What is the most practical vehicle for personal use in the Philiipines?

joeyd

I have owned a Nissan Eagle pickup years ago. Bought it used with 80000 kms on the odometer. I was still single then and me and my trusty pickup went places. It was not the most comfy of rides but I got to where I wanted to go without a fuss, even in the foulest weathers. Best fuel consumption I got was 24 km/l combined city and highway. Maintenance and repairs were easy. As I am a DIY guy, I did my oil changes, filter replacements, valve adjustments, brakes and clutch replacements (I took down my own tranny) and adjustments. Parts were also very easy to find. Maintenance cost is a definite win. It goes well with mall runs and groceries (hindi siya out of place). And the cargo capacity was very good. It seats 5 persons quite okay. I can push it up to 150 km/h (bihira lang). But the engine rpm is comfortable cruising at 90 to 100 km/h (it can go forever doing this). The BD25 is a bulletproof engine. I clocked the odometer at 600000+ km and was still going strong, minimal oil consumption and still no smoke despite of still no calibration on the injection pump done since I got it. Had to let go of her, since my family was getting bigger and I needed a bigger vehicle.

Over all, it is one of the most practical vehicle for me. I had her when I was still single until the first few years of my marriage, my confidant, my best friend, my workhorse and also at some point, my teacher. Here is a tribute to you "Goldie". Thanks for everything.

virtuoso

^ sayang naman! sounds like a real keeper!

eaglemania

Suzuki Jimny is perfect for personal use since it is small and its a real 4x4 with a ladder frame and solid axles. Engine is very reliable and chasis is bullet proof. Perfect for philippine roads due to the constant potholes and other road defects. It's also capable of wading through floods that are almost high enough to submerge it's tire. The ECU and other important components are high on the vehicle. Owners also have the option of increasing it's height with springs, big tires, and spacers if they want an even higher ride. The small size is perfect for weaving through traffic and parking is also easier than a sedan.

http://www.suzuki.com.ph/automobile/automobile/jimny/

jason_10

If you're getting a subcompact, go for the Vios/City. Can't go wrong with these two cars.

Verbl Kint

What is the most practical vehicle for personal use in the Philiipines?

A motorcycle.

BeerhandBop

practical around the metro is an AUV like crosswind or innova or adventure.

joeyd

BeerhandBop wrote: »

practical around the metro is an AUV like crosswind or innova or adventure.

I agree up to some point. But then AUVs are people carrier. The reality is, sometimes we have to transport large, heavy and bulky objects which the people carrier just cannot handle. If you are like me who has only 1 vehicle, it will not be practical enough imho.

A subcompact would also not be fit for long drives as reality would have it, out of town family trips would have your subcompact loaded to capacity and get punished more by the poor road condition in the Philippines. (this wont be problem though if youre only on SCTEX, SLEX, NLEX, etc, but hey, reality)

Motorcycle? I wouldn't risk my life, much more my wife and kids riding a motorcycle. ( But I see it often) hehe

I think a Jimny would be good enough though, limited carrying capacity.

kelunji

An AUV is actually the most practical, kaya nga siya naging popular sa developing countries of SE Asia. It can be a people carrier (Asian families tend to be large), a bulk carrier (to a certain extent) for a start-up business and cleaned up, its not too shabby to bring to a meeting or special occasions. Ok din naman yung pick-up pero, maliit ang people-carrying space niya. I have travelled the Philippines from Manila to Gensan in 12 days doing a GPS survey in a DMax with 5 people incl. the driver. Ang hirap, on teh trip back, I volunteered to just take the plane.

joeyd

kelunji wrote: »

An AUV is actually the most practical, kaya nga siya naging popular sa developing countries of SE Asia. It can be a people carrier (Asian families tend to be large), a bulk carrier (to a certain extent) for a start-up business and cleaned up, its not too shabby to bring to a meeting or special occasions. Ok din naman yung pick-up pero, maliit ang people-carrying space niya. I have travelled the Philippines from Manila to Gensan in 12 days doing a GPS survey in a DMax with 5 people incl. the driver. Ang hirap, on teh trip back, I volunteered to just take the plane.

I agree with those points on AUVs. But I forgot to mention that durability-wise sa undercarriage, they get really punished with, say a trip from NCR to Naga. I find that they dont have the durability for those kind of trips, while the pickup can take it. Hence, the cost of maintenance comes to mind.

Also agree with you on the comfort. Suwerte ka pa nga sa Dmax, softer ride, compared to say a hilux, haha, parang walang suspension. When i had my pickup, I used to tie down several 5 gallon containers filled with water on the pickup bed as ballast weights. Helps a lot with comfort.

kelunji

^AUVs are akin to a Swiss army-knife, trying to be everything, it works, but not really exceptional. Compromise talaga kasi siya. Kung nagsisimula ka pa lang ng negosyo, at may pamilya, an AUV is the vehicle to get. A pickup IMO is already specialized (a proper knife vs. a Swiss-knife).

eaglemania

joeyd wrote: »

I think a Jimny would be good enough though, limited carrying capacity.

The topic title said "personal use" so I assumed you meant only 1 or 2 people would use the vehicle, so the Jimny would be the most practical for both road conditions and ease of parking and handling in traffic. But if you will be using it as a family vehicle then I would recommend a Grand Vitara or any of the AUV's available. The Grand Vitara is larger than the Jimny but still maintains some of the 4x4 toughness to handle the Philippine roads. If you need 4WD then the older Vitara models are better since the Grand Vitara only comes as the 4x2 variant in the Philippines. The 1994-2006 model Vitara's still have 4WD.

http://www.suzuki.com.ph/automobile/automobile/grand-vitara/

einhander

really depends on how will you use it mostly. metro manila? out of town? size of family? bachelor?

BeerhandBop

imo, an auv can carry more than a flatbed pickup truck. ofcourse weight is an issue. but then di mo rin naman gagamitin ang pickup mo to carry really heavy items. I am yet to see a dmax towing ANYTHING. maybe a jetski.. but that doesn't really count.

you'd be more inclined to have something like an l300 or delivery van if your business carries really heavy items.

joeyd

In my case, (not into business though) I occasionally carried on my pickup, couple of welding machines, some other time, maybe some furnitures, like a couch or a bed and also sometimes a ref. This items would hardly fit inside an AUV.

It was my daily drive, hence I was not restricted inside the metro. I worked in Laguna and went home daily to Makati. And went home to my hometown Baguio every once in a while.

Personal use would be: used for my personal purpose which includes my family. Unless I was rich then I would just declare it as strictly for my own use, like a toothbrush. But then I am not. Its like a TV set in the living room.

Maintenance cost, durability and ease of repair are also a plus for the Pickup, (for me, though, as I DIY)

kelunji

^Underneath, AUVs and pickups are practically the same (both share the same rear leafspring design; most share the same engine, if not the same engine family) and considering that automanufacturers standardize parts over an entire model range (from sedans to SUVs) to save on costs, I really do not see how a pickup will have a leg up on maintenance and ease of repair. Just look at the original FX.

Ok so I could not fit the ref I bought at SM in my Hilander, but hey, me and 6 family members did have a great 5 day roadtrip to Baguio, Vigan and Cagayan a few years ago.

joeyd

kelunji wrote: »

^Underneath, AUVs and pickups are practically the same (both share the same rear leafspring design; most share the same engine, if not the same engine family) and considering that automanufacturers standardize parts over an entire model range (from sedans to SUVs) to save on costs, I really do not see how a pickup will have a leg up on maintenance and ease of repair. Just look at the original FX.

Ok so I could not fit the ref I bought at SM in my Hilander, but hey, me and 6 family members did have a great 5 day roadtrip to Baguio, Vigan and Cagayan a few years ago.

Not really the same platform, although the same format if thats what you mean, IFS in front and solid leaf at the rear. The steering and suspension parts of the pickup is beefier than an AUV. The brakes are definitely bigger. The FX does not share any parts with the hilux, or the inovva to the hilux. If you have a chance to be hands-on on these lines of vehicles' maintenance, Im sure you would see that the beefier parts were made to last or at least made to be repairable.

Haha, youre right I could not fit 6 people comfortably in my pickup. That is one of the reasons why I had to let the pickup go. I replaced with a Land Cruiser. Couldnt fit a ref there, even a full sized washing machine. Loading cargo is a very delicate operation as I have to take care not to damage it. But with my wife and 2 kids, just fold away the 2nd row seats and they have a mobile playground. Beats a pickup, not to mention the ride comfort. But then again I miss my fuel economy in my pickup, 20+km/Li against 6 to 8 km/Li on my LC.

drummerboi

It depends. If you're a family guy, let's say you work at an office from m-f then on weekends you go out with your extended family, an AUV is the best option. A pickup is the best option if you have a business or a farm and your family size is not that big.

sleeepy

Na touch ako sa maiksi na kwento, naalala ko yun first car ko.. Innova or Crosswind! madali lang i-DIY ang mga yan, pero mas madali crosswind

Azulbanirpal

My take on the most practical for personal use within metro manila only?

second hand surplus, cheap initial cost
matipid sa gas -3 cylinder engine
mura parts at locally available
madali sa traffic kasi maliit
pag nabangga, di masakit ayusin ang katawan, unlike brand new cars
madaming variants from van to pick up
di mahirap i-park
mura rehistro sa LTO compared to large SUVs
madali overhaul ng makina sa garahe, 2 people kayang buhatin ang engine
sky is the limit sa porma, no rules ikaw bahala kung anong diskarte mo
Mura weekend maintenance like car wash, wax, more time for your family

and the winner is......
SUZUKI CARRY

Disadvantage - di lang maporma, but who cares, cars are not an investment anyways, would rather put my money on house improvements!
Di mabilis, but wait, gapang ka naman sa traffic nowadays! Kahit na-overtake ka mahahabol mo din sila sa stoplight!

Nietono_no_Shana

@joeyd

Just a question, why didn't you just buy another car or an AUV for the family and then keep the pickup for your personal use? I think the maintenance and the daily fuel consumption of your current vehicle is not cheap.

joeyd

Nietono_no_Shana wrote: »

@joeyd

Just a question, why didn't you just buy another car or an AUV for the family and then keep the pickup for your personal use? I think the maintenance and the daily fuel consumption of your current vehicle is not cheap.

Simple lang, no money for another vehicle e, just starting a new family way back then. But a vehicle is a necessity also, and we needed it bigger.

My fuel consumption now is not impressive.

But maintenance is a definite win for me. Never brought it to shop. For all the 8 years I had my LC, major works done are only for the AC cleaning, change batteries to deep cycle, and changed tires (just once pa lang, I mean, I am really impressed with my tires lasting 4 years and running now). Oh, and I changed the timing belt myself in my garage. Also the brake pads nga pala, probably about 5 or 6 sets na. Aside from the regular fluid changes of course. The best thing is the underchassis, It took a beating and still have no issues with it. Its just sagging a bit now, hope to upgrade, maybe a mild lift.

Just imagine, 8 years and running for an old truck? Total age of the rig if I take the tag on the seatbelts, 21 years old.