Four years ago we bought a new car here in the Philippines; I was busy at the time looking for a previously owned car; as 1978 was the last time I purchased a new car. My reasoning was simple, I was a sailor who was at sea for months at a time and had to store my cars and motorcycles while I was working. A new car that you only drive a few months a year hardly made sense, to me.
Here in the Philippines, it was a habit carried over from my time when I was going to sea, but I’m retired now, not going anywhere but to our house in Bataan. When my wife asked why we can’t buy a new car? I had no good answer, the search was on.
I want a car with a trunk, no hatchbacks as people can see what is in your car and could be tempted towards criminality. It must have four doors, I think 99% do now; it must be economical on fuel and a size where parking is easy. I smile when I see people driving a vehicle that is larger than they process the ability to maneuver both in traffic or a parking lot.
I started canvassing new cars on the Subic Freeport at the Ford dealership. I like Ford cars, but not enough to pay 1,200,000.00 Pesos for one. I searched the car to find the hidden gold ingots under the seats, but to no avail.
I smiled and walked towards the exit and my new old Honda out in the lot. Our Daughter Yohanna’s brother in law had just purchased a new 2014 Mitsubishi Attrage (Known as the Mirage G-4 only in the Philippines) at Car World Subic (I saw the pictures on Facebook) it looked good to me.
But Mayang was the deciding factor, as I told her she could pick out the new car within pricing limits. She liked the Mitsubishi G-4 from the minute she saw it. I smiled as the price was within the P800, 000.00 ranges and I could pay cash for it. Plus sell the Honda for a good price and put that money back into the bank, after I bought a few accessories for her new car because there was no way in hell I was driving a car with plastic hubcaps.
We made one trip back to the Car World dealership to have the first FREE warranty checkup and we never went back again. I refuse to pay those dealership prices. With that, I still like the Sales Department employees and talk to them often.
First, we never put the required mileage on the car to do the warranty checks and when it had three years on it the warranty lapsed and the odometer still had less than 18,000 kilometers or 6,000 per year. MAYBE BECAUSE I LIVE ON AN ISLAND! (LOL)
Now for the funny part, no turn-up required until 100,000 kilometers was on it, and the same with the oil. I cried “Bullshit” I have for over fifty-five years of owning cars changed the oil every four months and always change the filter with it. Except when they were in storage for six months, I changed the oil the day I took it out of the unit. Tune-ups every six months
So back to Garbes Dizon (Goodyear SevETec) my old service center I’ve used for twenty-five years are still my “Go To Guys”. And here is the reason why.
Mayang and I were talking about servicing the car last week, so while she and her sister were out in town she stopped at Car World to get an estimate. ARE YOU READY? (All prices are in Pesos)
Oil Filter 385.00
3 liters oil 1,820.00
Air Filter 3,360.00
Spark Plugs 1,200.00 (EACH)
Do I need to continue? So the bottom line was…
Total Parts 11,184.00
Labor 3,415.00
Needless to say we’ll be at Goodyear next week for the servicing of the car. And that my friends are why I will willingly void their warranty to save money. OH well, maybe I’ll just buy a new car.
Monday morning at 0900 (9 AM) I arrived at Garbes Dizon and ten minutes later my car was on the lift to rotate and balance the four tires, while the oil was drained, then they drained and flushed the cooling system, I replace the coolant yearly and my mechanic uses my old coolant in his car. Waste not want not… Align the front end. Then check all breaks and they were found to be good.
New Air/con filter, adjusting the fuel injectors and new air filter go to the Barrio for brunch then returned at 1300 (1 PM) and paid the outrageous price of 6,000.00 Pesos (P 10,000.00 less than Car World) That made Mayang smile!
There are some funny things that could only happen in this land of enchantment. The Picture of the Car World Dealership I posted is from their website. But it was taken the day I bought my new car. How do I know? That is my red Honda parked out front. I was surprised when I saw that today. Plus they never paid me any royalties for using my car in their advertising. (LOL)
If servicing your car at the dealership is more to your liking, I recommend that is what you do. But as I said when I drive away from a dealership, I wave goodbye, I think it goes back to my previously owned cars habits. I’ll never change at my age, as my mother used to say; “My middle son “Paul” is a thick head. It’s funny as my wife says the same thing.
In 1978 I bought a spanking new Lincoln Town Car I paid half the purchase price as a down payment. The following day I noticed a Chrome dealership emblem affixed to the trunk of my shiny car. I returned to the dealership and asked that it be removed and the holes filled in and repainted. They offered me a $ 1,000.00 to leave it on. I accepted the bribe. And never saw those people again.
Paul: Another good story. I agree with you…the service at the Dealership is a rip off. I remember in 2010 when my US Toyota Dealer wanted to do my 50,000 mile service on a 2004 Camry. They told me it would be $1300 USD. Instead, I changed the oil at Jiffy lube for $20 and that was it. Changing the oil was the only maintenance I did religiously and got new brakes and tires as needed. I had a friend who bought a new Land Rover and did everything by the book at the dealer. She spent thousands (and I mean thousands) of dollars on maintenance over 6 years. When it came time to trade it in, the dealer offered $3500. If she had just changed the oil for $20 a pop over six years, the dealer would have offered $3500. It’s the same dealer scam here in the Philippines.
Rob;
The other dealer rip of is add on, They tried to sell me rust proofing I guess its the salt on the road from snow removal? On their own Brochier explained that the car is electrostatically y rust proofed at the factory prior to painting. Mag Wheels $900.00 but only $300.00 at the tire store.Your friend lost one third of the value of her car the first time they turned the key. While waiting to get hired as a merchant seaman I sold new cars in ST. Pete FL. which I’m still ashamed of. TRUTH: I was the only non-felon on that car lot.(LOL)
Hi Paul – As I recall, not only were you the only non-felon on that car lot, you were also the only salesman that had long hair, sported a Fu Manchu moustache, and wore polyester bell-bottomed pants, white shoes, and wide floral ties. How many Vegas and PIntos did you sell a week back in those days? LOL
John;
Very long hair and a large mustache after I retired
But in the Navy we learned to never to wear polyester clothing as it is flammable and not very comfortable in the tropics.
My uniform (Summer Whites) and also required white shoes and yes we wore bell bottoms in the Navy.
I worked at Art Palmy Dodge in Saint Pete Florida. But I did sell 3-4 cars a week. (LOL) John I gotcha on this one!!!. And I’m a still a non-felon!
Paul,
Good morning. Great article. Katleen and I have a Mirage that we purchased back in Dec. 2013. It now has 26,500 km. on it. We take it to the dealer in Butuan for service, because we like the staff. But the pricing you mentioned is a lot higher than what we are charged for the 10K or the 25K service. Plus there is no place here similar to a jeffy lub. But then we are in a small city- do not even have a Mall. But the car is great for our needs.
Luke
The G-4 and the Mirage sit on the same platform, well made and fun to drive. As I said above I like my sales staff and still have lunch with them, but they understand why I go outside for service, being that I had a car repair service for the past 25 years close to me made my decision easy. If you have no place to provide you service I’d also do it your way at the dealership. No mall??? HOW do you survive? (LOL)
Years ago I had to drive my wife and daughters to the mall in San Fernando, on a two lane road and it took 3 hours. Then they built the SCTEX expressway and now the trip takes 45 minutes. But next they built two malls within a 15 minute drive from our house in Bataan down in Olongapo, so now I hand them the keys to the G-4 and let them go. Over the years it just gets better and better here in the Land of Enchantment.
I think it’s the same the world over. New cars are relative cheap these days. It’s the servicing, accessories and breakdown repairs is where they make their millions. Car parts, say brake pads in different coloured boxes. Some go into genuine part boxes and some into other boxes like Repco In Australia Repco as huge company supplying pats to car industry).
One box may be $50 and the genuine part might be a $150. They are identical parts. Sometimes you might find parts in a different type box all together. That was probably made in ….. and is completely 2nd rate. How they can take the parts off the production line place in different boxes and then claim things about the parts that sort of are a bit of a lie. Still surprises me that it is allowed to continue.
As far as buying a new car my last 3 have been Subaru’s. My next one, that’s right Subaru. As long as they sell them where I live.
Not sure what I am trying to say. Take the car to the place that will do the better job. Heard too many stories of cars being serviced and paid for and mechanic has not even lifted the bonnet. I mark things like oil filters etc and check before leaving that the marks have gone. I.e the part must have been replaced.
Happy travels
John;
The parts trick in different boxes I believe, I remember in the 70 all the different brands of stereo speakers that all the companies pushed on us. Yes the company made the cabinet but two manufactures made every actual speakers that went in them. It made no matter which brand. So auto parts would be the same as you pointed out.
Subaru is a fine car, and I see a lot of them in the Philippines so there are dealerships. Seven guys locals and foreigners were having a beer at the outside bar, whe a Subaru parked, only three guys knew where they we made or any thing about them. In the US they are well known on the West coast but not so much on the East coast. I don’t know why, but I agree they are a fine car and they are here in the Philippines.Happy Motoring!. Checking your mavicic is always a good idea.
A tune-Up ? The way they make cars now there is nothing left to ” Tune “. Is it any wonder that so many auto parts stores have closed ?
Bob (NU)
True all they do now is replace the spark plugs (They are pre-gaped) clean and replace filters on the fuel injector is all they do to mine anymore. No points. But a lot of filters all over the car.
You exactly like me
Perhaps we can meet some day.I enjoy reading your articles always.
Bruce;
That could happen, if sometime your in the area.
I just bought a new Ford and called up to schedule the 1k servicing. I actually exceeded it and had 1400 km so the servicing rep said I could not take it in but had to wait for the next 10k interval. I said BS, what if the wheels fall off because the factory didnt tighten them down? Well, we dont check wheels, only change oil.
A better story, I just bought a brand new USED 2018 Harley, Heritage Classic 114. Only had 8 km. The original buyer bought it and then had buyers remorse and asked Harley to rebuy it. Of course they wont do that so arranged to sell it to me for 30% off their new price. They always say the car/bike takes a 30% hit once it leaves the showroom.
Don;
Yes the value of any vehicle drops by 1/3 when you turn the key, so you got a heck of a great deal on the Harley.. We should all be so lucky!
The Ford oil change is a hoot, the first one is the free one? You pay for the rest. Tha dealership just voided your warranty didn’t they?
Being that my mind is convoluted, I would have told them that I was at home when the car hit the 1k mark, but the drive to the dealership is 400K. (LOL)
Paul,
I totally agree with you about dealers. Went in for a oil and air filter change, tire rotation and check over everything mechanically at the Ford Dealer. Total price over 14,000p. After moving it into the service area, the mechanic tried to start it and move it, but the battery was dead. It was about 2 years old. They recommended to me not to buy one of there batteries as they were very expensive (about 12,000p). They called a local battery dealer and they came to the dealership and replaced the battery for 7600p. Try doing that in the US. Next vehicle i get will be a Toyota as the parts for Fords and Chevys are very expensive and a lot of times not in stock. Toyota trucks and suv’s hold there value better than any other vehicle.
PapaDuck;
Yes I believe due to the heat all batteries in a new car last about two years, proving they put a cheap ass battery in, in the first place. I replaced my with a top of the line sealed Moto-Lite the first year and 3 years later it is still working fine. All dealership parts are expensive. (LOL)
I am not sure with you guys, but I have Fortuner Toyota, my reguler service is about 9000 to 10000p, if needs breaks 3000 more, I did not find this to be expencive for the job they do, apart from that, if you do your own services on the car and if done as per book, you will not save as much, and I mean per book, not some other cheap things you can buy here, as what Bob said on oil change, rule number one, oil and oil filter is about 10000km or 6 months, this is in Philippines, spark plugs are good for about 100000km, wheel rotation is good idea for every time you do service, coolants, well they can last long time if not forever, but do change them sometimes, most things on cars this days are made to last you long time, one more thing try not to play to much with fuel injectors, or you will find yourself going back to dealers, that will depend on your computer on board, to tune cars, not possible to do if there is no computer diagnostics, again if ordinary mechanic said to you he did tune up, this about it first, he can not if no proper tools, and believe me they do not have it, any way just few things about cars, all in all they are all good cars, only is what you like and how much fuel you like to save, Toyota is not fuel saving cars, but they have strong engines, Hyundai is best in fuel, and cars are great too, just remember if Companies use cars for rental purposes it means that car must be good, they can’t afford for car to be in service centre all the time, they will have no business to run, the same with Motorbikes, rental companies will always use what we call bulletproof Bikes or cars,