Yearend mailbag clearing

Before we continue answering the letters sent in by our readers as we clear our mailbag prior to the entry of the new year, allow me to first acknowledge some of our readers who just wrote in to express an opinion or send kudos to us for our efforts in this column to maintain the flow of information on transportation, traffic management, motor sports and the motoring industry.

To Efren Srickland, Willard Paras, Adorable V. Faustino, Anthony Kawboon, Albert M. G. Garcia, Fredrick Capati, Raul Ramirez, Charlie Chua, Dante De Ramos, Angelo Suntay, Raymond Dacayo, RC F, Mario Alberto, Ramon Infante, MJ, Louis Muller, Pepito S. Arvisu, and of course our media peer, Mr. Gene Orejana, thank you so much for the time you took to write us a letter and please feel free to write anytime and please don’t break the weekly habit of making this column a vital part of your Wednesdays.

Now let’s answer some letters — Mr. Vince Bernardino was asking about the possible effect of the new excise tax law on the Honda Accord.

I know this response is already a little late but as you may have known the Accord reduced its price by almost a hundred thousand pesos, if I am not mistaken, right after the passage of the new tax law.

Mr. Roger C. Vertudazo and Mr. Rey Centeno both wanted me to advice them on their choice of vehicle to buy.

As I always say in this column over and over again, please do not ask me what vehicle is better than another because I shall never commit myself lest I compromise whatever little credibility I have left as a motoring journalist. Besides I would always maintain that the choice of what vehicle to buy would greatly depend on many factors, foremost of which are your intended use, your budget and your taste. Most of the time the choice is not between similar "apples" and buyers themselves have individual preferences that may not be met by vehicles of the same quality and reliability.

However, the closest we get in helping out the buyers in making the decision on what vehicle to buy is our "Head-to-Head" segment of the TV show Auto Focus (Tuesdays, 11 o’clock in the evening, Channel 4 Manila simulcast on the National broadcasting Network) where we make a "feature by feature" comparison of vehicles belonging to same category and price range. Why don’t you check it out one of these days?

Mr. Ding Lobaton wanted us to comment "on the report that the Chevy Optra is just a re-badged Daewoo Nubira".

For a more credible reaction I referred this to GM’s top marketing honcho in the Philippines, Mr. Nicky Mariano and he replies;

"Daewoo as a company that manufactures and sells automobiles no longer exist. GM, together with its alliance partners (Suzuki and SGM) has bought the Daewoo assets from its creditors — GM Daewoo Automotive Technology. Right now all engineering design, R&D and finance in the new company are managed by GM. Daewoo right now is one of the brands of GM. The new car that we launched last August 13 is from GM Corporation and is being marketed worldwide as follows: Daewoo for Europe, Korea and Australia/Chevrolet and Suzuki for North America/Buick for China/Chevrolet for the rest of Asia including the Philippines. To improve on cost, GM, as a global company with multiple brands, is using platform sharing within its brands and divisions of the company but with a distinct identity per brand. This is also true with other brands like Ford/Mazda, VW/Audi, Ford/Jaguar, Toyota/Lexus, etc."

The proverbial question regarding the proper use of "overdrive" in A/T (automatic transmission) vehicles is being asked by Mr. Rene V. Austria.

The "overdrive" is the 5th gear in your automatic transmission, which is activated when your vehicle reaches a certain rpm or speed. Many turn off the "OD" while driving in stop and go traffic to prevent an unnecessary automatic shift to the 5th gear while others turn off the "OD" mode to maximize engine performance up to the "red line" before turning it on and allowing the transmission to shift to the highest and fastest gear. Some experts establish the norm of putting off the "overdrive" while driving in the city and having it "on" while driving out in long stretches.

Mr. Stephen T. Sy had a mouthful to say about what he claims as the disservice of some personnel of Mitsubishi Balintawak-Oliveros.

I have referred this concern to our good friend from Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, Mr. Froilan Dytianquin who, in turn referred it to their service personnel. Knowing Froi’s efficiency in handling such matters, I presume the issue has been properly addressed.

Mr. Michael Jorge N. Peralta wants to know if it really takes four months to have a vehicle plate released by the LTO and its policies regarding the validity of the conduction sticker while waiting for the release.

I have forwarded this very interesting question to the LTO chief herself and I’m interested as you are to know the answer. I shall keep you and our readers posted on this concern as soon as I get word from the Madame Chief herself.

Miss Yolanda Velarde wants to know the SOPs when apprehended by the police for a traffic violation or when one meets an accident. Mr. Robin Gonzales asked about the proper towing procedures while Mr. Homer S. Co is interested to know the LTO and MMDA rulings regarding "not for hire" and capacity markings on AUVs.

Watch for our future columns where we shall have these SOPs as our motoring tip of the week to inform the general public on the proper and legal demeanor during these situations. We’ll also include an advisory from the LTO regarding these required signs or markings on vehicles.

Atty. Juan Carlos "Charlie" Cuna is puzzled about the way the E-Pass management is handling his complaint about charges made on his pre-paid E-Pass that were results of a glitch in their system and wants to warn other motorists with E-Pass to constantly check their billings for charges on trips they never made.

I have heard of such glitch that they had for a while in the E-Pass system, which I understand has been taken care of and validly disputed charges duly refunded but I am not too happy about your story that some personnel from the E-Pass management’s customer service center not making themselves readily available at all times to address your complaints. Charlie, let me forward your letter to some friends in the firm so that they can look into your report.

SPMJ Christmas Party

The industry was almost totally represented in the Christmas party recently hosted by the Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists where pledges for the sponsorship in the 1st SPMJ Invitational Golf Challenge were also firmed up.

Myrna Gonzales, who came to the party with Timmy Naval, both from Isuzu Philippines Corporation, was already looking for the sponsorship contract, which she was willing to sign right then and there.

Honda Cars’ Arnel Doria and Tin Tin Reyes, Toyota Motor Philippines’ Danny Isla and Ariel "Anak" de Jesus, Nissan Motor Philippines’ Raymond Tribdino together with Nicky Mariano of General Motors also firmed up their pledges to participate in the fund-raising golf tourney and only needed to be sent the contracts to finalize the sponsorship.

We still have to hear from Ford Group Philippines, (although Dave "Mr. Mac" Macasadia told me that the SPMJ proposal has already been scheduled for discussion) and also from BMW and VOLVO and from the oil and tire companies regarding their interest to participate in the project to raise funds to be used for the traffic education of elementary and high school students.

Proceeds from the 1st SPMJ Invitational Golf Challenge shall be used to create teaching modules and audio visual presentations geared toward young students who will be the future motorists and pedestrians, to inculcate in their young minds road courtesy, understanding traffic signs and the basic traffic rules and other inputs needed to lessen if not eradicate the present chaos that we have on our roads today borne out of the lack of traffic education.

Incidentally, you don’t have to be from the motoring industry to have the concern — traffic education among our youth should be everybody’s concern. So, you too, can help.

Motoring Tip of the Week

It may be a good idea to have vehicles that are not going to be used during the New Year’s Eve parked in your office basement parking or covered garage while the merriment is going on. There are still a lot of morons firing their guns into the air as well as a lot of wayward firecrackers that can damage these vehicles — or worse — hit us. If you have to park outside just make sure your car cover is fire retardant lest it damage your car when sparks from firecrackers hit it.

Happy Motoring!!!

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