Driving to Baguio at Midnight

[IMm29]

And I'm back! No thanks to Tapatalk not working for Tsikot, kaya di ako makapag-update sooner. What's up with that? Will it ever still work?

Anyhow, thanks for all your tips and tricks. Together with another friend's updated GPS, the Baguio trip went well. Wish I did not have to fly to Bangkok, so we could've spent another breakfast and lunch in the City of Pines.

Baguio is not the pre-quake Baguio I remembered it to be 24 years ago. Sure, it's still cool, but save for what's inside the Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club general area, it's pretty congested and densely populated already. Took a while to get to La Trinidad Valley for the strawberry picking because of traffic. We also would go windows down because of the cool and fresh air, except in the city center where it would be diesel fumes. The smell of pine wasn't too strong anymore. Oh well, the price of modernization, I suppose. But then, like what was said about the Botanical gardens, di rin naalagaan. When you park on the road, you'll have to make sure you tread slowly or you'll end up rolling on the side of that hill just to get to the path. Tsk tsk!

We skipped Mines View because of the feedback on this thread. Unfortunate. Got to go to Wright Park for the kids horseback riding, went to Good Shepherd for some pasalubong, but shelved that idea coz of that looong line! Good the sisters' livelihood naman at least. Ended up at the Baguio City Market for the goodies before heading down.

[IMm29]

As to the drive, it was a good move to change back to stock wheels and tires. There were a lot of unpaved/not so well paved portions that would've had me thinking about the 18s if I had them on. At least I had some peace of mind with the 16s. Now that we're Manila bound for the months to come, I'm going for the 18s again. Hehehe!

Despite all that research and route plotting of the Nueva Ecija and Magilas routes, I ended up using MacArthur from SCTEX. Some last minute advice and scouting from my Dad who had been to Baguio 1.5 weeks prior to us had me thinking about pitstops for the kids and ladies. Not that we needed it naman pala, since they'd not taken that much liquids and had fallen asleep on me anyway. Tsk tsk! At least I didn't hear "are we there yet" other than what was being sung by Hi5. Hahaha! The trip came to about 6 hours from Ortigas until The Manor.

The GS was a hoot to drive. Thankfully I was under control during the NLEX and SCTEX stretches coz strikto sila SCTEX. At the Tarlac exit, everybody who drove by us in a hurry got promptly stopped and ticketed. Was even faster during the MacArthur stretches (I got up to about 130kph, the trailing Cruze up to 160 kph) than NLEX and SCTEX. Tarlac had both the high speed, widened roads leading to each town proper or MacArthur, and the rough road construction. Villasis was the next slower point. Took a break at Caltex Sison, but no gas taken in. Cruze 1/2 tank left, GS 1/8 tank consumed.

[jut703]

At the Tarlac exit, everybody who drove by us in a hurry got promptly stopped and ticketed. Was even faster during the MacArthur stretches (I got up to about 130kph, the trailing Cruze up to 160 kph) than NLEX and SCTEX.

Bro what time was this? It seems that SCTEX enforcers are more abundant on the Tarlac-bound side than in the opposite, Subic-bound portion.

[IMm29]

Marcos is high speed and pretty steep at points. Wide and sweeping switchbacks, allows for some speed. The CRDi engine loves pulling so it's got acceleration going up. Ended up consuming another 1/8 on the climb alone. Nawili sa hataw. Mga 1/4 na lang yung Cruze.

Going around Baguio, we all piled in the GS. 9 adults, 4 kids. Nice. Short ride lang naman to each stop. Engine was noisier on declines because of the engine brake, but not much the inclines. Swabeh lang.

GPS sent me on a wild goose chase once. Going to Good Shepherd. Shortest route nga via the backways. Even the old lady was puzzled why we took that route. There was a 50 degree climb at one stretch. Parang roller coaster going up, waiting for the drop. Hehehe! No problems. Mas gusto nga ng GS na puno, no slides.

On the way down, dun lang ako di nakapalag. Got left behind by an Innova taxi and Altis. Kabisado ang kurbada. Talo ako sa kanila sa handling, but on its own, the GS is wide and stable. Been mixing up between engine braking and braking so as not to overheat the brakes. Mahirap na, the brakes might suddenly not be there when you need them.

Sarap sagasaan ng mga trike sa MacArthur. Oblivious to the world. May namamasyal pa. You're overtaking on the left, then you find out kaya mabagal ang nasa harap mo is coz may trike na mabagal. Eventually gustong kumaliwa pala. Grrrr!!!

[IMm29]

Bro what time was this? It seems that SCTEX enforcers are more abundant on the Tarlac-bound side than in the opposite, Subic-bound portion.

I suppose they were hot on the Tarlac-bound side, at least on that morning. That was in the 830-900 am window.

[yebo]

noticed that also, wala pa ako nakitang natiketan sa subic. was at sctex going back to zambales on the GS (after friday's trip on my friends brand new fortuner) and hit 145kph from the ramp at mabalacat to subic, walang huli. on the way back yesterday i even hit 180 kph and most of the time 140-145kph. wala din huli nung mag-exit ako sa mabalacat.

bad trip lang, subic to mabalacat in 25 minutes. then sa toll gate 30 minutes sa haba ng pila last night!

OT: bagal mag-accelerate ng fortuner na 3.0 manual. mas malakas dihamak ang hatak ng 2.5 crdi A/T natin.

[CVT]

I suppose they were hot on the Tarlac-bound side, at least on that morning. That was in the 830-900 am window.

Good move on your part bro. It was also around that time, when I got myself entangled with those guys...

They were parked below the bridge just before the Luisita exit.

Enjoy your business trip!

17.9K:cupid2:

[CVT]

. Cruze 1/2 tank left, GS 1/8 tank consumed.

. Ended up consuming another 1/8 on the climb alone. Nawili sa hataw. Mga 1/4 na lang yung Cruze.

Bro.,- did I get it right that you consumed only 1/4 tank (1/8+1/8) from MM to Baguio?

If that is the case then that is about 19L of diesel fuel only. Now Baguio is about 250Km, so you did 13Km/L.... Wow!

I remembered that when we took the Gen3 TCi AT to Baguio some years ago,- I consumed 5/8 tank,- so about 37L.- so about 6.7Km/L hataw mode midnight to early morning.... I stopped computing after that....

Did not do the same thing for our TCi AT GS....

17.9K:cupid2:

[Pipefish]

IMm29, GS is the Hyundai Starex? By the way, what was a comfortable speed for you on the way down? So six hours going up? How about coming back? And you didn't take Kennon Road? Thanks.

[yapoy86]

Bro.,- did I get it right that you consumed only 1/4 tank (1/8+1/8) from MM to Baguio?

If that is the case then that is about 19L of diesel fuel only. Now Baguio is about 250Km, so you did 13Km/L.... Wow!

I remembered that when we took the Gen3 TCi AT to Baguio some years ago,- I consumed 5/8 tank,- so about 37L.- so about 6.7Km/L hataw mode midnight to early morning.... I stopped computing after that....

Did not do the same thing for our TCi AT GS....

17.9K:cupid2:

may kasama ata sila na chevy cruze.. mahirap mag compare ng consumption via gauge lang kasi baka hindi naman parehas ng fuel tank capacity yun nung GS

[CVT]

may kasama ata sila na chevy cruze.. mahirap mag compare ng consumption via gauge lang kasi baka hindi naman parehas ng fuel tank capacity yun nung GS

Yes, bro.,- that is why I translated everything to liters... 75L ang tank ng GS; 60L ang tank ng Gen3 Starex; not sure about the Cruze. (Of course, you are correct,- fuel gauge lang ang basis,- hindi 100% accurate)

Just for comparison,- on that same night we went up to Baguio,- I had my sister's Innova D4D with me,- all along the way.

Their Innova consumed only 3/8 tank (60L ang tank),- which is about 22L,- or about 11Km/L..... Ang laki ng diperensiya....

17.9K:cupid2:

[yebo]

1/4 tank din ang usual consumption ko using a GS crdi via nlex-sctex-magilas (longer by 28km?) and kennon (shorter by how many km via marcos?) from unioil mindanao ave station to burnham park. approximately 12+km/L.

[CVT]

1/4 tank din ang usual consumption ko using a GS crdi via nlex-sctex-magilas (longer by 28km?) and kennon (shorter by how many km via marcos?) from unioil mindanao ave station to burnham park. approximately 12+km/L.

So, there is our benchmark number for the GS VGT A/T - around 12Km/L+...

Hataw mode pa iyan 2 na iyan,- PANIGURADO...

17.9K:cupid2:

[vinj]

bad trip lang, subic to mabalacat in 25 minutes. then sa toll gate 30 minutes sa haba ng pila last night!

Hassle yan... that's why when medyo marami ang bumabyahe, i choose to exit at Clark and reenter NLEX through the Angeles Exit (gives me an excuse to gas up inside Clark).

[yebo]

^yup, i was thinking about that same thing last night when i was stuck there. i even asked the wife if she wanted to have dinner at clark instead of the rest stops along nlex.

[lowslowbenz]

nag baguio pala kayong lahat?

dapat pala ng mini eb tayo dun!

[miked]

^^^^^iirc, kennon ay 27 km while marcos is 45 km....

[IMm29]

noticed that also, wala pa ako nakitang natiketan sa subic. was at sctex going back to zambales on the GS (after friday's trip on my friends brand new fortuner) and hit 145kph from the ramp at mabalacat to subic, walang huli. on the way back yesterday i even hit 180 kph and most of the time 140-145kph. wala din huli nung mag-exit ako sa mabalacat.

bad trip lang, subic to mabalacat in 25 minutes. then sa toll gate 30 minutes sa haba ng pila last night!

OT: bagal mag-accelerate ng fortuner na 3.0 manual. mas malakas dihamak ang hatak ng 2.5 crdi A/T natin.

I personally have not yet seen anyone getting ticketed on SCTEX on the route to and from Subic. Although I've heard stories of getting caught. Pretty vague though if it was on SCTEX or on NLEX.

3.0 Manual Fortuner bro? or Manual mode ang ginamit mo? The GS is more powerful, but yeah I would've thought that the 3.0L's advantage would've been the acceleration. On the way up to Baguio, I was missing the Prado, coz there were portions of the climb where I'd feel the transmission/engine thinking twice about delivering the power. You'd have to do manual mode so that you could get the gear you want.

[IMm29]

Good move on your part bro. It was also around that time, when I got myself entangled with those guys...

They were parked below the bridge just before the Luisita exit.

Enjoy your business trip!

17.9K:cupid2:

Thanks Bro. Here now, recharging as well. Hehehe!

[IMm29]

IMm29, GS is the Hyundai Starex? By the way, what was a comfortable speed for you on the way down? So six hours going up? How about coming back? And you didn't take Kennon Road? Thanks.

Hmmm... I really did not pay attention to the speed bro. Was more concerned about the revs and if they were high/low enough for the descent so that I did not overheat the brakes. Did not take Kennon road. Marcos is fast, especially if you know the corners you can power thru and if you're lower to the ground. The GS had that height handicap. Ok lang, still better than the Gen 3.

The speed will depend on your capability to control the car as well as the car's handling as well. Don't worry about the speed, you won't be the slowest to go down even if you are taking the cautious approach. Just be comfortable with your car's handling.

Bro.,- did I get it right that you consumed only 1/4 tank (1/8+1/8) from MM to Baguio?

If that is the case then that is about 19L of diesel fuel only. Now Baguio is about 250Km, so you did 13Km/L.... Wow!

I remembered that when we took the Gen3 TCi AT to Baguio some years ago,- I consumed 5/8 tank,- so about 37L.- so about 6.7Km/L hataw mode midnight to early morning.... I stopped computing after that....

Did not do the same thing for our TCi AT GS....

17.9K:cupid2:

Yes bro, tama around 1/4 tank consumed from Ortigas until Manor. Pang malayuan ang tangke. Hehehe! Gulat yung bro in law ko. Para ngang kayang bumaba ng walang kargahan.