Future of Philippine 4-wheeling

[Olive Drab]

Future of Philippine 4-wheeling

What do you think the future holds for the sport? Since, there are more and
more obstacles that prevent joining the sport, how can this be overcome?
What do you think is 4-wheeling's greatest enemy?

For me, I strongly believe it's Philippine government. 2nd to this are the
media people that continue to give praises to every damn thing that they
road test no matter how underpowered it is or how poorly it is
"product-planned" in comparison to its variants in other markets. These
jokers have to start looking outside of the box they are in and help create
a higher standard.

Now let's back to 4-wheeling's greatest oppressor...

Government's unfair and ultra high taxes on Suvs will eventually slow down
the sport if not kill it. Not everyone needs a pick-up truck and a great
number of people buy Suvs. Not everyone has that initial passion to go out
and buy an old Suv or Jeep just to build-up as a weekend warrior. It would
surely help the 4-wheeling sport if the typical stock Suv can be taken
trailing. This allows John Q. Public or Juan Dela Cruz a "tour" of our
hobby. Maybe during this "tour", he or she will get bit by the 4-wheeling
bug and eventually crave deeper involvement. With virtually all-new Suvs
now being 4x2, this now becomes impossible. Not everyone will want to buy
an older "still 4x4" Suv because they want the reliability, technology,
comfort, power and factory warranty of a new one.

Also check out the type of 4x4's that go off-roading (including light
trailing and camping), many will have a Suv body-style-- Defenders, Range
Rovers, Pajeros, Vitaras, Ferozas, Jeeps, Troopers, Patrols, etc. As these
vehicles age, they may eventually have to be replaced by new ones. Because
new Suvs are now just 4x2, we have a dilemma. Japanese and American Suv
manufacturers have been forced to sell only 4x2 variants. The current tax
laws just doomed Land Rover because there's no such thing as a 4x2 Land
Rover. As older 4x4 Suvs dwindle in number, what will the next generation
of 4-wheelers have as option? 4x4 Pick-ups?

I love pick-up trucks but not everyone needs them or should be forced to buy
one. Some people have large families or maids and a driver that they would
like to bring along on that trip to Sagada, Cantanduanes, Bicol, Baler,
Bolinao, etc. Sure 4x2 Suvs can get to these places but wouldn't you rather
have the security of 4-wheel drive?

Not everyone wants to build an owner-Jeep type 4x4 with 1950s technology and
comfort for that trip to Casiguran Sound in Aurora. How many people with
brand-new 4x2 Suvs will tow an owner-Jeep to Baler and drive that owner-Jeep
from Baler to Casiguran?
Why the hell can't you go 4-wheeling in that reliable Suv that gets you to
work everyday and takes your kids to school? Government's answer: Sure you
can as long as you have the 2 to 5 million Pesos needed to buy the 4x4
version of vehicles like Expeditions, Land Cruisers, Patrols, Suburbans,
Land Rovers, Troopers and Pajeros.

In a country that encourages and needs local tourism, why are they taking
away the tool that allows families to efficiently travel together regardless
of road conditions?

Sure this may not directly affect those who already own 4x4 Suvs but it
eventually will when there is a need to purchase another one. I'm not
calling for a placard carrying protest but we need to be aware and our
disapproval of the situation needs to be heard.

If there is light at the end of the tunnel, I'd be glad to see it.

**from:autoindustriya.com

[Freeman]

Granting the government installs a taxation scheme that pleases everyone, what next?

If there is no conducive environment and infrastructure, for offroading there will be no growth. It will remain as it is - cult status. In order for mainstream growth, we will need public parks with maintained trails and camping grounds, safety and environmental guidelines, accredited offroad trainers and excursions, etc. Even the private sector can do this.

Another problem, is the peace and order situation.

There are many offroaders in Mindanao, and the only thing stopping them from trekking in their beautiful countryside are insurgents and muslim extremists. In Luzon and the Visayas we still have to contend with NPA presence and private armies.

Goin up to Sagada alone can be risky when tribal conflict occurs.

Hopefully the government can enforce peace and jumpstart local economies to end this perennial headache.

[splerdu]

I'm with freeman, needs before wants.

Offroading is a leisure activity, and until our local economy recovers enough for the majority to at least gain financial security, expensive leisure activities can't really take off. The cost of entry to off-roading is very high, lalo na kung hardcore trailbreaking.

[johnqpublic318]

Olive Drab,

Thanks for posting my "Future of Philippine 4-wheeling" topic on this forum.

Splerdu,

4-wheeling is expensive mainly because of reasons on the above topic-- taxes!

[johnqpublic318]

Another drawback of current tax legislation is that it forces manufactures/distributors to introduce only large Suvs or vans in our market. From what I gather, to qualify for lower taxes, a vehicle must have a small displacement engine, or 4x2 configuration and at least 10-seater capacity. This has resulted in vehicles like the Expedition but not the Explorer, the Trooper instead of the Rodeo and the presence of the Suburban/Tahoe but the absence of the Trailblazer. Again, there's nothing wrong with large vehicles but some people may be better served by its smaller siblings.