Best Posts in Thread: Auto costs

Something to consider when driving in the Philippines is; high speed crashes are less common there especially in Negros, as I said before it takes approx. 4hrs to drive 100miles, most people killed on the roads there tend to be motorcyclists not wearing Helmets, Tricycles are often involved in low speed crashes, pulling into and stopping at the roadside, not using indicators and the brake light not working and the reverse happens when they get back moving by not checking their mirrors and again not giving indication.

Cars in the Philippines tend not to have as many Airbags as they do in first world countries, my own Honda now 4yrs old and the top spec for the model only has the two at the front and this is a 7 seater. perhaps it is almost a disadvantage to have them? are they likely to go off in a low speed crash where they were not required? is it expensive to get the 120 of them renewed, OK a slight exaggeration? likely they are an easy fix but a great money spinner in the car repair industry, good for the likes of Ozzyguy and keeps him in the style he has become accustomed to?

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of Cupid Stunt Foreigners that drive motorbikes around Valencia area NOT wearing helmets even with children on them and they also not wearing a Helmet, if they are caught by the police there it is only a P50 fine, although we have one, my 5yr Son has never been on this Motorbike on a Public road, I Do Not allow this. More than 50% of the locals who drive Motorbikes do not have a driving License but even if they did they have never been to a driving School, in the area I am talking of it is not uncommon to see drivers as young as 10 to 12yrs of age, some of the older ones of 15yrs can be seen flying around corners.

 

Here is what the IIHS says with regard to size and it indicates that size does matter.

https://www.iihs.org/topics/vehicle-size-and-weight#:~:text=A bigger, heavier vehicle provides,energy from crashes by crumpling.

I had not thought of this.

A lighter vehicle will always be at a disadvantage in a collision with a heavier vehicle. But in the past, SUVs and pickups posed an added danger to people in cars because their bumpers and other energy-absorbing structures were higher than those of the smaller vehicles. That meant the taller, larger vehicles would effectively climb up the hood of small cars in crashes, increasing the risk of injury and death for the people in the car.

Their site has a way to look at crash worthiness of the vehicles and the Hyundai Sentra looks safer than the Ford Ranger on paper. I suspect their collisions are like for like not, big against small, hence the better rating.

 

The most likely way it will go wrong is that while you are not there they will sell it.

 

But it's not comprehensive !
We found this out many years ago when we bought a new car and after the free registration for 3 years was up we went to register it and was told our "comprehensive" insurance did not include TPL third party liability which is a requirement for registration.
I questioned this with the in charge at our insurance office and asked why it's called comprehensive he said it was a misnomer.

Misnomer—What Is It?

• A misnomer is a name that is incorrectly applied to something.
• Misnomer is often confused with other kinds of mistakes, such as misconceptions, faulty statements, or incorrect...

 

Comprehensive car insurance, this you can get in PH, most Banks offer this service, we bought our car just over 3yrs ago it was a repo from the BPI Bank in Cebu, we paid P600K for a low mileage 18month old car in very good nick, the Bank offered us Insurance, a fully comp all inclusive insurance that covered natural disasters, like flooding or even a coconut falling down on it, this cost us P20K, another policy was offered to us at P15K, but this did not cover any natural disasters, each year the price has dropped by around P1000 as the car gets older.

The Suzuki Multicabs are great little workhorses but sh*t to drive for any long distance, you can get them with AC and an Auto box, but they are terrible and about as unrefined as you can get in a car, they only have a 660CC engine.

Tricycles are also sh*t and unsafe at any speed, you are fighting that third wheel at all times, especially when travelling on hills, when travelling down hill can you imagine what would happen if you jammed on the brakes, that side car would slew you around and you would then tumble down the hill just like Jack and Jill.

Knowing your particular circumstances, you intend to renovate the house you own in PH, with that in mind are you going to have much leisure time on your visits to PH? to drive a car 100mls on negros island will take around 4hrs and it is unlikely to be a relaxing drive, I for one hate driving there. you can never rely on your Phil Family to look after your vehicle, but there is one cheaper option for you and ideal for shorter journeys around DGTE and the surrounding district. A Bajad Trike, these are nice balanced stable little units which I think will be braked on all three wheels, ideal for driver and 2 passengers, cost new will be around P180K, you may pick up a second hand one for 120K, on your return home to US perhaps you can leave this with a trusted Foreigner to use and look after while you are away?

 

Used cars are relatively expensive in the Philippines. Unfortunately.

Anyhow, putting your specific situation into consideration, I do woukd recommend to buy a second hand car for let's say 500.000 Peso. Don't look too much to guarantee abd stuff like that. Even if you got it, you are in the Philippines.

Go for a car from Japan, or Korea. Maintenance will be easy and spare parts as well as technicians are available.

Don't look too much to age and mileage. Look to the owner and the way he treated the car.

 

Sound like driving from Mactan airport down south at Christmas. Well anytime really.

 

A good bike rider will apply this to any country they are in. I leant this when I first did my bike training at 17 years old.

That's what I was saying about being 200% on the ball, unfortunately a bike is sometimes the better way to travel when in the traffic.

But in Thailand I love riding even more than back home in Australia.