European cars wishlist for the Philippine roads

[LynxMan]

I have been working in the United Kingdom for 7 years now and i have seen cars go by...small or big, simple or luxurious. but in my honest opinion i think there is a "gap" or missing link (if you like) in each of the car segements on the Philippine roads at the moment. what i would like to see is new models to fill-in this gap so the filipino family can have more choices and hopefully our roads will become better to see again and fun to drive....


for City or Small cars:

Hyundai i20
Mazda2
Ford Fiesta
Nissan Micra
Mitsubishi Colt


For MPV's or Family Vans:

Mazda5



Small SUV:

Ford Kuga (to replace the Escape)
Nissan Qashqai
Suzuki SX4 (the 5-door not the gawdawful sedan!)


i would also like to see Vauxhall or Opel/GM flex it's muscles again with cars like the new Vauxhall/Opel Corsa, Zafira & Astra. i would also like Suzuki to be more agressive in releasing new models (thank God for Swift and the Celerio/new Alto), Daihatsu with cars like the Terios and Sirion (as i understand daihatsu is now partly-owned by Toyota), the Kia Cee'd range and Volkwagen Polo and the uber-car Golf. i would like to see other euro makes like Renault and Fiat as they have lots of exciting new models around like the new Megane and Clio and the Fiat500 respectively.

i also noticed that some cars like the Mazda3 and the Ford Focus are all on automatic mode. please...we need manual. people still prefer manual and IMHO still saves up on petrol more that the A/T brother and is still more exciting when driving. we also need more environment-friendly cars and not just hybrids because they are still expensive. cars like Toyota's Optimal Drive for example. no more big SUV, road-hugging, gas-guzzling vehicles pls. we had enough of them. time to be more practical now.

any sugestions or comments please fell free to reply....

[LeOxe]

i think there's a big possibility that the Hyundai i20 (will be replacing the Getz), the Ford Fiesta Sedan and the Mazda 2 Sedan will hit Philippine shores sometime in the very near future.

IMO, as for the other European car makes, it would be very difficult for them to penetrate the Philippine market not because of government barriers but because of market acceptance. Peugeot, for example, entered the market a few years back but to no avail. i think the dealership closed due to poor sales.

[jozef_10]

diesel / crdi variants..

[jpdm]

I have been working in the United Kingdom for 7 years now and i have seen cars go by...small or big, simple or luxurious. but in my honest opinion i think there is a "gap" or missing link (if you like) in each of the car segements on the Philippine roads at the moment. what i would like to see is new models to fill-in this gap so the filipino family can have more choices and hopefully our roads will become better to see again and fun to drive....


for City or Small cars:

Hyundai i20
Mazda2
Ford Fiesta
Nissan Micra
Mitsubishi Colt


For MPV's or Family Vans:

Mazda5



Small SUV:

Ford Kuga (to replace the Escape)
Nissan Qashqai
Suzuki SX4 (the 5-door not the gawdawful sedan!)


i would also like to see Vauxhall or Opel/GM flex it's muscles again with cars like the new Vauxhall/Opel Corsa, Zafira & Astra. i would also like Suzuki to be more agressive in releasing new models (thank God for Swift and the Celerio/new Alto), Daihatsu with cars like the Terios and Sirion (as i understand daihatsu is now partly-owned by Toyota), the Kia Cee'd range and Volkwagen Polo and the uber-car Golf. i would like to see other euro makes like Renault and Fiat as they have lots of exciting new models around like the new Megane and Clio and the Fiat500 respectively.

i also noticed that some cars like the Mazda3 and the Ford Focus are all on automatic mode. please...we need manual. people still prefer manual and IMHO still saves up on petrol more that the A/T brother and is still more exciting when driving. we also need more environment-friendly cars and not just hybrids because they are still expensive. cars like Toyota's Optimal Drive for example. no more big SUV, road-hugging, gas-guzzling vehicles pls. we had enough of them. time to be more practical now.

any sugestions or comments please fell free to reply....

European cars in philippine car threads?

[LeOxe]

European cars in philippine car threads?

onga no? noticed it just now. hehe

maybe the mods should transfer this thread to the "Other European Cars Talk" section.

[LynxMan]

the thread is about a wishlist FOR Philippine roads and NOT about european cars per se.

i think the bottom line is 1. Government support and/or influence and 2. Law enforcement and 3. More cars more choices and 4. Money.

in most countries (specially here in the Euro region) the state gives incentives to people if they have less gass-guzzling cars (in most car adverts be it TV or print they advertised the estimated city/urban, suburban, country carbon output of the vehicle) and if you have an electric car or hybrid you get more. have you heard that type of policy in the Philippines? No!!! all these emission-testing centres are prime for red tape. just pay the tester and you're off the hook. is the law being inforced trully that way? i don't think so. we filipinos has a sickness. we always want what is easy. no wonder we don't progress. the issue of having cars is...to get you from point A to B. that's it.

reward those who have cleaner cars and maybe less with not-so clean cars. i think that is a fair statement. i am aware that more than 70% is under the poverty line but there has to be a way. there has to be a compromise. and sometimes we have to take the bitter pill, make sacrifices in order for the local car industry to really flourish. we have to start somewhere.

i am not saying remove the jeepneys but maybe a. slowly and gradually remove them or b. replace them with a cheaper and cleaner alternative and give incentives to our ordinary drivers who are working hard to give their familes a better future.

[mazzipino]

*LynxMan: OT: Where in UK? Lived there too, for a long time.

To cut a long story short, I think there should be more smaller cars in the Philippines. The likes of:

Ford Fiesta


Fiat Punto


Vauxhall (Opel) Corsa


Renault Clio

[mazzipino]

... oh, and add the Peugeot 206 in there:

[AG4]

To cut a long story short, I think there should be more smaller cars in the Philippines. The likes of:

Ford Fiesta

We'll probably see the new Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2 in the Philippines sometime in early 2010.
The new $500M AutoAlliance Thailand facility that will manufacture/assemble the Mazda 2 and Ford Fiesta for the ASEAN market will be operational soon.

i also noticed that some cars like the Mazda3 and the Ford Focus are all on automatic mode. please...we need manual.

The local Mazda 3 lineup is automatic only, but Ford offers 2 manual transmission Focus models.
The P779K 1.8 Style sedan...

...and the P799K 1.8 Trend sedan.

[LynxMan]

Mazzipino,

been here for 7 years now. i'm living here in London so all new cars that have come out i will see it first in London roads.

i fully agree with you. you sure know how to choose your car man. i also like the Nissan Note (a small family van) and the Fiat500. i really like to see the Hyundai i20, Ford Fiesta and the Mazda2 slug it out in 2010. plus let's not forget the upcoming Mini, Yaris, Aveo Hatch and the Suzuki Celerio/Alto.

[mazzipino]

*LynxMan - Was from East London myself, in Stratford, near the Olympic site. Hope you're going to the Barrio Fiesta this weekend, heard 80,000 will be there! :drunk::cheers:

Like someone said earlier, it would be difficult for other European manufacturers to penetrate the Pinas market due to a number of ostacles. I'm with you about the Jeepneys point, however no matter who takes the hot seat in 2010 and subsequent years after that, I don't see any of that happening in the near future.

The Toyota Prius has been launched here but the problem is... it costs P2.25M, around £28,000! For £28,000, you could get yourself a used Mercedes SL 500 or a used M3. Likewise here, P2.25M would get you far. All in all, it's a start to bring electric cars over here, but will it penetrate the local market.... hmmm, i doubt it, and that's a shame.

I think here in Pinas, peoples attitudes have to be changed. Electric cars and smaller cars will do their bit for the environment, but I don't know if people care much about it here.... if everybody had P2.25M to spend on a vehicle i'm pretty sure most would instantly think big or sporty. The Govt's a mess. There's even an issue about which voting system to use for the upcoming elections, this just makes me laugh so much coz it just underlys how corrupt the govt is.

RE the emissions, there isn't even an MOT here so practically anything with 4-wheels can be driven about. Higher road taxes on vehicles with higher emissions is something I think should be implemented here, this may discourage people from buying these vehicles. This should be done yearly when their LTO reg expires.

Anyway back OT lol, I just think more 'practical' cars are needed here. Yes they can take a page out of the European's books with the likes of the Nissan Note and Fiat500, but the question is, is there a market for them here? Unfortunately from what I read/see/hear, there isn't...... yet. We live in a changing world, peoples attitudes needs to be changed, I hope one of these car manufacturers would bite the buck and give these type of cars a go here, market it well, and hopefully from the success of it, more manufacturers will follow suit. Fingers crossed!

[LynxMan]

Mazzipino,

i totally agree with your assessment on cars and gov't. lol.

you know you can buy fossil fuel-powered cars that has new technologies in them that make them emit less carbon. the only problem is hindi pa masyado conscious ang mga pinoys when it comes to green issues sa cars these days like you said. they are more concern IMHO with "porma" and petrol prices which is fair enough on the latter. again the issue of the government steps in because of the lack of money (or the lack of backbone from politicians/private sector,etc.)

in the UK ( and i think in some EU countries) the state has a scrappage scheme wherein you surrender your old cars (10years or more) and get rewarded or discount on buying a new and a cleaner car. why can't we introduce that to the Philippines kaya? this is one reason why our motor industry is ( i think) still 30 years behind developed nations.

our attitudes and beliefs should change. and it has to start from the top.

[Horsepower]

VW Golf GTI

[Negus]

I read somewhere that the Mini will be sold in Philippines.

[Horsepower]

VW Scirocco.

*Negus, yes it will be. IIRC, this year.

[ianmitsulancer]

The whole Volkswagen (line-up) brand sana... but who will be the distributor kung sakali? PGA Cars since they are also dealing with Audi?

Take note that VW started construction for an assembly plant in Indonesia... too bad the Philippines was not chosen...

[Alpha_One]

in the UK ( and i think in some EU countries) the state has a scrappage scheme wherein you surrender your old cars (10years or more) and get rewarded or discount on buying a new and a cleaner car. why can't we introduce that to the Philippines kaya? this is one reason why our motor industry is ( i think) still 30 years behind developed nations.

If it's the environment you're concerned about, be aware that keeping a (well-maintained) old car (or buying a used car in good condition) is actually much easier on the environment than scrapping it for a new one. It costs a LOT in terms of energy to build a new car from scratch.

Thing is, most people don't really maintain their cars very well. Kaya 3-5 years later laspag at bulok na yung car kailangan na bumili ng bago. If all of us just pay attention to the little details of car maintenance like checking for tire pressures (which most people don't, judging by all those tires at the mall parking lot worn heavily at the sides) we can save a LOT of fuel and money.

We can do much good to the environment and to our wallets without resorting to exotic technologies and gimmicky government schemes.

[Negus]

2009 Ford Focus RS :drool:

[LynxMan]

Alpha One,

i must agree with you. small details on proper car maintenace still helps a lot in saving fuel and money. but IMO as technology advances we will find newer cars to have cleaner emmssions as time goes by. attitudes of pinoys must change.

i think there is a misconception on car scrappage scheme. not necesarilly it is "not environmentally-freindly" because the scrapped car is recycled thus saving the earth. and saving you money when you swap/trade-in your old car. again as technology advances we will find recycling more common and more better i think...

[LynxMan]

i wish:

1. smaller cars & mid-size 5-door hatches

2. a government incentive scheme wherein if you buy a cleaner (but not necesarilly a smaller) car you get some sort of discounts or freebies from the car maker

3. strict national implementation of the clean air act and emission testing

4. the state to be clear on the car's carbon output and not just how much the car can go on a litre of petrol

5. more support for recycling. not just for car parts but for almost anything. so in the future to lessen dependence on say importing car parts or wheels maybe