seat five comfortably), decent space for cargo if you flip the rear-most seats. This may be the one of the most expensive choices among what I consider it's peers (namely other 1.5L MPVs like the Suzuki Ertiga, Toyota Avanza, Toyota Rush, Honda Mobilio, and the Mitsubishi Expander) but the BR-V also has the best power and torque output among them. Plus the ground clearance is also one of the highest. I don't have to worry about overtaking in the highway with the BR-V nor do I have to worry if it can climb inclines if it is fully loaded. Plus it has decent clearance that you don't have to worry about accidentally scraping the bottom of the car in deep potholes.

You may be wondering why I didn't choose the Suzuki Ertiga GL AT as the first car. The Ertiga is actually my "If I could only have one car for the Philippines what would it be" choice. This post isn't about owning one car, it's about owning two. So the reason why I'm not picking the Ertiga now is because I'm picking this Suzuki as my second car.

Suzuki Jimny GLX (Monotone) AT. A three-door, smallish true four-wheel drive vehicle. This would be the back-up, color coding car. Or if my wife learns how to drive, this will be my car and she can use the BR-V. Yes, it's small. Yes, it's cramped. Yes, it doesn't seem very practical. But for a city driving, occasional off-roading vehicle? Yes please.

Finally, what colors would I want both cars? Simple, white or silver. Reason being that they don't get as hot as dark colored cars if they stay long under the sun. Plus they hopefully will be easier to spot both in the morning or in the evening.

Anyway that's it. Two practical cars I would love to have in my garage. I didn't choose the Innova since it's really pretty expensive, and the latest model is massive in size. With the traffic and tight parking spaces you'd need smaller rides. Plus both the BR-V and the Jimny have good safety features.

Makataya nga sa lotto.

Out.

[765] Not Another Car Post

It has been a while since I last posted about cars. Well, here we go again. Time to post the top three cars I would like to own, right now, here in the Philippines. In order.

1. Honda Jazz, 1st or 2nd generation (GD or GE), 1.5L engine, automatic transmission. This is the most practical car of the three and the one I would really love to own right now. Why 1st or 2nd generation? It's small enough, it still has that amazing interior that can accomodate almost any kind of cargo provided it can fit in the car, and honestly I've checked prices of 2nd hand units and they are pretty affordable.
2. Volkswagen Beetle Classic. I know someone who recently sold his Beetle for around PhP40,000.00 and I was half disappointed I didn't know about it. There are many problems with owning a classic Beetle including maintanance, parts, and the typical lack of airconditioning.
3. BMW E30 or E34, 4-door or station wagon. For BMW purists, I would specifically prefer a 320i / 520i or higher for either the sedan or touring versions. Ever since I met a few car guys who were BMW fans I became a fan as well. Why the older models? Because I honestly think they look the best.

So there you have it. The top three cars I would like to own. If ever I do get to own a car, any car, my first priority would be making sure the car is reliable and in good condition to be daily driven. That includes making sure brake pads, discs, and drums are not worn out. The engine should have no leaks and it should be running well. The suspension should be in good condition. There should be no electrical problems. Once those are done then the next thing I would focus on would be to make sure there are no rust spots anywhere. If there are, I would make sure to have them fixed.

Once all those above are done, then and only then would I start modifying the car. But that's for another blog post some other day.

Out.

[754] Fuel Economy

"7.67km/L on my Rav4. Biggest change? I was driving.

Edit: Previous top ups (including this one) 7.67km/L, 5.09km/L, 6.6km/L, 6.16km/L, 6.51km/L.

Driving style affects consumption A LOT. Also traffic. One other notable change was leaving the house earlier to bring my daughter to school to avoid traffic. Ten minute difference was a major factor."

- My Facebook post earlier today.

I drive a 2001 Toyota Rav4 AWD with a 2.0L 1AZ-FE engine. It is obviously an old car, and for quite a few years I've always had an issue with the fuel consumption.

This past week I had to drive my daughter to school and pick her up. This was a bit concerning for me since the price of gasoline here is relatively high right now and I know that the Rav wasn't exactly a fuel efficient car.

As a quick reference, I've heard that some 2nd generation Honda Jazz get 8 - 10 km/L consumption in heavy traffic. 8 - 10 km/L! How I wish I could experience that consumption.

Anyway, I had noticed that I was spending quite a lot almost every week for the gasoline of the Rav4. And now that I had to use it everyday to bring my daughter to school, I knew it was time to see if I could improve the consumption. As you read from my FB post above, I did.

The biggest change that happened was I drove it almost exclusively. My driving style is quite different from my Mom's driver, who normally brings my daughter to school and fetches her. I anticipate when to let off the accelerator. I try to make sure I keep the engine revving smoothly. And when it's an open road I make sure I move near the street legal top speed. Also, I stay in my lane and avoid snaking in and out of traffic.

Another change that greatly helped improve fuel economy was leaving earlier. Traffic sucks in the Philippines. Ten minutes is a big deal in traffic. We left ten minutes earlier, around 5:50 am and we normally got to my daughter's school around 6:20 am. Before when they left around 6 am they would get to school around 6:45 am or so.

Finally, I'm not sure if this helped but I put in 100 octane fuel instead of the minimum recommended 95 octane. Hopefully putting in a higher octane fuel helped de-clog the fuel lines or clean the engine. I don't know. For all I know using higher octane fuel did no difference.

You can imagine my surprise when I computed for the consumption of the Rav4. I was very pleased with it, but I also know that consumption will go back down once someone else starts driving my car. Oh well, at least I was able to get a little more bang for the buck in my last top up.

Out.

[702] JDM Styling

It was a very good thing I worked in the automotive industry for a little over a year. I met a lot of wonderful people, learned a lot of new things about cars, and my love of cars grew by leaps and bounds.

Even my taste in cars changed. I used to joke I was a "ricer" meaning I liked Japanese cars with fart cans and loud colors. I still sorta do, but I like them tastefully done. What I wasn't expecting was that I'd be more of a "JDM" guy.

What exactly is JDM? I think it stands for Japanese Domestic Market. It also stands for the Japanese styling of cars. I specifically like the old school JDM styling -- black fender flares with fender mounted side-mirrors and RS Watanabe rims. That's the look I like.

I'm not really a big fan of stanced cars, but I see the beauty in it. Neither am I a fan of "bosozoku", but I can understand where those fans are coming from.

I've been obsessing over that kind of design that I've tried doodling a couple of cars with that kind of styling. I tried it out on a classic VW Beetle without the fender flares since technically the fenders are flares. I tried it on a 2015 Hilux, and also on my favorite Ferrari, the 512bb.

It sort of looks good, since I designed it. I just hope that eventually I'll be able to afford to do a JDM-styled vehicle for whatever ride I might own.

Out.

The Classic Volkswagen Beetle

No matter how many dream cars I write about, in the end everything always, always ends up right back to the classic Volkswagen Beetle.

It could be because it would be the most affordable and the easiest to obtain. Parts might be hard to come by, but with the number of automotive surplus stores in the Metro Manila area, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find the right parts.

But why the Beetle? Considering I hated it as a child, I don't know either. Maybe it's a symbol of how I should live my life. How can I see this? Let's just say I guess it's about the destination. It's about having a blast getting to where you want to go and enjoying the trip.

I don't know how true that applies now, but whenever I dream of going on long road trips around Luzon I always imagine it being done inside a classic Beetle (converted to a Baja Bug, but still). Cruising along at a decent pace, where you can still enjoy the scenery as you go by. I guess this is as romantic as I can get.

Out.

The BMW E34 Dream

Ever since I started working in an automotive-related field, my knowledge, curiosity, and love of cars has grown leaps and bounds. I know more. I realize there is more to know. And I want to know more.

My taste has also changed greatly.

I've started to grow fond of "classic" European cars, specifically the BMW E30 3-series, and quite recently the E34 5-series.

There's something about the shape of both cars that I like. For the E30s I like the coupes (specifically the non-M3 coupes) and wagons. I like the E34 sedans and wagons. And because I love to daydream, I've thought of ways to modify the said cars. Tonight I will ramble about the E34.

Recently I was browsing OLX and I saw a manual E34 525i with an M20 engine. According to my colleague Alvin, the M20 engined E34s are the earlier models. Anyway, Alvin also has an E34 that he has given some aesthetic modifications. Well the E34 I saw was the same color, and I was joking him that if I could afford it I would buy it, give it the same exterior mods and park beside him. But that's another story.

Why an E34 all of a sudden? Simple reason: it's technically a family car, but you can give it enough mods to make it a bit more sporty. Definitely more practical as a family car than the Subaru WRX STi I also want, and not as wild as the Subaru Forester STi that I also like.

So here's a quick rundown of the stuff I'd do to an E34 should I have the opportunity to buy and modify one.

Looks-wise I would give it RS Watanabe F8-Type 17" rims. I'd give it a subtle ducktail spoiler. To continue the JDM styling, I would install tsurikawas  for the front passenger and rear passenger grab handles. I would also install JDM-style fender flares, because I've been big on JDM styling recently. Don't ask me why.

Regarding suspension and brakes, I'd try to keep the ride height stock, but go for stiffer suspension. Preferably adjustable coilovers if it was available. For the brakes I would replace the front brakes with a Brembo Gran Turismo big brake kit.

On to the electrical stuff, I'd install a good, modern sound system for the car. I would upgrade the headlights to projector headlights and I would use all-weather bulbs. I'd also install fog lamps. Finally I'd try to install a hidden ignition kill-switch as a safety feature to prevent unwanted car theft.

As for the engine, since this is all just a big dream, I'd turbo the M20. Then maybe install a fuel-starvation kit and an oil-starvation kit. Just in case the E34 suddenly gets invited to a track day. Again, this is all a big dream (unless I win the lottery).

Well, there you have it. At least now I'm not blogging about VW Bajas anymore.

Out.

On Dream Cars

It's probably because of my current work, but right now the latest dream car that I want is a heavily modified Subaru BRZ. Yes, not the Toyota 86, the BRZ. Not just any BRZ, though, I want it with a Rocket Bunny widebody kit.

There are times when I do realize a couple of things about this new want-car of mine. And these things are:

1. I don't drive fast. I try to follow the speed limit in real life, and I generally try not to drive like your typical Filipino driver. This is a good thing because why would I want to drive like a dick just because I've got a fast looking car? I can always join a car club and join their track days, which leads me to...
2. I have no track experience at all. I've been to BRZ and CIS, but I've never driven around the track. I would love to learn how to drive around a track, but for now I'm a track day virgin.
3. I've always wanted to do a road trip around the Philippines, cruising highways and discovering the beauty of this country. The BRZ doesn't really feel like a car to cruise around in. Plus if the roads outside of Metro Manila are bad, I'm guessing it's going to cause problems with a car that low.

What am I trying to say here? Basically it means I still want a Beetle Baja. No matter how enamored I get of fast cars, stanced cars, drift cars, and rice rockets, I always end up wanting the Baja Bug the most.

And if I had the budget to purchase and maintain a BRZ? Chances are I'd probably just use that budget to get a Beetle and turn it into a very reliable and fun-to-drive Baja Bug.

Out.

Car Set-Up

My entire week at CIMS I learned a lot of things about cars and driving. I was very fortunate to talk to a lot of people who are way, way more knowledgeable than me in the automotive scene. They gave me a good idea of what things I could to to a car / ride if I had the funds.

Contrary to popular belief, power is not the most important thing to fix in a car. Unless you're planning on building a dragster, that is. I learned that braking and handling is a bigger priority, because once you get the perfect handling set-up for your car, adding power will be very easy. Just to make it clear, the person who told me this is a racing driver. He knows what he's talking about.

So now I've come up with a plan for a trackable daily driver. Meaning I want to have a car that I can use everyday in comfort, but it becomes a decent track day car when I have the funds to join a track day. This plan applies to any and all cars I've been daydreaming about. Yes, even my dream Beetle Baja.

• Lighting. First things first, I have to improve the lighting. Use all-weather, brighter bulbs to improve night-time visibility. Add fog lamps if needed. Improve the rear brake lights, the third brake light, and improve the turn signal bulbs.
• Sound system. Just a modern stereo system with decent speakers.
• 17" - 18" rims. This is very important for both aesthetics and car handling. Less sidewall means better cornering. Also, getting wider rims will help me with the next step, which is...
• Brakes. If I could install a big brake kit, I would. I just have to improve braking, not only for track but also for the street.
• Suspension. Adjustable coilovers if possible, so that I can raise or lower ride height depending on the situation. That way as a daily driver I'd get proper ground clearance, but once on the track I would lower the car to improve handling.
• POWER!!! Not really. Just improve the intake and the exhaust, really. I don't want to build a powerful car that ends up being a gas guzzler. I just want a nice, reliable engine that can get me at decent cruising speeds and overtaking speeds in the highway when needed.

There you have it. If you notice, you'll see I'd rather have a car that drives well and handles well. I'm guessing it's more fun having a nice, peppy, responsive car than feels like it drives on rails than a super-fast car than can't turn.

Out.

194/365 - Cars

Not a bad tasting cupcake.

I've been daydreaming a lot about cars as usual. But I realized most of my wish lists were a bit unrealistic. So I decided to scour the internet and find out five cars for under Php1 million that would also be good family cars. Here they are in order of preference.

1. Toyota Avanza 1.5E A/T - The Toyota Avanza takes the top spot because it has the biggest size of the cars I chose. It can seat up to seven, or five adults comfortably with enough room in the rear for a lot of luggage or groceries. My biggest concern is fuel consumption. I read somewhere the Avanza gets around 6km/L in the city, which is basically what my current ride (2001 Toyota Rav4) is getting. I'd rather keep my Rav4 than replace it with an Avanza.
2. Ford New Fiesta Hatchback 1.0L Sport+ PS - Yup. I've been curious about the EcoBoost engine for the longest time, and it's available on the Ford Fiesta. A 1.0L engine that has the performance of a 1.6L? I want to try it out. Despite the lack of size, I do think the Fiesta is a decent small family vehicle. Looks good, and as an added bonus I can actually upgrade the front disc brakes on it and use it as a mobile platform to advertise the product of the company I currently work for.
3. Kia Rio Hatchback 1.4L A/T - On looks alone the Kia Rio takes the third spot. That's basically it. Same hatchback argument - decent family ride for a small size family. Plus the smaller displacement engine means I hopefully will have better fuel consumption than my Rav4. Did I say I think it looks nice? Yes, yes I did.
4. Honda Jazz 1.3L A/T - Yes, not the top-of-the-line version. Why? I honestly don't know. My logic here is, do I really need all the power of a 1.5L engine when I usually drive in moderate to heavy traffic? Besides, the current 1.3L engine is now VTEC also. What I love about the Jazz is the practicality it has. You can configure the rear seats to carry almost any size cargo that can fit. It could be long, it could be tall. As long as you are patient, it can fit.
5. Suzuki SX4 1.6L A/T - Surprise! Yes, I like the SX4. It looks nice, it has decent size, and it is, in my opinion, the second biggest ride in this list of mine. I could have gone for the Suzuki APV, but I just really don't like that car that much. I think it's too underpowered for such a big ride. Sorta like the Avanza, except I like the Avanza. So it's the SX4 in fifth place for me.

That's it. Five rides for under Php1 million that I wouldn't mind owning. Again, this list is subject to change depending on my mood and depending on what car comes out in the Philippine market.

Out.

Top Five Hatchbacks I'd Want to Own

Hot hatches are pretty popular, not just in the Philippines but also worldwide. Here's a quick post of the top five hatches sold locally that I would want to own. I'll still be using the same considerations I have for family cars. Space, practicality, looks, etc.

1. Subaru Impreza WRX STi Hatchback A/T

So much for practicality. This car is both expensive and too high-powered as a daily driver. However, the STi has been a dream car of mine since I got bitten by the car bug in Gran Turismo 2. The STi looks mean, seats five, and has amazing performance. So yes, this is the hatchback I would most like to own. And by the way, I'll be wanting the automatic transmission so I won't be as hassled in Metro Manila's horrible traffic conditions.

2. Kia Rio 5-door 1.4L A/T

This is the next hatchback I'd like to own. A big step down from the STi, I know. But this one wins it on looks. It reminds me a lot of the VW Golf and VW Polo hatchbacks. Very European in styling, with a decent sized 1.4L engine that seems very practical for the streets here. The rear seats also fold 60/40 so it can still haul long packages, provided it fits.

3. Honda Jazz 1.5L A/T

Ever since the first version of the Jazz came out here in the Philippines I'd always been a fan. It seems perfectly designed to me. It has decent space and height inside, it looks great outside, and it certainly is a very practical car to own. The only reason this falls below the Rio is I like the Rio's looks better.

4. Ford Fiesta 1.0L EcoBoost with Powershift

Now we're talking practicality. The Ford Fiesta 1.0L EcoBoost engine makes this the most practical choice among the five hatchbacks I want. I'd always liked the way the Fiesta looks, and Ken Block made me an even bigger fan. As an aside, a client at work owns a 2011 Ford Fiesta and he purchased a big brake kit for the front wheels, so I'm guessing it's also fun to drive.

5. Toyota Yaris 1.5L A/T

The Yaris rounds out this list. It doesn't seem as spacious as the other cars above, and it doesn't look as great as the others either. But I do like this more than the other hatches available in the market. And I do still have some loyalty to Toyota because of my family's experience with their cars.

Why didn't I include European hatches? Because honestly, I'm still not that big a fan of the available European cars here (BMW and Audi). If the VW Golf was here it would easily crack the top five.

The Honda CR-V also didn't make the cut since it really isn't that spacious. It's basically a 3-door, 2+2 seater. All the other cars in my list are 5-doors.

The Suzuki Swift also didn't make the cut because I like the Yaris better. I'm not a big fan of the Hyundais, and the Ford Focus was something I never considered.

Out.

Updated Top Five Family Cars

Here's the list from my previous entry: 1. Toyota Innova 2. Kia Sportage 3. Subaru XV 4. Land Rover Defender 90 5. Toyota Avanza.

C! Magazine's August 2013 (I think, not sure about the month) had an article comparing some SUVs. Long story shot, the Kia Sportage scored lowest, and the only high point it had was the looks. Fuel efficiency, space, handling, sports performance were all pretty low. I was very disappointed with this result. So I decided to update my list. Here's the newest list.

1. Toyota Innova (Diesel, A/T) - Still at number 1. Practicality still takes top spot. The Innova has decent height, space, and size. It can seat more than five. It has decent safety features. And it also looks pretty decent.
2. Subaru XV (Gasoline, A/T) - This one jumps up to number 2, until I read a review about it. Yes it has small space, but it looks great and it is a Subaru. Bonus points for the semi-crossover ability.
3. Kia Carens (Diesel, A/T) - The Carens takes the place of the Sportage. Because this seems more practical than the Sportage, and it is cheaper also. This also reminds me of a soccer mom's ride, in a good way.
4. Land Rover Defender 90 (Diesel, M/T) - This still lingers on in this list just because I still like the Defender. I've been reading articles that the Defender may be phased out due to lack of modern safety tech, but I hope not.
5. Toyota Avanza (Gasoline, A/T) - I managed to ride inside an older model Avanza. While they may claim it can seat about seven people, it is a bit cramped inside for a man of my size. Still, if you are looking for a cheaper and slightly smaller alternative to an Innova, this is it. The new model looks good too.

There you have it. An updated list, and the biggest omission, the Kia Sportage, got removed because of a car review. And yes, I do put a lot of weight on car reviews. Mostly because I am not able to try each ride by myself.

Out.

The Beetle Baja Plan

I think I've been to focused on getting a picture a day that I've gotten bored of it. Plus the fact that I've been stuck at home the past two months adds monotony to the pictures I can take. Or maybe it's just because I've been lazy. Either way, I thought I'd blog about something different. Instead of the Project 365 blog I've decided to write about a more concrete plan for my Beetle Baja dreams.

As you all know I've been obsessed with the Baja Bug for a few years now. And I've always had ideas on what I want it to look like or how I plan on building it. But it's always been vague. Well not anymore. Here are the steps I plan to do if I can make this dream a reality.

As a caveat, before I can even do this I would need money, space to park the Bug, technical know-how, and maybe contacts who can do the stuff I couldn't do.

1. Purchase. You can't build a Baja Bug without a Bug. Preferably buy two Bugs, one in good running condition and one donor car.
2. Disassemble. Remove the body, remove the fenders, remove electrical, remove the engine. Remove everything. But of course, remember to take pictures so you can remember how to put them back together.
3. Restore. Remove rust everywhere, fix dents and dings, overhaul the engine, fix all electrical stuff. Just make sure things are back to reliable working order. Also, rust-proof and paint the floor plan. Fix other mechanical stuff, like transmission, brakes, suspensions. Replace old, worn out parts and components.
4. Modify and upgrade. Chop the fenders. Modify the body to make it look more like a Baja. Upgrade the suspension. Modify the engine to whatever set-up I want. Convert brakes to all-wheel discs. Use steel-lined brake hoses. Upgrade car's lighting, both front and back. Get a new gas tank. Upgrade electrical system, use alternator, add insulators to battery (I heard that there were times the Beetles would catch fire because of the battery's location).
5. Beautify. Paint the body. Upgrade rims (banana type or baja type rims). Have custom roof rack built. Have custom front and rear tube bumpers built.
6. Reassemble. Put everything back together correctly.
7. Interiors. New front seats, preferably sport seats. Re-upholstered rear seats. Add in-car entertainment. Add clear tint to windows. New dials for a modified dash. Maybe cup-holders. Definitely cup-holders. LED interior map lights. Add in-car heat insulation.
8. Drive. Test run, then use as a daily driver. Enjoy.

As you can see, the plan still isn't finalized. But at least I now have a more concrete idea of the process I'd want in case I have the resources to achieve this dream of mine.

Out.

My Top Five Family Cars

Last July I gave you a quick top five family vehicles I would want to own. This was the list:

1. Diesel Kia Sportage A/T
2. Diesel Toyota Innova A/T
3. Toyota Rav4 A/T
4. Land Rover Defender 90
5. Toyota Avanza A/T

Well guess what. That list is outdated already. Due to my ever changing tastes in cars, there is a new top five and I would like to share it with you.

1. Toyota Innova Diesel A/T - Moving to the top of the list is the Innova. This still has everything I'm looking for in a family ride - space, ride height, practicality, and fuel economy. The third row seating is also a big plus. It may not look great, but who cares? As long as it can transport my family and I in comfort and safety.
2. Kia Sportage Diesel A/T - The Sportage moves down a notch because it doesn't have third row seating. But aside from that it has everything I'd want - ride height, practicality, an automatic transmission, and great looks.
3. Subaru XV A/T - A newcomer! I didn't like the XV when it first came out, and the television commercial shown here in the Philippines didn't endear it to me either. (Let's just say the image I got watching that TVC is that XV owners are hipster douchebags who drive illegally off-road to beat traffic because they were so inconsiderate that they forgot their own wedding anniversary.) But since then I've been seeing quite a few XVs in the Metro and I'm starting to like it. Like the Sportage, it lacks the third-row seating, but more than makes up for that in the looks department. The reason why it isn't ranked higher is because of the lower ride height to the Sportage.
4. Land Rover Defender 90 Station Wagon - The only aberration on my list. This is the only manual on my top five. And if you re-read the first link on this post, you'll see why I am seriously considering this as a family vehicle. Yes, I only chose the three-door 90, because the five-door 110 is too long for my taste. This is also the most expensive ride here, which is probably why the Land Rover Defender might never crack my top three.
5. Toyota Avanza A/T - Another Toyota makes it to the top five. This cracks this list because it is a "smaller" and cheaper alternative to the Innova. This also has third row seating, something that the two rides above it don't have.
6. Kia Carens Diesel A/T - This deserves an honorable mention. The new Carens looks nice and has third row seating available. The only reason this falls below the Avanza is it's relatively lower ride height. Aside from that it looks better than the Avanza.

And there you have it. Six different rides, in order of preference, I'd choose from had I the means to purchase and maintain a vehicle. I'd still pick the practical one, but as you can see from my choices, I still have a soft spot for looks also.

Out.