My New Dream Project Car

My current dream project car would be the VW Kombi, also known as the Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter.

Why that car? Well, for starters it looks nice. Then it's also big enough to fit a good number of people. Maybe 5 - 8 adults, depending on what seats I put in. It's spacious and it's a classic.

I would probably do a resto-mod on it. Part restoration, part modification. I'd keep the nice looking exterior but I'd do some modernizing of the more important parts of the car. That way I can keep the classic look but still have nice modern touches that would balance the car. I'm not a sucker for restored cars anyway.

For the exterior, I'd keep the look just the way it is. Maybe change the rims and go for more modern ones. Or maybe try and get banana-type rime (did I get the term right?). Plus I'd do a nice two-tone paint job, maybe blue and white or something similarly cheerful. I wouldn't put dark window tint, but most probably add the clear tint that helps keep the heat out inside. Plus for the headlights it would be nice if I could either use bright halogens (maybe 70 watts or higher) or maybe customized HID projector headlamps. In yellow light. I'd also probably add a rear windshield wiper just so I can improve visibility when it rains.

On the inside I'd probably try more modern seats. Maybe use more ergonomic seats for the driver and passenger seats. Of course if possible I'd also use more comfortable bench seats. Maybe limit it to two rows with both able to fold to add more space inside. Sort of similar to the interior of a 1993 Toyota Lite Ace. I'd also probably try to put better interior lights, maybe LED bulbs for night use. I'd also add a good sound system. No need for subwoofers but I'd like to have a sound system that actually sounds good, plus I'd like the stereo to have auxilliary input for mp3 players, aside from a 6-disc CD changer. No DVDs or LCDs inside. I just want a good sound system.

As for the "performance" part of the car, I'd most likely try to have the engine overhauled, cleaned, blueprinted, the works. The reason for this is so that I can fit in an aircon for the van. Plus I'd probably go for an improved alternator. Then I'd probably try to improve the suspension set-up to a more modern, safer set-up. I'd also try and replace the brakes with all-wheel disc brakes to help improve stopping power. This is also in relation to the fix-up I mentioned with the engine. I'd like this resto-mod Kombi to be able to overtake on highways and have a cruising speed of around 90kph easy, anyway. Plus I also want it to be able to slow down or stop when it has to.

Although I can afford a VW Kombi right now, I can honestly say that I would not be able to afford any of the mods I had planned. Plus I don't think it would be practical to buy a project car for a first car. However this does not mean that I can't dream about owning one. For now.

Plus who knows? Maybe next time a Kombi won't be my dream project car. But whatever my dream project car will be, these mods will almost always be part of that dream.

Out.

Need for Wheels

As I was walking home last night from Greenbelt, the rain started getting stronger. It was so strong that my jacket soon could not hold back the rain. Long story short, I got home totally wet. And it got me thinking.

I need a car.

Sure walking has it's merits. If you saw the traffic around Makati last night you'd wonder why I even thought of needing a car when walking got me where I wanted to go faster. But at least inside a car you don't get drenched in the rain. You don't get to dip your feet in really deep puddles of water. You don't have to worry about moronic car drivers who won't even let you through even if you're walking on the pedestrian lane.

Since I've got a wife and a kid on the way, I decided the best bet for a first time car (brand new, of course) would have to fall under the following categories. First it has to be spacious, it has to be able to fit my wife and I, plus our soon-to-arrive baby, a baby seat, a yaya (nanny is the loose translation) and whatever baby gear has to be brought along. Second, it has to be economical. No gas guzzlers, no fancy high-performance vehicle (for now). Finally it has to be under a million. Why? Because it'll most likely fit whatever budget I'll have.

What about second hand cars, you ask? Sure I've given it thought. But for now since this is just purely speculative, I'd rather go for brand new cars.

So based on those categories I thought of, the following cars were ones I'd considered. In no particular order...

1. Toyota Innova Diesel. It's big and spacious. It's tall so no problem with flooding. It's diesel, so I'm hoping it'll have good fuel consumption figures. Plus it's a Toyota, which means (used to mean?) it's reliable.

2. Chevrolet Cruze. Really? Chevrolet? Yes. I've seen it, it looks good. It looks spacious. It's a car. Despite the fact that Chevy isn't really a "major" competitor in the Philippines, and despite the fact that I have no idea about this car's reliability or costs this car intrigues me.

3. Suzuki APV. Much like the Innova, it's big, spacious, and tall. Unlike the Innova, this one has a 1.6L engine which supposedly gives it good fuel efficiency but makes it a bit underpowered for family out-of-town road trips.

4. Honda Jazz. Yes, it's a "small" car. But have you been inside one? It is roomy. The seats can fold in many different combinations to fit all sorts of luggage. Plus it also looks good too. I'd say this is one of the dark horses in my picks.

5. Suzuki SX4 Crossover. Yes, another Suzuki. This car just looks good. I've been reading online reviews of this car that says that it doesn't handle well or corner well. I doubt I'd need exceptional handling and cornering on a car that I plan on using to shuttle my family around.

6. Toyota Avanza. In my opinion this is a less spacious version of the APV. Plus this seems to be the vehicle of choice for taxi drivers. So if I were image conscious (which I am, to some extent) I'd probably consider this the least.

Well there it is. Six vehicles I've considered. Oh and I also based these choices from C! Magazine's pricelist. If I had to choose now what I'd get?

I'd go for a black Innova.

Out.

STi vs Evo

Quick post. Ran into a TV show pitting the Subaru STi against the Mitsubishi Evolution.

Sweet.

I've always been a fan of these two. But always switching sides, depending on what age I was and what I knew of the cars.

When I was in high school and early college, I was an Evo boy. Mostly because of Gran Turismo 2, but it was the car for me. That was the car I wanted.

A few years on and I became an STi fan, and I've been on that side since then.

Why?

I just like that the STi is a very unique car. It uses a boxer-engine, not your typical engine layout. The engine sounds angry, even on idle. I've heard a few during stop light stops and wow. Talk about rumble.

Even though according to reviews the Evo is still the better handling car, I will still side by the STi. Even though the latest STi is a hatchback, I still side by it.

I don't know why, I just do.

But my ultimate dream STi is the 2004 model. It's the best looking STi ever, if you ask me. Just take a look at it:

Sweet car, right?

Out.

On Burning Out at Work

It's become an increasing trend for a lot of younger employees in different fields of work to resign from good jobs because they say they are 'burned out.'

Really?

How come the older employees, guys who've been doing this for ten, twenty years straight, don't get burned out? How come they still come to work and bring their A-game day in and day out, without ever complaining about it?

I think the reason behind this is that younger people are more spoiled, less motivated, and generally are lazier than the older folk. Yes, you can include me here.

I've been battling this feeling of being 'burned out' since 2006. I started working in 2004. That's just bullshit, working for only 2 years and feeling burnt out is not burn out.

I think burn out is just getting lazy with what you do. Must have something to do with shorter attention spans and feelings of entitlement. I notice fewer people wanting to work hard just to get their goals. It's all about taking shortcuts and get rich quick schemes.

And yes, you can include me in that list. But there is one small difference.

I've been making an effort to get rid of these feelings of burn out. Because there is no such thing as burning out because of work. None.

Out.

Mobility

I now realize how important it is to have my own vehicle.

It's been a couple of months since I got married and moved out of the house, and only now do I realize how dependent I was on our car. During the time I stayed home I had access to a vehicle anytime I wanted. I could go where I wanted to go anytime, as long as the car had gas.

Now it's more of a hassle to borrow the car. I have to plan ahead, schedule when I can use the car, and then pick it up. Yes, small price to pay just so I can gain mobility. What's the major hassle? The fact that I don't have as easy an access to the car as I used to.

What about commuting? Yes I can commute. But it's been so long since I was regularly commuting that I find it a bit of a chore to actually start squeezing myself against others. I can still commute anytime I want, it's just that it's more convenient to have a car of my own.

Bottom line? Time to start saving for a vehicle.

It would have to fit my salary. Most likely second-hand. It has to be reliable, and it has to have been sold locally. I do not want to own those converted right-hand drive cars. Nor do I want to own a second hand car that wasn't sold here because it would be hard to come across parts for a 'unique' car.

Right now I've got a few ideas for an ideal car. The Toyota Echo Verso, Nissan Terrano, and the Suzuki Vitara.

Out.