The Jeepney was once called the "Undisputed King of the Road". . .

[ghosthunter]

website: http://www.stuartxchange.org/Jeepney.html

[SIZE="5"]The Jeepney was once called the "Undisputed King of the Road". . .[/SIZE]



. . . but no longer. Indeed, once it was the symbol of Filipino creativity, innovativeness and ingenuity. Today, it is a tarnished icon, its survival threatented from many fronts – bullied by government regulations, victimized by rising costs and the competition of cheaper alternatives.

Surely, it has come a long way from being the World War ll Willys jeep surplus that provided an early postwar topless form of share-taxi transportation, soon enough acquiring a roof, stretching the back to accommodate more passengers, taking on colors and accessories. Even as the supply of Willy jeeps and alternative mother-vehicles became exhausted, it continued to spawn an industry and commerce of build-from-scratch jeepney production, providing the needs of the populace for an affordable means of transportation and all imaginable hauling needs. It was, indeed, the workhorse of Philippine transportation, and deservedly for decades, it was the "Undisputed King of the Road."

To say that it continues to be the symbol of the Filipino's creativity, innovativeness and ingenuity is arguable. The jeepney has remained in its angular and boxy construction, gas-guzzling and weighty with its 20 plus sheets of 15- to 18-gauge stainless steel or galvanized sheets, its guts usually surplus Japanese diesel engines and chassis, its aerodynamics eaten up by an unyielding metal shell and its profusion of accessories, mirrors, grills and guards.

In an age of incredible automotive innovations for fuel efficiency, aerodynamics, safety and creature comforts, the jeepney has remained an immutable, uncomfortable, gas-guzzling and polluting anachronism, severely lacking in safety features and impossibly adaptable to universal safety and seat-belt regulations. Its boxed interior is designed to cram up as many passengers as possible. Check out the spare tire, easily inspected on the driver-side, and the threads are usually so worn out, dental floss in the groove would stick out. Some are a thumb-tack away from a blown-tire.

Ubiquitous in the pages of travel brochures, the jeepney is often blazoned as an "essential part of the Philippine adventure" . . . Uhmm. . . well, sort of. . . in a Third-World-cheap-thrills kind of way.

For the complete article, click the link: http://www.stuartxchange.org/Jeepney.html

[nitrox]

They are historical and cultural icons, thus they belong inside the museum, not on the roads. They represent the backwardness of our transport system; they were ingenius inventions 50 years ago and have stayed that way eversince.

[p_borj]

Jeepneys have been used for decades now as a public transportation vehicle also known as PUJ's (public utility jeepneys) and I think magtatagal pa sila hehe.

"Primary" transportation pa rin sila diba? Pang-masa kasi.

[jpdm]

Jeepneys have been used for decades now as a public transportation vehicle also known as PUJ's (public utility jeepneys) and I think magtatagal pa sila hehe.

"Primary" transportation pa rin sila diba? Pang-masa kasi.

Mukhang ganun na nga.

Pero sana naman, mayroong enterprising Pinoy na baguhin ang mali sa Pinoy jeepney.

[oj88]

Undisputed King of the Road... maybe not anymore. But they sure behave like one. :buh:

[dvldoc]

I like these as options, as long as they are using more modern engines, Plus not a ton of non functional lights adding weight to the vehicles. These are the best looking to me. I for one like to see Jeepney's it's part of the appeal and feel of the Philippines for us who are from the states.



Or the Suzuki modified Jeepneys.



Or the larger Elf type




But this is just putting paint on the same old pig and not the way to go,





The multicab ones are probably the least polluting of the bunch, but at 660cc pretty under powered but you only need about 50kph in a Jeepney in the city anyways.

Regardless something needs to replace the present smoke belching, 50 year old jeeps running around today, with no working lights, one good brake and bald tires. You know you've seen that one.

I did see a nice LPG / air conditioned jeepney full page ad on the back of one of a September Carfinder magazine with forward facing seats and high roof. Now that's a good way to go.

[ejaydq]

Jeepneys have been used for decades now as a public transportation vehicle also known as PUJ's (public utility jeepneys) and I think magtatagal pa sila hehe.

"Primary" transportation pa rin sila diba? Pang-masa kasi.

sana may altelnatives na no yung medyo sosyal pero pang masa parin

[cocoy]

i think in general jeepneys are better in the provinces compared to metro manila.. like in CDO.. jeepneys hardly emit smoke.. kasi people wont ride them.. same as old jeepneys.. wala sasakay.. its only in metro manila that people still ride these old jeeps so they still run around..

[jpdm]

Cagayan de Oro jeepneys

source:http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0SOCGRWJHd...872b4984_o.jpg

[uls]

Cagayan de Oro jeepneys

source:http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_0SOCGRWJHd...872b4984_o.jpg

haha

example of the best motor vehicle the Philippines can build?

[Harangody]

It's now a symbol of all the negative things we do.

[ghosthunter]

It's now a symbol of all the negative things we do.

... because it is a truly good example why the Philippines is in this bottomless pit of a problem.

[armscor40]

what can you say about this pix...



palagay ko naman wala na kokontra kung green jeep ang pag-uusapan natin dito, hehehe

[Monseratto]

Gawa sa plywood ba iyan?

[donbuggy]

Dapat ma-test drive ito ni sir Niky for Tsikot TV.