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With my next PMS (preventive maintenance service) coming up, I’m beginning to think whether or not having the car “casa” (or dealership service) maintained is the most economical way of owning a car. If you’re driving a five-year old car or older, the quick answer will be no. Casa maintenance won’t be worth it. But for cars under warranty, should you risk it?

Let’s face it. Casa maintenance usually costs higher since they charge for each and every work and you have no choice between repair or replace since casa, and you’d be stuck with genuine parts too.

Here’s an interesting take on choosing between dealer service or other car shops. Summarized are the factors to consider:

• Cost - Casa maintenance will (almost) always be higher both in parts and service charges.
• Warranty Conditions – Warranties are usually voided when you have the car maintained elsewhere. Is it practical to waive  three-year protection to save thousands of pesos?
• Quality of Work – Dealerships usually have trained personnel and the proper equipment to diagnose your car though this isn’t a guarantee that the dealership will do a fine job with the car.
• Speed of Work – Dealerships take their time in keeping your car while in service.

Aside from the warranty, all indications point to having the car maintained elsewhere. However, if you decide to do so while the car is under warranty, weigh the risks of the major parts of the car (the engine and transmission) giving out and the savings you’d get on having your car maintained some place else. Me? I think I’m sticking with the casa until my warranty expires.

Your thoughts?

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With Japanese import car parts having trouble lately, the local car manufacturers seems to be having a great quarter. One of them is Mazda Philippines as it posts a 13 percent growth this quarter compared to same period last year.

The company has sold 1,080 units in from January to April 2011, which when compared to last year, is a 13 percent increase. April has been the strongest month so far:

In April, Mazda sold a total of 236 as a result of the strong performance of the Mazda2 and Mazda3. The Mazda2 saw April sales of 94 units, up 18 percent versus the same month last year. Year-to-date sales of the popular sub-compact total 335 units, representing a 55 percent increase.

Congratulations to Mazda, we hope the other car manufacturers find a way to emulate them.

Article via Malaya Business Insight | Image By Thomas doerfer (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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The MMDA has decided to get into the trenches again as they have lifted their no-contact policy and decided to go on the road and become a presence again.

This means traffic enforcers may now order speed limit violators to stop and personally issue traffic tickets to them, instead of just recording their information from CCTV cameras and then sending them notices.

Violators face a fine of P1,200.

This follows after the death of renowned journalist and professor Chit Estella-Simbulan a few nights ago after the taxi was riding in was smashed by a speeding bus.

The MMDA will be present again starting Monday, and will continue monitoring even from night to dawn.

Article via ABS CBN News | Image By Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

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The school year is about to open, and if you have a college kid looking to have a great ride, you might just be able to get him that dream car that will be affordable and reliable. The entry-level Nissan Sentra is selling at a low-downpayment of just PhP 39,000 up to May 31. Even the Sentra 200 CVT, which we reviewed a few months back, is selling at a low DP of PhP 68,000. The Grand Livina Elite is selling at a low DP of PhP 88,000.

Check out these prices from Nissan Quezon Avenue. Prices include comprehensive insurance, chattel mortgage, and three-years LTO registration.

Nissan Sentra 1.3 GX STD: PhP 610,000

• Total cash-out: PhP 38,000
• 24 months: PhP 25,123.87
• 36 months: PhP 18,023.74
• 48 months: PhP 14,453.95
• 60 months: PhP 12,436.68

Nissan Sentra 1.3 GX PWR: PhP 635,000

• Total cash-out: PhP 88,000
• 24 months: PhP 25,183.53
• 36 months: PhP 18,762.13
• 48 months: PhP 15,046.33
• 60 months: PhP 13,456.08

Nissan Sentra 1.3 GX AT: PhP 660,000

• Total cash-out: PhP 88,000
• 24 months: PhP 27,183.20
• 36 months: PhP 19,500.80
• 48 months: PhP 15,638.70
• 60 months: PhP 13,456.08

Nissan Sentra 200 STD: PhP 1,050,000

• Total cash-out: PhP 58,000
• 24 months: PhP 44,687.53
• 36 months: PhP 32,058.13
• 48 months: PhP 25,709.08
• 60 months: PhP 22,120.98

Nissan Sentra 200 CVT: PhP 1,150,000

• Total cash-out: PhP 68,000
• 24 months: PhP 47,364.37
• 36 months: PhP 33,978.67
• 48 months: PhP 27,249.25
• 60 months: PhP 23,446.20

Nissan Q Ave has more models with a discounted cash-out. Check them out at www.mynissan.com.ph. So why ride a cab or go for a car rental when you can get a brand new Nissan?

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Although this is Pinoy Auto Blog, being a good driver encompasses the whole world.

Gaby Dela Merced, just one of the PH best drivers

This infograph shows what a good driver should be (that is, according to the insurance world that is)

A good driver should be:

• Licensed
• Without more than one violation point
• Without more than one dismissal of charges for incidents that would have resulted in one violation point
• Without DUIs during the past seven years

Is there such a driver in the Philippines? Are you one? If you have yet to drive, then it would be best to make this your goal. If you are already driving then maintain your pristine record. If you are missing one or a few of the qualities above, don’t give up being a good driver.

How good is your driving? by Car Insurance Comparison

Image By SpoonerTuner (Spooner Tuner) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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It looks like you’ll be seeing the Philippine Azkals players in Kia cars these days as it has been chosen as the team’s official transport provider, thanks to its local distributor, Columbian Autocar Corporation.

“Love for football and support of the Azkals is shared by both the young and young-at-heart,” said Palermo Soriano, Jr., head of Kia’s Marketing Services. “We are proud to support truly inspiring athletes, who have the potential to be a world-class team.”

Naturally, the team is extremely pleased about this situation:

“We are thankful for the show of confidence from Kia, as well as from the rest of our countrymen, and now the players, team management and coaching staff are that much more motivated to train hard and give our best,” said Azkals team manager Dan Palami.

If you’d like to know who is getting what Kia car, it’s best to check out their official Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Article via: Top Gear PH | Image via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

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With the interest of his constituency in Quezon City, Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista is trying out e-tricycles, or better known as e-Trikes, and is thinking of replacing its current roster of gas-guzzling, smoke pollution emitting tricycles.

Here are some details on the e-Trikes:

• It costs PHP 117,000 per unit.
• It can travel 100 to 130 kms on a single charge
• It can carry up to four persons
• It takes eight hours to charge
• The charger is solar-powered, using 2,500-watt tiles

Transportation fares should be similar to how much the operators charge with four or two-stroke engines.

The e-trikes were developed by the Kasangga Party-list and Netherlands-based Technostrat Design and Research Corporation it also includes Winace Holdings Philippines as project partner.

Article via: Manila Bulletin | Image via Philippine Star

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The Philippine Hyundai distributor, Hyundai Asia Resources Inc. (HARI) has posted a 3 percent growth from January to April this year. This is in comparison to same time last year.

“The sales prove positive for Hyundai, as the figures show that Filipinos are growing increasingly supportive of ways to minimize fuel consumption and their carbon footprint with their patronage of vehicles that are energy-efficient,” said Fe Perez-Agudo, president and chief executive of HARI, noting the significant gains of Hyundai’s fuel-efficient range of vehicles.

Although the high sales of the auto industry for the first quarter this year have been reported by CAMPI, HARI is no longer a member hence they are reporting their own sales figures.

Article via Malaya Business Insight | Image via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

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According to Frank Nacua, secretary-general of the Philippine Automotive Federation Inc., the Philippine auto industry is expecting a flat sales growth this year.

“Flat growth will be expected this year for the local car industry,” Frank Nacua, secretary-general of the Philippine Automotive Federation Inc., told reporters in a chance interview. He said the industry’s growth target of 4 percent to 5 percent drawn up at the start of the year would not be possibly achieved and that a revision of goal was imminent.

This was somewhat mirrored by Elizabeth Lee, Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. president:

“Although the supply of vehicles to date is ample to meet the market demand at this time, common problems across brand makes are starting to affect the production of vehicles locally,” she said, adding that common issues include logistics and the disruption to the supply chain for some key parts.

It seems that it’s better to have lower expectations of sales rather than higher at this point of the year after how the Japan quake has affected the local auto industry.

Article via: Manila Standard Today | Image via: Open for Business

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If you or anyone you know has a Ford that is out of warranty, then you should check this out.

Ford Group Philippines (FGP) is offering service and original parts for out of warranty Ford car owners.

“In addition to providing world-class Ford vehicles, we continuously aim to further enhance and improve our already best-in-class customer service experience,” said David Macasadia, vice president of Ford’s customer service division. “This new campaign will help further strengthen our leading cost-of-ownership equation, and help our customers continue to feel the difference of today’s Ford.”

But that’s not all, they’ll also give free oil filters to those who’ll avail of periodic maintenance service within May.

All of this is only available for the following models bought within 2004 to 2007:

• Escape
• Focus
• Ranger
• Everest

Article via: Top Gear PH | Image By Bull-Doser (Own work.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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