Is the multicab good for a really loooong drive, i.e. from Davao to Dumaguete?

Hi Dumagueteños, I'm JD, and I'm moving to Dumaguete by land by the end of the month. I'm planning to buy a 2009 4x4 multicab (scrum engine) for that purpose and more (I've seen how the small cab is a big fave among members). My route will be Bukidnon then CDO then aboard the Ozamis ferry to Dapitan then aboard the Dipolog ferry finally to Dumaguete.

Will the multicab be okay for such a looong 20-hour drive?

 

Hi, nice 1st post. Welcome!

"Will the multicab be okay for such a looong 20-hour drive?"

That would depend on the condition of the multicab! I would check it out, or have it checked out, thoroughly before buying one and before making any long trips.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome and immediate reply.

Alright, bro. Definitely will have it checked by a mechanic as you suggest. Thanks!

Anybody here who has done exactly the same (dvo-dgte on a multicab) or something similar?

 

Going to be a long trip, plan to get out and stretch your legs once an hour, so add at least 5 hours to the expected trip time.

BTW it's most likely not a 2009 multicab, but was registered for the first time in the Philippines in 2009. If it is a Scrum it is most likely a 1992-1998 model.

 

That's a very good point. Used cars in this country are ridiculously overpriced. There is a widespread practice of advertising a vehicle as a certain year, but that was the year it was registered in the Philippines and not the year of manufacture. Used car sales are notorious in most countries, but here it is an art form of questionable honesty. I checked out a Honda Stepwagon the other day, advertised as 2006 with 69000 kms. If it was genuine 2006 it would have been a Mk3. It had obviously been clocked, and I found it was a Mk1, manufactured in 1996. Let the buyer beware.

 

This is the last country you should consider buying a second hand car in.
Ive been around the carry garages & have looked at the before & after examples, these people are fantastic at making a silk purse out of a sow's ear !... they are just plain dangerous...

 

WOW that sounds like a FANTASTIC adventure, keep us posted no how you get on, I would love to do something like that later this year or early next .... I was going to do it on my XRM, but a Multicab sounds like a great idea . . . . Good luck !!!

 

Some do no more than they have to to sell a unit, while others go the extra mile and build a decent unit. It all boils down to who refurbished it.

Larry

 

I would not be worried about the distance that you have to travel. The advantage of Multicabs is that there are parts everywhere as well as mechanics that have worked extensively on these trucks. Granted, most are not the best mechanics in the world, but at least they have experience on that type of vehicle. If it s not overheating and not blowing smoke out the exhaust, things that you should note on your test drive, then chances are, it will make the trip. Just make sure you take a good long test drive, including steep hills and dirt roads to check you 4x4 and suspension. Since you are moving (and I assume it is a truck, not a van?), I would not load it down too much. The suspension is not great on these little trucks and handling can deteriorate rapidly if your load is not balanced. Also power will be an issue since you have some pretty substantial hills to climb going to Bukidnon.

As Larry mentioned, these are all older vehicles, many with old problems, like worn bushings and bearings, poor compression, weak or cracked springs, carburetor problems, etc. Try to find a mechanic to check it over before you buy, although I doubt you will get anybody that can do a compression check for you. Another issue that wasn't mentioned ... do you actually fit inside this little truck. In the pick-up, the seats are not adjustable and they are designed for smaller people. If you have a beer belly or if you are taller than 5' 10", you may not even be able to get behind the wheel! Remember also, that the truck was converted from right hand drive so you will most likely be sitting on that little bench seat for your trip.

Another concern might be the route itself. Although, I believe that Mindanao is not as dangerous as people make out, you should still be careful if driving at night and choose your overnight locations wisely.

Let us know how the trip goes. I am sure many of us will be curious about that route! Good luck.