Goodbye old car, hello new car!

Saying goodbye to the trusty old family car wasn't easy. It has served us for the best of the last 12 years or so, ever since it came into my possession after my younger brother decided to move to the US.

The car, a 1995 Mitsubishi Lancer GLXi, was part of our growing family, and both my kids grew riding in that car to go to doctor's appointments, parties, family gatherings, out-of-town trips, school, and many other destinations.

It's a hardy automobile which has seen many mishaps (not so major bumps and scrapes on both ends and the sides, piston-breaking incidents and timing belt breakages). But for every incident, we made sure to fix her up right away.

The time finally came to let go of it before it got any older. Driving around in a 14-year old car is not a joke, no matter how well-maintained it is.

Which is good timing, too, coz it had already been fixed up with a new coat of paint not more than two years ago, overall body repairs included. I also removed the tint recently to make it look clean and new! The interiors were well-maintained, too, despite going through the growing years of two children. The upholstery has had its share of baby vomit and various other liquid substances spilled on it.

To advertise the car, I stuck a big FOR SALE sign on the rear window and parked it along our street for a week. In a couple of days, I got a lot of text messages and calls asking about the price. Some wanted to get it really low but I didn't bite.

In the end, it was sold for a reasonable amount, not too far from the standard selling price of such models in the market. I'm glad to let it go while it was still running well and in good condition.

What replaced it is a new Honda Civic 1.8S automatic transmission that came as a perk in my new company. Its sleek Alabaster Silver finish makes it look really sleek and sporty! The kids now have bigger room in the back and a more stable ride for out of town trips. Yet its still a passenger car, a bit bigger than the Lancer, but the more powerful engine will make it just as exciting to drive!

@ the 2008 Manila Auto Salon

November saw me heading out to SMX Convention Center beside the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay to take part in the 2008 Manila Auto Salon, a show that gives local and international manufacturers, distributors and dealers of the automotive aftermarket industry an opportunity to showcase their latest stuff.

Incorporating two long-running events – Custom Car Show and the Sport Truck Show with the Bike Show and 2nd Mobile Electronics and Technology Show, MAS 2008 is conceptualized and produced by the Philippine’s leading motoring events organizer – Tradeshow International, Inc. (the team behind TRANS SPORT SHOW).


As is the case, the cars were all well-prepared, and it gave us a chance to see what kind of talent the Pinoy car-lover possesses!

The four-day event was highlighted by the competition for the best cars in various categories, as well as a sound-off competition for the loudest and best-designed car audio equipment!



Of course, aside from the hot cars, most of the booths were decorated with attractive females! Definitely, cars and girls go together!


View my online gallery here.

At home on the Ranger

Ford Ranger Trekker A/TOne of the vehicles I recently had the opportunity to test-drive was the Ford Ranger Trekker A/T. It was a great pick up, and I had a lot of fun driving it around town. Which is ironic since pickups usually belonged to the great outdoors, all torqued up and loaded with stuff, rumbling through unpaved roads, ditches, rocky streams and riverbanks.

But these days, pickups are commonly seen on EDSA. Not everyone has use of a 4x4, so there have been compromises in the once purely utilitarian pickup truck. The Ranger, however, has tried to remain as close to its original roots as possible. The little upgrades and enhancements actually add a bit of smoothening of the rough edges, so to speak. But it's all good.

My review of the Ford Ranger Trekker can be read in full at www.autoindustriya.com. Check it out and see what I mean...

Little red....

... riding fast and low to the ground!

is how I can describe this little roadster that I had the pleasure of driving a few months ago. Our friends from Mazda Phils. have something good going for them with the MX5, and they willingly loaned it to me for a week, perhaps just to prove the point that you don't have to be a European brand to come out with an adequately balanced, low-riding road monster that handles like a dream with the looks to boot!

Excuse me if I sound simply enamored by this little piece of machinery. And why shouldn't I be? What used to be called a Miata was reintroduced early this year as the MX5, seamlessly tuning in to the whims of roadster-hungry car freaks who by now have gotten used to the usual Bavarian variety, to the point of exhaustion. The Miata was once the yardstick by which all inexpensive roasters were measured, and the MX5 manages to uphold that image, perhaps even lifting it up a notch.

A few days behind the wheel of this 2.0-liter baby can spoil you. Maximizing its power to weight ratio easily, the MX5 is perfect for snaking around slow-moving traffic, and once you hit the open highway, you can hit 6th gear without batting an eyelash! Moving up the different gears isn't that difficult, as each one shift into its designated slot precisely.

The novelty of having a top-down roadster is the idea that you can pop the roof back on whenever you need it. This time, Mazda put in an automated contraption to bring the roof up or down. Just press a button and hold it till the buzzer sounds, signaling that the roof is in place, after which you clip it on from the inside, right between the sun visors. To fold it, unlatch the roof, then press and hold the button till the roof disappears. It actually folds neatly between the back seat and the trunk lid, in a way that one can best describe as "Transformers-like."


Inside this roadster, its all leather and vinyl. Neatly arranged instrument panel, with most everything you need within easy reach. Funny but I didn't notice the presence, or lack of, a cup holder. I guess when you're driving a car like this, you wouldn't want to be holding on to anything else!

Yep, the MX5 is a great car to have, that is if you have other cars in your garage. This isn't for your daily family drive, hey, its only a two-seater! This won't also be advisable as your daily drive to the office due to its high fuel consumption. Maybe you can take it for a spin on weekends, on long drives up to Tagaytay or even Baguio, with one passenger beside you. Its a two-liter two-seater costing two million pesos!

The New Subaru Forester

Subaru launches the third generation Forester

After much worldwide anticipation from Subaru followers and the general public, Motor Image Pilipinas Inc. has launched the third generation of its award-winning crossover sports utility vehicle, the all new 2008 Subaru Forester.

The completely redesigned new model boasts a bolder, sleeker look, with a more towering stance than previous models. Motor Image calls the new Forester the “epitome of form and function” with its vast improvements in design and comfort while maintaining its focus on safety, quality and capability. The new look is far removed from the old station wagon appeal of the first version. This time, Subaru wants everyone to take notice because now the Forester means business.

FIRST LOOK: 2008 Honda Accord 3.5-liter V6

A new car is really a sight to behold. All the more if it looks totally different from its previous iteration. For many people, a car is a car is a car. But for others, a car is more than just a car.

Recently I got a glimpse of a car that could be worthy of the term "more than just a car." But then, it'll have to take a lot before a particular car model can have full rights to a moniker like that.

But for all intents and purposes, the all-new 2008 Honda Accord 3.5-liter V6 is right up there with the best of the lot, well at least in overall looks and street appeal. For the brief moment I had full claims to it, the new Accord did a good job of impressing me and delighting my passengers.

To put it simply, Honda’s new Accord promises to be one of the most significant introductions of the 2008 model year. And like most Honda products, the automaker has decided to let the product do all the talking.

An aggressive new look is what makes the new Honda Accord stand out among its peers of vehicles that straddle the fine line between the luxury and sport-executive category. It is revolutionary to say the least; quite  a departure from the usually conservative and staid designs Honda has used for the Accord in the past.

First impressions are surely meant to last when you come across this 8^th generation Accord, considered to be the second best-selling car in the United States and Honda’s best-selling model. In the Philippines, the Accord has had its share of loyal followers, and they are only too happy to witness the coming of this new model.

And by saying new model, Honda did mean “new."

The new Accord V6 carries with it the natural evolution of design from previous models. Though the exterior may exhibit some slight influences from the BMW 5- and 7-series, especially toward the rear section, this new luxury sedan from Honda is a bold revision of the old look.

Overall, the body looks solidly built, accentuated by the aggressively styled front grille and headlights that stick out with the slightest hint of menace. It looks fast on the road, and its 3.5-liter i-VTEC engine makes this the most powerful Accord ever, although we have yet to verify this since all the time we had with the car was a couple of hours one sunny Sunday afternoon.

The Accord also lays claim to Honda’s new Variable Cylinder Management or VCM643 system, designed to further enhance fuel economy by partial deactivation of some cylinders through freely controlled engine displacement.

The VCM643 system, as the name suggests, allows the engine to go through the 6-4-3 process, improving the overall fuel economy while maintaining the high power output of a V6 engine, as it smoothly shifts from 6 cylinders into 4 cylinders and further into 3 cylinders operation. This new mode allows the Accord V6 to cruise on four cylinders at highway speeds. Three-cylinder mode, meanwhile, is used for city cruising, while six-cylinder mode is activated when full power is needed.

We like the spacious cabin, with lots of legroom and headroom. They say its bigger than any of its predecessors, and that may be a valid point. Opening the sunroof adds to the feeling of more space.

Inside, the new Accord is high-end Honda all the way. The interior materials are high-grade, well-thought out and smells good. The center controls have a lot of buttons, and it does take awhile to figure it all out. These are switches for the aircon, temp, blower, stereo and on-deck CD player.  This stereo system is excellent for a stock model, and its easy to operate. You can store six CDs via the front-loading in-dash disc-player.

Ride quality is exceptionally softer than before, designed to appeal to more family-sedan buyers while still delivering the sporty driving feel the car is known for.

Its got four-wheel independent suspension that features a double-wishbone design in front and a new multilink setup in back. On the road, the Accord is firm without being punishing, and the sedan recovers quickly without any extra bobbing after hitting a bump or dip in the road. Even though there's noticeable body roll on twisty roads, it's by no means excessive and is counteracted by a sense of stability when driving the car aggressively.

This is aided by the Variable Gear Ratio (VGR) steering system, which helps the Accord in terms of maneuverability and accurate steering despite its large body size. Acceleration in city driving is acceptable but you’d often wonder how it would perform on the wide open highways north. It doesn’t blow you away with its power but it does the job of shifting smoothly to get the most out of the transmission.

Based on its general specs and revolutionary design, the new Honda Accord slots itself conveniently in the narrow space between the “I’ve arrived” aesthetic of Toyota’s Camry and the sporty-luxe appeal of the Mazda 6.

The new Accord looks like it promises a lot of fun and excitement to both the executive-type who likes going out during weekends and the family man who wants to be in full control on the road, whether he’s headed to the board meeting or the mall. Maybe we can derive more input and info the next time we come across this fine piece of machinery from Honda.

Drive-by shootings

Out of town, on the road

Nothing beats a long, easy drive down the expressway onboard a dependable piece of machinery.

We did that last February using my colleague's old-school Mercedes Benz 1-2-3 type body. It ran on diesel, yet it glided effortlessly down the smooth, paved asphalt of NLEX.

Shot these pics right from the front passenger seat....

The call of the open highway is as addicting as any narcotic, capable of rendering you glassy eyed, yet fully focused.

With hands gripped firmly on the steering wheel, and eyes high-beaming straight ahead at the vast expanse of tarmac, this moment counts as one of the rare times that man becomes one with his machine.

Everyone gets that urge once in a while. For some, it becomes a regular thing. For others, it becomes something to look forward to after getting tired of the regular grind. Driving is in itself an occasion of celebration, of fulfillment. Its when you realize that not all races have to be run fast, nor does one need to win each time.


And when all other rationalization doesn't make sense, you can always fall back on the fact that you relish the journey more than the destination...

Imagination in Motion

2008 Manila International Auto Show
http://www.manilaautoshow.com/

This year's theme for the Manila International Auto Show captured what most car followers may have in mind. From creative imaginings spring forth the actual product, and the latest car models and kits displayed at the MIAS made sure that people's imaginations came to life.

It was the first car show of the year and what better way to bring it on than with some of the best and brightest machines in the local automotive industry. Like in years past, the Manila International Auto Show presents an exciting look at the newest car models to hit Manila's showrooms. Add to that the huge participation of car tuners, bodyshops and auto restorers who come out with their best custom cars and classic vehicles to the delight of a huge following of young and old car buffs. More on this later.

MIAS 2008, held at the World Trade Center Manila and the adjoining airconditioned tent on April 3-6, is probably the biggest car show to date. Of course, other car shows yet to be scheduled this year are aiming to top it -- with more booths, a larger participation from the auto manufacturers and a bigger show area. Nevertheless, what MIAS tries to do every year is to put more focus on the cars, because that's what a car show should be all about.

Like the year before, Subaru brought in Russ Swift, world-renowned veteran precision driver, who did three exhibition shows each day during the four day expo. It was a sight to see, a tall Englishman throwing a new Subaru Impreza WRX STi all over the place. He executed moves one usually sees on TV and the movies, commanding the WRX to turn at the right moment and stop at a dime. He used a different Subaru for a spectacular stunt that entailed driving the car on two wheels. The audience loved it! This was the first time I saw his show live, coz I missed the last one. It was worth the price of admission, I tell you that.

A sideshow of the MIAS although equally huge is the Custom and Classic Car Competition, situated at the airconditioned tent beside the main WTC halls. This year, we got to see some vintage sports cars, old school Japanese models and customized American SUVs. The competition was conducted by Team Lightspeed and they managed to give ample exposure to all the entries.

One of the more anticipated booth exhibits in the show is the one owned by Motul and Autoplus. Their main centerpiece was the Z Machine -- the Motul-Pitwork 350Z, one of the fastest machines ever built by man. The Z race car is the most successful race car to ever compete in the Japan Grand Touring Car Championship. Flown in from Japan for an exclusive series of tours in the Philippines, the 350Z is inarguably one stunning piece of machinery. Many show visitors made sure to have their photo taken beside the car.

Going around the exhibit hall, one can get pretty excited with all the neatly laid out show areas of the participating car models. Mazda Philippines took advantage of the event to give more exposure to the newest members in its stable: the Mazda 6, CX-9 and MX-5 PRHT.

The CX-9 is a real head-turner. I saw one on the road last month and was immediately attracted to it. It looked miles apart from the usual SUV: sporty, hefty yet streamlined and visually exciting. This one comfortably seats seven people, though you wouldn't guess it by just looking from the outside. The SRP for this 3.7-liter-powered, fully imported (CBU) SUV is around PhP2.7-million.

Other than the CX-9, my other favorite was the Hyundai Santa Fe. I think its just the right size SUV for my needs, and I've been hearing good things about it since it was launched last year. The Santa Fe has a look that doesn't get easily tired or outdated. I just wished it came out with more color options than the usual gray, black, white or maroon.

The Nissan booth had its usual X-Trail and Murano stars, yet both are not exactly new models. Same with Honda, which showcased the relatively new version of its popular CRV. Some hot bikes were also on display, courtesy of the Hardcore Brothers Custom Bike Shop.

Not to be outdone, Mitsubishi showcased its newest Evolution Lancer, the Evolution X. Other highlights of the MIAS was the launch of the Chana brand of cars from China; the introduction of Bridgestone's Turanza AR10; a car audio competition by the EMMA (European Mobile Media Association); a display of 4x4 vehicles; and numerous test drives conducted by participating car dealers.


All in all it was a great show. Like most car shows, you can never go wrong with machines that run on four wheels, or even two. And the sprinkling of fine young ladies draped all over cars and such did help a lot in the visual sense!



On to the next car show!

More AutoShow photos here --- http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeantigua/sets/72157604394464643/show/

Picking up where it matters

2007 MITSUBISHI STRADA 4x2

Everyone loves a pickup.

That being the case, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to assume that everyone loves a pickup all the more when it rides like a luxury car.

In the old days, a pickup’s ride and handling is usually described as “hard”, “bumpy” and “jarring” even. Which is really typical, given that a pickup is a vehicle designed to carry heavy loads and work like a horse. Oftentimes, only when the pickup is fully laden with cargo can one notice an even and stable ride, the suspension being weighted down by the payload.

These days, advancements in automotive design and engineering have helped manufacturers produce pickups that replicate, or at lease emulate, the ride and feel of a luxury car. Notice, too, how I’ve managed to not use the term “Pickup Truck” when mentioning this type of vehicle that doubles as a cargo hauler and everyday service. Even if pickups are still called trucks, the meaning of the word has started to become less and less applicable for every new generation pickup model that hits the showroom.

Which leads me back to my original pretext that anyone would definitely love to ride a pickup that doesn’t feel like a pickup. And this becomes all the more evident when one gets behind the wheel of the new Mitsubishi Strada.

Check out the full writeup here.

Revving it again...

Since I decided to restart Motorista back in May 2007, I wasn't able to do what I intended to do. Work and other concerns tend to divert one's attention from other trivial pursuits. But just the same, the effort is now back in full swing. As the saying goes, its the journey, not the destination.

So I continue my journey to reviving (or revving up) my once "blooming" motoring journalist career. Good thing my friends from Autoindustriya.com agreed to "adopt" an old, dog-eared once-promising writer to contribute to their young, hip and exciting motoring website!

Now I start off with my very first submission to their website, which took a long time in coming!

Hope this is the start of something good...In the meantime, enjoy the ride!