It was a Tuesday morning the second of December 2014 when our Mitsubishi G-4 Mirage finely reached 5000 kilometers, that is a milestone in our cars life or would that be a kilometerstone? Metric still confuses me. But it did take me 10 months to reach it just the same.
I had been in to the dealership for the 1,000 kilometer check up where they changed the oil and just touched everything else on the car. Being old school about how to maintain a car I change my oil by time not kilometerage, or every four months. This confused the Mitsubishi Car World Dealership when I was back at 3,000. Kilometers for another oil change as four months had passed. It was at my request so it was on my dime (or peso) of course.
It is now December, four more months have passed and the 5,000 kilometerstone deadline has been met, so I’m back again. The service manager has me set up for the 10,000 K check-up. “Why is that, pray tell?” I asked. “Oh Sir Paul, because you did your 5,000 check-up at 3,000 kilometers Sir.”“No that was on my dime, as I requested it,” I said Do I need I mention the head scratching? He had already printed out the invoice for the 10 thousand “k” deal and I noted it was $120.00. Whoa Nelly, I thought that under the 5 year 100,000 “K” warranty I only paid for oil and parts and labor was free? No that applies only to the 1000 “K” check-up only (The one where they went and touched everything) .I knew I should read the warranty once in a while.
The new 5000 K invoice now said $52.00 for oil change and filter, what the hell? Where the heck is the nearest Jiffy Lube or Garbes Dizon Servitek at PNP 700.00? I’m ready to drive away and void the warranty, at those prices. Then in steps a calmer head, my wife Mayang who pointed out the 5 years would come before we ever drove 100,000 “K” and for the $100.00 or so a year it was worth over paying to keep the car under warranty. Remembering that we sold the New Old Honda with 89,000 “K” and it was 18 years old, I knew she was right.
I almost said that in the US of A I could change the oil anywhere and the warranty would still be in effect, but it popped into my brain that; “Paul, you’re not in Kansas anymore”, and quickly shut my mouth and smiled. Remembering that beating a dead horse is pointless. Frank Sinatra should have sang a song titled; “I’ll Do It Their Way”
The young man at the service desk is still slightly confused as to why the 5,000 “K” check-up is in effect vice the ten. But when the Roach Coach (Snack Trike) pulled up for his 10 AM break, I bought him a soda and a snack. All was well in his world once more. I crossed the street to Star bucks and ordered a cup of coffee in five words or less, (Yes it can be done) consumed it on the veranda and relaxed until we received the text that our car was ready.
I found that you could cut your time in Car World service section in half by not accepting the free car wash service they offer. They have one kid with a bucket and a hose who cannot possibly keep up with the 15 mechanics turning out a finished car every ten minutes. But I still put PNP 50.00 in his tip box, as I refuse to knock over his Rise Bowl in the name of speed.
So now that Mayang has explained the math to me, about using and maintaining the cars warranty I went home feeling better about everything even that ice cold SMB tasted better. I love it when wiser heads prevail.
Paul, thanks for your illustration, and I note that (unlike we here) you’re actually relatively _close_ to the dealership so no hotel stays on your dime and interruption of normal work/income required to get it serviced “free under warranty”. That’s fine for VISA/MasterCard as the commercial tells us, but for all else … 🙂
When the time comes, I’ll be looking for a private 3-year rollover at a vastly discounted price, beneficial to the seller vrs ‘trade-in’ and beneficial to us.
Yes my (non-paying mag-esuplada) wife want’s “new” but she’s not the one working each and every night to pay for it; easy to want without money or engaging brain. I want sensible.
Of all the vehicles I’ve purchased over my many decades including too many new off-the-lot, the 3-year old low-mileage have absolutely been my best value and least headache. What good is a “warranty” that costs way too much money, time, taking far away, effort, all that, to enforce? IMHO, best warranty is let the stupid new-purchaser with way more money than brains pay all the ‘new-break-in’ expanses and for us to thereafter say “tthankyou” and additionally save 70% on the “new” purchase price and then just tiny pay-as-you-need locally. IMHO. 🙂
Back in Canada 3 years “low mileage” would be like 70Km. Here that’s some tiny fraction thereof, so even more pronounced (go check your own odometer!). Think about it. Clear enough to me, the effort is well worth it and the offerings are all around, can’t miss seeing them with half open eyes long before walking down the street to the corner.
ED;
I bought another new car in 1978, a Lincoln Town-car, but every other car I’ve ever owned was seconded hand. I bought this car new as it will be the last car I buy, unless I total it, but my deductible is only PNP. 5,000.00. The dealership is 15 minutes drive from my house, and since I’ve been retired since the year 2000, (I like to call it “Gainfully Unemployed’) I take no time off of work. The saddest part of my retirement is the fact that I have no days off.
Paul, interesting comment on your insurance. While I may not have a personal car these days, we do have some vehicles of concern, one especially that I’d like to get proper insurance for including good collision, comprehensive, and liability. I already got stuck paying out *large* one time because my wife hired the wrong driver, and the insurance she had never paid even half a centavo. Any input you’d care to share would be appreciated.
ED
I use the same auto insurance as my friend Tommy, as they paid in full for two of his brand new Chevy’s that went under in the Olongapo flood last year. I keep a low deductable which will affect the overall cost. The higher the deductable the less per year just like Canada and the US.
This is a Nation Wide INS. Company DGIC (Corporate Guaranty & Insurance Company)
Thanks so much for that Paul, I’ll try to find their rep locally.
I know a guy that has a construction company and when he was getting started he saved money by just changing his oil filter. He has a 94 Ford diesel F250 with 2 million miles on it (he bought it new) that has never had an oil change or any major engine work, just a lot of oil filters and adding a little oil. I am afraid to try his method though and still change the oil.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Merry Christmas Loren;
I hope all is well in Colorado and the wacky tobbacky is selling well. I don’t know if I’d go that long without an oil change in a gas engine. But more power to him. Stay well my friend we need you back here on Pouge Mountain.
Hi Paul. I was enjoying your article, until “Starbucks” came up! How can you complain about the price of an oil change, when you frequent them, the most overpriced establishment on the planet!!!
John Power;
It is the only place close to the dealership, other than the Snack Trike at 10AM. Given my choice I’d rather drink a MacDo Coffee and standout in the sun. My wife paid for the coffee anyway, I never carry any money. (lol)
Just like Royalty!!!
John Power;
My friend Tommy and I were having a cocktail in the Barrio, our wives had dropped us off and went shopping. We had to stay until they returned vice us bar hopping as neither one of us had a peso or dollar in our pocket.
Paul, heh, “until they returned”. Even if not much, I’ve learned to try to keep at least enough pesos in my pocket to pay the bill and get me home. My wife may go off shopping or whatever for a few “hours”, but her idea of “return” may be on the flip side of her suddenly disappearing into the mountains for a few days and maybe she’ll txt me in the morning – if she has signal there.
Though I can walk home, I typically prefer not to, and I don’t want to get caught unable to pay for merienda and a drink since nowhere takes plastic around here for such. You can pay with cash – or you can pay with cash. I may not wear a watch but a few hidden pesos is a very good plan.
ED;
Because both Tommy and I are well known in the Barrio, we could have left a tab and moved on. But the last time I borrowed any money was in 1978 to buy that new car. Tommy is the same way; he wants nothing if it has to come on credit. We choose not to carry money, both his wife and mine would never leave us very long as they both respect us. They returned and covered the tab and tip then we moved on to another gin joint. When I was single I wouldn’t leave the ship with less than $500.00 but that was in foreign ports where money will solve major problems. I don’t need it here.
Yes Paul, good point, but though I _could_ in most situations promise to pay “bukas”, I find it prudent to have a few hundred (or at least enough for a tricycle ride home) in my pocket. Why? Stuff happens!
The wife is as likely as not to txt me to buy diapers, baby milk, veggies, and oh, the sack of rice has no rice in it, sorry forgot to tell you! Some I can buy on plastic, some on local ‘utang’, some not. Plus, what do you do when your wife txts you to come rescue _her_ when she mysteriously runs out of cash, never mind what all you gave her when you left the house?
I’m not talking about huge amounts. Unless I’m on the way to pay for something large it’s never anywhere even remotely close to the $500 you mention from your bygone years. In my case it’s more like the equivalent of $20 or usually even less. I’m a firm believer to never carry anything I’m not prepared to lose.
Anyway, good to know it worked out for you this time without any cash.
So there’s no misconception, I neglected to specify that when I wrote “a few hundred” I explicitly meant *pesos*. 🙂
ED;
My wife has her own ATM card and credit card. I never get involved in the household finances or how she budgets her money, my only job is to replenish it for her the middle of every month.. This has worked well for us during our entire marriage so I refuse to mess with success. Because she is a wise spender (Except at Christmas) all utilities are paid on time and she always has money at the end of the month, which she will move to another account to cover her life if I’m to pass and she may intern me and’ continue to survive until the estate is settled.
But this is our way of living and each person can figure out their own plan for themselves. But for over 20 years here this has worked well for us. My pockets will remain empty.
Thanks for sharing Paul. I truly wish your method would work for us. While we do have joint accounts and my wife has ATM cards for them, even *she* asked me to keep one separate account that she can’t drain on a whim, so that I can continue to periodically to rescue us and keep us in healthy in a half-decent home with electricity water and food. The years have made clear that I’m the one required to do 100% of the rescuing around here.
I am honestly envious of your posted “way of living”, so totally foreign to my experiences. That it works for you is wonderful, with my sincere compliments to your wife and her acumen and sense of responsibility.
ED;
I have no less then 4 other friends who live similarly to me I thought it was the norm here.
From everything you have written, Paul, I believe that your life and mine are quite similar.
Bob;
Viewing ones wife as a trusted partner is as natural as breathing air.
Absolutely, I wouldn’t have it any other way. In my case, my wife pretty much takes care of the money. I have input, but I trust her to handle our finances wisely, and she has not let me down.
While you’ve clearly stated your situations are radically different,
consider this hypothetically and sensibly.
What would you do if your love and trust in your wife results in her
unintentional fiscal irresponsibility during your entire marriage to the
point where it’s increasingly impossible for you to rescue her and
your kids and keep your family together and housed and fed?
At what point would you reserve your momentary earnings so that you
yourself can pay the way-overdue rent, utilities, and buy food, the
bare necessities for your family, and the most basic ability for you
to work and earn to support them?
When your “love and trust” results in disaster, you’d still take no
responsibility at the last minute before it’s absolutely too late?
Really???
Hi Ed – I have been married to my wife for nearly 25 years. She has shown me that she is responsible. I don’t have to worry about things like “way overdue rent” because that does not happen. I trust my wife, she has proven to me that I should trust her. In nearly 25 years of marriage she has not let me down.
Yes Bob, but my question explicitly was _not_ about your situation. If you read what I actually wrote you see that I started with:
“While you’ve clearly stated your situations are radically different, consider this hypothetically and sensibly. What would you do if”
My extremely salient words were “radically different”, “hypothetically”, and “if”. Again, this isn’t about you (or Paul) or your wives, not in the least, you’re very fortunate, others not so much so. You may choose not to answer my question, but please don’t improperly take it as any sort of personal inference, which it is not.
Your question is irrelevant to my life, because your hypothetical does not apply to me or to most of the people I know or hang out with. Yes, your life is different than mine, I was only commenting on how my life is, and you were commenting on how your life is. No problem with that. But, I don’t feel a need to analyze the hypothetical that you laid out, because it is not something that I will ever face.
Paul, while I’m inclined to agree, reality evidences that love and blind trust are not nearly enough. The problem is that blind trust is way too “natural”, the only question is at what point does one need to realize that.
Bob;
It’s a more common trait then most people know, Love is important, but trust is the backbone.,
Paul, I respectfully beg to differ. Fiscal responsibility is the ‘backbone’, without which what good is ones blind ‘trust’?
ED;
The trust is not blind if my wife has proven that she has earned it. I’m sorry if your situation is not quite the same.
ED;
I would wonder what you are talking about as the example I pointed out is about me and a few friends. If this is not the case in your life, why attack me as if I’m responsible. One more time I’m Paul you are not, I live a different life with a different perspective on things. So to answer your question: I would do nothing as it has never happened to me in the Philippines.
Paul, it wasn’t an “attack” on you, not in the least, in the same way that I don’t take what you write as an attack, though sometimes what you write does raise questions as on this topic (and not about you or anyone else posting here). I was very careful to make that clear in posting my general question; sorry if you missed that.
ED;
I’ve missed nothing, I’m just done with this train of thought.
Paul,
The Oil Changes are high, but you were wise to listen to Mayang about the warranty as a majority of the time they are usually right. Hope You/Mayang and Family have a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Randy;
When Mayang speaks, I listen.
As a MITSUBISHI owner I would never ever again go to their dealership.
One EXPENSIVE lesson at their dealership was all it took; I’ll never to go back there again.
Your turn is coming Paul…!!!
Palawan Bob;
To date aside from the overpriced oil change I’ve had no negative dealings with Subic Car World. but we’ll wait and see what the future hold.
Best to do what you have to do to keep that new car warranty in effect. Recently my well out of warranty car needed a new alternator after 150,000 Miles. $400 for the alternator and $300 labor to install it ! Yes, you read that right a total of about $700 done at the dealer I bought it from. Dealer Rip off ? Not quite as the cost of labor at what few independent shops that remain in my area don’t charge much less for labor at about $120 USD per hour. They told me they had to remove one of the engine mounts to replace the alternator as well as other things. The way todays cars and engines are built I just can’t do the work on them like I used to when I had inline 6 cyl inline engines with carburators on them.
Bob (NY)
I had my New Old Honda’s engine rebuilt for just a little more than that. $ 120.00 per hour, I’m glad I live here.
Paul, “$ 120.00 per hour” *here*? Surely that’s back ‘there’ and here you just meant $120 total? Just checking.
Question, since the costs would be way different, depending, is your Honda a car or a bike?
ED”
What I wrote was: Bob (NY)
I had my New Old Honda’s engine rebuilt for just a little more than that. (Meaning what he paid Please note the period ending that thought) Then I wrote: (New thought) $ 120.00 per hour, I’m glad I live here.(End thought) I was referring to what Bob had to pay in New York. Not what I pay here. I hope I cleared this up for you.
Ah, ok Paul, thanks for clearing that up, you had me wondering! Makes sense now.
On my Ford Escape, it requires servicing every 10k. But I always change the oil at 5k. The service station at our bank only charges 900p for the oil change, including oil but you need to bring in your own filter. So I buy 1 extra when I do the 10k. And yes, the stealership charges a lot more.
Havent had to do any warranty work the 3 years it was under warranty. But I only have 25k on it.
Also, on my 2 big bikes, I change my own oil. Can create a bit of a mess in a condo car park but it best knowing you did it right (for the most part).
Don;
Then the dealership has no idea your changing the oil, what a great idea I will do that between service checks. My neighbor up the street changes his own oil, but I wonder what he does with the old oil when he’s done.
Paul, I prefer to have someone *else* do oil-changes ever since my father was killed many years ago doing so. I don’t crawl under cars ever since then. I truly wish he’d paid someone the extra $3 to do it way back then.
ED;
I’m truly sorry to hear that and can understand.
Thanks Paul. That was 35 years ago, so now it’s something I just remember on principle. He quit smoking and the oil-change killed him. I quit oil changes on that personal experience knowing that lighting cigarettes and letting my ashtray smoke them with ventilation happening likely won’t kill me faster than something else.
I love the way you write things, such as “roach coach” ..perhaps you should use also use “gedunk next time and explain what it is to your readers. Good read, as always. Happy Holidays to you and to your family, Mr. Paul T. Felicidades.
Jose;
Just try to explain Gedunk to a non-military person, it would take forever. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
I had a visitor the other day looking at my Harley and he said WOW a 1971 and you only got 20,00 miles on it. I said no it’s turned over that’s 120,000 miles. ha ha ha
Budnick;
The visitors didn’t know about Harley’s the odometer numbers will not perfectly line up after 100,000 miles even on cars it’s US law.
Took us 12 months to hit the 5000 KM mark on out 2014 Mirage and we did out this month also. Good car and my wife is also the wise one, so I just let her deal with Mitsubishi and enjoy my coffee. Safer for me this way. LOL
Luke;
Why did we both even buy a car if that’s all the driving we do? No I like coming and going when I want to, but I enjoy the banter at the dealership too. Happy motoring!
Hehehe, Paul, banter with tricycle drivers works for me,costs me a whole lot less, and I don’t need to worry about parking, registration, insurance, any of that. 🙂
This coming from someone (me) who’s owned a vehicle from age 16 to 60 but not since.
Heh, I have more than enough recurring grief with the various vehicles my *wife* owns.
Cheers, –ed
ED;
Where I live I’d have to take a Trike to the Jeepney waiting area wait for the Jeepney to fill to 75% then it will proceed down the hill at 15 MPH to pick up people waiting for a ride. From my house to Olongapo City is an hour trip. If I take my car I’m there in 10 to 15 minutes. Plus my shopping goes into the trunk and I don’t have to tote the bags around the city and move it from a Trike to a Jeepney to another Trike to my home. I too have owned cars from 16 to now with the exception of my years as a Merchant Seaman when because of rental cars I didn’t need to own one and store it for six months at a time while out on ship travelling the Pacific. I keep a car for convenience. But will take public transportation once in a while. We all live differently, no one is right nor is any one wrong.
Yes Paul, as you say, there are tradeoff’s in everything. In your situation, I’d be happy for the malls and would likely want a car. In my situation, you’d miss the malls but not miss the aggravation and expense of having a car. 🙂
I drove my wife to the hospital to give birth to #2, 3, and 4. Should have walked for #4, it would have been faster. Funny that to finally give birth to #4 they had my wife get up and *walk* and finally then out came the baby This year we walked around the corner to the hospital for #5, 2 weeks overdue. She might have had an easier delivery had it been a longer walk.
ED”
Not tradeoffs ED, just different people living different lives. During my first marriage in the 1960’s I had next to nothing, and see tried to see if she could make it even less. When shod of her I made a promise to myself that it would never happen again. So I stayed single and invested my pay until I knew that I could retire and live the way I wanted to. I planned to do this. Getting married again was not in my plan but I’m still happy I did. Because now I can live the way I want. And do what I want within limits. What I said was: My way was right for me, and the other person’s way is right for them. Otherwise they would, only make one style of house to make all people happy and paint them all the same color.
Paul wrote: “What I said was: My way was right for me, and the other person’s way is right for them.”
Exactly Paul! That;’s what I’ve been saying too.
Paul further wrote: “Otherwise they would, only make one style of house to make all people happy and paint them all the same color.”
Interesting comment Paul. In my immediately prior lifetime, the top-of-the-line house I purchased for construction in a Cavite subdivision was on a street where *all* the houses were absolutely identical *and* all painted the exact same color, the normal expected Pinoy property-developer way. It was quite a chore to arrange upgrades and extensions as part of the initial construction. Possible but not easy, and oh yes still the same identical color scheme with legal constraint that it can’t be changed until the subdivision is fully complete with control transferred to the association long after my dogs puppies pass away of old age. When I again moved on in life 7 years later it was still the same and the colors on the whole street are still likely the same today though somewhat faded 12 years after construction was completed..
ED;
That’s nice that they were all the same color.
Paul, re-reading your post on how onerous it is for you to deal with bags of groceries in the absence of a car … Here, the grocery dude puts them in the tricycle, I get in. I get out at my gate and my kids come running to get the groceries into the house to see what’s there for them. Door to door, 8 pesos, and I don’t even need to lift a finger or a bag. If I have a lot of groceries and further ask him to stop on the way to buy a sack of rice then I’m happy to make the driver happy and pay double-fare, wow, 16 pesos. Works for me, way WAY easier than when I used to own and drive. Like you say, different venue, way different situation, can’t buy real cheese here but a cheap tricycle will get me anywhere in town and faster than a car.
ED;
Your right, you’ve found perfection in your life style, and now I am so jealous that you made it with out a car and I failed. I’ll sell the car and go back to a simpler way of life. And admit that I’m wrong. Thank you for shining that light, and showing me the one true way.
Paul, hardly. Just as you were offering, I similarly mentioned the differences in our situations. No disrespect intended, and as I very specially last posted “Like you say, different venue, way different situation”, hence our different locality-induced transportation needs and choices.
That’s why from what you wrote, you likely don’t want to sell your car – for the very reasons I understand you bought it in the first place, whereas in my current situation I needn’t be in any panic to buy one.
In contrast, you likely have no need to own 4 (four) mountain-capable motorcycles, an “off-road”, a 4×4, and a huge double-wheeled 8-hole-differential jeepney to move 120 crates of bananas per-load plus dozens of passengers down from the mountains, but if you do you’ll likely buy them. 🙂 I rarely hijack those to get around town.
I know the ruling on an auto can not be over 5 years old to transport there, is there an exception of antiques.??
I know the ruling on an auto can not be over 5 years old to transport there, is there an exception of antiques.??
Hi Fred Patterson, in the Philippines there is an exception for anything you want as long as you are willing to pay for it.
Hi Fred Patterson, in the Philippines there is an exception for anything you want as long as you are willing to pay for it.
I have a 1968 Chevy Pick up truck, a real classy ride, I wonder where I can find the cost of duty on it?
I have a 1968 Chevy Pick up truck, a real classy ride, I wonder where I can find the cost of duty on it?
Fred;
As they told me; “We’ll decide when it gets here.” This happen with a 1980 CJ-7 Jeep, so I sold it and moved here. That was before the 5 year rule.
It’s one of those deals where if you have to ask…. Just kidding, but it would be a LOT. Like tens of thousands of dollars I would guess.
It’s one of those deals where if you have to ask…. Just kidding, but it would be a LOT. Like tens of thousands of dollars I would guess.
Did you not say Bob Martin you buy the car for 13-14 years ago !! and then it reach now 5000 km!! wow not so much ,I must say..
Did you not say Bob Martin you buy the car for 13-14 years ago !! and then it reach now 5000 km!! wow not so much ,I must say..
No, I never said that. Yes, I bought a vehicle 14 years ago, but it has over 100,000 km on it. The car in this article is Paul’s, not mine.
No, I never said that. Yes, I bought a vehicle 14 years ago, but it has over 100,000 km on it. The car in this article is Paul’s, not mine.
Ahh i see ,Then i better understand hehe..
Ahh i see ,Then i better understand hehe..
Fred you need to contact Philippine Customs. They will in time, their time, let you know how much the tax is but like BOB said they set the price and it could be very very high.